Quick On/Off For Internet Access?

[Ben]

Does anyone know of any simple "software switch" programs that will let me hit an icon on the (Windows) desktop or similar that will block and unblock internet and network access? I'm looking for something similar to the "On-Off" switch in ZoneAlarm without installing an entire software suite.  I know I can "Enable/Disable" in control panel, but am looking for a more elegant solution.

[Manedwolf]

Well, you could use wireless and turn it on and off?

[charby]

In the control panel go to your network settings and open up one of your network adapters.
Click on properties and make sure both check boxes are checked at the bottom, click ok.

You should now see the icon on the system tray in the lower right hand corner, you can right click on the icon to enable or disable when connected.

Repeat for all your adapters.

[mtnbkr]

If it's a laptop, just unplug the ethernet cable.  Can't get much more sure than that.

Chris

[robear]

If you're cable modem, some of the Motorola modems have a 'standby' button on the top that completely disables internet access until the button is pushed again.   Doesn't stop network access, however.   I use zone-alarm myself, and have the 'internet lock' set to shut down ALL access to the PC after 20 minutes of inactivity.

You could also try an A/B switch from an electronics store.  Put the PC on 'A' and leave 'B' empty.   Switch to 'B' when you want to be secure.

-R

[Ben]

Sorry -- I was WAY unclear on my first post (first sip of coffee hadn't hit the system yet). I want to be able to disable either all access, or internet access only, keeping LAN active. This is for a test machine down the hall that I remote into, so I'm too lazy to go down and unplug anything.

[Thor]

Be a little cautious with the A/B switch. go to http://HTTP://192.168.100.1 and see what your input and return levels are. If they're 0 to +5 dBmv, (Input levels or downstream) and less than 45 dBmv return (upstream) levels, then it should be ok  If it's below that on the input or above that on the return, then you might see problems with the cable modem. There is at least 1 dBmv total insertion loss for the A/B switch, possibly a little more. Otherwise, that's a good solution. The other way mentioned about disabling the ethernet adapters is easy & good, too. The other way would be to get into the router and change some settings there (if you have a router)

[CNYCacher]

You want to shutdown access to everything outside of your LAN, per machine?  You are gonna need to install some type of firewall software.

[Ben]

Just on the one machine. I may have to resort to a full suite like ZoneAlarm to use that single function, though my overlords in DC will probably yell at me, cuz that can goof up their spying on their field office minions.

[AZRedhawk44]

Set a false proxy in the internet explorer settings.

Go to Tools - Internet Options - Connections - Lan Settings - hit the checkbox for "use a proxy server" and put in a bogus IP address that isn't a proxy... I like 1.2.3.4, port 8888.

Now the internet won't work, but local lan traffic will.

When you want the net to work, go to Tools - Internet Options - Connections - Lan Settings and uncheck the proxy checkbox.  Your other settings will be retained so you don't have to re-enter them; just toggle this checkbox if you want the net to work.

[GigaBuist]

Set a false proxy in the internet explorer settings.

Go to Tools - Internet Options - Connections - Lan Settings - hit the checkbox for "use a proxy server" and put in a bogus IP address that isn't a proxy... I like 1.2.3.4, port 8888.

Now the internet won't work, but local lan traffic will.

The internet connection will still work, but Internet Explorer itself will.

If you want to stay on the LAN but remove WAN access just remove the default route.  You can probbaly do this via the command line with the 'route' command but I'm not sure of the syntax these days. 

[Mabs2]

I just unplug it, yo.