[Request] Free software to time-control internet access?

peckerhead

My kids have turned into drooling Bebo addicts, and — reluctantly — I've had to resort to using Kidswatch to control the amount of time per day they can access the internet. However, the 15-day free trial is about to expire.

I know it's only a lousy $30 to buy it, but can anyone recommend a freeware alternative? I don't need fancy monitoring/blocking options, I just want to limit the total amount of time any given user account can access the internet (without having to physically remove and hide the router!)

Little-Devil

I'm not sure were you downloaded your free trial. I just did a quick search in google and found this download. As far as i know, its free and not a trial

http://www.programurl.com/software-kidswatch-time-control-downloadnow.html

here's another website. I hope they help.

http://www.freedownloadscenter.com/Utilities/Access_Control_Utilities/KidsWatch_Time_Control.html

Khannie

Not sure if this will help: You can disable the internet connection manually by going into the network connections (start->settings->network blah), right clicking and hitting disable.

gary.b

Khannie, Beboers will do anything to get their "fix" . They'll even learn how to use SSL Sockets and CGI-Proxy servers running on their VPNs.. crazy kids..

On a related note, i don't think this kind of software works - if someone is "addicted" to bebo, the only "cure" is to go out and talk to their friends in real-life. Forget crappy chain-emails, go loiter about in a shopping centre like normal "youf" :P

tadgh

Try this

peckerhead

tadgh, thanks, but that's something like a free version of Net Nanny, which filters potentially dodgy websites according to their rating in Blue Coat's databases. It monitors everyone's internet activity, and sends data back to Blue Coat — which is not what I'm after. It has a time restriction control too, but you can only apply it across the board — not different settings for each user account.

Little-Devil, thanks for the link. The download filesize is considerably smaller than my original one (and the name different too), and it let me install it, which I guess it shouldn't do if I've already had a trial(?). Maybe it's an older (or 'lite') version? However, I read through the T&Cs before installing, and it did mention a trial period — ditto for the splashscreen. I guess I won't know for sure until 10 days from now — the previous one started popping up warnings 5 days before the trial period was due to end...

Khannie, thanks, I know — but I'd have to enable/disable the network connection 20 times a day! I'm looking for something that automates the process...

Finally, gary.b — 'real-life', or 'half-life'...?

Snowbat

Some routers can be configured to do this (eg. Linksys WRT54G), at least until your kids figure out how to spoof the MAC address of an unrestricted machine or run a bruteforce attack on router's admin password.

Creamy Goodness

gary.b wrote:

Khannie, Beboers will do anything to get their "fix" . They'll even learn how to use SSL Sockets and CGI-Proxy servers running on their VPNs.. crazy kids..

oh my...

you're lucky to have smart kids, you'll reep the benefits when they are old enough to make a living :D