Restricting internet access over a metererd connection.

Orionaut · 26 Oct 2016 at 08:53

I am sure I asked something about this before but cannot remember when or what the answers were.

I have a PC in a Van and wish to use a wireless dongle to connect to the internet when I am out and about.

Naturally this is relatively expensive and I do not want to buy any more bandwidth than I need.

While I am out, there is only one website I will want to connect too. (+ rare e-mail usage)

Is there a way of preventing the browser/PC from making any other connections on its own initiative or running unnecessary stuff in the back ground while I am using it?

Matthew.M · 26 Oct 2016 at 08:55

In Windows 10 if you navigate to the known wireless networks within settings there's a toggle to classify that connection as metered. This will stop it downloading large updates in the background and some applications take this into consideration but it won't stop everything.

MissChief · 27 Oct 2016 at 13:43

Surely a correctly setup firewall will do this for you? Some programs, and possibly windows itself really won't like it though.

ov_sjo · 27 Oct 2016 at 19:14

Remove the DNS servers from the network interface settings and manually add in your favourite website to the local hosts file.

ScoTTyBEEE · 31 Oct 2016 at 13:20

Install glasswire and monitor if anything else starts chewing up bandwidth

https://www.glasswire.com/

Then you can use this to block it in windows firewall I believe.

I tried ages ago to only allow one app access to the internet, but there are a few windows processes that have to have access for anything to work. Was a total ball ache in the end, so I just resorted to blocking stuff that used a fair amount. I had loads of stuff installed on the machine though, if you don't have much installed then it will be easier.

On Holiday · 31 Oct 2016 at 13:24

ov_sjo said:
Remove the DNS servers from the network interface settings and manually add in your favourite website to the local hosts file.

That's a terrible idea

As above, something like Glasswire would be a good route to go with.

ScoTTyBEEE · 1 Nov 2016 at 10:33

Also check out a program called Netlimiter 4, this is what I used.

https://www.netlimiter.com/

ov_sjo · 1 Nov 2016 at 11:54

Plenty O'Toole said:
That's a terrible idea

As above, something like Glasswire would be a good route to go with.

Crude is good. Especially on Tuesdays. I run netflow at home to opsmanager but that's a bit hardcore for most.