How do I temporarily disable Internet on Mac?

Sep 26, 2010 10:35 AM in response to StormSierra

If you using a wireless connection then turn off the wireless card from the Airport menubar item. If you are on a wired connection disconnect the Ethernet cable from your computer or open Network preferences, select the Ethernet connection then select Off from the Configure IPv4: drop down menu.

Sep 26, 2010 10:38 AM in response to StormSierra

If you use airport - just turn airport off in the menubar.

Or create a new Network Location without any active services, then switch to it via the Apple menu - Location.

Sep 26, 2010 11:20 AM in response to Meg The Dog

Hmmm. Spend $10.00 to do what you can do for free? I don't see that as offering "Free"dom.

Sep 26, 2010 11:31 AM in response to Kappy

Well, it allows you to keep your LAN connections and just dump the internet.
So I can be undistracted by email/ web browsing temptations, and still access my wireless printer.
For me - worth more than $10.
For you? Don't know.

MtD

Sep 26, 2010 12:23 PM in response to Meg The Dog

How about just quitting any browser and email apps? That's free and you can still print to your networked printer.

Sep 26, 2010 3:20 PM in response to sig

Hi -
You have much more discipline than I do . . .
but the original post asked:

What is the easiest way to turn off/on access to the internet?

My suggestion was to use Freedom, as you click on an icon, and then click OK, the internet is immediately unavailable while not disturbing your LAN access - and then at a pre-determined time, internet connection is restored. Fast. Easy.
Which was exactly what the OP asked for.
It costs $10. If that's a deal breaker then you have to employ a less easy and quick method to do what the OP wants to do.

MtD

Sep 26, 2010 5:04 PM in response to Meg The Dog

The op didnt say they had a discipline problem. Read some of the testimonials for Freedom. It is for people who feel they need to "fedx their modem to themselves so it will be gone for 24hours" or for a failing relationship where the gf changes the internet password everyday to keep her bf off the computer.

Wow. So yeah, I suppose $10 would be cheap compared to the hundreds of dollars of therapy these people need. 😉

Sep 26, 2010 6:28 PM in response to StormSierra

I don't believe this more than easy idea has been suggested (as long as there is a modem):

hit the off button on the modem....

It's easy and free. I do that because I do not want the internet at large to have access to my computer unless I am actually online.

Dec 13, 2010 8:33 PM in response to andyBall_uk

"Or create a new Network Location without any active services, then switch to it via the Apple menu - Location."

Thanks, that did the trick. I don't have LAN so this is just what I needed. Created a location called "turn off" and made it ethernet but with nothing active, then applied the setting. Not as nice as having the ppoe bar at the top but a close second.