# Software that locks out web browsing for specified time **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 27, 2008, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/software-that-locks-out-web-browsing-for-specified-time/435215 "2008-01-27T19:38:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Polerius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d78d45/32.png) [@Polerius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polerius)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2008, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/software-that-locks-out-web-browsing-for-specified-time/435215/1 "2008-01-27T19:38:02Z")
Like Odysseus, who voluntarily asked to be tied so that he doesn’t succumb to the call of the Sirens, some people want to voluntarily give up temporary web browsing capability for a user-specified amount of time, so they can focus on work. Is there any software that does this? ---
**Author:** ![thirdname](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d07c76/32.png) [@thirdname](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thirdname)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2008, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/software-that-locks-out-web-browsing-for-specified-time/435215/2 "2008-01-27T22:52:18Z")
Do you use Windows, a Mac, or what? ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2008, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/software-that-locks-out-web-browsing-for-specified-time/435215/3 "2008-01-27T23:00:04Z")
I am pretty sure that Linksys routers have this capability and probably other brand too. One would cost about $40 or so. ---
**Author:** ![Waenara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/50afbb/32.png) [@Waenara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Waenara)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2008, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/software-that-locks-out-web-browsing-for-specified-time/435215/4 "2008-01-28T01:13:41Z")
If you use Firefox as your browser, an extension is available called [Leechblock](https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/4476). > [@](#): > > You can specify up to six sets of sites to block, with different times and days for each set. You can block sites within fixed time periods (e.g., between 9am and 5pm), after a time limit (e.g., 10 minutes in every hour), or with a combination of time periods and time limit (e.g., 10 minutes in every hour between 9am and 5pm). You can also set a password for access to the extension options, just to slow you down in moments of weakness! ---
**Author:** ![capybara](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/capybara/32/202_2.png) [@capybara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/capybara)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2008, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/software-that-locks-out-web-browsing-for-specified-time/435215/5 "2008-01-28T01:31:00Z")
I love Leechblock, in a love-hate sort of way. It works splendidly. ---
**Author:** ![thirdname](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d07c76/32.png) [@thirdname](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thirdname)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2008, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/software-that-locks-out-web-browsing-for-specified-time/435215/6 "2008-01-28T01:50:30Z")
My idea was to clone your hard drive, and delete the web browsers from one of them. Boot off the other, and use that for work. With a Mac, it would probably work best of the browsers were on an external, since you can’t usually disconnect the the internal one in a Mac. If the web browsers were on an external drive, you could disconnect it and put it away somewhere. ---
**Author:** ![rbroome](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/838e76/32.png) [@rbroome](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rbroome)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2008, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/software-that-locks-out-web-browsing-for-specified-time/435215/7 "2008-01-28T03:40:16Z")
[QUOTE=Shagnasty] I am pretty sure that Linksys routers have this capability and probably other brand too. One would cost about $40 or so. [/QUOTE] Linksys certainly has this capability. I am almost sure every router sold today has this capability. It certainly wouldn’t be hard to find such a router. Just set it up to block internet access during certain times of the day. You can do it on a machine by machine basis, so not everyone has to drop off the net at the same time. ---
**Author:** ![Cagey\_Drifter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@Cagey\_Drifter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cagey_Drifter)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2008, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/software-that-locks-out-web-browsing-for-specified-time/435215/8 "2008-01-28T04:18:10Z")
I am reminded of this story: An alcoholic came to see the Zen Master. He said, “Master, I have a problem. I am addicted to alcohol, and cannot stop drinking. I am constantly drawn to it in every waking hour.” The Master replied, “I see. Yet, freeing yourself from your demon is as easy as opening your hands.” The man was perplexed by this strange comment. “What do you mean by this?” he asked. “Try to hold a glass with an open palm,” the Master replied. Of course, this story has little to no practical relevance to someone stuck with a boring task and easy internet access. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2008, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/software-that-locks-out-web-browsing-for-specified-time/435215/9 "2008-01-28T21:19:02Z")
Leechblock is OK, but it’s still too easy to open another browser to use. And on a Windows system it’s pretty much impossible to get rid of IE. Configuring a router is not an option at the office. Aren’t there other options? I remember at least one freeare (software) firewall had this capability but I can’t remember which one.