Limiting network activity to certain programs (time limit)

Hey guys and gals, I have an quick question.

Does such a program exist that can limit a selected program's time limit for network activity? Like, make the program only be able to access the internet for maybe an hour or two a day, and after that it will stop all of the network activity for that program?


It's being used as a parental control thing... not for my kids, but for my sister's. Her 9 year old son and 11 year old daughter are ADDICTED to this game call "Wizard 101", and they spend HOURS on it every day, and it's seriously taking away from their life... They've literally spent every waking moment of this weekend on this game.

I just think it would be so much easier on everyone if I just slipped in and set up controls, so that instead of someone being the bad guy and saying "no you can't play that game", it would just automatically limit their use of the game without the knowledge of them knowing that we're behind it. They're just obsessed with playing this computer game; they're not that computer savvy to figure out what's going on, lol


I'm an occasional gamer myself, so I know how addicting a game can get. But I also know the need to give something a rest when needed... We both thought it was just going to be a fad, but this fad has lasted over 3 months now, and it's only getting worse...


I wish there were a way to do it at the router level, but I don't think that's possible because of my ISP's cable modem/wireless router combo setup...




Thanks!

The only thing like that I've seen on a router level is IP-based, meaning blocking all traffic to a client IP, and then only in (Open|DD)WRT distros.

I don't know of any software in particular meant for this kind of thing. It should be possible to do it with some minor scripting and an http proxy or something, however. Simpler yet, even, would be a script that does a simple HOSTS file rotation after an hour that directs all requests to the game site to localhost or something.

But there's all kinds of technical issues there, and they're not elegant solutions. I think kids are pretty smart, too, and will figure out that something is awry (not just luck) that suddenly they only can play in quantized units of time. If this is something like an mmorpg, like it sounds, interaction with other characters will quickly let them know that it's not the game that's been struggling.


This is all my opinion, of course, but I would strongly suggest that you talk to the kids, let them know what's going on, and why. Communication is important, technology is no substitute for parenting. Using it to help enforce the rules is one thing, using it instead of rules another.

I 100% agree

thanks for the input!



the controls are already in place to not let them use the computer after 8pm on school nights, and not download every spyware infected toolbar installing game demo they come across

A software-based firewall might be able to do it, like the old Zone Alarm.

Some hardware firewalls such as those found in routers (and my Smoothwall Express) had QOS settings that can limit throughput so one client can't hog all the bandwidth, and of course you have the time restriction in place already...