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Question

How can I restrict Internet access at my retail store?

Oct 7, 2015 12:02PM PDT

I m installing an inventory management solution to a number of stores and my ISP is offering a very strict bandwidth restriction for my monthly access fee.

How can I restrict internet access across all applications and browsers to all websites except the domain for the inventory management system?

Discussion is locked

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Answer
In the router
Oct 7, 2015 12:25PM PDT

Set a positive filter on the firewall that only allows your domain. Keep wireless off too.

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By firewall, do you mean windows firewall?
Oct 7, 2015 10:27PM PDT

The computers will come with windows 8 preinstalled and I may not get the chance to upgrade to windows 10

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No
Oct 8, 2015 12:08PM PDT

I said "in the router".

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Answer
Today's routers have a whitelist.
Oct 7, 2015 12:37PM PDT

So I read a manual and it allows me to list what's allowed and nothing else. Seems like any current router can do this.

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What about a USB modem?
Oct 7, 2015 10:29PM PDT

I'm asking from somewhere in west Africa and usb modems are still very much the prevalent means of internet connectivity. Is there a way I can do the same with a USB modem?

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Re: USB modem
Oct 8, 2015 12:02AM PDT

No, alas, that won't work. A USB dial-up modem does nothing more than translating bits into sound (and the other way around) and processing management commands as 'connect' and 'disconnect'. http://michaelgellis.tripod.com/modem.html has the full list of what it can do.

If the software that came with the modem or your firewall software doesn't offer it, you're out of luck.

Kees

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Thanks
Oct 8, 2015 5:44AM PDT

Thank you. Maybe I'll get routers.

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A second look at Windows Firewall.
Oct 8, 2015 7:25AM PDT
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Thanks
Oct 8, 2015 9:24AM PDT

I'm not exactly a business, it's just me and my girlfriend running a number of retail stores so no I.t staff. But I can read and I can apply so I'll check out the link. Many thanks.

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What about a USB modem?
Nov 6, 2015 10:38AM PST

USB Modems provide mobile broadband connectivity to any computer with a USB port, making them widely compatible and an ideal solution for notebook computers without card slots. NETGEAR offers a full range of USB modems supporting the latest mobile broadband network technologies in eye-catching, innovative designs. All AirCard USB Modems are compatible with both Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X operating systems and offer automatic software installation directly from the devices themselves, making them quick and convenient to install and use.

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Answer
Try wbsense
Oct 24, 2015 4:00AM PDT

Firewall is the option but you can also try Websense software to restrict the websites.

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Answer
You will need a router that has this feature
Oct 26, 2015 12:29AM PDT

You will need a router that has this feature. It is fairly common on better routers. It can be under firewall features or sometimes you can use the parental control options to accomplish it.

How exactly it is done varies quite a bit from router to router. You might get lucky and be able to just put in the URL for the web site directly into the router.......unfortunately things are no longer simple. There tends to be all kinds of scripts running in the background of web pages some are critical and others are attempt to track and force advertisements.

All you can really do is block everything and then keep adding things to the allowed list.

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I don't know what you two are up to
Oct 26, 2015 2:37PM PDT

Post was last edited on October 26, 2015 2:41 PM PDT

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I don't even know what you think I'm up to
Nov 7, 2015 6:51AM PST

I posted the same question in a couple of forums because I needed a quick response. Annecarton may be the same user with a different username on a separate forum, or someone who copy pasted a google searched response he/she thought was a good fix for my query. Is this because I mentioned being from West Africa? Because we aren't all "Nigerian princes" here. Other than the Nigerian part, of course.