How to blind software?

Is there a way to make a particular program not to see when I'm connected to Internet. It's pretty annoying how some try to update them self without warning. Is there a software solution for this?
Thanks.

 

Most firewalls let you block or make a program ask for access. Or you can just allow them whenever

Maybe there are options in the program itself to control net access?

 

mcafee does it really well... so well it I actually click the 'use this response next time' button as I would rather the app connect get the update and be done with it.

 

ZoneAlarm is a free firewall that should be able to do that rather well.

 

I like Sunbelt (what used to be Kerio Firewall) as each program comes up with requests for access, and you can individually allow or deny, and you can leave it on asking (if sometimes you don't want to allow access, and sometimes you do) or you setup a rule (easily, basically tell it to remember your choice) if you always want it to do something.

It also will warn you anytime a program has been modified and is trying to run (so for example if I allow winamp to run, but then winamp is updated, it will ask me again if I want to run the new modified winamp program).

 

I am basically annoyed with these software. "Thinking that it owns your computer". LOL. I'm no a fan of installing many firewall and security software since I am not paranoid enough. I just disable them on registry and start-up. And sometimes on services section that says "automatic" on startup, disabled those.

 

Thanks guys, but with the firewall solution I still have to see the message and click "don't allow" all the time (It reminds me that funny Mac commercial).
I wonder if there is a way that the program simply won't see that I'm connected.
Thanks again.

 

Many (but not all) programs do have an option somewhere in them to turn off automatic updates. Sometimes it's easy to find, sometimes it's buried in some Preferences/Options menu. I've turned off auto updates on Microsoft, my antivirus and firewall programs, and most other software on my system. The only one I can't turn of is Yahoo Messenger, but I need that for family. I just say "no" every time it wants to update.

Actually, I can't think of anything I let update automatically. Mainly because every once in a while an update will cause problems (MS's ani cursor fix, most recently). I just prefer manually checking for and installing updates after the dust has cleared.

Only exception is antivirus/firewall, which is manually updated each day.

 

So get rid of the software if you can't make it do what you want. Why put up with crap?

 

Sometimes the applications put things in scheduled tasks to check if the network connection is live. They can be modified to check at your convenience or can be removed altogether.