Making my work computer an internet free zone.

[CommCool]

Hi, I've reached the conclusion that my productivity is seriously suffering from having access to internet on my main work computer and I want to make it an internet free zone (don't worry I have another laptop that I'll be able to use for internet if I need to).

So I've started by deleting chrome, but safari refuses to be deleted, stating:

"“Safari” can’t be modified or deleted because it’s required by OS X."

So two questions.

One, how do I get around this and delete Safari?

And two, will my operating system actually suffer if safari isn't installed or is just so that osx can link to things online when it wants to?

Really keen for this to happen as the internet is wasting my life.

Thanks in advance!

...............................................
Mac Pro 3.5 GHz 6-Core Intel Xeon E5
Yosemite 10.10.5
Safari 8.0.8

 

[Ebenezum]

I am fairly certain it would be much easier to just disable internet in the System Preferences, is there some reason you are looking for such a heavy handed approach?

 

[CommCool]

Hi, thanks for the reply. Yes I find the internet to be very distracting and I know from experience that its very easy to be tempted to "just check something important" online and then end up getting distracted and falling back into bad habits. I'd prefer that this option just not be available on my work computer. I did this by deleting all browsers on a previous computer/OSX version and it worked great. I was immediately heaps more productive. Apparently now apple has decided that I must have internet at all times!

Just turning off internet in preferences creates barely any inconvenience at all to get back online. Also, I like to be able to access emails (via mail) but not be able to browse online and waste time on Facebook.

I find that sometimes in life you have to force yourself into good habits. I would encourage others to do the same if you feel that unnecessary internet use is eating into your productivity.

So, yeah just wondering if I am able to force delete safari and will it actually create problems for OSX?

Thanks

 

[vexorg]

Just manually set your DNS to something duff, like 254.254.254.254 then it cannot look up any internet address.

That allows local networking to work (printers files sharing and so on), and also means you can have email if you enter the IP of the mail servers.

The other alternative is that most routers have limitation settings for parental control. You can usually config the router to do whatever you want for access restriction on the internet (by site, by device, by time, .....).

 

[\-V-/]

You could have someone set up K9 on your computer and have the settings set to disable all internet access: http://www1.k9webprotection.com/

 

[CommCool]

Thanks for all the alternative suggestions everyone!

Still pretty keen to know if theres a reason that I can't just delete safari though. Seems like by far the easiest option if its not going to cause any os problems...

It also means that if I really need the internet on that computer at some stage I just have to install a browser. Annoying enough to prevent frivolous browsing but quite easy to fix if I need internet for a specific purpose...

Anybody have any answers about this? I'm pretty confident that not having safari shouldn't cause any problems except for when OSX wants to link to something on the net right?

 

[vexorg]

Probably the same is IE for windows, they embed it in to hopefully stop the less browsers getting on your machine.

Have a go a deleting and post back.... ahh wait, i see a problem in that

 

[Queen6]

You should be able to delete Safari via Terminal command sudo;

cd /Applications/

sudo rm -rf Safari.app/

Personally I never had reason to remove Safari and potentially it may also have a negative impact on OS X given the high level of integration. You will not get any confirmation of the applications removal, the app will be deleted instantly.

Q-6

 

[CommCool]

Hi, thanks so much! I knew there would be a way to do it!

Now I just need to figure out potential problems this may cause? Also, if it did create problems, would I most likely be able to solve them by just reinstalling safari? Or might I then need to re-install OSX or something...?

 

[Queen6]

Hi, thanks so much! I knew there would be a way to do it!

Now I just need to figure out potential problems this may cause? Also, if it did create problems, would I most likely be able to solve them by just reinstalling safari? Or might I then need to re-install OSX or something...?

Yes you can just reinstall Safari or OS X your data will be safe, although it`s always wise to back up. I would also make sure that you export and backup Safari`s favourites.

Q-6

 

[vexorg]

Time machine.......

 

[Tech198]

Just manually set your DNS to something duff, like 254.254.254.254 then it cannot look up any internet address.

That allows local networking to work (printers files sharing and so on), and also means you can have email if you enter the IP of the mail servers.

The other alternative is that most routers have limitation settings for parental control. You can usually config the router to do whatever you want for access restriction on the internet (by site, by device, by time, .....).

Changing DNS would cause issues in general with any app that updates not just email/web browsing.


I really hate how Apple adds safe gauds in the OS but u can still by-pass it in Terminal... (by removing Safari).

I know it stems from Unix command set days, but Apple can update this can't they?

Seems like Apple is just all about trying to provide inconvenience, and hopefully they'll be so much trouble, people won't do it, compared to "preventing" them

 

[vexorg]

Changing DNS would cause issues in general with any app that updates not just email/web browsing.

He wants no internet......

 

[Weaselboy]

So, yeah just wondering if I am able to force delete safari and will it actually create problems for OSX?

I have not tested this, but yes I think it might cause problems. Part of Safari is the Webkit framework that other parts of the OS use to render things. I am concerned deleting Safari will break that.

I have an idea for an alternative though. From your existing admin account make a new Standard account and on that account enable Parental Controls. Then in Parental Controls you can control Internet Access and even app access. So you could restrict apps like Safari if you want. Then use the new Standard account during work hours and the parental controls will stop you from using Safari or any other apps you want to block.

https://support.apple.com/kb/PH18571
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He wants no internet......

OP mentioned in post #3 he still wanted email access.

 

[KALLT]

I have not tested this, but yes I think it might cause problems. Part of Safari is the Webkit framework that other parts of the OS use to render things. I am concerned deleting Safari will break that.

I don’t think there is much of a concern there. The engine is not in that app bundle. The binary of the Safari app ist just a few KB in size. The real binary is somewhere in a framework in the system directory. Even the NIB files for the interface are super small, so I wonder whether these are just placeholders.

Using a restricted account is by far the easiest and non-destructive option. I don’t see why you would even consider castrating your own computer like that. If I may point out, it is even easier if the OP just creates a new admin account and demotes their own account to a standard user. That way you don’t have to set up a new account.

 

[vexorg]

(attempt no3)

why can't you just leave safari alone? and get on with non-internet work?

 

[MacDawg]

(attempt no3)

why can't you just leave safari alone? and get on with non-internet work?

Because he is tempted... and weak