Changing date/time can bypass block / cause it to end early

[ghost]

Changing the computer clock totally eliminates selfcontrol blocks. Any way to have this not happen?

Thanks

[koenige50]

Sorry to chime in without any code. I am an academic, not a coder. But I signed up to github just to urge the inclusion of a fix to this. Not being able to easily suspend a block really is the point of this wonderful software. Any idea when a fix could be included in the main version? My heartfelt gratitude to the authors of SelfControl (a owe a whole thesis to it!), and I hope a fix comes soon to restore some peace of mind to us serial procrastinators.

[ryyanj]

@koenige50 @coolvision app worked for me pretty well. However if you're willing to fork out the dough and cant get @coolvision app set up for whatever reason (it worked for me and I am on Yosemite 10.10.5) there is another solution at https://heyfocus.com/ that looks pretty stable. I know being distracted is a pretty serious issue for me so if coolvision's app ever goes out of date ill head over to heyfocus.

[ryyanj]

@koenige50 scratch that heyfocus.com has the same bug, glad i didnt purchase it

[koenige50]

@ryyanj I tried @coolvision 's app on os x El Capitan but it doesn't fully work. What works: if you tamper with the system clock the timer goes to negative numbers and you still can't access the net. What doesn't work: the block seems to be intermittent, for about a minute you can connect to the net, then you can't, then you can, then you can't, successively until the end. And at the end when the timer reaches zero it doesn't go away but goes on counting into negative time. At that point, I could only make the timer go away by opening the official SelfControl 2.0.2 and manually unblocking.

[alexpmarsh]

Apologies not much to add, but just saying I would happily pay up to $60 for someone to implement this in the new version, have it work with whitelists in os 10.11. Help me Obi-Wan-Kenobi you're my only help.

[slambert]

@yolotariat make a bounty: https://www.bountysource.com/issues/1212872-works-with-easy-workaround-possible-to-change

[musicbee123]

I will also happily offer a bounty to resolve this issue of changing clock time to override self-control! It would be so good if this could be resolved.

[musicbee123]

I tried cool vision's app but it wasn't clear, at least to someone like me with no expertise in computing, that I had to double click and open a new version of self-control from within the folder on cool vision's page. It then gave me the option to manually override the block so not sure what the point of it is! I changed date/time a few times and it eventually overrode self control so not sure it is effective, perhaps I am doing something wrong? I am using yosemite

[musicbee123]

I have just sent a 100$ bounty payment. Is this something that might get fixed in the near future Steve?

[alexpmarsh]

Hey added the $60 bounty (my local currency). Here's hoping!

[yavlet]

Hey So I downloaded and am currently using the version on self control that uses microsoft.com for a time and date reference and it works great. My macbook pro is running OSX sierra 10.12.3. I have been running a bunch of tests to see if I can fool the program so I did the usual, I changed the date, no luck, I changed the date and I shut off the wifi and the timer displayed negative numbers which is great since I cant bypass it that way; however, there is still one method of bypassing the program that I believe should be very easy to fix but since I don't know how to program (I use to a long time ago) I am not sure how to do it myself. If I access my hosts file and I put a # sign in front of the blocked website that the self control app added to my hosts file and then I save the document and replace the old version of the file then I can access those sites without a problem. To remedy this problem, I believe the self control app needs to run a check to see if there is a # sign in front of the websites that it is trying to block and if there is it needs to duplicate that block and add it in so no matter how many times you add a # sign on the new block a new one will just pop back up until the timer runs out. Please let me know if this is something that can be done, thank you all for your help you have been great!

[keeprock]

For anyone interested, I figured out a workaround to the Date/Time problem.

I installed the Apple Server app ($20), and the Apple Profile Manager ($3). Using these apps, you can set up an online dashboard to control which system settings are accessible to you as a user. I blocked out my Date/Time panel. Then I gave the Profile Manager password to my flatmate.

Thanks a lot! I've used the same approach and it really works for me too :) Nowadays, you don't have to pay for Profile Manager cause it's included in a bundle right now. IDK about setting Profile Manager login because it uses my administrator account. Investigating further. At least, there is an additional step between me and distractions :)

[alexpmarsh]

Still here 4 years later. Added some more $ to the bounty! The total is now $263. If anyone else feels like shipping a few bucks and getting the total up to $300.

[keeprock]

I think it is better to improve own's self-discipline, in that regard.

Self-control do a lot of pre-work for us - relying solely on a technology for keeping us away from technology is only a temporary solution. You can always trick the system.

As for me, after some time passed, I realised that this "workaround" is actually a godsend. I had a few of those times then you REALLY NEED that blocked website. Like, REALLY NO FUCKING KIDDING NEED.

That are my options if date "bug" was not present? Find another machine, use my phone (which is partially blocked too). Anyway - getting more pain in the ass then necessary. But by changing my date, I can complete much needed task in a speedy fashion without that much of a hassle. Check.

Am I exposed to scary websites that soaking my soul (time) away? Yep. But do you know that I'm going to do then I will finish working? Just run that goddamn Selfcontrol thing again.

Guys, take that perspective. It is refreshing. May even rekindle your feelings about an app. Similar to the day you discovered Self-control for the first time... So good!

[alexpmarsh]

Any progress on this?

[alexpmarsh]

Hello selfcontrol fam, I notice this issue is still open. And the bounty has yet to inspire a fix. I'll be withdrawing my bounty at the end of the week and unfortunately putting the funds into a SaaS proprietory solution. Which is a bummer because I prefer open solutions.

[cstigler]

@yolotariat all for open-source also when possible, but glad you found a SaaS solution that works for you!

[unaltrapersona]

I have a rather cobbled-together solution. I ended up using a proprietary freemium blocker's free version (Cold Turkey) in tandem with SelfControl. I created a null block on Cold Turkey and turned on the option to prevent you from opening Date & Time settings during the block, which blocks nothing but prevents you from changing them. I then run a regular block on SelfControl. The same technique should also work with Focus.py, another open-source blocking tool I've been eyeing since it allows scheduling.

I might be overcomplicating things but seemed like the best way to accomplish this for free, since Apple Server costs $23 and @coolvision 's add-on doesn't seem to have been updated since 2014. Cold Turkey is proprietary, which I'm not a fan of, but at least it seems to have good policies.

[keeprock]

Cold Turkey is also a good blocker for those of us who uses Opera VPN or even Virtual Machines (I did) to bypass Self-control (ahh, monkey brain is insidious :) )

[Pookeyblow]

Is there a solution to this issue?

An app called Focus for Mac can block apps including System Preferences, which makes it impossible to change the time.

Is this a solution?