MikroTik

Can anyone possibly help to block the Pockemon Go app or even anything Pokemon related? This is for a school network and the Pokemon craze is causing some problems.

(since I'm new to Mikrotik if anyone has a correction to my saying please do post it..)

The following isn't tested.. also blocking isn't always the best solution even for a school. Anyone could have a data plan in their phones.

For anything pokemon related perhaps a Layer 7 rule would cut some things (but if I understand it right not if it's transfered over https )

For the Pokemon Go app you can perhaps block it's login and company servers (their IPs actually, that is if they resolve to one IP only) like

pgorelease.nianticlabs.com
sso.pokemon.com
nianticlabs.com

(there are found here: https://github.com/Mila432/Pokemon_Go_A ... /config.py and inside the apps .apk file in Android)

Just set DNS for these domains to 127.0.0.1 or to any fake address which will fool te game.

Just set DNS for these domains to 127.0.0.1 or to any fake address which will fool te game.

Please explain your method to upload some photos how to do it.

I would say that this is pointless, since the game is primarily based outdoors, any player already has mobile data enabled.

Maybe they use jammers in the school...

Thank you for the replies. Any chance someone can help with a bit more of a step by step approach instead of just saying it is pointless.

The students aren't allowed to use phones during school time, but they do use tablets for school. I don't care if they use their personal data during break or whenever, but we do not want them to use the school's data for this.

Go to "IP -> DNS -> Static" and enter these domains:

pgorelease.nianticlabs.com
sso.pokemon.com
nianticlabs.com 

point them to 127.0.0.1 

You will have to force everyone to use your MikroTik device as the DNS server, you can do it with a redirect NAT rule:

post this in the console, or enter the same values in the NAT menu:

I also would like to remind  you  that the forum is not a support system, but a user discussion board. Chatting is exacly what happens here. MikroTik does have an official support system where everyone will receive assistance and answers to their questions free of charge. Email support@MikroTik.com 

I also would like to remind  you  that the forum is not a support system, but a user discussion board. Chatting is exacly what happens here. MikroTik does have an official support system where everyone will receive assistance and answers to their questions free of charge. Email support@MikroTik.com 

Thank you very much for the help. Sorry - I do understand it is a discussion board but was a bit frustrated that a mikrotik admin would shoot down my problem and not give any constructive advice. Being under pressure to get things done, I might have been a bit quick with my response... But I truly appreciate the help.

Let me know if you manage to apply the suggested config and what are the results. 

Let me know if you manage to apply the suggested config and what are the results. 

I have applied it and seems to work if I try access the sites from a PC. Going outside to find a tablet to try it with now

Most who use pokemon go use mobile data so perhaps you would want a jammer as well.

Let me know if you manage to apply the suggested config and what are the results. 

Looks like it is working! Thank you again and sorry for the rough start

Most who use pokemon go use mobile data so perhaps you would want a jammer as well.

I am not 100% familiar with a jammer but wouldn't this block everything? For now we are not too concerned about the mobile data as students have to comply with school rules, so if we see a phone - there are consequences.

Most who use pokemon go use mobile data so perhaps you would want a jammer as well.

I am not 100% familiar with a jammer but wouldn't this block everything? For now we are not too concerned about the mobile data as students have to comply with school rules, so if we see a phone - there are consequences.

A jammer only blocks the frequency you want. So simply block 3G all the way up to 4G and beyond as calls and text will work fine on older connections like GPRS, edge, GSM which is too slow for pokemon go.

Most who use pokemon go use mobile data so perhaps you would want a jammer as well.

I am not 100% familiar with a jammer but wouldn't this block everything? For now we are not too concerned about the mobile data as students have to comply with school rules, so if we see a phone - there are consequences.

A jammer only blocks the frequency you want. So simply block 3G all the way up to 4G and beyond as calls and text will work fine on older connections like GPRS, edge, GSM which is too slow for pokemon go.

Thanks! As tempting as it sounds, I think I will get into serious problems with Teachers Need to give the parole officers a little bit of freedom. 

Most who use pokemon go use mobile data so perhaps you would want a jammer as well.

I am not 100% familiar with a jammer but wouldn't this block everything? For now we are not too concerned about the mobile data as students have to comply with school rules, so if we see a phone - there are consequences.

in case you are thinking about it just be aware that jammers are illegal in some parts of the world.

Pikachu is not happy

Most who use pokemon go use mobile data so perhaps you would want a jammer as well.

I am not 100% familiar with a jammer but wouldn't this block everything? For now we are not too concerned about the mobile data as students have to comply with school rules, so if we see a phone - there are consequences.

You do realize that one could turn on the hotspot on the mobile, pair the tablet with it, and Pokemon Go away. Don't You? The mobile would be safe inside the pocket, so no one would see it.

Most who use pokemon go use mobile data so perhaps you would want a jammer as well.

Perhaps a set of low power local GPS transmitters that point the student to the principal's office where they
can find Pekachu!  - LOL

Most who use pokemon go use mobile data so perhaps you would want a jammer as well.

I am not 100% familiar with a jammer but wouldn't this block everything? For now we are not too concerned about the mobile data as students have to comply with school rules, so if we see a phone - there are consequences.

A jammer only blocks the frequency you want. So simply block 3G all the way up to 4G and beyond as calls and text will work fine on older connections like GPRS, edge, GSM which is too slow for pokemon go.

Thanks! As tempting as it sounds, I think I will get into serious problems with Teachers Need to give the parole officers a little bit of freedom. 

using a jammer can get you in legal trouble, check your local regulation about it first

Jammers and fake GPS transmitters, in fact any transmitters outside ISM/free bands operated without licenses fill get you in legal trouble in most of the world.

Jammers are illegal in general but are legal within your own local space. So if you had a jammer that didnt extend beyond your own land than that wouldnt be an issue. Its very important that you use a jammer for specific frequencies. By jamming mobile internet you can than force them to use your own wifi and perform filtering on it.

When it comes to jamming as long as you dont jam specific frequencies/radios it will be fine.

Jammers are illegal in general but are legal within your own local space.

I wonder in what countries the legislation is like that...
Here jamming is very illegal (hefty fine) no matter if your local space or not.
And think about it, you cannot jam within your local space only except when it is a Faraday cage.  Where the whole problem would not exist anyway.

Even in countries that have jamming illegal i have seen it used in some places such as government buildings, within entertainment buildings like concerts where you lose mobile phone access when the play starts.

So im pretty sure you could get permission if you are an educational institute wanting to only block 3G and up while still allowing all the mobile frequencies that dont use data to enforce content filtering (you could always say you want to block porn at school properly).

Even in countries that have jamming illegal i have seen it used in some places such as government buildings, within entertainment buildings like concerts where you lose mobile phone access when the play starts.

So im pretty sure you could get permission if you are an educational institute wanting to only block 3G and up while still allowing all the mobile frequencies that dont use data to enforce content filtering (you could always say you want to block porn at school properly).

Good luck blocking only the data on 4G. Everything is IP on this system - even the voice calls.

You dont only block data on 4G, you block the entire 3G-4G-beyond frequencies.

You dont only block data on 4G, you block the entire 3G-4G-beyond frequencies.

Exactly my point. I wonder how much time until the first "4G" only mobile network.

I can only speak definitively about here in the United States, but generally for other locations.  Here in the USA, NO ONE can legally jam any licensed radio frequency and even most unlicensed radio frequencies.  A hotel chain even got a huge fine for faking WiFi signals that prevented people from using anything except the hotel's provided WiFi (for which they charged a daily use fee).  No one gets an exception - although several states tried it in prisons and were told that they can't do it.  There are other solutions to prisoners with smuggled in phones.

I realize that the rules are different in other countries, but as a general rule of thumb, most countries do not allow jamming of all or most radio spectrum.  Check with your laws.

BTW, don't believe the website of a jammer manufacturer.  Most of them will happily lie to you so they can sell more illegal jammers.