How do I block packet data for background programs?

Question

I have a Samsung Galaxy Gio running Android 2.3.3 Gingerbread.

How can I block packet data for background programs only? When I disable Settings -> Wireless & networks -> Mobile networks -> Enable packet data the default browser and Opera Mini don't work.

(I'm trying to keep down my network billing charges!)

Answer 1

If your device is rooted you can use LBE Privacy Guard to allow/deny network access based on a per-app setting (and much more). Since I couldn't find the version I use (and shown in the screenshots) on the market minutes ago I think there's a new version of it available. But I didn't get an update via Android Market on my phone.

Answer 2

If your phone's rooted, use the excellent DroidWall to selectively allow / disallow apps from connecting to the internet.

Like all apps that need root, read the instructions carefully and of course, do make a complete backup before trying things out.

Answer 3

In addition to Sparx's answer:

Droidwall has been discontinued and now forked into AFWall+ ^{Play Store} and continues in the spirit of open-source for the deprecated/obsolete Droidwall here ^GitHub.