A method for controlling data connections of host devices in a network includes creating a record of the number of attempted data connections from a host device through a connection device and the time of the most recent data connection attempt from the host device through the connection device. The difference between the current time that data from the host device is received by the connection device and the recorded time of the most recent data connection attempt by the host device is determined. Data is forwarded to its destination address if the difference between the current time and the recorded time is greater than a predetermined threshold time.