Spyware, viruses, & security : suddenly being blocked from certain websites
suddenly being blocked from certain websites
by skissner - 11/1/07 9:44 AMHelp! My 3 PCs are suddenly being blocked from several websites I frequent, and I have no idea why.
We run Spybot weekly and have McAfee VirusScan.
My 2 desktops are networked for Internet access and printing, and my laptop has Internet access via WiFi.
None of the 3 of these can access these sites (which include forbes.com, expedia.com, dictionary.com)
System info: The "main" PC which controls the Internet access is a Dell Dimension 4550 running WindowsXP. Internet access is a cable modem running through a Linksys Router.
Any help would be greatly appreciated. Please be gentle -- I'm not very tech-savvy!
What error message do you see when you tried to see any of
by Donna Buenaventura
- 11/1/07 12:29 PM
In reply to: suddenly being blocked from certain websites by skissner
those sites you mentioned?
Example:
"The page cannot be displayed"
"Cannot find server or DNS error"
If you see any of the above error message, try the solution of Microsoft at http://support.microsoft.com/kb/246725/en-us
Also, have you try to use another browser to "test" if the new browser e.g. Firefox, Opera can access those sites?
Tried both your suggestions to no avail
by skissner - 11/1/07 12:49 PM In reply to: What error message do you see when you tried to see any of by Donna Buenaventura
I see both of the error messages you mentioned, depending on the site.
I did indeed try Firefox to see if the problem was IE, but I still could not reach those pages from within Firefox on my PC.
The Microsoft solution instructed me to clear selections in my security settings that were already cleared.
So, are there other things you would suggest?
Many thanks.
Review your hosts file
by Donna Buenaventura - 11/1/07 1:00 PM
In reply to: Tried both your suggestions to no avail by skissner
Try to review the content of your HOSTS file.
The HOSTS file is located in C:\Windows\System32\Drivers\etc
Right-click then view it using notepad
Look for any the URL you mentioned in the list. Are they listed or none is listed?
Also, see if the solution by MS on the following will help:
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=303807 - "The page cannot be displayed" error message when you try to view a Web page on a secure Web site
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;241344 - Error message: The page cannot be displayed
A Solution That Has Helped A FEw
by Grif Thomas - 11/5/07 11:55 AM
In reply to: Tried both your suggestions to no avail by skissner
Try using the instructions/links below to download and install the latest version of Java and the Windows Script Engine:
Windows Script Engine Version 5.7
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=47809025-D896-482E-A0D6-524E7E844D81&displaylang=en
Sun Java
Click on the link to Sun's Java below, then click on the ''Java Runtime Environment (JRE) 6u3'' download button. Follow the prompts, accept the license agreement, then download the full ''Windows Offline Installation'' file to your desktop,(about 15 MB), scan it with your antivirus (just to be sure it's clean). Once that's done, if you've already got a Sun Java version on the computer, open the Control Panel, double click on the ''Add/Remove Programs'' section, then uninstall all previous versions of the J2SE Java listed there. Once that's done, then install Java JRE 6u3 from the downloaded installer.
http://java.sun.com/javase/downloads/index.jsp
Once Java is installed, if you're using IE7, then access the Internet Explorer "Internet Options" settings, "Security" tab, "Internet" icon, "Custom Settings" and change the security level to "Medium", instead of "Medium-High". If you're not using IE7, then set the same settings in IE6 to "Medium".
Hope this helps.
Grif
linksys
by ddbpack - 11/5/07 4:44 PM In reply to: Tried both your suggestions to no avail by skissnerget rid of linksys! they are garbage, had one and couldnt get it to work with zyxel router. go to a zyxel as linksys only seems to work well other linksys products!!
Same Here
by Chandaxi - 11/5/07 9:47 AM In reply to: suddenly being blocked from certain websites by skissnerYeah, have experience such thing with my 2 computers. Since u've 3 computers there is not quite possibility that all got the same problem within, so, it's more likely to be a conectivity issue. Perhaps your isp got some filter, content limitation, or transfer amount-bandwith limitation. In my case i'm still not sure wot cause it, but usually got it fixed by restarting the computers and the modem generating fresh connection data.
internet security
by ocelot31454 - 11/5/07 10:39 AM In reply to: suddenly being blocked from certain websites by skissnerDid you check the internet security options? Check the restricted sites tab and see if the sites your trying to reach are on the list. If so just remove them or put the in the safe zone. Had this happen once before but never figured out why.
see if you can access the sites ...
by Edward ODaniel - 11/5/07 12:48 PM In reply to: suddenly being blocked from certain websites by skissnerby clicking the following links.
forbes.com is http://63.240.4.179
expedia.com is http://216.251.114.10
dictionary.com is http://66.161.12.81
If you can connect via those links it would appear to be either a HOSTS file problem or possibly a DNS cache problem with a negative entry.
To check your HOSTS file browse to %WinDir%\system32\drivers\etc\hosts (it has no file extension) then simply open it in a text editor such as NotePad and look for the domains you are having problems with. Once found either comment out the entry by prefixing it with # or simply delete the entry.
To flush your DNS cache either re-boot or open a command prompt and type ipconfig /flushdns
If you wish to stop XP from placing negative entries into cache, you can make this change in your registry.
1. Goto HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\ Dnscache\Parameters
2. Build a new DWORD value called NegativeCacheTime (the value is case sensitive) and give it a value of 0 (that is a ZERO).
modem or router
by ONE_HUMAN - 11/5/07 12:49 PM In reply to: suddenly being blocked from certain websites by skissnerSince all three computers are affected and I assume they are all connected to the same modem and router, I think your problem lies with one of them. Something simple you can try is to power down both your modem and router for one minute. Turn them off, or unplug them from AC if there is no power switch. After a minute, restart them by powering them back up. This should reset them. Does this have any effect on your problem?
Also, have you tried connecting your ethernet cable directly from the modem to one of the PCs, bypassing the router? If everything works fine when you've done that, then you know the problem is with the router and not the modem.
Which model of Linksys router do you have? Have you upgraded the firmware for it recently? On the main router setup page, what is the MTU set to?
May not apply
by damnrhtdell - 11/5/07 1:57 PM In reply to: modem or router by ONE_HUMANI had the battery on the motherboard die, so the clock did not work. this kept me from getting on the web and gave security warnings. Until I replaced the battey I would boot up then right click the clock to manually set clock to current date this allowed me to log on web.
some sites load
by ONE_HUMAN - 11/5/07 3:19 PM In reply to: May not apply by damnrhtdellHe can get on the web. Just certain sites don't load for him.
Router
by Capt.Daniel - 11/5/07 2:25 PM In reply to: modem or router by ONE_HUMANI have a D-Link Router that uses a air-card to connect with. Last night it had the same problems you are describing here. I only had success by removing the software program from the computer and reinstall the software. I was able to get to the site in question by installing the air-card into the computer but with the router I couldn't get to two different sites. After reinstalling the software I was able to go everywhere I wanted to. I have two different computers, Both have Vista Home Premium and both had the same problem till I reinstalled the software. I dumped all the bookmarks, cookies and all the settings back to default. Maybe this will help but I think there is a trojan or worm that pinged my router last night.I have had One other person have the same problem on my forum site but the tech hasn't been able to get them on-line yet!! I sent this to the forum tech, maybe it will help them to get on-line.
An update on my problem
by skissner - 11/5/07 3:02 PM In reply to: modem or router by ONE_HUMANThank you all so much for the excellent suggestions!
Here's an update: I got out an older laptop with Windows98 on it and tried to go to these sites, using the same wireless connection as my other computers. Well -- I was able to reach the sites just fine!
Doesn't that seem weird?
Also, I tried reaching the sites using the IP addresses shown in Edward's post, and I could reach them but they did not load correctly (no graphics).
I did notice another weird thing that may or may not be related? When I'm looking at some of the style and formatting options within Outlook, it shows me the font in english, and also in something that looks arabic? Could this in any way be related?
Other updates: My HOSTS file has nothing in it. I have rebooted my router, my modem and of course the PCs numerous times. My clock is running fine. I checked with my ISP and they have no filtering.
So that's the latest. Your help is much appreciated!
router?
by ONE_HUMAN - 11/5/07 3:20 PM In reply to: An update on my problem by skissnerAnd what about the stuff I suggested or asked you in my post?
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