Computer help forum: Google is blocked

It applies to both IE and Firefox. I am unable to download Chrome. I have tried clearing cookies,cache & history but to no effect. How do I deal with a machine lock? Thanks.

There are a number of ways which a website can be blocked.

1. Try checking your HOSTS file.. It resides in the C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc folder. Once there, open the "HOSTS" file using Notepad.. (HOSTS will have NO file extension.. It will simply be HOSTS.) Open the file using Notepad.exe and check to see if there is a line indicating 127.0.0.1 google.com.

If it's listed there, simply delete the line, then save your changes and close the file. You'll need to perform these steps as an admin user.

2. Because malware could be causing the issue, if you haven't already, download, install, update, then run a full system scan using the free malware removal tool below. Delete anything it finds.:

Malwarebytes Antimalware

3. Website access can also be blocked by using your router's settings. If anyone but you has access to the router, then you may need to open those settings and check for blocked sites.

Hope this helps.

Grif

Grif,
Thank you for your advice.<div>I have tried to locate the HOSTS file but found only "Imhosts". I opened this with Notebook but it seemed to be an explanatory statement only. I was accessing this as administrator.
I ran the Malwarebytes Antimalware full scan but it found nothing.
The router should not be the cause because 2 other PCs running off the router have no difficulty accessing Google. And no-one else has access to the router.
</div>Max

Hidden, and System files need to be viewed to see HOSTS.

Hope this helps.

Grif

Open Internet Explorer and go to Tools-Internet Options-Connection Tab. Click on the LAN settings button. IF there is a check mark next to "Use a proxy server for your LAN", uncheck it. Click OK. Then OK, again.

Hope this helps.

Grif

"Use a proxy server for your LAN" was unchecked. It did not help.

try Griff's advice regarding the HOSTS file and then his advice to run MalwareBytes.

I would then suggest running Super Anti-Spyware

Now, in addition to checking to see if the URL or IP Address is blocked at the router I would suggest that you check your Firewall and also your Anti Virus application as several allow you to block sites. Avast for instance has site blocking available under the heading of Additional Protection.

Since you indicate "Every time I try to do a Google search or try to access a Google web
page I get a page with some Chinese characters and on the second line
"NGiNX my SQL.php" " my bet is that it is your hosts file or malware. You can double check by seeing if this link gets you to Google (it is the actual IP address of 74.125.93.106 and will bypass the hosts file and most malware)

Thanks for the additional suggestions. I have run the Super Anti-Spyware. Whilst it detected several tracking cookies, it did not resolve the problem.
The IP address works in both IE and Firefox and allowed me to access Google search. Via the Google search page I installed Google Chrome but it justs shows the page with Chinese characters etc. when opened.

You should have a HOSTS file.

The location in Win 7 is C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc

Note, Hosts does not have a file extension. It may be hidden. To unhide it, open Explorer and go to Tools .> Folder options and in the new window, the "View" tab.

Look for these;

Hidden files and folders - select "Show hidden files, folders and drives".
Hide extensions for known file types - De-select.
Hide protected operating system files (Recommended) - De-select but ensure this is selected again after using it.

That HOSTS file should now appear. If it does, open it by right clicking and "Open" then select Notepad.

"BEWARE", if the "Always use the selected program to open this kind of file" is ticked, remove the tick before selecting Notepad.

Open the file in Notepad and look for any entries that mention Google and tell us what you find.

If you want to save the file, be sure to use "Save as" and save it as file type "All files". otherwise it defaults to a txt file and cannot then be used by browsers.

Mark

Thanks for the advice. It worked up to the point where I tried to do the "save as" on the notepad HOSTS file from which I had deleted all the references to Google as per the instructions via "Yep, back to the HOSTS file ... " below, only to find that I "don't have permission to save in this location", even though I was logged in as the only user set up on this computer which is the administrator.
The entries which mentioned Google and which I deleted on the unsaved file referred to 204.152.194.148 several times over followed by various national google and search.yahoo web-sites.

Even the administrator must obey file and folder permissions. There is no God account on the system that will over ride these things.

In a pinch I've booted a Linux Live CD (zero install and no learning linux) to edit this file. Yup, a God mode.
Bob

Thanks. Noted.

..restart the computer into Safe Mode, then make the corrections and save HOSTS from Safe Mode.

Hope this helps.

Grif

Thanks for the advice. I managed to sort it out in normal mode.

as that is where your problem lies.

Follow the instructions on this link (instructions work for Windows NT through Windows 7)

Pay close attention to ensure you enter spaces where needed in the commands.

http://en.kioskea.net/faq/15289-google-nginx-404-error

You might then want to boot into safe mode and run RKILL then TDSSKILLER (instructions and link here) then your favorite ROOTKIT scanner (just in case) and SOPHOs is a good one:
http://www.sophos.com/en-us/products/free-tools/sophos-anti-rootkit.aspx

I have tried everything suggested in the link provided but it did not work for me. The right-click after typing cmd in the Search field did not provide me with the option to Run as Administrator. Carrying on regardless, the cmd line had the correct Administrator user ID but after Y after Command 2 and after Command 3 I was getting "access denied". Again carrying regardless, I got the notepad popping up and deleted the entries as directed and went to save it but there are no directions as to where to save it - saved it in the default documents folder. Typed final command 5 and got "access denied". Browser did not provide access to Google.

Since you are getting access denied I wonder if you need to reveal what security software you run as well as if you tried the edit in SAFE MODE.

Thanks. Now sorted.

Can you tell us how you did it?

it would be nice to know, and useful for if and when others have similar problems.

Glad it's working for you now.

Mark

I followed the directions provided by Edward ODaniel above and below.

and thanks for telling us.

Mark

c:\windows\system32\drivers\etc that is where you want ot save it - the system cannot use it from your documents folder.

If, for some unknown reason you do not get the option to Run As administrator when CMD.EXE pops up when you type cmd in the search box then try this:

Right click on desktop and choose New then Shortcut. In the window that pops up type CMD.EXE then click Next. Now name it Command Prompt if you want and click Finish. Now right click the shortcut and choose Run As ..

Assuming you did type all the commands and switches properly ownership does override ACLs so giving everyone full permissions can be problematic is ownership is invested in system.

You mention you tried everything in the link -- did you try
http://security.symantec.com/nbrt/npe.aspx?lcid=1033 which is mentioned in that link?

Thank you very much!!
Your solution has worked!
Ownership should not be a problem as there are only two users (using the same user account) and having access to the computer and there are no other users around. However, I will delete the shortcut and reinstate as and when needed.
<div>I did not try the link


http://security.symantec.com/nbrt/npe.aspx?lcid=1033 w

</div>I really appreciate your help.

Since this is XP or beyond even your one account must follow all the rules of the file system.

If you dismissed ownership because there are only two users (using the same user account) then you may have missed out on the fixes offered.

Don't fret it. Many folk learn this lesson this way.
Bob

i am having the same problem ... can u please help me too....

with all the options offered in this discussion?

Mark

I don't understand the question.