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Old 7th May 2022, 9:55 pm   #1
roadster541
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Default Forum access problem

For several days I was unable to access this forum, but able to access the other places which I frequent on the internet. After trying all the usual things to sort out my PC, I eventually took my laptop to someone else's house and logged on to their WiFi, with success!
I telephoned my ISP, they ran various checks and tried removing the adult content block; this did the trick, but I am still at a loss as to why the system had decided that this site should be blocked for its adult content.
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Old 8th May 2022, 10:58 am   #2
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Default Re: Forum access problem

Some strict content filtering systems do produce false positives. The use of 'trannie' for transistor radio has caused problems in the past. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scunthorpe_problem.
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Old 8th May 2022, 5:59 pm   #3
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Default Re: Forum access problem

I had the same problem some time ago with an Australian vintage technology site, it was tracked down to the mention of vibrator power supplies. The internet provider wanted my credit card number to prove my age before allowing me to log on.

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Old 8th May 2022, 10:00 pm   #4
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Default Re: Forum access problem

Unfortunately some of these adult content filters used by internet providers aren’t very bright, and will block sites just because a word they don’t like in on the homepage, regardless of the context.

There is nothing we can do about it.

Best thing to do is to have that nonsense switched off for your account, unless you need it because you have young children or something.
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Old 8th May 2022, 11:29 pm   #5
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Default Re: Forum access problem

I had a similar problem a short while ago - no device in the home could access this site (only this site, nothing else at all was affected) and it was resolved by rebooting the router. Never did get to the root cause though.
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Old 9th May 2022, 6:38 am   #6
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Default Re: Forum access problem

Most of this adult content filtering by ISPs is done via their own DNS servers. If so you can get round the issue by changing your DNS servers to one of the generic ones, Google offer them and others are available. The ISPs normally make it hard to change the DNS servers in their routers but you can do it on each computer, in Windows at least.
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Old 9th May 2022, 8:55 am   #7
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Default Re: Forum access problem

Our “blocker” at work once prevented me from checking out the surf conditions on the Bude webcam. I don’t know why, and neither did the security desk analyst who unblocked it for me.
I also got into trouble trying to view a post on another forum once, where a poster has abbreviated Towers International Transistor selector into its initials…….
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Old 16th Jun 2022, 12:27 pm   #8
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Default Re: Forum access problem

Just in the last 10 days or so, I have been having a problem in that clicking my bookmark for the site's homepage results in a can't be found message.

Now I use a VPN and if I turn that off, I can click my bookmark and enter the site no problem.

After I'm in I can re-enable my VPN and continue around the site per normal.

Is there possibly some geofencing happening?
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Old 16th Jun 2022, 3:05 pm   #9
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Default Re: Forum access problem

Very strange. The forum isn't geofenced, and I'm not aware of any special procedures in place for VPN access. Where does your VPN pretend to be? If it terminates in Russia or Ukraine it may be being affected by the ongoing crisis there.

Can you post the exact content of your bookmark?

You last accessed the forum with an Australian IPA.
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Old 17th Jun 2022, 12:38 am   #10
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Default Re: Forum access problem

My VPN is set to Melbourne Australia although occasionally I have seen it reported to be located somewhere out of Australia without me having changed it.

I didn't actually take much notice of where it thought it was but as it did it again this morning (my time) I did an IP look up and it is reporting as Melbourne.

My bookmark is https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/index.php so nothing unusual there.

Edit: It's Avast VPN
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Old 17th Jun 2022, 7:54 am   #11
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Default Re: Forum access problem

What OS are you using?
There are reports of problems with VPN and a Windows function “ smart multi-homed name resolution”, ie, DNS resolution.
See Avast support ,” Why cant I browse the internet” about half way down the page.
https://support.avast.com/en-gb/arti...SecureLine-VPN

And a search on smart multi home produced.
https://proprivacy.com/privacy-news/...-risk-dns-leak

I don’t know if this is related to your problem, worth testing DNS resolution when the fault appears, also as with any web browser problem, clear the browser cache, it could be as simple as a corrupt cache. Know your passwords before clearing the cache.
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Old 17th Jun 2022, 12:46 pm   #12
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Default Re: Forum access problem

Win 10 Pro.

I'll have a look at those for when it happens again.

Funnily enough, this is the only website where it is happening (so far).
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Old 18th Jun 2022, 6:57 am   #13
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Default Re: Forum access problem

Well, happening more often now.

Just wouldn't connect this morning and got 403 error this afternoon.

Checked my IP location and says Melbourne.

VPN off, connects fine, turn VPN back while connected and stays logged in.

Checked the Avast links posted and everything is set up as per the info.
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Old 18th Jun 2022, 10:36 am   #14
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Default Re: Forum access problem

Was it a 403 error you had before, the DNS is working ok or it wouldn’t have resolved the forums url.
Did you clear the web cache?
After that I don’t know unless the forum software doesn’t like the changes the VPN service is making to the request.
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Old 18th Jun 2022, 10:44 am   #15
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Default Re: Forum access problem

Again, the last IPA logged by the forum for you was Australian, so nothing unusual there.

Nobody else has reported anything similar happening.
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Old 18th Jun 2022, 11:14 am   #16
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Default Re: Forum access problem

Quote:
Originally Posted by Nuvistor View Post
Was it a 403 error you had before

No, if left long enough just said couldn't find the address.


Yes, cleared the cache, might do a reinstall of the VPN to see if that makes any difference.
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Old 18th Jun 2022, 11:59 am   #17
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Default Re: Forum access problem

What I don't understand is that 403 is a server error - your browser is getting a response from a server somewhere. The only explanation I can think of is that the forum server is configured to reject connections from VPNs, but there's no reason why that would be the case, and you can't be the only forum member using one. I'll ask Paul Stenning to take a look.
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Old 18th Jun 2022, 12:20 pm   #18
Paul Stenning
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Default Re: Forum access problem

I am checking the reason for the 403 error with the hosting company, as we have the IP address to check in the server logs.

I am somewhat unclear why you are using a VPN to access the forum. It should not be necessary.
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Old 18th Jun 2022, 12:27 pm   #19
paulsherwin
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Default Re: Forum access problem

Some people do prefer to use a VPN for all their internet activity for privacy reasons.
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Old 18th Jun 2022, 12:59 pm   #20
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Default Re: Forum access problem

It's for both privacy and security reasons I use a VPN - all the PC's in this place are locked down tighter than Fort Knox.
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