Why does my computer block some websites?

[Sleazy19]

Hi everyone
A few weeks ago, I couldn't have access to Literotica.com from my laptop, for some unknown reason. Whenever I logged on from another computer it worked, but not in my laptop. It fixed itself, cause I tried last night and it works perfectly fine now. But now I'm having the same problem with another website. And this time it's really urgent that I sent some stuff to this website. How do I fix this problem?
Any suggestion is welcome...

Thanks
S

 

[coastal-boy]

who else is using the laptop? Sounds like the settings in your internet security...You using wireless?

 

[Sleazy19]

My cousin uses it also, the laptop is plugged to a modem if that's what you're asking. I have to confess I don't know much about computers.

 

[SweetErika]

Well, what browser are you using (IE, Firefox, etc.)?

Have you checked the privacy/security settings on that browser (usually under Edit or Tools > Preferences or Options)? I think IE might have parental controls, as well, so you'll want to check those if your browser has them.

Have you run a virus and spyware scan? AVG Free, Spybot and Adaware are all great, free programs. If you have another antivirus program, like McAfee, open it up and check it out, as some of them have parental controls and the ability to block specific sites.

What site are you trying to get to, and what happens when you type the address in and try to access it via Google? Does it give you an error message, blank page, go to another site, etc.?

 

[Sleazy19]

I have both IE and Firefox, neither works. I don't think it's a parental control issue since it's a website for teachers. It's www.VIF.com. When I type the address, it says SERVER NOT FOUND. I will check the security settings though. I haven't run a virus scan. I'll do that now..

Thanks a lot.

 

[coastal-boy]

Well, what browser are you using (IE, Firefox, etc.)?

Have you checked the privacy/security settings on that browser (usually under Edit or Tools > Preferences or Options)? I think IE might have parental controls, as well, so you'll want to check those if your browser has them.

Have you run a virus and spyware scan? AVG Free, Spybot and Adaware are all great, free programs. If you have another antivirus program, like McAfee, open it up and check it out, as some of them have parental controls and the ability to block specific sites.

What site are you trying to get to, and what happens when you type the address in and try to access it via Google? Does it give you an error message, blank page, go to another site, etc.?

This would be my first guess...parental controls. Then check your firewall, if the site is downloading a cookie and your setting prevents it, you won't see it. You can always disable your security for a minute to see if it connects and then re-enable it. If you can connect w/ it disabled, there are several places where this could be occurring depending on what you are running.

 

[Noira]

Parental controls can block some pretty odd things... but our internet's been blinking out lately, it could simply be that your network was temporarily down, or that theirs was.

Also, at one point in my history, I had a trojan that was blocking my internet. A-squared and Spybot Search and Destroy would be good programs to run. Sounds like parental or internet controls though...

 

[Sleazy19]

Thanks everyone for their replies. I asked someone who's a genius with computers and he fixed it for me. It turns out it was the DNS whatever that wasn't set up. Or something like that. It was even blocking websites like Yahoo which according to my friend is very unlikely to happen.

Now it's working perfectly fine.

 

[coastal-boy]

Thanks everyone for their replies. I asked someone who's a genius with computers and he fixed it for me. It turns out it was the DNS whatever that wasn't set up. Or something like that. It was even blocking websites like Yahoo which according to my friend is very unlikely to happen.

Now it's working perfectly fine.

Domain Name System...that is an odd thing to be disabled (especially since it was working sporadically). This is more of the kind of problem you would expect when you first start up a new computer and are setting your preferences. This doesn't feel right to me...maybe your security was blocking the DNS protocol? Like your friend said...this is very weird

 

[Sleazy19]

Domain Name System...that is an odd thing to be disabled (especially since it was working sporadically). This is more of the kind of problem you would expect when you first start up a new computer and are setting your preferences. This doesn't feel right to me...maybe your security was blocking the DNS protocol? Like your friend said...this is very weird

You know what's weirder? It had been working just fine until this morning when it got screwed up again. Now it won't let me attach files.(!!!!) I remembered how my friend fixed it and did it again and it worked. But then I tried to check my mail on Yahoo a while later and I had the same stupid message: SERVER NOT FOUND. I hit the Refresh button several times, nothing happened. I decided to reboot and then it worked. So I guess it works sporadically as you said. Any ideas why this is happening or who I should contact? My Internet Provider or Tech Support from the place where I bought the computer?

S

 

[coastal-boy]

You know what's weirder? It had been working just fine until this morning when it got screwed up again. Now it won't let me attach files.(!!!!) I remembered how my friend fixed it and did it again and it worked. But then I tried to check my mail on Yahoo a while later and I had the same stupid message: SERVER NOT FOUND. I hit the Refresh button several times, nothing happened. I decided to reboot and then it worked. So I guess it works sporadically as you said. Any ideas why this is happening or who I should contact? My Internet Provider or Tech Support from the place where I bought the computer?

S

well first off, you haven't sent me an enlarged pic of your av or maybe a slightly different view

Is it doing it after it has been running? Or is this a start up thing. Since it is sporadic, is it happening right after a operating system update? I doubt this is a provider issue, but you are in S America so it is possible I guess. My bet is on a conflict with your internet security and the browser...maybe a problem line in your registry that shows up every so often. If that is it, you could turn the internet security off and see if the problem disappears before you reboot next time. If that resolves it...just reinstall your security. It is also possible the hardware isnt loading correctly each and every time, so taking it to where you bought it from is also a possibility if the others fixes dont pan out.

Whatever you do...I'm sure sending me a couple pics would help with the attachment issue.

 

[Sleazy19]

well first off, you haven't sent me an enlarged pic of your av or maybe a slightly different view

Is it doing it after it has been running? Or is this a start up thing. Since it is sporadic, is it happening right after a operating system update? I doubt this is a provider issue, but you are in S America so it is possible I guess. My bet is on a conflict with your internet security and the browser...maybe a problem line in your registry that shows up every so often. If that is it, you could turn the internet security off and see if the problem disappears before you reboot next time. If that resolves it...just reinstall your security. It is also possible the hardware isnt loading correctly each and every time, so taking it to where you bought it from is also a possibility if the others fixes dont pan out.

Whatever you do...I'm sure sending me a couple pics would help with the attachment issue.

I've noticed that it starts to cause trouble after the computer has been on for a while. I haven't done any operating system updates recently (that I know of...LOL) So how do I turn off my internet security again? Is that the same as turning off the Firewall? Thanks for your help.

I will consider your request for pictures.

 

[coastal-boy]

I've noticed that it starts to cause trouble after the computer has been on for a while. I haven't done any operating system updates recently (that I know of...LOL) So how do I turn off my internet security again? Is that the same as turning off the Firewall? Thanks for your help.

I will consider your request for pictures.

Ok that just complicates it more...seriously...I'm starting to wonder if I'm chasing a red herring and the problem is really hardware. This isn't making sense to me.

First thing to do when it happens again, turn off your internet security and try the website again. All protection is different, but on mine there is an icon in the lower right hand system tray. If you right click on the icon one time, you bring up a small dialog box...on mine there is an option to PAUSE PROTECTION. This will tell us if it is the security. If that isnt the problem...find another person using your provider and when it happens, give them a call and see if they are having a problem. If that isn't the problem, it still could be a a registry problem, but that would usually be only a problem when it starts up....but maybe if your computer is going to sleep, something concerning your hardware is not waking up. You can look on microsoft updates for hardware updates and install any new ones offered (this isn't always automatic). If this also doesn't help then take it in...it could be something as silly as memory. Hope that helps....I really am kinda at a loss here.

 

[Sleazy19]

Ok that just complicates it more...seriously...I'm starting to wonder if I'm chasing a red herring and the problem is really hardware. This isn't making sense to me.

First thing to do when it happens again, turn off your internet security and try the website again. All protection is different, but on mine there is an icon in the lower right hand system tray. If you right click on the icon one time, you bring up a small dialog box...on mine there is an option to PAUSE PROTECTION. This will tell us if it is the security. If that isnt the problem...find another person using your provider and when it happens, give them a call and see if they are having a problem. If that isn't the problem, it still could be a a registry problem, but that would usually be only a problem when it starts up....but maybe if your computer is going to sleep, something concerning your hardware is not waking up. You can look on microsoft updates for hardware updates and install any new ones offered (this isn't always automatic). If this also doesn't help then take it in...it could be something as silly as memory. Hope that helps....I really am kinda at a loss here.

I will try that...Thanks very much for your help

 

[dave's thing]

What operting system are you using? If its Vista you are only setting it temporarily by doing it manually and you Vista is returning to the default. You have to do it in Device manager settings. Get your friend to show.
Also the same thing can happen with a couplke versions of Norton and MacAfee.
If you are using a MAC I have no idea, but knowing the OS would be a good start

 

[Zoots_owner]

I had a problem like that recently, and it was because the DNS server I was using was kind of overloaded, and sometimes failed to respond in a timely fashion.

So it's possible that it's not the fault of your system at all.

Also, you should have two DNS servers in your configuration files; it's set up that way so that your system has one to fall back on in case the first one fails. If you have only one DNS server listed, you may just need a second one for backup.

 

[coastal-boy]

If its Vista you are only setting it temporarily by doing it manually and you Vista is returning to the default. You have to do it in Device manager settings.

Also the same thing can happen with a couplke versions of Norton and MacAfee.

But her issues are sporadic...she says it works for awhile then all of a sudden it acts up. That is why I asked her if there was an update of any kind. If there isnt an update, I dont think this is the problem...my understanding is it works and she turns it off and it works again the next time she turns it on. I no longer use either MacAfee or Norton...but if it one of these, disabling it will point that out.

 

[dave's thing]

But her issues are sporadic...she says it works for awhile then all of a sudden it acts up. That is why I asked her if there was an update of any kind. If there isnt an update, I dont think this is the problem...my understanding is it works and she turns it off and it works again the next time she turns it on. I no longer use either MacAfee or Norton...but if it one of these, disabling it will point that out.

I missed your 1st post (must have been the good lookin boobies on either side ). it didn't sound like it was sporadic to me seemed like after awhile it went back to the wrong DNS .... and then she had to reset it. HEY SLEAZY please clarify. But for sure with Vista it will reset various defaults on its own if not disabled.. and finding/figuaring out how to do some of that was a looong process for me. Once I did I really like Vista but little things like what Sleazy is describing drove me nuts for the first month or so.

 

[malestorm]

open dns ,
https://www.opendns.com/homenetwork/start

 

[Sleazy19]

What operting system are you using? If its Vista you are only setting it temporarily by doing it manually and you Vista is returning to the default. You have to do it in Device manager settings. Get your friend to show.
Also the same thing can happen with a couplke versions of Norton and MacAfee.
If you are using a MAC I have no idea, but knowing the OS would be a good start

I am using Vista and I'm starting to hate it too just like everyone else does.
I will try the Device Manager thing.

 

[Sleazy19]

I missed your 1st post (must have been the good lookin boobies on either side ). it didn't sound like it was sporadic to me seemed like after awhile it went back to the wrong DNS .... and then she had to reset it. HEY SLEAZY please clarify. But for sure with Vista it will reset various defaults on its own if not disabled.. and finding/figuaring out how to do some of that was a looong process for me. Once I did I really like Vista but little things like what Sleazy is describing drove me nuts for the first month or so.

When it first started acting up, the DNS was not even set up which was very odd, according to my computer-savvy friend. He set it up then and it worked fine for a month or so and now it gives me the same error message sporadically. Sometimes it works if I hit the refresh button several times. Other times, I have to reboot. Also i have to say that I don't have a back-up DNS server. I just have the preferred one. Maybe it could be what Zoots_owner said about the DNS server I'm using being overloaded. BTW, the one I'm using is 4.2.2.2. I think it's from a telephone company in the US.

I will try this website anyway
https://www.opendns.com/homenetwork/start

Thanks guys. You've been very helpful!

 

[jtf71961]

How old is your computer? If you have had it for a while, your problem might just be that it is overheating due to dust inside of it. YOu may need a real good clean out. I was having a problem with mine until I looked inside and needed to take the fan and the cooler apart and vacum it out. Once I vacumed it out mine works fine.

 

[dave's thing]

When it first started acting up, the DNS was not even set up which was very odd, according to my computer-savvy friend. He set it up then and it worked fine for a month or so and now it gives me the same error message sporadically. Sometimes it works if I hit the refresh button several times. Other times, I have to reboot. Also i have to say that I don't have a back-up DNS server. I just have the preferred one. Maybe it could be what Zoots_owner said about the DNS server I'm using being overloaded. BTW, the one I'm using is 4.2.2.2. I think it's from a telephone company in the US.

I will try this website anyway
https://www.opendns.com/homenetwork/start

Thanks guys. You've been very helpful!

hey sleazy..... let me know how that site works. There is difinately some good ideas there. Again don't be afraid to PM me if ya got any questions.

 

[SmirkingJack11]

open dns rules

Hey...

4.2.2.2 is Verizon's DNS server and I always set it as my backup DNS server.

I would go to opendns.com as well. I run a linux router with open dns hard coded in and it's been perfect for me.

The ISP's in South America are running on some pretty janky infrastructure, and I agree her dynamically assigned DNS server from her ISP was most likely overloaded. Hence the static DNS entries from openDNS should resolve the issue.

 

[Sleazy19]

hey sleazy..... let me know how that site works. There is difinately some good ideas there. Again don't be afraid to PM me if ya got any questions.

Yes it worked...Thanks again for your help.