Blocked website

[Rich]

I am unable to access www.equifax.com using my Vista Ultimate SP1 system.
Both IE7 and Firefox are unable to connect. I am running Norton Internet
Security 2008. No other sites I have tried to access are blocked. I have
checked for restricted sites in IE settings and have disabled all NIS
protection. Parental controls are not turned on. I am able to access the
site using two other systems on my network that are running XP SP2 with NIS
2008. Any ideas what is blocking this site?

 

[Michael Walraven]

I am unable to access either. I suspect site is just down at the moment.
Vista Home Premium, IE7, McAfee
Michael

 

[John Barnett MVP]

I can access Equifax without any problems.

--

--
John Barnett MVP
Associate Expert
Windows Desktop Experience

Web: http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org
Web: http://vistasupport.mvps.org

The information in this mail/post is supplied "as is". No warranty of any
kind, either expressed or implied, is made in relation to the accuracy,
reliability or content of this mail/post. The Author shall not be liable for
any direct, indirect, incidental or consequential damages arising out of the
use of, or inability to use, information or opinions expressed in this
mail/post..

 

[Dave]

Works fine for me... tried it twice.
FF3

 

[Paul Montgomery]

I can access Equifax without any problems.

So can the OP using two other computers on the network.

He wants to know why HIS computer can't.

 

[Paul Montgomery]

Works fine for me... tried it twice.
FF3

So can the OP using two other computers on the network.

He wants to know why HIS computer can't.

 

[Dave]

So tell him.

 

[FromTheRafters]

I am unable to access www.equifax.com using my Vista Ultimate SP1 system.
Both IE7 and Firefox are unable to connect. I am running Norton Internet
Security 2008. No other sites I have tried to access are blocked. I have
checked for restricted sites in IE settings and have disabled all NIS
protection. Parental controls are not turned on. I am able to access the
site using two other systems on my network that are running XP SP2 with NIS
2008. Any ideas what is blocking this site?

Have you checked the "hosts" file?

C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc

IE uses it, but I'm not sure if Firefox does. It can be used
to return the loopback address for certain lookups, maybe
equifax is in there with 127.0.0.1 as the IP address. If it
is, remove it (you may have to scroll down to see all entries
in this file).

Are there any proxy servers involved? Some web filter may
be inserted between your browser and the ISP (as a proxy)
and be malfunctioning or misconfigured.

 

[FromTheRafters]

Oh, and in addition to my other post in this thread, you
may want to confirm that your DNS server setting is set
for the correct server. Bad guys have been known to
change this to one they control the data of - just like the
hosts file, they provide a wrong number in return for
a lookup and then can "spoof" the site you intended to
reach at this new fraudulent IP address.

Not too helpful I'm afraid, but you asked for ideas.

 

[Dave R.]

I am unable to access www.equifax.com using my Vista Ultimate SP1
system. Both IE7 and Firefox are unable to connect. I am running Norton
Internet Security 2008. No other sites I have tried to access are
blocked. I have checked for restricted sites in IE settings and have
disabled all NIS protection. Parental controls are not turned on. I am
able to access the site using two other systems on my network that are
running XP SP2 with NIS 2008. Any ideas what is blocking this site?

Working fine here under Vista Business SP1 with IE7.

And before Paul Montgomery replies to this response with the same "So
can the OP using two other computers on the network. He wants to know
why HIS computer can't.", yes, I know. But the implication from the OP
is that it may be somehow related to Vista SP1, so this post is only
intended to indicate that it doesn't appear to be Vista SP1's fault.

Regards,

(a different) Dave

 

[Mr. Arnold]

I am unable to access www.equifax.com using my Vista Ultimate SP1 system.
Both IE7 and Firefox are unable to connect. I am running Norton Internet
Security 2008. No other sites I have tried to access are blocked. I have
checked for restricted sites in IE settings and have disabled all NIS
protection. Parental controls are not turned on. I am able to access the
site using two other systems on my network that are running XP SP2 with NIS
2008. Any ideas what is blocking this site?

Do a hard reset of the router, which is holding down the Reset button for 30
seconds or more, turn the router off for 5 minutes and power it back up and
see if that corrects your problem.

Look, if you disconnect the Vista machine from the router, connect the
machine directly to the modem and the machine can access the site, then you
know the problem is somewhere else.

 

[Paul Montgomery]

And before Paul Montgomery replies to this response with the same "So
can the OP using two other computers on the network. He wants to know
why HIS computer can't.", yes, I know. But the implication from the OP
is that it may be somehow related to Vista SP1, so this post is only
intended to indicate that it doesn't appear to be Vista SP1's fault.

Here's his statement:

"I am unable to access www.equifax.com using my Vista Ultimate SP1 system."

That is the ONLY mention he made of SP1 and is a normally expected
inclusion when describing the system having a problem.

It in no way - except in your wild imagination - implies that SP1 is part
of the problem.

 

[Rich]

Have you checked the "hosts" file?

Yes, I checked it too. Sorry, I forgot to say that.

 

[Rich]

Oh, and in addition to my other post in this thread, you
may want to confirm that your DNS server setting is set
for the correct server. Bad guys have been known to
change this to one they control the data of - just like the
hosts file, they provide a wrong number in return for
a lookup and then can "spoof" the site you intended to
reach at this new fraudulent IP address.

Not too helpful I'm afraid, but you asked for ideas.

Thanks, I checked that too.

 

[Rich]

Have you checked the "hosts" file?

C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc

IE uses it, but I'm not sure if Firefox does. It can be used
to return the loopback address for certain lookups, maybe
equifax is in there with 127.0.0.1 as the IP address. If it
is, remove it (you may have to scroll down to see all entries
in this file).

Are there any proxy servers involved? Some web filter may
be inserted between your browser and the ISP (as a proxy)
and be malfunctioning or misconfigured.

No proxys, other than NIS.

 

[Rich]

Do a hard reset of the router, which is holding down the Reset button for
30 seconds or more, turn the router off for 5 minutes and power it back
up and see if that corrects your problem.

Look, if you disconnect the Vista machine from the router, connect the
machine directly to the modem and the machine can access the site, then
you know the problem is somewhere else.

I eliminated the router and I still can't access the site. I am going to
uninstall NIS this weekend and see if that fixes it.

 

[FromTheRafters]

Sorry then, I'm out of ideas. (

Except, at the risk of sounding like a nutcase, there is
the chance of a rootkit. The only reason I even mention
it is because if you have one, you can't trust the data
returned to you from the OS's tools and utilities.

I hope someone else can help you.

 

[Rich]

I am unable to access www.equifax.com using my Vista Ultimate SP1 system.
Both IE7 and Firefox are unable to connect. I am running Norton Internet
Security 2008. No other sites I have tried to access are blocked. I have
checked for restricted sites in IE settings and have disabled all NIS
protection. Parental controls are not turned on. I am able to access the
site using two other systems on my network that are running XP SP2 with
NIS 2008. Any ideas what is blocking this site?

I uninstalled NIS and reset and removed the router. I still cannot access
the site with either IE7 or Firefox.
I have no other security related programs running. Pinging the URL or IP
address also fails. This is a real bugger.

 

[Rich]

I am unable to access www.equifax.com using my Vista Ultimate SP1 system.
Both IE7 and Firefox are unable to connect. I am running Norton Internet
Security 2008. No other sites I have tried to access are blocked. I have
checked for restricted sites in IE settings and have disabled all NIS
protection. Parental controls are not turned on. I am able to access the
site using two other systems on my network that are running XP SP2 with
NIS 2008. Any ideas what is blocking this site?

If I go to www.unblockerpage.com and enter the Equifax URL I will work. Any
ideas what the unblocker page is bypassing?

 

[Rich]

Here's his statement:

"I am unable to access www.equifax.com using my Vista Ultimate SP1
system."

That is the ONLY mention he made of SP1 and is a normally expected
inclusion when describing the system having a problem.

It in no way - except in your wild imagination - implies that SP1 is part
of the problem.

To clarify: This problem is unique to the one system. My other system, that
is also running SP1 does not have the problem.