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403 Error - only a problem with plusnet

PippaRS
Hooked
Posts: 5
Registered: ‎17-01-2022

403 Error - only a problem with plusnet

Hi

First of all, apologies if I dont explain this clearly, but I'm not very good at IT.

I have a website I access regularly, and when I tried looking at it last month, I got 'It appears you don't have permission to access this page.  403 error.  Forbidden'.  This has happened multiple times, whether I try to access it via a search or by typing in the address.  I also tried my husband's computer & laptop & mobile and had the same problem.

The website owner has looked from his end and can't find a problem, and says he is still getting a lot of UK traffic to the site, so doesn't think the problem is his end.  I tried a few suggestions (it was thought my virus protection might be responsible) but nothing helped.

I've just been away for a week, so I was using the internet of the place I was staying at - and I could access the website no problem on both my husband's mobile and my own laptop.  Now I've come back, and I'm getting the same 403 error message.  So I think it must be plusnet that is causing the problem.

Any ideas what I can do to fix this?  It's really irritating.  

Answers in very simple non-tech language please for this computer illiterate!

8 REPLIES 8
MisterW
Superuser
Superuser
Posts: 14,578
Thanks: 5,411
Fixes: 385
Registered: ‎30-07-2007

Re: 403 Error - only a problem with plusnet

@PippaRS  do you have PlusNet  Safeguard enabled ? https://www.plus.net/help/broadband/how-to-use-plusnet-safeguard/

If so , it sounds like Safeguard may be blocking the site in question

Superusers are not staff, but they do have a direct line of communication into the business in order to raise issues, concerns and feedback from the community.

PippaRS
Hooked
Posts: 5
Registered: ‎17-01-2022

Re: 403 Error - only a problem with plusnet

No, I had to turn Safeguard off when I first joined Plusnet as it was way too sensitive.  I'm a gardener, and it ended up blocking a couple of plant biology sites because it thought they were porn!!!

I did check to make sure I hadn't inadvertently turned it back on again, but it's still set to off.

MisterW
Superuser
Superuser
Posts: 14,578
Thanks: 5,411
Fixes: 385
Registered: ‎30-07-2007

Re: 403 Error - only a problem with plusnet

Does the website restrict access to only UK addresses ?

The reason I ask is that some PlusNet IP addresses were originally registered in the USA some years ago. They have been correctly reregistered in the UK by Plusnet for some years but some organisations still use 'out of date' geolocation databases and can 'think' these IP addresses are not UK. The website owner ought to be able to check your IP and their geolocation database to see if that is the problem.

Superusers are not staff, but they do have a direct line of communication into the business in order to raise issues, concerns and feedback from the community.

PippaRS
Hooked
Posts: 5
Registered: ‎17-01-2022

Re: 403 Error - only a problem with plusnet

The site is an American one, but gets people accessing it from all over the world and he says he is continuing to get a lot of traffic from the UK, so I don't think that can be the problem.

I last accessed the site in November (while with Plusnet) and had no issues then, so it's a fairly recent issue.  And as I mentioned, I had no issue in accessing it via another internet provider.

MisterW
Superuser
Superuser
Posts: 14,578
Thanks: 5,411
Fixes: 385
Registered: ‎30-07-2007

Re: 403 Error - only a problem with plusnet

I last accessed the site in November (while with Plusnet) and had no issues then, so it's a fairly recent issue.  And as I mentioned, I had no issue in accessing it via another internet provider.

that looks suspiciously like an IP problem. Your public IP address may well have changed since Nov.

Using another provider would give a completely different  public IP..

Superusers are not staff, but they do have a direct line of communication into the business in order to raise issues, concerns and feedback from the community.

PippaRS
Hooked
Posts: 5
Registered: ‎17-01-2022

Re: 403 Error - only a problem with plusnet

 If this is the problem, how do I resolve it?

MisterW
Superuser
Superuser
Posts: 14,578
Thanks: 5,411
Fixes: 385
Registered: ‎30-07-2007

Re: 403 Error - only a problem with plusnet

You get the website owner to check they are not blocking your IP

Superusers are not staff, but they do have a direct line of communication into the business in order to raise issues, concerns and feedback from the community.

PippaRS
Hooked
Posts: 5
Registered: ‎17-01-2022

Re: 403 Error - only a problem with plusnet

Thank you.  I will ask them to check.