Forbidden and 403 error pages

[stormchaser]

It may interest you all to know that apparently, after being unable to access my main www.ambilacuk.com site, I eventually received a reoply from my host provider in US tripod and lycos, that Virgin media are blocking all tripod hosting sites to UK viewers - may be some of you can check this.

I spent much time yesterday on the landline trying to find out which section of Virgin media I could deal with - eventually i had to resoert ot tech line...which i rang several times as they never got back to me...eventually a supervisor said he would look into the problem and call me back...which they did not of course.

All the support team I spoke to were foreign and had difficulty in explaining the situation...the supervisor was more coherent, but still no feedback
In essence, this would mean thousands of tripod websites would be unavailable

[Dai]

I'm seeing the same thing. I tried visiting a random selection of tripod member sites and got a 403 on every one.

[cimt]

Hmmm, the site's the same for me. What reason do they have to ban them type of sites?

[amateurfool]

I have tried to access your site as well as a few others that are hosted by Tripod, and get the same thing. The strange thing is, the error message is generated by the host server, as if VM connections are being blocked by the host, not by VM, especially as this is also affecting NTL:Telewest business customers.

[stormchaser]

I have run that site as well as many sections of that site for 6 years with no problem.. it is an archaeology and preparedness site

Here is the message I received from my website provider lycos...

Quote
Thank you for contacting Lycos support. We have identified the cause of
this problem: Virgin Media is blocking our UK customers from accessing
their Tripod sites.

We are doing our best to correct this issue but you can assist us by
contacting Virgin Media directly to report this issue to them.
Unquote

[amateurfool]

Originally Posted by stormchaser

I have run that site as well as many sections of that site for 6 years with no problem.. it is an archaeology and preparedness site

Here is the message I received from my website provider lycos...

Quote
Thank you for contacting Lycos support. We have identified the cause of
this problem: Virgin Media is blocking our UK customers from accessing
their Tripod sites.

We are doing our best to correct this issue but you can assist us by
contacting Virgin Media directly to report this issue to them.
Unquote

I cannot see VM blocking sites for business users, i am on a rather expensive business connection, and i am affected.

The 403 forbidden error is a server generated security error, caused when the person accessing the page does not have permission to, so Lycos are actually blocking access to the site from VM connections.

Methinks Lycos has blacklisted the entire VM network for some reason ... possibly as a result of a hacker attack?

[amateurfool]

Originally Posted by Chris T

Methinks Lycos has blacklisted the entire VM network for some reason ... possibly as a result of a hacker attack?

That's the way it looks to me.

[stormchaser]

As this is a major issue affecting many thousands, I have contacted tripod support yet again asking them to look at their end of the network to ensure it is not their issue..
As soon as I receive a reply I will let you know.
In the meantime, no reply from Virgin media... what a nightmare trying to track anyone down

[tweetiepooh]

It's server sided. Since the forbidden messages I am seeing on various sites are all different it suggests they are from different sources not.

Often ISP's block proxies or blocks of IP's if hit. They are often unable or unwilling to focus just on the users that really cause problems, some of whom my spoof addresses effectively creating a DOS.

[stormchaser]

So basically it is a Virgin media issue?

Tripod are still insisting it is this end via Virgin media - who I have found very difficult to contact, talk to and get any sense - present company excepted - I also understand if you write to Swansea for e.g (where I happen to be located) they post all mail off to India to input on database before replying some weeks later?

[amateurfool]

Originally Posted by stormchaser

As this is a major issue affecting many thousands, I have contacted tripod support yet again asking them to look at their end of the network to ensure it is not their issue..
As soon as I receive a reply I will let you know.
In the meantime, no reply from Virgin media... what a nightmare trying to track anyone down

As it is most likely a server permissions problem, there is very little that VM can do about it.

---------- Post added at 10:14 ---------- Previous post was at 10:13 ----------

Originally Posted by stormchaser

So basically it is a Virgin media issue?

Tripod are still insisting it is this end via Virgin media - who I have found very difficult to contact, talk to and get any sense - present company excepted - I also understand if you write to Swansea for e.g (where I happen to be located) they post all mail off to India to input on database before replying some weeks later?

It is an issue affecting VM customers, however it is a Lycos problem as it is the Lycos servers that are blocking VM connections.

[stormchaser]

OK - many thanks

Weird, however, as I am able to log on and edit my site via http://www.tripod.lycos.com/ but of course cannot see the finished product if I attempt to access my website URL -
Don't you just love mysteries? not

[amateurfool]

Originally Posted by stormchaser

OK - many thanks

Weird, however, as I am able to log on and edit my site via http://www.tripod.lycos.com/ but of course cannot see the finished product if I attempt to access my website URL -
Don't you just love mysteries? not

No mystery, different servers.

www.tripod.lycos.com = 209.202.226.20

rockgtabs.tripod.com (for example) = 209.202.226.100

[stormchaser]

Yes of course - as soon as across the pond have woken up I should receive a reply and let you all know any outcomes