[Hidden-tech] Verizon blockage problem (long post)

[Town Websites]

Sounds like that could be a DNS issue to me.

When you did the tracert, did it show you an IP address?

If it doesn't show an IP address, DNS sounds like the first likely
explanation.  If it does show an IP address, try doing the tracert again
directly to the IP address.  If that is still blocked, I'd guess there is a
routing problem which maybe is 80% likely to be in Verizon's sphere of
responsibility, but if it is possible to go direct to the IP you should
still try a different DNS server.

If you think it may be a DNS problem you can switch to an alternate DNS
service instead of whatever Verizon set you up with.  For example
OpenDNS.com.  If your husband is able to do tracert he's probably able to
figure out how to set your DNS server.  Good luck!

Charlie Heath
Town Websites


-----Original Message-----
From: hidden-discuss-bounces at lists.hidden-tech.net
[mailto:hidden-discuss-bounces at lists.hidden-tech.net] On Behalf Of Marcia
Yudkin
Sent: Thursday, September 15, 2011 7:50 AM
To: hidden-discuss at lists.hidden-tech.net
Subject: [Hidden-tech] Verizon blockage problem (long post)

   ** Be sure to fill out the survey/skills inventory in the member's area.
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Hi techies!

Since last Saturday, I've had a weird problem with Verizon DSL and have
finally narrowed down the possibilities.  It appears that Verizon is
blocking me from accessing certain web sites - including at times my
Pair.com mail server, sometimes my own web sites hosted by Pair, and almost
all the time my shopping cart site.  Everything else appears to be working.

Here's what we have eliminated:

1)The problem occurs identically on all three computers hooked up to our
home network.

2)We thought it was a faulty modem, ordered a new modem and that didn't seem
to change the results.

3)We went to the library and confirmed that all the unreachable sites were
reachable there on their computer.

4)We brought a laptop to the library and were able to access everything by
connecting through the library's network.

5)If I try a proxy server, I'm able to reach all the problematic sites.

When my husband tried to trace the route between our computer and the sites
we can't get, it appears that the signal gets stuck at the hop just beyond
our modem.  

I have three questions:

1)Has anyone else had this problem with Verizon DSL?

2)What can I tell them that will get them to fix the problem for me?  Or is
there a way to escalate the problem to someone who can fix it?

3)If I can't get Verizon to solve the problem (their ability/willingness to
help is limited and oh so time-consuming!), then is there a safe workaround
involving some kind of proxy server?  Since one of the sites I can't reach
is my shopping cart site, and that is a service I can't afford to open up to
hackers, any workaround needs to be secure.  I read a little about proxy
servers and it looks like I would need some kind of paid service, which I
don't mind as long as it's not expensive and is trustworthy.  But this is
over my head, technically.

I'm grateful for any pointers in the direction of a solution.  Please be
mindful, though, that if you get really technical in your answer I may not
understand what you're talking about!'

Thanks,
Marcia Yudkin
Goshen
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