[Hidden-tech] What is "browser support"?

[Marcia Yudkin]

On Wednesday, January 24, 2024 at 02:24:54 PM HST, Robert Heller <heller at deepsoft.com> wrote: 


Thanks.



Some questions:

What operating system is running on your laptop?  What Version?

WINDOWS 10 No idea what version.

What browser are you using on your laptop? What version?

CHROME but it happens with FIREFOX also.  No idea what version.

Are you using a 
"NYTimes App" on your cell phone? 

YES.

(These questions might seem weird, but the answers will give us a clue as to 
what is going on.)

At Wed, 24 Jan 2024 21:11:57 +0000 (UTC) Marcia Yudkin <yudkinyudkin at yahoo.com> wrote:

> 
> i have a paid subscription to the NY Times and am now in a new location on my laptop where I am occasionally being blocked from some inner pages of the NY Times with an error message saying that they believe I am a robot.
> 
> This never happens from front-page stories, only on some less prominent stories.  I didn't take a screen shot, unfortunately, of the error message.
> 
> I (reasonably) believed it was the NY Times blocking me from their content.  However, they insist it is not them - it is either my ISP or my browser doing it.  This makes no sense to me.
> 
> On the error message, it suggested that I disable my VPN and ad blockers (neither of which I use), and if that didn't work, to clock the "browser support" button below.  I did that many times, to no apparent effect.
> 
> According to the NY Times, that "browser support" is not them but some other entity doing the blocking and being responsible for unblocking me.  I do not understand this at all.  Why on earth would a browser block me from accessing certain paid content and no other content?  This error message comes up ONLY with the NY Times.
> 
> One more possible clue:  This doesn't happen when I use my cellphone on the same wifi system as my laptop to access the pages in question.  In other words, if I get blocked on my laptop by something saying I am a robot, I can then read that story on my cellphone.  (Which of course is a hassle.)
> 
> Can anyone shed light on this?  If it happens again (I thought it was fixed but then I got blocked again yesterday), I will grab a screenshot, but in the meantime...???

> 
> Marcia Yudkin
> _______________________________________________
> Hidden-discuss mailing list - home page: http://www.hidden-tech.net
> Hidden-discuss at lists.hidden-tech.net
> 
> You are receiving this because you are on the Hidden-Tech Discussion list.
> If you would like to change your list preferences, Go to the Members
> page on the Hidden Tech Web site.
> http://www.hidden-tech.net/members

> 
> 

-- 
Robert Heller            -- Cell: 413-658-7953 GV: 978-633-5364
Deepwoods Software        -- Custom Software Services
http://www.deepsoft.com/  -- Linux Administration Services
heller at deepsoft.com      -- Webhosting Services