Some websites/apps blocked

[mitchgixer6]

Hi there 

Looking for some help please as I have spent nearly 2 hours on live chat over the last few days and got absolutely nowhere. 

The past few days I've been having issues connecting to a few websites. First I noticed was my Strava app (which I use daily) would not load any data. I was also blocked from accessing the website (403 error request blocked). I then realised I was also blocked from Motogp.com. Same error. Every other site or app I have used since is still loading as normal. 

First thing I tried was a different device - same issue. I then tried turning WiFi off and using 5g - everything then worked as normal. I then tested further and turned on a VPN - again everything worked as normal. Of course I then surmised it must be an issue with talk talk and contacted chat.

They did the usual checks but could find nothing wrong. No line issues, no security settings which could be blocking anything. Of course they got me to reset router etc with no change. My router is up to date with latest firmware etc. 

Does anyone have any ideas why this might be happening? Only info I can find online is that somehow maybe my ip address has ended up on a block list incorrectly. Otherwise I have no idea why I'm blocked from these 2 sites.

Many thanks 

[Philile-TT]

@fr8ys @Gliwmaeden2 thank you for the support. 

[fr8ys]

Great. Pleased it worked.

And no tantrums either!

[mitchgixer6]

Big thanks again for the help. 

I turned off the router for about 40 minutes and that seems to have sorted my issues. 

Hopefully won't crop up again. 

Cheers 

[fr8ys]

That's lucky you have a 30 minute window!

You could still try a change to another DNS, just in case 

Good luck 

[mitchgixer6]

Thanks so much for the help. 

All homesafe settings are turned off already, and certainly nothing has changed within the last few days so I'm pretty sure it's not that causing the issue. 

Luckily my boys are out of the house today so will try turning off the router for a while and test that. Would be hell to pay if I tried that when I they were in the house haha. 

Oh and I'm already set up using 8.8.8.8 for DNS, I think that's cloud flare? 

Thanks again 

[fr8ys]

If you suspect your IP then turn your router off for 30 minutes and retesting.

Other thing could be TalkTalk have found something suspect with those sites, such as a malware warning and so have blocked it for security. It will be lifted if that's the case once it reports no issues. We have seen this in the past with other sites.

Let us know how turning off goes and staff may be able to check the site's status for you.

Alternatively you could try changing your DNS servers to something like Google, but if you use any TalkTalk security, these will no longer work as they require TalkTalk DNS.

[Gliwmaeden2]

Have you checked settings in Homesafe?

Experiment with turning off some sections, @mitchgixer6.

https://help-centre.talktalk.co.uk/Broadband/Security/How_to_turn_off_homesafe