Inexplicable message

What ho one and all,

Recently, I have been receiving the following message from some web sites. No idea what it implies or how to resolve it.

Attachment 16008

The image is from Argos, an on-line catalogue UK company

Quote:

---

(https://www.argos.co.uk/?deeplink=true&&_$ja=tsid:11705|acid:224-060-0086|cid:94668565|agid:4507124965
|tid:kwd-18880610|crid:535779513013|nw:g|rnd:15631410818242713113|dvc:c|adp:|mt:e|loc:2826&utm_source=Google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=94668565&
utm_term=argos&utm_content=text&utm_custom1=4507124965&utm_custom2=
224-060-0086&cmpid=GG05X&GPDP=true)

---

I can get to the home page but searching for anything produces the above message. Alternatively, searching for example Smoke Alarm,Argos produces the Google results, but clicking any link also gives the same message.

I use FF but have tried with Opera and the same. Also is happening with some other sites but I have not saved which ones.

A Google search was somewhat unhelpful.

Thanks and toodle pip

Are you using a VPN? If so try turning it off temporarily.

No, not using a VPN. However, Opera has a VPN and either on or off, the same (or similar message. Similar because the numbers change,)

Tried with our TV computer last night (W7 / Firefox) and the same.

Have a look here for more ideas.

https://en.ittrip.xyz/windows/troubl...nied#index_id0

Wow; that is a very comprehensive check list. Thank you very much. I will work my way through some of the suggestions. Did try specifically, the Argos site on another computer running W7 but same result. Will try on my wife's (W8) and on my phone.

Tried the Argos web site on my mobile while sitting next to the router. No problems. Tried my wife's W8 computer and no worries; no denied message.

I was trying to get a price for something on the Argos web site, but now it is my 'go-to' to check about this Access Denied business. It is also happening on a few other web sites.

Tried in Safe Mode, still blocked. Deleted cache for the Argos web site, same, private window, the same. Guess I will try a new profile. Can't be the router as that is switched off and rebooted every morning, as are the computers. In FF, I have the cache cleared on shutdown.

What can it be within my computer that is causing this 'block?'

Try accessing it in a new private window. Click file>new private window. That will eliminate all addons and extensions like ad blockers etc.

Thanks, Tried New Private Window; tried in Safe Mode and just now, created a new profile, but the result is the same, Access Denied.

Last night, I cleaned the computer with Wise 365 and my old time favourite, JV16 PowerTools, then defragged. Generally, I follow with an image but did not as I hoped that cleaning would eliminated this issue. So may take the 'hammer' approach; take an image then restore from the last image (around two months ago) when all was working fine.

FWIW I make an incremental image automatically every Sunday so when I have to use an image I have a very recent version/versions I can use without
necessarily losing a lot of data/changes to my computer.

I have never actually made an incremental back-up. Just the whole OS partition every now and then. My reason is that the only changes I would have made are possibly adding a new program that in most likelihood, I don't need. But I alwsy have three images (the most current and the previous two) so can always check which program to add should I need it.

Spoke with the broadband provider yesterday, mentioned the issue. he said that if one computer (wireless) and the phones can access the site, then the issue is not with the ISP hardware / software. There is another possibility. I run an old / free version of ZoneAlarm and that has recently been popping up an 'important upgrade' message. Since the upgrade is not free, I just cancel the message. I had a look at ZoneAlarm and cannot see how to bulk delete some of the 4000+ entries. It could be that one of those is causing the issue.

Have you tried temp bypassing the firewall to test the site(s)?


clearing log entries in ZoneAlarm:

https://support.zonealarm.com/hc/en-...-Firewall-Logs

I did clear the ZA logs but nevertheless, ZA informs me that under Application control, there are 1500+ programs secured. Certainly don't have anywhere near that number on the computer. Additionally, when I boot the computer, ZA now flashes a message that I need to upgrade, which I did but the upgrade will only install if I have W10 or W11.

Today, I uninstalled ZA and reinstalled the same W7 version 11 hoping that would clear all the data and also the Access Denied message.

But no. (what a surprise) Certainly, ZA now shows under Firewall, ) attempts blocked (previously around 14,000)

So activated FF and the Argos site is still Access Denied; likewise with Opera. However, r3dFox and all is fine. Makes no sense

Worth noting is that more and more websites, especially those that involve exchange of money/goods, are no longer allowing connections from computers with Windows 7 due to newer security protocols in later editions. R3dfox is likely using some digital obfuscation to make a site think it's later than Win7.

It could also be related to the browser's User Agent (UA) number. R3dfox is using the current Firefox release (151.0.2) as its base. The latest Firefox on Win7 is 115.36.0 ESR.

I was able to open https://www.argos.co.uk/ with 115.36.0 ESR portable, but on Win10.

Interesting; did not know that; thank you. Most likely the reason. Probably no way to find out. I do occasionally receive the 'you must update your OS' message on some sites, but never had Access Denied.

Guess I will drop the issue as I have never bought anything at Argos and do not plan to do so.