What is going on?

[DaveW]

As of Wednesday a week ago I cannot log on at work at all.  I do not get the standard "site blocked" page either; but after several minutes of trying, I get an error message that I cannot connect to the server.  Happens on every browser I have.  (IE, Firefox, Chrome)

And I am getting a lot of ads starting in new pages (kinda like a popup) here at home. 

Oh - and a lot of just plain text is coming up as clickable links. 

Did something change here?

[Wycliffes_Shillelagh]

Oh - and a lot of just plain text is coming up as clickable links.

That's an adware program that I had trouble with a couple months ago.  It goes by a bunch of names.  Mediabuzz, Buzz Words, etc.

I haven't had any of the other problems you mentioned, though.  I don't think that it's a GCF server-side issue.

Jarrod

[MoodyMoose]

Could your work place have installed something to block your accessing religious sites?
I had a friend who's work installed a program that did that. It also blocked video sites like YouTube and others.

[Wycliffes_Shillelagh]

If the work server was blocking it, it should give a message telling you it did, and usually why.  I get it at work sometimes - "Access Blocked, Category: Gambling."  I was just trying to find out the score of last night's basketball game...

Jarrod

[MeMyself]

If the work server was blocking it, it should give a message telling you it did, and usually why.  I get it at work sometimes - "Access Blocked, Category: Gambling."  I was just trying to find out the score of last night's basketball game...

Jarrod

Wow.  That's quite the little watch dog they've installed.    My poor dh would be lost if he couldn't get the scores at work!

[Alan]

Dave, maybe try looking for a dubious browser plug in and disable/delete it. My FF at work throws up pop ups that are related to the text I am reading with best prices for whatever the subject is. Fortunately that spyware has not affected chrome. I have disabled/uninstalled the toolbars, and disabled/deleted the plug ins, works for a bit but returns after log out/in. If it was mine I would run a good anti-spyware app and be rid of it, but that's not up to me. 

[DaveW]

It is not a plugin because it is the same no matter which brouwser I use.  It just sits there and says "connecting to server" and then times out. If it was blocked by either the DOC or NOAA firewalls I would get an error screen saying it was blocked and why. But it just times out.

So I guess for the near future anyway you will only see me on weekends.

[chosenone]

It is not a plugin because it is the same no matter which brouwser I use.  It just sits there and says "connecting to server" and then times out. If it was blocked by either the DOC or NOAA firewalls I would get an error screen saying it was blocked and why. But it just times out.

So I guess for the near future anyway you will only see me on weekends.

We miss you.

[MeMyself]

It is not a plugin because it is the same no matter which brouwser I use.  It just sits there and says "connecting to server" and then times out. If it was blocked by either the DOC or NOAA firewalls I would get an error screen saying it was blocked and why. But it just times out.

So I guess for the near future anyway you will only see me on weekends.

We miss you.

[Alan]

It is not a plugin because it is the same no matter which brouwser I use.  It just sits there and says "connecting to server" and then times out. If it was blocked by either the DOC or NOAA firewalls I would get an error screen saying it was blocked and why. But it just times out.

So I guess for the near future anyway you will only see me on weekends.

We miss you.

Yes we do 

[AVZ]

It is not a plugin because it is the same no matter which brouwser I use.  It just sits there and says "connecting to server" and then times out. If it was blocked by either the DOC or NOAA firewalls I would get an error screen saying it was blocked and why. But it just times out.

So I guess for the near future anyway you will only see me on weekends.

You can try the following:

A) in you browser use the following to connect
1. http://www.gracecentered.com
2. www.gracecentered.com
3. gracecentered.com

B) use a proxy server (google for addresses)

[DaveW]

Well guess what?  I tried the site today and here I am. 

You can try the following:

A) in you browser use the following to connect
1. http://www.gracecentered.com
2. www.gracecentered.com
3. gracecentered.com

B) use a proxy server (google for addresses)

I had done all that to no avail.  I even tried setting up a "tiny url" if you know what that is.  All to no effect.

Thanks for the kind words.      

[Nevertheless]

Yay! Welcome back!

[Jean74]

Seems like you are back. Welcome back indeed!

[DaveW]

Thanks.  Good to be back.  Do not know what the issue was. 

I did not have to run a script I have to run when ever IT does DOC updates (it knocks out access to a program I need) so there were no updates installed (either when I lost this site nor when I got it back.

[Nevertheless]

Gremlins. The nasty little critters mess things up when you least expect it.

[DaveW]

Well as of Friday I cannot access this site from work (unless it was down all day)

Same deal as before. 

[MeMyself]

Well as of Friday I cannot access this site from work (unless it was down all day)

Same deal as before.

The site would not let me access it from home for about five days, then alla sudden I could.  It didn't last for very long.  I haven't been able to access the site since last Monday, I think.    Pretty frustrating. Today, suddenly, I can get on...we'll see how long this lasts.   

[chosenone]

Hope that you both manage to stay with us, we miss you when you arent here. 

[MeMyself]

Hope that you both manage to stay with us, we miss you when you arent here. 

Thanks!    I miss this place too!  I hope it "sticks" this time. 

[Jaime]

I have had hours long periods where I could not get on for several days now. But not a situation that lasts more than a few hours.

[MeMyself]

I have had hours long periods where I could not get on for several days now. But not a situation that lasts more than a few hours.

That's how it started for me too...a few hours, but eventually, it would be back up and I could access it again.

Then, the difficulties were "up graded". 

[DaveW]

Ah - back on again.  No joy this morning but now it seems good.

[4WD]

This is the first that I have been able to access this site since last Friday, 3/20.

[DaveW]

It was down again earlier today.

[k-pappy]

There was another DDOS attack on the site...from our resident troll, I suspect.  I guess he's no happy just messing with the people on here anymore.

[DaveW]

You are ignoring this user. Show me the post.

Hey - can I take you off of "ignore" now?