email login page gets stuck in loop on ALL browsers not just safari.... eep

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email login page gets stuck in loop on ALL browsers not just safari.... eep

First of all this is not a problem with the mail application, I'm not trying to link hotmail to the mail app etc etc...

My problem is thus: When using ANY of my web browsers to login into my various email accounts (hotmail, yahoo, gmail .mac) I enter my address and password press enter -- then the page just reloads. I've spent the last two days trying to work out what the **** is wrong. This problem only began after I downloaded the latest security update, otherwise this all came out of the blue.
I have deleted cookies, disabled, enabled, and eaten.
I have scanned for current malware using every freeware app I could find, dnschanger, prayed to various diety's.
I have not downloaded anything in the last month that asked me to enter an admin password eg: ****4mac codec.... lol.
Please help I'm at my wits end
(I apologize if this post is in the wrong place)

Mac Mini intel dual core 1.66, Mac OS X (10.4.11)

Posted on Jun 8, 2008 6:29 AM

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Answer 1

BDAqua

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Jun 8, 2008 2:07 PM in response to thisbemyname

Hi, and welcome to the forums! 🙂

Since it doesn't involve the MAil or Address Book Applications, probably not the best!

That being said... it doesn't bother me one bit, it just might get you more help in another area.

Have you Repaired Permissions before & after the update, then rebooted?

Do you have any extensions/helpers in Safari/ Firefox, etc.?

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Answer 2

thisbemyname Author

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Jun 8, 2008 9:14 PM in response to BDAqua

Yeah, tried repairing disk permissions and restarting... no luck.

I know that this problem may not attract much attention considering its the subject of browser abnormalities rather than the mail app, but this problem is actually quite large on the whole. Considering I cant send forms of data that seem to have anything to do with a login- without them doing any of the following: page reload loop, reloads page or simply dosn't load at all... As you can imagine I'm feeling pretty insecure about my personal details and private data right now.
Though I feel stupid for asking I will do it anyway: would malware behave in this manner? (please bear in mind I personally do not believe it is malware, I just want to eradicate that fear from my mind)
If anyone out there can help I will be forever recounting the tale.

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Answer 3

thisbemyname Author

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Jun 8, 2008 9:18 PM in response to thisbemyname

Sorry, forgot to add that I have no extensions on safari or firefox.

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Answer 4

BDAqua

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Jun 8, 2008 11:08 PM in response to thisbemyname

I consider any problem a potentially serious problem.

I don't suspect malware, but there is one that redirects browsers.

See if you might have this malware redirecting DNS queries...

http://macmegasite.com/node/3924

How to fix...

http://www.macosxhints.com/article.php?story=20071031114140862
http://www.dnschanger.com/

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Answer 5

thisbemyname Author

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Jun 9, 2008 1:09 AM in response to BDAqua

I had already tested with the macscan dnschanger tool to see if that was the case and no luck... tried again to be on the safe side -nothing.
So I followed the instructions for detection via the terminal provided in the macworld link... nope all is well on the dns server front.
Somewhat a relief, but still this problem continues.
Decided to see if the problem would occur with non-email specific logins such as web based games and the like- same thing happens (it just reloads the login page).
If anyone can think anything i should try out to help diagnose this very bizarre and odious problem, please don't hold back.

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Answer 6

BDAqua

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Jun 9, 2008 1:48 AM in response to thisbemyname

Might give a try with Applejack...
http://www.versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/macosx/19596

After installing, reboot holding down CMD+s, then when the prompt shows, type in...

applejack AUTO

Then let it do all 5 of it's things.

At least it'll eliminate some questions if it doesn't fix it.

The 5 things it does are...

Correct any Disk problems.
Repair Permissions.
Clear out Cache Files.
Repair/check several plist files.
Dump the VM files for a fresh start.

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Answer 7

thisbemyname Author

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Jun 9, 2008 5:42 AM in response to BDAqua

I gave applejack a go... No luck.
still getting the same thing this is one odd little glitch.
BDAqua I'd like to thank you for all your help and suggestions, I think I'll keep trying to fix it for one more week after that I'll admit defeat... and re-install OS X.
Oh man, this has been a glorious waste of a long weekend.

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Answer 8

BDAqua

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Jun 9, 2008 1:48 PM in response to thisbemyname

One more thing to try in Terminal...

sudo lookupd -flushcache

No idea if you need to restart or not though.

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Answer 9

thisbemyname Author

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Jun 10, 2008 12:22 AM in response to BDAqua

Cheers for sticking with me on this one BDAqua, well I'll level with you- when it comes to terminal I'm an absolute nooblet so I just entered the command straight into the terminal just as you wrote it, there was no sign that anything happened but I restarted anyway. And yeah, no change but as I said I'm pretty sure I entered the command wrong. If so, could you give me a few noob proof steps to follow for that command I'd be most gratefully unabashedly grateful.

Message was edited by: thisbemyname

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Answer 10

Jun 10, 2008 12:37 AM in response to thisbemyname

Just for the record, I've experienced this sort of behavior in an Athens hotel, where some sort of DNS redirection was in place, but never at home.

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Answer 11

BDAqua

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Jun 10, 2008 12:39 AM in response to thisbemyname

The best way on these commands when you are new to them, is to Copy then, then Paste them into Terminal. It eliminates missing important things like unseen/unnoticed spaces.

After Pasting the above into Terminal and hitting enter, it should ask for an Admin Password, which will not be echoed to the screen, but enter should either report something, or just do the command in this instancew.

Let me know, we'll get it, or get some help that can! 🙂

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Answer 12

thisbemyname Author

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Jun 11, 2008 3:18 AM in response to BDAqua

I have found the source of the problem... I'm terribly embarrassed- As it turns out I had set a program called NetBarrier to filter cookies and of course, it blocked the ones needed to go through the login pages of any/all email accounts.
I actually don't remember when I changed this setting though it was probably around a time when my hotmail account was hijacked.

BDAqua, honestly I'm morbid with guilt at the realization I have wasted your precious time, all the same I would like to thank you for all your help and apologize.

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Answer 13

thisbemyname Author

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Jun 11, 2008 3:24 AM in response to thisbemyname

Sorry, I hope this serves anyone who makes the same blunder I have made. Beware the wrath of randomly clicked buttons.

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Answer 14

BDAqua

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Jun 11, 2008 4:22 AM in response to thisbemyname

Thanks, no worry about apologizing for expanding my horizons! 🙂

And to see your brutal honesty about yourself humbles me... it has not been a waste of time... man doth not live by bread alone.

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