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User profile for user: eds528
eds528 Author
User level: Level 1
8 points

Apple News App won't refresh at work

Hi all,


Over the past two weeks I've noticed that the Apple News App will not update stories on my iPad while I'm at work on the work wifi. If I switch to Hotspot from my iPhone, it will update just fine. If I'm at home on my home wifi, it will update just fine. So, it seems that there is something in the wifi or firewall at work that is limiting the Apple News App from updating. My IT dept doesn't know where to start for this, they figure it's likely a port on the firewall that they have blocked for one reason or another that is limiting the Apple News App, but they don't have an idea which port. For troubleshooting, I have made sure it is updated to iOS 13.3.1, I have tried closing the app and restarting, as well as doing a soft reset of the iPad. The same thing happens on my iPhone 8 when I try and pull up Apple News via wifi at work. Does anyone have any insight into this or have any advice on how to proceed? Thoughts?


Thanks in advance!

iPad Pro 12.9-inch, 3rd Gen, Wi-Fi

Posted on Feb 7, 2020 7:06 AM

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User profile for user: LotusPilot
LotusPilot
Community+ 2024
User level: Level 10
289,466 points

Posted on Feb 7, 2020 7:41 AM

It is almost certainly port-blocking by your employers network - but without knowing anything about their firewall ruleset (something that I sincerely hope they won’t share), it’s impossible to provide guidance as to any modifications thereof.


As Apple News is essentially a web front-end, it is likely that common ports associated with SSH/TLS/HTTP over TCP are utilised. Apple’s port listing isn’t overly helpful in associating specific Apple services with their expected ports:

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT202944


You easiest possible solution is to use a reputable VPN App for your devices. In context of your issue, security/privacy isn’t the prime motivator - instead the objective is to “tunnel through” your employers firewall - although they may block this as well. The simple potential solution is to try...


I would suggest possibly looking at hide.me VPN (look in the App Store - and online at the hide.me website). It’s a highly reputable offshore VPN - with a very good selection of worldwide VPN Gateways. They offer both modest cost “paid” VPN service - and a generous renewable “free” option. You must register for the free subscription - but, if nothing else, this provides a no-risk way to see if you can successfully tunnel your past the port-blocks that you currently experience.


One other tip with hide.me... if you choose to sign-up for a paid subscription (remember, VPN is very useful in protecting your traffic when using “untrusted” public WiFi, don’t sign-up for the paid subscription from within the App; instead, sign-up via the hide-me website (it’s cheaper - and you get simultaneous access for up to 10 devices).


I hope you find this information helpful in resolving your issue.

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User profile for user: LotusPilot
LotusPilot
Community+ 2024
User level: Level 10
289,466 points

Feb 7, 2020 7:41 AM in response to eds528

It is almost certainly port-blocking by your employers network - but without knowing anything about their firewall ruleset (something that I sincerely hope they won’t share), it’s impossible to provide guidance as to any modifications thereof.


As Apple News is essentially a web front-end, it is likely that common ports associated with SSH/TLS/HTTP over TCP are utilised. Apple’s port listing isn’t overly helpful in associating specific Apple services with their expected ports:

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT202944


You easiest possible solution is to use a reputable VPN App for your devices. In context of your issue, security/privacy isn’t the prime motivator - instead the objective is to “tunnel through” your employers firewall - although they may block this as well. The simple potential solution is to try...


I would suggest possibly looking at hide.me VPN (look in the App Store - and online at the hide.me website). It’s a highly reputable offshore VPN - with a very good selection of worldwide VPN Gateways. They offer both modest cost “paid” VPN service - and a generous renewable “free” option. You must register for the free subscription - but, if nothing else, this provides a no-risk way to see if you can successfully tunnel your past the port-blocks that you currently experience.


One other tip with hide.me... if you choose to sign-up for a paid subscription (remember, VPN is very useful in protecting your traffic when using “untrusted” public WiFi, don’t sign-up for the paid subscription from within the App; instead, sign-up via the hide-me website (it’s cheaper - and you get simultaneous access for up to 10 devices).


I hope you find this information helpful in resolving your issue.

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User profile for user: eds528
eds528 Author
User level: Level 1
8 points

Feb 7, 2020 12:51 PM in response to LotusPilot

It's interesting, right before I checked your response here, I thought "I wonder what would happen if I ran this through my VPN service." I use Encrypt.me, and when I enabled that through my work wifi, it worked just fine! Thanks for the advice confirming that this was a good workaround! I don't plan on mentioning to work that I fixed it, just in case they want to start blocking other ports as well!!!


Thanks again!

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Apple News App won't refresh at work

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