DuckDuckGo browser, iMac 24-inch A/O, using Malwarebytes Ultimate with VPN on. Can’t load https://mypay.dfas.mil/ website to get my W-2

I have Malwarebytes Ultimate installed for anti-virus and all kinds of protections as well. VPN is on.

Start by getting rid of all of it. Your Mac will never work properly otherwise. Follow their respective uninstallation instructions, assuming you can find them, and that they work. Otherwise contact their respective developers for uninstallation instructions.

For what it's worth I can load that site without any difficulty whatsoever.

Rule 1 of Macs is don't install junk.

Please read Effective defenses against malware and other threats - Apple Community. It may be long but that's the point — there is no magic pill, and expecting one (or several) such magic potions to protect you and your Mac from harm is not only ineffective, it's irresponsible. Besides, they will prevent your Mac from working (as you discovered).

If not for such things traffic to this site would diminish by half, at least.

Unfortunately ridding your Mac of that "junk" can be tedious, time-consuming, and frustrating. Hence my oft-repeated advice to not install it to begin with. It's the first step in a well-worn path to misery.

The only vulnerability presented by posting to this site is your name, but it seems common enough to me that I would not be concerned. The Apple Support Community Terms of Use implores us not to divulge any personal information, and a name is arguably personal.

If you are concerned though, I can ask the site Hosts to change it.

Your computer does not need any third party protections. You do need to protect your personal/financial information. A phone call, message, or email asking you to give them your credit card number is not going to be stopped by MalwareBytes.

While the scammers are not that blatant on what they want from you, consider they all attempt to scare you into taking some action. NEVER give out any personal/financial information from a phone call and do not call a number or click a link in an email/message and give anyone that information. It makes no difference if they say they are Apple, another company, or even your Bank. There are always known contacts you can use to call a company for confirmation of anything that concerns you.

You should look at this as well…

Recognize and avoid social engineering schemes including phishing messages, phony support calls, and other scams - Apple Support

Consider it done.

All we can do is ask, so it's in their hands now. If you continue to have trouble loading that site, by all means write back and you'll get the attention you need.

👍

Great news. Thanks for the update!