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One specific website won't load

While browsing the internet on my laptop (late 2011 MacBook Pro, 2.4 GHz Intel Core i5 processor), I have one specific website that will not load. It's worked in the past, but has suddenly stopped working.


My software and OS are up-to-date (OS X 10.9.5), and I've scanned for viruses (Intego VirusBarrier). I've tried multiple networks (WiFi only, no ethernet), haven't changed my network or firewall settings, and have tried disabling my firewall (Intego NetBarrier). I've tried multiple browsers (Safari, Firefox, and Chrome), reset Safari to clear my cookies and cache, and have disabled the one browser extension I use.


I've been able to access the site on other computers and on my iPhone, all on my primary network. I've opened the terminal and used the host command, and I know my computer is able to interpret the site's IP (something about verifying the DSN?). As best I can tell, this is not an issue with the website, but with my laptop.


Any ideas?

MacBook Pro, OS X Mavericks (10.9.5)

Posted on Sep 23, 2014 4:31 PM

Reply
Question marked as Best reply

Posted on Sep 23, 2014 4:54 PM

I have a few suggestions to try:


1) Completely uninstall VirusBarrier. There is simply no need for additional antivirus or firewall products on a Mac with a current OS version. Third-party firewall and antivirus products cause more problems on Macs than the ever prevent.


Next, do the following side-by side on both your Mac that can't visit the site and one that can. Compare what you see between the two.


2) Check "System Preferences" > "Network" > "Advanced" > "Proxies". None of the boxes should be selected under "select a protocol".


2) Check "System Preferences" > "Network" > "Advanced" > "DNS".


3) Open a terminal window, enter the following command and hit return:


cat /etc/hosts


You should only see the following entries:


##
# Host Database
#
# localhost is used to configure the loopback interface
# when the system is booting.  Do not change this entry.
##
127.0.0.1 localhost
255.255.255.255 broadcasthost
::1            localhost
fe80::1%lo0 localhost


If you see additional entries let us know.


After comparing your Proxy, DNS, and hosts file of a Mac that can reach the site and the one that can't, let us know what differences you see.

6 replies
Question marked as Best reply

Sep 23, 2014 4:54 PM in response to JoeBear84

I have a few suggestions to try:


1) Completely uninstall VirusBarrier. There is simply no need for additional antivirus or firewall products on a Mac with a current OS version. Third-party firewall and antivirus products cause more problems on Macs than the ever prevent.


Next, do the following side-by side on both your Mac that can't visit the site and one that can. Compare what you see between the two.


2) Check "System Preferences" > "Network" > "Advanced" > "Proxies". None of the boxes should be selected under "select a protocol".


2) Check "System Preferences" > "Network" > "Advanced" > "DNS".


3) Open a terminal window, enter the following command and hit return:


cat /etc/hosts


You should only see the following entries:


##
# Host Database
#
# localhost is used to configure the loopback interface
# when the system is booting.  Do not change this entry.
##
127.0.0.1 localhost
255.255.255.255 broadcasthost
::1            localhost
fe80::1%lo0 localhost


If you see additional entries let us know.


After comparing your Proxy, DNS, and hosts file of a Mac that can reach the site and the one that can't, let us know what differences you see.

Sep 23, 2014 6:04 PM in response to FishingAddict

Hi Tim, thank you for the reply and the suggestions.


I uninstalled the firewall and anti-virus software, and it didn't make a difference. I reset Safari, restarted my computer, and tried Firefox and Chrome again to be sure.


Unfortunately, the other computers I have access to run Windows, and are work computers. So for right now, I can't compare two different Macs side by side. If nothing else works, I'll try to get a friend to bring her Mac, and compare settings later.


I checked the Proxy and DNS settings. None of the protocols were checked. Under bypass settings, "*.local, 169.254/16" is in the box. The Passive FTP Mode box is checked. In DNS, I have two DNS servers: 68.94.156.1 and 68.94.157.1. Nothing is listed under Search Domains.


When I used the terminal and ran the host command, my results were identical to the ones you posted.


The only thing out of the ordinary, and I don't think it's relevant, is when I opened my network settings, I'm told a new network interface has been detected: Thunderbolt Bridge. As far as I know, my computer doesn't have a Thunderbolt port, and even if it does, I'm not using it.

Sep 23, 2014 7:05 PM in response to JoeBear84

Your proxy settings look normal.


Three more things I can think of are:


1) Go to System Preferences > Parental Controls, and make sure that parental controls are not enabled for your account!


2) In System Preferences > Network, make sure that the interface you are using (top of the list) is "WiFi". Make sure it doesn't show that you are using a VPN connection to work (which may have a content filter in place)


3) One simple thing to try is to change your DNS servers in System Preferences > Network > Advanced button > DNS tab. Add the following DNS servers: 8.8.8.8, and 8.8.4.4. Those are reliable public DNS servers from Google.


If none of that works, then try this:


System Preferences > Network > click the "lock" at bottom and authenticate as Administrator > Location > Edit Locations... > click the "+" to create a new location, call it "Test", select it, the click Done.


Then give things a try.

Dec 2, 2016 1:07 PM in response to FishingAddict

Thank you SO much for the info regarding the host entries!! This was 100% my problem! I cleaned them up and was able to access my own website again!! Had something to do with Adobe adding some blocks of some kind for some reason. Here's what my host entries looked like (I ended up deleting everything from "#Block Adobe Activation" forward:


##

# Host Database

#

# localhost is used to configure the loopback interface

# when the system is booting. Do not change this entry.

##

127.0.0.1 localhost

255.255.255.255 broadcasthost

::1 localhost

fe80::1%lo0 localhost


# Block Adobe Activation

127.0.0.1 activate.adobe.com

127.0.0.1 practivate.adobe.com

127.0.0.1 ereg.adobe.com

127.0.0.1 activate.wip3.adobe.com

127.0.0.1 wip3.adobe.com

127.0.0.1 3dns-3.adobe.com

127.0.0.1 3dns-2.adobe.com

127.0.0.1 adobe-dns.adobe.com

127.0.0.1 adobe-dns-2.adobe.com

127.0.0.1 adobe-dns-3.adobe.com

127.0.0.1 ereg.wip3.adobe.com

127.0.0.1 activate-sea.adobe.com

127.0.0.1 wwis-dubc1-vip60.adobe.com

127.0.0.1 activate-sjc0.adobe.com

127.0.0.1 hl2rcv.adobe.com

74.115.33.149 website.com www.website.com

One specific website won't load

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