Someone7272
Level 1 (8 points)
iTunes

Q: Updated to iTunes 12.1, now iTunes crashes every time it attempts to access the internet through our internal proxy - cannot access store!

Hi,

 

Does anybody have any experience of using iTunes with a web filtering proxy? My home is using the Sophos UTM home edition to provide edge antivirus and content filtering. More information available here: http://www.sophos.com/en-us/products/free-tools/sophos-utm-home-edition.aspx

The proxy settings for the computer is set to use an automatic configuration script "WPAD" and the settings are locked by group policy and cannot be disabled or changed.

 

Now here's the problem, when launching iTunes, the iTunes prompts me to enter login details for the HTTPS proxy. That's all well and good, so I enter the login details and hit okay. But when I go to the store tab, iTunes crashes with javascriptcore.dll. This makes sense because a WPAD proxy configuration file is pretty much JavaScript code. But this should not happen, as now I cannot access the iTunes store.

Prior to iTunes 12.1, iTunes would sometimes freeze when attempting to access the store but it would eventually work.

The proxy logs are not showing that any iTunes requests were blocked, dropped or otherwise rejected.

 

Does anybody have any suggestions to get this to work again or at least work around the issue?

NOTE: Disabling the proxy is not an option because the proxy settings on the Windows computers are locked through group policy. I can however, edit the WPAD proxy configuration file and add exceptions to the proxy but I don't know where to start!

I will also post this on the Sophos UTM support forums.

Thanks in advance.

iTunes, Windows 7, iTunes version 12.1

Posted on Feb 2, 2015 6:17 AM

by Someone7272,Solvedanswer
Someone7272 Someone7272
Level 1 (8 points)
iTunes
A:

FIXED. AT LAST

 


Ignore my last post.

I can exclusively confirm that Apple have finally pulled their fingers outta their a** and resolved the problem.

However, this only works if you uninstall ALL Apple software before installing iTunes 12.2.

 

Fair play to Apple. Oh wait, scratch that, I ain't giving them some slack, because a problem this severe should never have existed in the first place! I like the new logo though, I hated the iTunes logo since it was changed in iTunes 12. It just looked so UGLY to me, almost like an error logo.


Morac wrote...

I checked the Event Viewer log and what do I see, but crashes in JavaScriptCore.dll.  So now, not only does it crash iTunes, but iCloud as well.  Note that in the past, I could sometimes get iTunes to load, but it would crash within 15 to 30 minutes.  I didn't even bother trying with iTunes 12.2 since if iCloud is crashing in JavaScriptCore.dll, I expect iTunes 12.2 will as well.


Remove all Apple software, then install iCloud Control Panel first then install iTunes 12.2. Hopefully the iTunes installer will update the Apple Application support.

However, I can't comment on the iCloud Control Panel because we don't use this (not really needed for me) however, if it's using the same JavaScriptCore.dll library, I'm not surprised it's crashing too.


The fix isn't perfect though.


I still can't get iTunes store music previews working through our proxy however. They just spin and load indefinitely most of the time. Sometimes, one or two work. iTunes Radio also isn't working.

Also how many Proxy Authentication prompts do you want? iTunes threw 5 at me, 2 for HTTPS proxy, 3 for HTTP proxy before loading the store.

Why can't it just use NTLM/Kerberos/Integrated authentication like almost any other application?

I feel like they've just intentionally added these with the sole purpose to annoy me. There never used to be this many in iTunes 11.


And finally, how the **** do you change the size of album view? They're way too big and too close together for my liking.


Posted on Jul 2, 2015 4:34 PM

Close
Someone7272

Q: Updated to iTunes 12.1, now iTunes crashes every time it attempts to access the internet through our internal proxy - cannot acces ... more

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

first Previous Page 7 of 8 last Next

  • by moogster,

    moogster moogster Jul 3, 2015 1:51 AM in response to Someone7272
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 3, 2015 1:51 AM in response to Someone7272

    Beats Radio won't play over a VPN but the other channels will?!  Any ideas?!

  • by Someone7272,

    Someone7272 Someone7272 Jul 3, 2015 2:02 AM in response to moogster
    Level 1 (8 points)
    iTunes
    Jul 3, 2015 2:02 AM in response to moogster

    moogster wrote...

    Beats Radio won't play over a VPN but the other channels will?!  Any ideas?!


    I wrote...

    I still can't get iTunes store music previews working through our proxy however. They just spin and load indefinitely most of the time. Sometimes, one or two work. iTunes Radio also isn't working.

     

    I don't think you'll be able to fix this. Check if you are running through a proxy when connected to the VPN.

    If you are, you might have to ask your administrator to add some kind of exception for Beats Music.


    Is Beats Radio actually free?

    I can't stream absolutely any iTunes radio, it just doesn't play whatsoever. Count yourself lucky that some stations work.

  • by thylacine666,

    thylacine666 thylacine666 Jul 3, 2015 1:04 PM in response to Someone7272
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 3, 2015 1:04 PM in response to Someone7272

    I was playing radio fine yesterday (hadn't actually tried it for a while so not sure if it was something else fixed with 12.2 or just coincidence), but then every firewall/proxy will be different.

     

    It's not an iTunes-behind-proxy/firewall issue anyway, put it that way.

  • by Bobprg,

    Bobprg Bobprg Sep 22, 2015 8:22 PM in response to Someone7272
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 22, 2015 8:22 PM in response to Someone7272

    I ran into the this problem today with 12.3.0.44.  It doesn't crash but it can't access the iTunes store.  If I manually set the proxy server name and port to our proxy server I can access the iTunes store.  If I have a proxy.pac file even if it only has one line in it that returns the proxy for the same server above it will not access the store.  I can see in the network traffic that it downloads the configuration file, and then promptly ignores it.  It then tries to go directly to the internet. 

  • by Someone7272,

    Someone7272 Someone7272 Oct 1, 2015 10:11 PM in response to Bobprg
    Level 1 (8 points)
    iTunes
    Oct 1, 2015 10:11 PM in response to Bobprg

    Is the proxy settings set correctly? I seem to have a similar issue, iTunes detects the proxy, prompts for user/pass, but can't connect to online features, even after entering the correct credentials, attempting to access the iTunes store, it just freezes, and trying to close iTunes at this stage results in it not responding and I have to terminate it. I'm not sure why, but sometimes (like 1 in 10 attempts) it works. Really strange. Man I wish they'd just use Internet Explorer's engine on Windows.

  • by Bobprg,

    Bobprg Bobprg Oct 4, 2015 12:56 PM in response to Someone7272
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 4, 2015 12:56 PM in response to Someone7272

    This was related you using a proxy.pac file.  There is a new version of iTunes that contains resolution to the issue I was having. 

     

    I've had issues with authentication and I've allowed traffic with the itunes request header to go though the proxy without authentication.

  • by Someone7272,

    Someone7272 Someone7272 Oct 4, 2015 1:03 PM in response to Bobprg
    Level 1 (8 points)
    iTunes
    Oct 4, 2015 1:03 PM in response to Bobprg

    Well, I guess this is another thing Apple aren't going to bother to fix.

     

    We need iTunes to be able to work in authenticated proxy environments, so that I can block automatic iOS 7+ updates for user groups with iPhone 4/4S devices, so whitelisting iTunes through our proxy is not an ideal solution. Right now, proxy authentication seems to only work randomly.

     

    You may also want to be aware that allowing traffic with the iTunes request header to go though the proxy without authentication could result in somebody spoofing their browser headers to get unauthenticated internet access and possibly even (if applicable) bypass your content filtering.

  • by Bobprg,

    Bobprg Bobprg Oct 4, 2015 1:29 PM in response to Someone7272
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 4, 2015 1:29 PM in response to Someone7272

    Yes, it only bypasses the authentication not the rules.  Authentication is used for tracking and exemption processing.  Unfortunately many services don't do authentication well.

  • by darbidDE,

    darbidDE darbidDE Mar 31, 2016 1:54 AM in response to Bobprg
    Level 1 (13 points)
    Peripherals
    Mar 31, 2016 1:54 AM in response to Bobprg

    Now on 12.3.3.7 and iTunes just crashes when I start it.  If I turn disable my connection and start it works.  I can only imagine it is the proxy problem again.

     

    Anyone else got the problem again or do I have some other iTunes problem.

  • by AL71B,

    AL71B AL71B Mar 31, 2016 5:03 AM in response to darbidDE
    Level 1 (8 points)
    iTunes
    Mar 31, 2016 5:03 AM in response to darbidDE

    I experience the same issues in our corporate environment.

     

    iTunes 12.3.3.17 - crashes due to JavaScriptCore.dll

     

    I have reverted back to a version I had kicking around:  v 12.3.1.23 - which doesn't crash for me, even with the automatic configuration script URL set in IE.

     

    As an aside, iCloud 5.1.0.0 on the other hand has crashed for quite some time, since I updated it actually. I've just got used to closing the application.

     

    Like others, if I manually set the proxy URL, no crashes occur.

     

    Alan

  • by Someone7272,

    Someone7272 Someone7272 Mar 31, 2016 8:39 AM in response to darbidDE
    Level 1 (8 points)
    iTunes
    Mar 31, 2016 8:39 AM in response to darbidDE

    I can't belive I am saying this, but this problem has been incompetently re-introduced into iTunes AGAIN!


    How have Apple not fired their Quality Assurance team from the last time this happened? I certainly would have...


    You're right, I am having the same problem as you with the WPAD auto-config script again. Man I thought we had gotten shot of this crap last year!


    AL71B said...

         Like others, if I manually set the proxy URL, no crashes occur.

     

    Do you mean manually setting the proxy server or manually setting the proxy auto-configuration URL?

    It it's the latter, it will still crash, as any kind of JavaScript proxy auto-configuration file will cause the crash. Manually setting the proxy server avoids the crash because there is no JavaScript processing involved to find the proxy server, it just goes directly to what you've specified.

     

    Anyways updated to iTunes 12.3.3.17, and sure enough, the exact same problem is back again. So it's not just you.

    Will have to resort to either blocking iTunes from accessing the WPAD file again (but won't be able to use online services in iTunes until this is resolved) or downgrade iTunes to 12.3.2.35.


    I have also opened another bug report on Apple Developer, referencing all of the previous reports about this issue. The thread goes on...

  • by DanielK030,

    DanielK030 DanielK030 Apr 8, 2016 6:40 AM in response to Someone7272
    Level 1 (10 points)
    iTunes
    Apr 8, 2016 6:40 AM in response to Someone7272

    Hi Someone7272,

     

    same here, also started a new thread on this issue and sent a bug report with link to the discussion (bug report comment field is too small):

    iTunes 12.3.3 crashs in module JavaScriptCore.dll

     

    Should you find a way to let iTunes ignore proxy auto-configuration via pac file, please let me know. Downgrading to earlier version does not make sense as our employees need to activate their new devices (iPad Pro 9,7" and iPhone SE) including local backup and restore procedure.

     

    By the way, I've also contacted Apple Support but according to the support guy my only options were to contact my network administrator to disable proxy auto-configuration or contact Enterprise Support including paying a lot of money. Haha.....

     

    Cheers,

    Daniel

  • by Someone7272,

    Someone7272 Someone7272 Apr 11, 2016 1:45 PM in response to DanielK030
    Level 1 (8 points)
    iTunes
    Apr 11, 2016 1:45 PM in response to DanielK030

    DanielK030 wrote...

    By the way, I've also contacted Apple Support but according to the support guy my only options were to contact my network administrator to disable proxy auto-configuration or contact Enterprise Support including paying a lot of money. Haha.....

     

    What a crappy response from Apple. Disable proxy auto-configuration? As Meghan Trainor once said... NO

    What if this isn't feasible in your network environment?

     

    Pay for premium support? Something tells me that even with premium support, it still ain't gonna be of much help because it's a bug!

     

    The only way to get around this problem and make iTunes usable again is to use a sledgehammer to hammer in a nail, by blocking iTunes from accessing the WPAD server at firewall level. Instructions are available here: Re: Updated to iTunes 12.1, now iTunes crashes every time it attempts to access the internet through our internal proxy - cannot access store! Keep in mind, that depending on your network setup, this might completely prevent iTunes from accessing the internet. I know this blocks iTunes from all online services in our environment, but hey, at least it doesn't crash! iTunes will function as a media player, and will still be able to sync iDevices.

     

    DanielK030 wrote...

    Here is another thread regarding EXACTLY THE SAME issue in an older version of iTunes that has been fixed by Apple:

    [link to this topic]

    APPLE, YOUR TURN!


    To be clear, it looks like this problem was never actually fixed as it seems to be the exact same problem which I was encountering last year. Maybe they just used some cheap workaround, and forgot that they had done this, resulting in more crappy iTunes software being released.

  • by Pavel Khritonenko,

    Pavel Khritonenko Pavel Khritonenko Apr 22, 2016 2:42 AM in response to Someone7272
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Apr 22, 2016 2:42 AM in response to Someone7272

    My company uses proxy with authentication. I've updated to version 12.? and now iTunes crashes at start. And next app launches don't make any effects.

     

    Because I pay for Apple Music I don't have any music on my desktop. I use workaround to make iTunes works with our proxy.

     

    I installed squid, configured it to use upstream proxy, wrote localhost:3128 it into "Internet Options". Now all my application works via this windows service.

  • by Someone7272,

    Someone7272 Someone7272 Apr 22, 2016 2:57 AM in response to Pavel Khritonenko
    Level 1 (8 points)
    iTunes
    Apr 22, 2016 2:57 AM in response to Pavel Khritonenko

    Pavel Khritonenko wrote...

    My company uses proxy with authentication. I've updated to version 12.? and now iTunes crashes at start. And next app launches don't make any effects.

     

    Because I pay for Apple Music I don't have any music on my desktop. I use workaround to make iTunes works with our proxy.

     

    I installed squid, configured it to use upstream proxy, wrote localhost:3128 it into "Internet Options". Now all my application works via this windows service.

     

    To be clear, the problem is not caused by a proxy that requires authentication, it is caused by the presence of a proxy auto-configuration file.

    I strongly do not recommend this workaround, especially in a corporate environment, as this could circumvent security measures and violate company I.T policies, potentially resulting in disciplinary actions.

     

    The other reason that this is unsuitable is because many proxies now inspect and decrypt SSL/HTTPS traffic, and this implementation will not work with upstream proxies which proxy SSL/HTTPS traffic.

     

    If you are allowed to, then you could simply put the normal proxy in the Internet Options settings, without installing Squid locally, and this would work, as it would override any proxy auto-configuration files. In my environment, these settings are locked down so that the end user cannot change the proxy settings.

first Previous Page 7 of 8 last Next