View Full Version : Forum Access Denied block?
This has been happening a fair bit lately, which is annoying, sometimes lasts an hour or so, other times much longer. I go to post something and get this banner instead of the forum and I'm totally locked out?
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/55253747747_7bc700ea29_b.jpg
Anyone know why, or is it just revenge of the anti sourdough clan?
It's the sourdough.
Not sure why that's happening, it does happen if there's some problem with the servers but then everyone gets it.
It may be local to you for some reason. Guess you have tried the usual things like clearing browser cache?
Yup tried all sorts Martin, different browsers same for all and I auto clear the cache each time I close them. It does appear to be tied to my IP address as it says in the notice.
It goes away naturally eventually, but I can't figure out what triggers it, it's random :scratch: The only thing I'm possibly doing differently to other users is I use Linux, not Windows, iOS or Android to access the forum.
No worries if it's not something you are familiar with.
hifi_dave
07-05-2026, 15:44
Only happens to dodgy people.
Only happens to dodgy people.
:lol: I wondered how long before someone said that!
I can hear it now . . .
Marco
Stop looking at porn right before you come on AoS you daftee . . . :bum:
OP, are you using a VPN? I get blocked sometimes because some sites apparently don’t like Surfshark (even though I have a dedicated IP address).
OP, are you using a VPN? I get blocked sometimes because some sites apparently don’t like Surfshark (even though I have a dedicated IP address).
No, but I do have a VPN. I only use a VPN for banking and other financial transactions, for general browsing I don't bother. Interestingly that's the only way I can log in when it happens, by using my VPN. It's weird.
Happened again just now, very strange. I do use an adblocker, so I wonder if that's it?
Pigmy Pony
09-05-2026, 07:08
Happened again just now, very strange. I do use an adblocker, so I wonder if that's it?
Hmm, dunno Tim, is it possible that your adblocker thinks AoS is an ad?
Several years ago myself (and many others I think) were being plagued on this forum by ads. Iirc we got out of it by making a contribution to the forum. Then the ads were gone.
Apologies if I'm misremembering, my memory isn't the greatest.
No it's not the adblocker blocking AoS Steve as it's server side, not my side. I don't see any adverts here.
What it might be is the server is blocking me because of the adblocker? But that would be odd . . . my network knowledge isn't what it used to be, so I'm clutching at straws trying to identify a pattern and thinking out loud.
My IP address being in Colchester occasionally is strange though, just checked it now and it's correct for my location. So it might be a Virgin Media thing, if they are for some reason dynamically reallocating IP addresses to different geographic locations to the user. That would likely throw up a red flag to the queried server.
I've never encountered it anywhere other than here though.
Pigmy Pony
09-05-2026, 11:02
Sounds like you're on the ball with this kind of thing, I'm sure you'll get to the bottom of it :) I lack the knowledge or the patience, I just end up passing my laptop to Mrs. P and asking "sort this will you?" :doh: Good luck.
I'll try to contact our resident security software expert who usually sorts these things out for us. Like Steve, I'm a complete ignoramus when it comes to these matters.
Be patient.
Don't worry just yet Barry, I'm noting down my IP addresses now, so the next time it happens I'll have a better idea of what's going on. If it is Virgin Media changing it, then there won't be anything he can do.
But thanks for the thought :)
. . . I just end up passing my laptop to Mrs. P and asking "sort this will you?"
Haha, yeah I know that feeling, I was the equivalent of your Mrs. P at work. It was getting ridiculous, sometimes 2 or 3 requests a week, so I said fine, sure I'll have a look at it for you. I charge half what PC World charge and I can invoice you later if you can't pay me now. I was never bothered again :lol:
Pigmy Pony
09-05-2026, 11:50
Don't worry just yet Barry, I'm noting down my IP addresses now, so the next time it happens I'll have a better idea of what's going on. If it is Virgin Media changing it, then there won't be anything he can do.
But thanks for the thought :)
Haha, yeah I know that feeling, I was the equivalent of your Mrs. P at work. It was getting ridiculous, sometimes 2 or 3 requests a week, so I said fine, sure I'll have a look at it for you. I charge half what PC World charge and I can invoice you later if you can't pay me now. I was never bothered again :lol:
:lol: If it's all the same to you, I'll keep that last bit away from Anita, I don't want to give her ideas...
Yeah, best keep that to yourself :D
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