Very odd issue, unable to access a specific website

[jnelsoninjax]

I need to access https://secure.ssa.gov/RIL/SiView.action, but I am not able to access it, after some time it says that site is not responding. I have tried 3 different browsers with the same result. Now I have also tried via my cell phone, and it to can not connect. I even pinged the website and it comes back as unreachable. However if I turn off WiFi on my phone and just use mobile data, I can access the site with no issues. I have done everything I can think of from changing DNS servers to Google's 8.8.8..8/8.8.4.4, flushing the DNS resolver cache, clearing the site data for SSA.gov, disabling Bit Defender, and trying in 3 different browsers, 2 of which are portable. I know that I have accessed that website less than 2 weeks ago with no issues. I need access to this site and what needs to be done can not be done via mobile. What could be going on here, and what could I try next?

[+Warwagon MVC]

You can try enabling or disabling IPv6

[Circaflex]

Do you have a system wide ad blocker? or anything built into your router? it seems to me your router is causing the issue if it happens on your phone as well, until you disable wifi.

[cork1958]

FWIW, site loads fine here for me on Brave and Firefox

[Ixion]

  On 24/01/2025 at 16:46, jnelsoninjax said:

I need to access https://secure.ssa.gov/RIL/SiView.action, but I am not able to access it, after some time it says that site is not responding. I have tried 3 different browsers with the same result. Now I have also tried via my cell phone, and it to can not connect. I even pinged the website and it comes back as unreachable. However if I turn off WiFi on my phone and just use mobile data, I can access the site with no issues. I have done everything I can think of from changing DNS servers to Google's 8.8.8..8/8.8.4.4, flushing the DNS resolver cache, clearing the site data for SSA.gov, disabling Bit Defender, and trying in 3 different browsers, 2 of which are portable. I know that I have accessed that website less than 2 weeks ago with no issues. I need access to this site and what needs to be done can not be done via mobile. What could be going on here, and what could I try next?

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You could try a VPN, it's working fine here and I always browse with NordVPN on. There's plenty of free options if it's just for the one site and you otherwise don't have a need for one though.

[jnelsoninjax]

OK, what could be the underlying problem though? A VPN would certainly work as a temporary workaround, but I really would like to get to the cause of the issue. FF only has uBlock Origin as an add-on and even though it shows nothing blocked I still disabled it as troubleshooting.

  On 24/01/2025 at 17:01, Circaflex said:

Do you have a system wide ad blocker? or anything built into your router? it seems to me your router is causing the issue if it happens on your phone as well, until you disable wifi.

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We have a gateway from the ISP and have no access to its configuration, the password listed on the device has been changed by the ISP.

[+Warwagon MVC]

  On 24/01/2025 at 18:56, jnelsoninjax said:

OK, what could be the underlying problem though? A VPN would certainly work as a temporary workaround, but I really would like to get to the cause of the issue. FF only has uBlock Origin as an add-on and even though it shows nothing blocked I still disabled it as troubleshooting.

We have a gateway from the ISP and have no access to its configuration, the password listed on the device has been changed by the ISP.

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I have seen it before. A dealership was unable to access a particular website. When the ISP gave them a new IP address, everything started working again.

[Ixion]

  On 24/01/2025 at 18:56, jnelsoninjax said:

OK, what could be the underlying problem though? A VPN would certainly work as a temporary workaround, but I really would like to get to the cause of the issue. FF only has uBlock Origin as an add-on and even though it shows nothing blocked I still disabled it as troubleshooting.

We have a gateway from the ISP and have no access to its configuration, the password listed on the device has been changed by the ISP.

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Most likely a peering issue or similar between your ISP and the site you're trying to access or a blacklisted IP address. Either way something only your ISP can resolve.

[theefool]

As a test to bypass dns, you can try to ping it and use that address to try to connect, for example:

https://137.200.40.10/RIL/SiView.action

You will get a cert error.  This is just a test.

[jnelsoninjax]

  On 25/01/2025 at 03:30, theefool said:

As a test to bypass dns, you can try to ping it and use that address to try to connect, for example:

https://137.200.40.10/RIL/SiView.action

You will get a cert error.  This is just a test.

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That works, so what does that mean?

[theefool]

Have you tried (no clue on what browser you use), incognito mode, or inprivate mode, or new private?

Just a note, not an issue if you can't ping an address.  If you get an ip address that is good for testing dns.  No replies, mostly due to icmp echo being blocked.  Though sometimes can give bad result, due to cache.

The issue could be your isp. 

Note there is a way to bypass the cert error.

Just odd that your switch/router is causing the issue.  reset?

another test would be to set that ip and name to the hosts table.  To see if that works. (not permanent solution, again a test)

137.200.40.10    secure.ssa.gov

[+BudMan MVC]

  On 25/01/2025 at 05:47, jnelsoninjax said:

That works, so what does that mean?

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If that works that points to your dns not resolving it - use your fav tool.. nslookup, dig, host, doggo and query your dns directly.

from cmd line do just simple nslookup

$ nslookup secure.ssa.gov
Server:  pi.hole
Address:  192.168.3.10

Non-authoritative answer:
Name:    secure.ssa.gov
Addresses:  2001:1930:d08::1b
          137.200.40.10

you can change what ns you point to with server

$ nslookup
Default Server:  pi.hole
Address:  192.168.3.10

> server 8.8.8.8
Default Server:  dns.google
Address:  8.8.8.8

> secure.ssa.gov
Server:  dns.google
Address:  8.8.8.8

Non-authoritative answer:
Name:    secure.ssa.gov
Addresses:  2001:1930:d08::1b
          137.200.40.10

if your first nslookup works, then your browser most likely using some other dns via doh most likely... If first one doesn't work, but say 2nd one does - you can point to any ns you want google, quad9, etc. etc.

If your first attempt doesn't work, most likely pointing at your router for dns - you will need to look into why its not resolving that fqdn.

 

[sao123]

  On 24/01/2025 at 18:56, jnelsoninjax said:

OK, what could be the underlying problem though? A VPN would certainly work as a temporary workaround, but I really would like to get to the cause of the issue. FF only has uBlock Origin as an add-on and even though it shows nothing blocked I still disabled it as troubleshooting.

We have a gateway from the ISP and have no access to its configuration, the password listed on the device has been changed by the ISP.

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Ublock Origin blocks Google Analytics which is present on the SSA site.

[Kelxin]

Login to your router and change the DNS servers to open DNS or something like that.   Reboot the router and your PC so the DNS caching is flushed then try.