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Question

Strange...home network blocking google on all devices?

Jan 31, 2015 4:26PM PST

Hi everyone, first time posting here. Hopefully there will be some smart people able to help me out, this one has me completely stumped.

I won't bore you with too much info, just the main points.

(1) Google and all google related websites (e.g. google ad words, etc...) have stopped working. Comes up with the generic website unavailable, check the web address, etc... msg (on all browsers, chrome, ie, firefox).

(2) It does this on every device, phone, laptop, pc, all connected to the network.

(3) If you switch the phone from wireless to the mobile phone 3G network google will suddenly work again. Switch it back to the internet through the modem/router and google stops working.

(4) I reset the modem/router to factory defaults, still does it.

(5) Crazy thing is, if I restart the modem, it will allow google access again on the network for about 1 min (tested this on phone and laptop, as long as you type in google quick enough you get access, try it again 1 min later and it won't bring up the page).

(6) The setup is two houses on one network. TPG adsl2+ modem/router is a tp link d7. Ethernet cable connects next door to another standard router that provides internet to that house. About 9 people using the network. So lots of connected devices. Happens to all the devices.

(7) The D7 is about 1 week old, worked fine for the first 5 days on google and everything.

(Cool Note absolutely every other website works except google.

(9) I did some reading and apparently malware can infect the host file in system32/etc/ or something along those lines. However I opened that in notepad and "google" wasn't in there being blocked.


My guess:
I just had someone new move in downstairs that uses the network. Maybe their computer or phone has a virus on it that affects the whole network and blocks everyone on it from using google. Maybe that's why the router works for the first min after a restart but as soon as that device connects back up to the network google is blocked again?

I'm just guessing. Don't even know if that's possible.

Any ideas?

If someone can figure this one out then hats off to you! Happy

Tim

Discussion is locked

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Answer
Troubleshoot It...
Feb 1, 2015 3:08AM PST

First, I'd turn OFF all devices on the network. Then turn OFF the routers and modem, then reset them to their default settings. (The problem you're explaining sounds like a router setting but if there is a culprit causing the issue, you need to narrow it down to which one.)

After everything is turned off, then restart the modem and router, then use ONLY one computer, connected through ethernet to test the system. Make sure that the router settings can ONLY be changed by that specific computer when using ethernet. Most routers allow wireless by default but you want it so only a wired computer can alter settings. If that works correctly, then begin starting one device at a time, till you ID the problem machine.

Of course, since you're using the network on multiple houses, recognize that there could be someone else stealing your bandwidth that you aren't aware of.

Hope this helps.

Grif

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Answer
which is the control?
Feb 1, 2015 2:35PM PST
". Ethernet cable connects next door to another standard router that provides internet to that house."

which router is in control? The one you have, or the other one?
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reply
Feb 2, 2015 5:55AM PST

Thanks for the troubleshooting suggestions.

Also the d7 at my place is the one in control I guess. The internet goes to that one and then an Ethernet cable goes from there to the router next door.

Since my post the problem has somehow fixed itself for now... No idea why. It was happening for days before I posted the issue. Maybe the device that was causing the issue has been turned off or something?

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My guess would be
Feb 2, 2015 11:30AM PST

a problem at your ISP and lots of others complained to them and something was done about it.