Solved Blocked Page - Your organization has blocked access to this page or website.

Stiga · Aug 17, 2024

Symptoms:
Default browser unable to connect to any web page. If I use the default browser to access any page I see this:

If I use a portable browser (or a newly installed browser not yet registered as “default", all works properly and I can use hyperlinks in email or on a web page without getting the Blocked Page message

Cause:
I used URL Blocker

I attempted to block X by entering https //x.com (colon removed) and the clicked Apply

Since then I have been unable to restore normality with URL Blocker itself or any other fix-it tool. Advice would be gratefully received before I do any more damage.

P.S. If, as I suspect, a registry entry is the root cause. I am happy to make minor changes with Regedit

Kees · Aug 17, 2024

As far as I found in the Internet, the extension URL Blocker is based on the use of the HOSTS file.
That's a file in the folder: C:\Windows\system32\drivers\etc
You could edit that in a notepad app, to see if URL Blocker has changed the file.
If it looks like this:

Code:

# Copyright (c) 1993-2009 Microsoft Corp.
#
# This is a sample HOSTS file used by Microsoft TCP/IP for Windows.
#
# This file contains the mappings of IP addresses to host names. Each
# entry should be kept on an individual line. The IP address should
# be placed in the first column followed by the corresponding host name.
# The IP address and the host name should be separated by at least one
# space.
#
# Additionally, comments (such as these) may be inserted on individual
# lines or following the machine name denoted by a '#' symbol.
#
# For example:
#
#      102.54.94.97     rhino.acme.com          # source server
#       38.25.63.10     x.acme.com              # x client host

# localhost name resolution is handled within DNS itself.
#    127.0.0.1       localhost
#    ::1             localhost

Nothing has been vchanged to it.
Lines that start with # are just remarks, don't do anything!

You will find a description whtat that hosts file does her (and in many other sites):

How to Edit the hosts File on Windows 10 or 11

The hosts file can be used to block access to specific websites.

www.howtogeek.com

I long ago used the file for blocking some sites, but as you don't know why sites are blocked, I stopped using it.
So you might have a look at the hosts file, but if that is not coursing the problem, I can't tell you what it might be then.

It moght be handy to describe in what browser you did use extension URL Blocker that is a separate app, running in Windows.

Stiga · Aug 17, 2024

Many thanks for your rapid reply. My hosts file has not been changed and is exactly the same as your example

The browser i was using when the event occurred was Firefox Developer Edition. I have uninstalled it since with Total Uninstall in case the glitch was within it. Then I installed Waterfox and registered it as the default browser. The screen grab I posted above was grabbed in Waterfox.

But the URL Blocker I used was not an extension - URL Blocker is a stand-alone app

glasskuter · Aug 17, 2024

Make sure there is no reference to URL Blocker in your user appdata folder. C:\users\yourusername\appdata
( in order to see this folder you must have view hidden files selected in folder options,).

Clear all browsing history and site data. Open each browser one at a time. Hit Ctrl+Shift+Del

Make sure all browsers are closed and no instances are running in task manager.

Flush DNS cache option 1 here Flush DNS Resolver Cache in Windows 11 Tutorial

If that does not resolve it, Reset hosts to default. How to reset the Hosts file back to the default - Microsoft Support

Stiga · Aug 17, 2024

glasskuter said:
Make sure there is no reference to URL Blocker in your user appdata folder. C:\users\yourusername\appdata
( in order to see this folder you must have view hidden files selected in folder options,).

Clear all browsing history and site data. Open each browser one at a time. Hit Ctrl+Shift+Del

Make sure all browsers are closed and no instances are running in task manager.

Flush DNS cache option 1 here Flush DNS Resolver Cache in Windows 11 Tutorial

If that does not resolve it, Reset hosts to default. How to reset the Hosts file back to the default - Microsoft Support

Many thanks for this. I'll follow your advice tomorrow and report back

antspants · Aug 17, 2024

Hi,

So you didn’t make a system backup before you installed and used this app you didn’t know much about? What about a restore point?

We stress system backups in this forum. For moments like these.
Obviously, don’t make one until you’ve sorted this

Stiga · Aug 18, 2024

antspants said:
Hi,

So you didn’t make a system backup before you installed and used this app you didn’t know much about? What about a restore point?

We stress system backups in this forum. For moments like these.
Obviously, don’t make one until you’ve sorted this

I know, I know. I hear you and am contrite.

Rollback_Jockey · Aug 18, 2024

Stiga said:
Many thanks for your rapid reply. My hosts file has not been changed and is exactly the same as your example

The browser i was using when the event occurred was Firefox Developer Edition. I have uninstalled it since with Total Uninstall in case the glitch was within it. Then I installed Waterfox and registered it as the default browser. The screen grab I posted above was grabbed in Waterfox.

But the URL Blocker I used was not an extension - URL Blocker is a stand-alone app

AS @Kees say's, the hosts file is where you'd find the answers according to the App's doc's

Code:

https://www.wintools.info/index.php/url-blocker

Tester · Aug 18, 2024

Kees said:
As far as I found in the Internet, the extension URL Blocker is based on the use of the HOSTS file.

Don't think it is based on that, because blocking it that way would not give "Your organisation has blocked access to this page or website"
I also wonder if OP is using a older version, as i sligtly see diffrences between the printscreen given here, and on there website? And maybe older website uses a other way to block sites, and later going to use hosts file?

Have you looked/search in the register at the ZoneMaps?
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\ZoneMap\Domains

Stiga · Aug 18, 2024

^

Many thanks, Tester

As I had deleted the rogue app URLBlocker, I pinched the image from the internet - which looks as I remembered it

No, I had not looked at the registry key - but I have now:

Having cleaned out remnants from AppData and Programs, I am convinced that the blockage is cause by something in the Registry.
This Windows Club post reinforces my thinning. Yes, I know it is about Mozilla browse Profiles but it is related to my problem

Further info:
I can install any Chrome-based browser, register it as default and it works as it should. Currently I am using Brave but I much prefer Mozilla-based browsers as I can modify them easily to suit my poor eyesight

Stiga · Aug 18, 2024

glasskuter said:
Make sure there is no reference to URL Blocker in your user appdata folder. C:\users\yourusername\appdata
( in order to see this folder you must have view hidden files selected in folder options,).

Clear all browsing history and site data. Open each browser one at a time. Hit Ctrl+Shift+Del

Make sure all browsers are closed and no instances are running in task manager.

Flush DNS cache option 1 here Flush DNS Resolver Cache in Windows 11 Tutorial

If that does not resolve it, Reset hosts to default. How to reset the Hosts file back to the default - Microsoft Support

All remnant are now purged and I also flushed the DNS Cache. Sadly it did not cure the problem

Tester · Aug 18, 2024

Maybe then also check HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Edge\URLBlocklist\

Stiga · Aug 19, 2024

Tester said:
Maybe then also check HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Edge\URLBlocklist\

Thanks for this. I think that Edge is irrelevant at the moment as I am not using it. But it is present and I will deal with it later.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Mozilla\Firefox BlockAbout items are are probably at the root of my difficulties withg all the Firefox-based browsers I have tries

Presumably I can Export and Save - then delete ??

If successful, presumably I can do the same with the Edge URLBlocklist

Thanks again, your help is much appreciated

glasskuter · Aug 19, 2024

Try making another user as a local account. Make it an administrator. If the issue does not happen in that account, your user account is corrupted.
That be the case, report back for instructions on how to get your files moved into new account correctly.

Stiga · Aug 19, 2024

Update to my last post ^

This web page Browser Mozilla Firefox URL Whitelist and Blacklist. has a lot of relevant info but I don't know how to
apply the settings

glasskuter · Aug 19, 2024

Another suggestion. If you are not syncing your FF favorites, export them to a file, use Revo Uninstaller to remove FF and all its remaining fragments, restart and reinstall FF and import favorites

Stiga · Aug 19, 2024

glasskuter said:
Another suggestion. If you are not syncing your FF favorites, export them to a file, use Revo Uninstaller to remove FF and all its remaining fragments, restart and reinstall FF and import favorites

FF has been uninstalled, there is no FF folder in Program Files or AppData

But there are numerous remnants:

I am wary about deleteting them all

Stiga · Aug 19, 2024

Tester said:
Maybe then also check HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Edge\URLBlocklist\

As I have just reported above, FF does not exist in Program files or AppData.

So, can I delete HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Mozilla from the Registry completely and then reinstall Firefox?

glasskuter · Aug 19, 2024

Here's all I can suggest.
Had you uninstalled Firefox using Revo Uninstaller, it would have scanned and allowed you to remove all remnants. It doesn't matter whether there is anything in Program Files or not. There may be files in ProgramData You may have other registry entries than the one you found. In fact I would bet you do. I can not say how they would affect FF when you reinstall it but you can try it to see if the problem comes back. If it does come back, download Revo Free. Use it to uninstall Firefox again. After it is removed, you will be given the opportunity to scan for leftovers. Use the "advanced" scan. Check every item it finds, Then delete the items. Restart and try installing again.

.

Stiga · Aug 20, 2024

glasskuter said:
Here's all I can suggest.
Had you uninstalled Firefox using Revo Uninstaller, it would have scanned and allowed you to remove all remnants. It doesn't matter whether there is anything in Program Files or not. There may be files in ProgramData You may have other registry entries than the one you found. In fact I would bet you do. I can not say how they would affect FF when you reinstall it but you can try it to see if the problem comes back. If it does come back, download Revo Free. Use it to uninstall Firefox again. After it is removed, you will be given the opportunity to scan for leftovers. Use the "advanced" scan. Check every item it finds, Then delete the items. Restart and try installing again.

.

Thank you for this additional suggestion. I tried Revo and Total Uninstall but neither could see Firefox. So, I reistalled FF and then uninstalled it with Revo + the remove remnants at the end.

But your suggestion spurred me on to use a little- known but deeply penetrating uninstaller called Uninstalr. I have been wary about using it because there are 2 o3 bad experiences reported in some forums. However, having struggled with this proble for 3 days, I was getting desperate! (Further details in my next post

Solved Blocked Page - Your organization has blocked access to this page or website.

Member

My Computer

Well-known member

My Computer

Member

My Computer

aka Mama Glass

My Computers

Member

My Computer

Like a rolling drone.

My Computers

Member

My Computer

Well-known member

My Computer

Well-known member

My Computer

Member

My Computer

Member

My Computer

Well-known member

My Computer

Member

My Computer

aka Mama Glass

My Computers

Member

My Computer

aka Mama Glass

My Computers

Member

My Computer

Member

My Computer

aka Mama Glass

My Computers

Member

My Computer