Can't access Reddit on Spark? (solved)

Forums › Spark New Zealand (including Skinny and BigPipe) › Can't access Reddit on Spark? (solved)

Batman

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#312903 28-May-2024 07:33

one day around a month ago i woke up and i can't access Reddit from my Spark Fibre, it says "ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED"

no device connected to my router can access Reddit and only Reddit

on public wifi, work wifi, Kogan hotspotting they all work fine

just checked on Skinny mobile data works fine

what could be the issue? could Reddit blacklist my connection?

xpd

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#3235684 28-May-2024 07:42

Reddit have their own error page for blocked connections, so doubt its them.

Turn off the AV for a test.

Try different DNS provider for a test.

Run a traceroute and post the results here.

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#3235693 28-May-2024 08:02

It'll be DNS, or any security type stuff in the router, or a combo. Set a manual DNS on your device adapter to test.

Batman

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#3235694 28-May-2024 08:03

xpd:

Reddit have their own error page for blocked connections, so doubt its them.

Turn off the AV for a test.

Try different DNS provider for a test.

Run a traceroute and post the results here.

turning off AV on the router made no difference

will figure out how to traceroute ...

Batman

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#3235698 28-May-2024 08:11

heh i learnt something cool, traceroute lol

Last login: Thu May 23 16:14:39 on console

macbook@MacBook-Pro-2 ~ % traceroute www.reddit.com

traceroute to www.reddit.com (146.171.250.28), 64 hops max, 40 byte packets

1 192.168.0.1 (192.168.0.1) 2.398 ms 2.109 ms 2.057 ms

2 * * *

3 * * *

4 122.56.113.6 (122.56.113.6) 26.976 ms 22.161 ms 22.804 ms

5 ae10-44.tkcr5.global-gateway.net.nz (122.56.127.210) 23.984 ms

ae9-43.tkcr5.global-gateway.net.nz (122.56.127.62) 23.983 ms 24.139 ms

6 trade-me-int.akbr6.global-gateway.net.nz (202.50.234.114) 25.714 ms 24.892 ms 25.769 ms

7 * * *

8 * * *

9 * * *

10 * * *

11 * * *

12 * * *

13 * * *

14 * * *

15 * * *

16 * * *

17 * * *

18 * * *

19 * * *

20 * * *

21 * * *

22 *traceroute: sendto: Can't assign requested address

traceroute: wrote www.reddit.com 40 chars, ret=-1

*traceroute: sendto: Can't assign requested address

traceroute: wrote www.reddit.com 40 chars, ret=-1

traceroute: sendto: Can't assign requested address

23 traceroute: wrote www.reddit.com 40 chars, ret=-1

* * *

24 *

Stu

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#3235700 28-May-2024 08:14

Works fine here. Spark fibre, North Waikato.

People often mistake me for an adult because of my age.

Keep calm, and carry on posting.

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Batman

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#3235701 28-May-2024 08:14

gehenna:

It'll be DNS, or any security type stuff in the router, or a combo. Set a manual DNS on your device adapter to test.

ok, i'll make sure i'm still on Spark DNS first, then maybe change to 1.1.1.1 ?

edit - the next trace suggests i'm on Spark DNS yes?

but why did it stop working one day and no other website affected?

Batman

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#3235704 28-May-2024 08:21

another computer

Tracing route to www.reddit.com [146.171.250.28]
over a maximum of 30 hops:

1 1 ms 1 ms 1 ms 192.168.0.1
2 2 ms 2 ms 2 ms 222-155-72-1.jetstream.xtra.co.nz [222.155.72.1]
3 * * * Request timed out.
4 * * * Request timed out.
5 23 ms 24 ms 22 ms ae9-42.tkcr5.global-gateway.net.nz [122.56.127.34]
6 24 ms 23 ms 26 ms trade-me-int.akbr6.global-gateway.net.nz [202.50.234.114]
7 * * * Request timed out.
8 * * * Request timed out.
9 * * * Request timed out.
10 * * * Request timed out.
11 * * * Request timed out.
12 * * * Request timed out.
13 * * * Request timed out.
14 * * * Request timed out.
15 * * * Request timed out.
16 * * * Request timed out.
17 * * * Request timed out.
18 * * * Request timed out.
19 * * * Request timed out.
20 * * * Request timed out.
21 * * * Request timed out.
22 * * * Request timed out.
23 * * * Request timed out.
24 * * * Request timed out.
25 * * * Request timed out.
26 * * * Request timed out.
27 * * * Request timed out.
28 * * * Request timed out.
29 * * * Request timed out.
30 * * * Request timed out.

Trace complete.

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saf

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#3235705 28-May-2024 08:24

Batman:

heh i learnt something cool, traceroute lol

Last login: Thu May 23 16:14:39 on console

macbook@MacBook-Pro-2 ~ % traceroute www.reddit.com

traceroute to www.reddit.com (146.171.250.28), 64 hops max, 40 byte packets

1 192.168.0.1 (192.168.0.1) 2.398 ms 2.109 ms 2.057 ms

2 * * *

3 * * *

4 122.56.113.6 (122.56.113.6) 26.976 ms 22.161 ms 22.804 ms

5 ae10-44.tkcr5.global-gateway.net.nz (122.56.127.210) 23.984 ms

ae9-43.tkcr5.global-gateway.net.nz (122.56.127.62) 23.983 ms 24.139 ms

6 trade-me-int.akbr6.global-gateway.net.nz (202.50.234.114) 25.714 ms 24.892 ms 25.769 ms

7 * * *

<snip>

This trace is pretty interesting with the last hop appearing to go to Trade Me's link to Spark. 🤔

www.reddit.com for me resolves to 151.101.165.140, which goes to Fastly for me (not on Spark)

<snip>
 6. et21-00-501.core1-akl2.vetta.net                                          0.0%     3   20.0  20.0  19.9  20.2   0.2
 7. as54113.akl.ix.nz                                                         0.0%     3   21.0  21.0  20.5  21.5   0.5
 8. 151.101.165.140                                                           0.0%     3   22.1  21.2  20.2  22.1   0.9

However Spark appears to be pointing you to 146.171.250.28, which if I run an MTR to, end up in the same state as you.

<snip>
 6. et21-00-401.core1-akl1.vetta.net                                          0.0%     3   20.3  20.7  20.3  21.2   0.5
 7. ae9-174.tkcr5.global-gateway.net.nz                                       0.0%     3   26.5  34.2  23.5  52.5  15.9
 8. trade-me-int.akbr6.global-gateway.net.nz                                  0.0%     3   25.7  25.9  24.9  26.9   1.0
 9. ???

Interestingly however, visiting http://146.171.250.28 redirects to a "Web Page Blocked" page by Spark's "Net Shield"

Perhaps that service is enabled somewhere? (not sure how it works), which is why you're being sent to that IP?

Either way, change of DNS should fix it up.

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djtOtago

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#3235709 28-May-2024 08:33

I'm currently on a spark connection and www.reddit.com resolves to 146.75.13.140 which points at reddit.map.fastly.net

On the console can @Batman type nslookup www.reddit.com

Batman

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#3235710 28-May-2024 08:42

saf:Interestingly however, visiting http://146.171.250.28 redirects to a "Web Page Blocked" page by Spark's "Net Shield"

Perhaps that service is enabled somewhere? (not sure how it works), which is why you're being sent to that IP?

Either way, change of DNS should fix it up.

thanks that's amazing, yes I am subscribed to Spark's free "Netshield" lol

i thikn that solves it

Batman

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#3235711 28-May-2024 08:46

interestingly:

i turned off Net Shield and I could access Reddit

I turned ON Net Shield and I still can access Reddit

michaelmurfy

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#3235731 28-May-2024 09:27

Batman: I turned ON Net Shield and I still can access Reddit

Likely cached DNS. It may die again :)

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Batman

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#3237782 28-May-2024 12:40

michaelmurfy:

Batman: I turned ON Net Shield and I still can access Reddit

Likely cached DNS. It may die again :)

yes, it's not connecting when i checked now lol

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#3241798 28-May-2024 14:42

Just quickly posting here - I can see this has been raised internally and Spark and escalated to the correct team for resolution.

If you are with Spark and have signed up for the free Netshield product this will be impacting you today for this site. The behaviour would appear to be new and therefore different to the way it was before so I think it's safe to say that it's a fault.

If you are with Spark and you are not signed up for Netshield, this will not impact you.

My views are my own, and may not necessarily represent those of my employer.