[wp-forums] Can't Access WordPress.org (except for Codex)

it's EMG its.emg at gmail.com
Sun Apr 20 13:12:56 UTC 2014 

Hey Otto,

So I've had a really overall bizarre experience with WordPress.org of
late.  What was already weird got REALLY weird.  It also got better, but
ultimately, it got weirder before it got better and though I eventually
solved the issue...

I'm now sincerely concerned about the possibility that visitors to
WordPress.org (and/or any other affiliated/related WP and/or Automattic
sites) are being filtered out via web browser and/or operating systems that
are being deemed too old and unsafe.

Enclosed is further discussion on my attempts at troubleshooting and the
results which detail what didn't work and what ended up working.

*I'll start with the good news.*

I found out that swapping to a slightly upgraded version of my Firefox
browser fixed the issue.

It didn't matter that it imported in my old user profile or not; whatever
the case was - clean install, nothing else vs clean install, old profile -
I was able to access .org immediately.

*Now the bad news.*

So before I downloaded the slightly updated version of my browser, I did
multiple virus scans, did multiple reboots of my machine, cleaned cache,
cookies, reset settings, and used a new user profile on my OLDER browser
(the one I was having problems on).

I couldn't access anything on WP.org.

I uninstalled it and reinstalled a clean and newly downloaded version of
it.  No add-ons, no user profile, no settings besides default, etc.

I couldn't access anything on WP.org.

I tried using my user profile.

I couldn't access anything on WP.org.

*To be honest, it not only didn't improve my situation, my situation
ACTUALLY GOT WORSE.*

You know how I said in my previous messages that at least, I could access
the Codex (and also core.trac, but I didn't mention it)?

Well, I tried visiting the Codex and core.trac with the fresh and clean and
completely undoctored install of my older Firefox...

And the sites literally degraded right in front of my eyes.

When it loaded, it looked one way - the correct way.  When I reloaded, the
menus and navigation started disappearing.  When I reloaded a third time,
the site looked just JANKY-awful - things were just not in their usual
places.  And finally, when I reloaded the final time, I couldn't access it
at all.

Happened to both Codex and core.trac.

So basically, I was finally completely and totally locked out of
WordPress.org using the clean install of my older browser and I got to
watch as it happened right before my eyes.

And then the minute I updated my browser - with and without my user
profile, I could suddenly access it all again just like magic!

I'm not joking, I swear, and it isn't funny AT ALL because I've wasted a
LOT of time with this and I STILL have absolutely NO idea what is going on.

*Which brings me to this.*

Though I was originally laughing at the idea of me being blocked from
WordPress.org, I have to wonder if perhaps .org and other WordPress and/or
Automattic sites are filtering user access via their web browsers
(outdated/older versions) and/or operating systems (outdated Windows XP,
etc) or a combination of both for security purposes.

Maybe because of the recent Heartbleed issue?

Maybe because of closing off support for Windows XP systems (and the
browsers that can still run on the older systems)?

*There honestly is NO other reason why this would be happening given the
results of everything and I am concerned that IF this is what is happening,
then I will ultimately be blocked once again because my system and browser
are both too old and unsupported.*

If it was a settings in my Firefox or some kind of internal program
corruption, then a clean and no-profile with default settings install would
have done the trick.

If it was a virus then my anti-virus and the other scans would have caught
it.

But it wasn't a virus or malware.  It wasn't a corrupted version of my
older browser.  It wasn't a setting I accidentally hit.  It wasn't
something in my cache, cookies, history, or anything else.

The only thing that fixed my issue was a slightly newer update of the same
browser which didn't give two hoots about a clean user profile or not!

Scenario 1)  A completely clean and virgin install (not my original
downloaded install file; a fresh download) of the same version = same
troubles.

Scenario 2)  A clean install of a slightly newer version (and the last one
my machine can handle by the way; I was really resisting this upgrade!)
WITH and WITHOUT my old settings = no troubles at all

So... yeah.

TLDR; I'm concerned and I was wondering if this concern could be forwarded
to the 'right' person or persons.

I COULD be barking up the wrong tree (and if I am, I'm sorry!), but at this
point and after so much time spent trying to debug the &%$# out of this
situation and consistently getting the results that I have as explained
above, maybe my concern is understandable.

But IF it turns out that I am right, I would like to take this chance to
plead for continued access despite my outdated OS and browser.

That said:

Newer equipment to not only run the 'artist's workstation' setup I use now
but with the fully upgraded (and it would need to be to enable me to
continue using the tools I do) programs to boot will cost more than just a
pretty penny or three.

Newer versions of web browsers beyond what I am using now are bloated and
are very resource-intensive - something I just cannot afford on this
current setup that I have.

I hope to upgrade everything within a year - sooner if I am lucky and
things work out - but until then, I have to make do.

I've been using WordPress since 2.5 and the .org community on a whole and
the resources within have been invaluable to me and when I have been able,
I have tried to contribute and help out.

Though I would ultimately understand if security issues take precedence, I
would also be really disappointed to be excluded from participating in a
community and project that I have been a part of for quite some time.

Sincerely,




On Fri, Apr 18, 2014 at 9:35 PM, it's EMG <its.emg at gmail.com> wrote:

>
> Will give everything a shot and report back!  Thanks!
>
>
> On Fri, Apr 18, 2014 at 9:22 PM, Otto <otto at ottodestruct.com> wrote:
>
>> Some googling led me to this. Might work. I don't use Firefox much myself,
>> so can't be sure.
>>
>>
>> http://www.sevenforums.com/browsers-mail/301466-mozilla-firefox-error-connection-reset-3.html#post2513439
>>
>>
>>
>> -Otto
>>
>>
>> On Fri, Apr 18, 2014 at 10:59 PM, it's EMG <its.emg at gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>> > Thanks so much Otto! :)
>> >
>> > It seemed highly unlikely though I thought I would ask just in case.
>> >
>> > It makes no sense that I can access the Codex... but not anywhere else
>> on
>> > .org.
>> >
>> > I tried https but it didn't work.
>> >
>> > The message I got is:
>> >
>> > The connection was reset
>> >
>> > The connection to the server was reset while the page was loading.
>> >
>> > The site could be temporarily unavailable or too busy. Try again in a
>> few
>> > moments. If you are unable to load any pages, check your computer's
>> network
>> > connection.  If your computer or network is protected by a firewall or
>> > proxy, make sure that Firefox is permitted to access the Web.
>> >
>> > No firewall, no proxy, and I can load everything just fine everywhere
>> else
>> > but not on .org (except Codex).
>> >
>> > It isn't a 'server is busy' issue, either, as I can access .org
>> otherwise
>> > and elsewhere.
>> >
>> > I'm so puzzled...
>> >
>> >
>> > On Fri, Apr 18, 2014 at 8:47 PM, Otto <otto at ottodestruct.com> wrote:
>> >
>> > > You're not blocked. I'm not sure what "Connect was reset message"
>> you're
>> > > referring to, but I can't see anything wrong with your account in any
>> > way.
>> > >
>> > > If it works in one browser but not in another, well, the problem
>> clearly
>> > > isn't with the site itself. Don't know what could cause Firefox to
>> behave
>> > > in that way though. Are you using https to access the site? Try using
>> > https
>> > > everywhere, see if that makes any difference.
>> > >
>> > > -Otto
>> > >
>> > >
>> > > On Fri, Apr 18, 2014 at 10:33 PM, it's EMG <its.emg at gmail.com> wrote:
>> > >
>> > > > Hey everyone,
>> > > >
>> > > > I know this isn't quite the right place to ask this question, but
>> it's
>> > > > related to WordPress.org and accessing the Forums (and other .org
>> > places
>> > > > save for the Codex) and I really have no idea what to do or what's
>> > going
>> > > > on.
>> > > >
>> > > > I'm an old forum member (EMG) and recently in the last few days -
>> for
>> > no
>> > > > reasons I can think of - I suddenly can't access the Forums or the
>> rest
>> > > of
>> > > > WordPress.org on Firefox save for the Codex.
>> > > >
>> > > > I get the Connect was reset message for everywhere on
>> WordPress.org...
>> > > > except the Codex.
>> > > >
>> > > > 1)  I tried clearing cache and cookies and restarting the browser
>> but
>> > to
>> > > no
>> > > > avail.
>> > > >
>> > > > 2)  Opera still works.
>> > > >
>> > > > 3)  I am on Windows XP (don't lecture me please) and I run older
>> > versions
>> > > > of web browsers to accommodate both my OS and my older machine's
>> > > > capabilities... or lack thereof.
>> > > >
>> > > > 4)  My internet connection re: to WordPress.org is perfectly fine as
>> > > > accessing from my iPod is fine.
>> > > >
>> > > > Does anyone have any ideas?
>> > > >
>> > > > Did I get banned somehow for some reason?
>> > > >
>> > > > Browser banned?
>> > > >
>> > > > Thanks in advance,
>> > > > _______________________________________________
>> > > > wp-forums mailing list
>> > > > wp-forums at lists.automattic.com
>> > > > http://lists.automattic.com/mailman/listinfo/wp-forums
>> > > >
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