Can't reach one site

I’m having a weird problem which MAY involve Avast - or not.

For several weeks now, I have been unable to go to wxw.anncoulter.com. I used to go periodically and read a few of her essays but whenever I try now, I get “can’t find the server wxw.anncoulter.com”. This doesn’t appear to be related to the browser since it happens in Firefox, Opera, Google Chrome and Internet Explorer (current or close-to-current versions of each). I use Firefox almost exclusively and haven’t customized the others at all so I’m sure I haven’t blocked myself from that site. I can access any other site without difficulty. I had a friend try going to the site on his computer and he gets there just fine so I know the site isn’t down.

Is there any chance that Avast is blocking me somehow? Could I have inadvertently blocked that site from myself in Avast? I have poked around but can’t see any list of blocked sites in Avast. I’m using Avast Free Antivirus. My definitions and program are already up-to-date at Version 7.0.1466. I’m running on Windows XP SP3.

If Avast is a possible cause of this problem, can anyone tell me how to unblock that site? If Avast is NOT a possible cause of the problem, can anyone suggest what else the problem might be?

Hello,
the domain is not blocked. Browser has problem with loading it, but “wget” works well.

Milos

I accessed the site using Chrome, FF, and Pale Moon. Have you ran a scan with avast and MalwareBytes?

No problems accessing the site using firefox and avast.

Milos, do you have a suggestion for me? I’m not sure what “wget” is. Is it a C function? What is the significance of it working?

Para-Noid, I ran an Avast Quick Scan with no threat detected. I’m running a full scan overnight. I’ll report in the morning on what it turns up. I downloaded MalwareBytes several months back for another problem and used up my one free MalwareBytes scan. I can’t afford to buy it.

I checked my router as well and don’t see anywhere that I am blocking a specific website. All other sites I try come up fine.

You dont have to purchase Malwarebytes, just run a manual update and then a quick scan.

MBAM is always free unless you wish to have the realtime protection with auto updates.

Para-Noid, I ran the full Avast scan overnight and it found no threats.

CraigB, thanks for correcting my understanding of MalwareBytes. I had been under the impression that I could only do one free scan before being forced to buy it. I’ve updated it now and am running the quick scan as I type this. I’ll report back when it’s finished.

NP’s :slight_smile:

I ran the MalwareBytes quick scan and it detected two problems, which I removed. (I can’t find the log file with the names now that I’ve rebooted, otherwise I’d state their names here.) In any case, I still can’t reach the anncoulter.com site since rebooting after removing those two threats.

Any other ideas on why I can’t reach the site? Do I need to do a full scan in MalwareBytes in case the problem is deeper in the system?

Open MBAM and click the Logs Tab, select the relevant scan log and open it (copy and paste the contents) or use the displayed path in the Logs tab for the scan log and copy/attach the .txt file.

Good point, David. For some reason, I didn’t think of simply relaunching the program and looking for the logs that way. Here’s the contents of the log:

==================================================
Malwarebytes Anti-Malware 1.65.0.1400
www.malwarebytes.org

Database version: v2012.10.13.05

Windows XP Service Pack 3 x86 NTFS
Internet Explorer 8.0.6001.18702
Henry :: ASUS-M3A [administrator]

2012-10-13 08:29:35
mbam-log-2012-10-13 (08-29-35).txt

Scan type: Quick scan
Scan options enabled: Memory | Startup | Registry | File System | Heuristics/Extra | Heuristics/Shuriken | PUP | PUM
Scan options disabled: P2P
Objects scanned: 274195
Time elapsed: 24 minute(s), 44 second(s)

Memory Processes Detected: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Memory Modules Detected: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Registry Keys Detected: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Registry Values Detected: 1
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings|ProxyServer (PUM.Bad.Proxy) → Data: http=127.0.0.1:62848 → Quarantined and deleted successfully.

Registry Data Items Detected: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Folders Detected: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Files Detected: 1
C:\Documents and Settings\Henry\Local Settings\Temp\CSM301.tmp (PUP.Adware.RelevantKnowledge) → Quarantined and deleted successfully.

(end)

This should answer that question:
http://www.gnu.org/software/wget/

Thank you, Bob, for helping me understand what ‘wget’ is. :slight_smile:

You’re welcome. I hope it helped. :slight_smile: