Author Topic: Several SymbioStock Sites Blocked (Read 12842 times)

daveh900 · « **on:** April 12, 2013, 08:34 »

I have come across several sites that are blocked by the firewall at my place of employment. They are blocked by WebSense.

Not all Symbio sites are blocked, which leads me to assume it has something to do with the host.

The following sites are not accessible to me:

www.aseanphotostock.com
www.stereoshutter.com
www.cathyslifestockphotos.com
www.imagoborealis.com
www.hookstockimages.com
www.Stockabily.com

If one of the above sites is yours, please post who is hosting your site. It would not be good if people in a corporate environment can't access your site. See the warning on the image below.

klsbear · « **Reply #1 on:** April 12, 2013, 08:53 »

I tested those from the office at my day job and none of them were blocked here.

MicrostockExp · « **Reply #2 on:** April 12, 2013, 09:20 »

that a lot of sites blocked! I am with bluehost (aseanphotostock.com)

cathyslife · « **Reply #3 on:** April 12, 2013, 09:26 »

So wouldnt it be a problem with your place of employments firewall? I just checked here at my work and nothing is blocked. I dont see how we are going to be able to control everyones firewalls. I am with ix webhosting.

daveh900 · « **Reply #4 on:** April 12, 2013, 09:34 »

Quote from: cclapper on April 12, 2013, 09:26

So wouldnt it be a problem with your place of employments firewall? I just checked here at my work and nothing is blocked. I dont see how we are going to be able to control everyones firewalls. I am with ix webhosting.

Several sites, including my own, are not blocked.

I do think it is safe to assume that that my place of employment is not the only one with these restrictions/firewall settings.

Franky242's site is also blocked and he is with BlueHost.

klsbear · « **Reply #5 on:** April 12, 2013, 09:37 »

I'm with Bluehost too and my site wasn't on your list. Did you check karensarragaphotography.com ?

daveh900 · « **Reply #6 on:** April 12, 2013, 09:38 »

Quote from: klsbear on April 12, 2013, 09:37

I'm with Bluehost too and my site wasn't on your list. Did you check karensarragaphotography.com ?

Blocked.

tab62 · « **Reply #7 on:** April 12, 2013, 09:41 »

not sure about your workplace but at my place if I get caught looking at my side business my side business would be a full time job!

daveh900 · « **Reply #8 on:** April 12, 2013, 09:43 »

Quote from: tab62 on April 12, 2013, 09:41

not sure about your workplace but at my place if I get caught looking at my side business my side business would be a full time job!

I'm just shopping for stock images.

steheap · « **Reply #9 on:** April 12, 2013, 09:48 »

I'm with Bluehost - can you please check BackyardStockPhotos.com? Link in my signature below

Steve

cathyslife · « **Reply #10 on:** April 12, 2013, 09:53 »

Quote from: daveh900 on April 12, 2013, 09:43

Quote from: tab62 on April 12, 2013, 09:41
not sure about your workplace but at my place if I get caught looking at my side business my side business would be a full time job!

I'm just shopping for stock images.

Cool, i hope it gets straightened out.

It says " this adsense category." Any way to find out what that category is? Could it be "stock photos?" Can you check the firewall or you are certain it is an issue with the wordpress sites? If some sites are blocked and some are not, guess we just have to find the differences.

daveh900 · « **Reply #11 on:** April 12, 2013, 09:59 »

Quote from: steheap on April 12, 2013, 09:48

I'm with Bluehost - can you please check BackyardStockPhotos.com? Link in my signature below

Steve

Blocked.

Must be an issue with Bluehost and the settings on the firewall here.

Not sure if this is something that can be worked out between BlueHost and Websense, or if someone here blocked the Bluehost IP.

daveh900 · « **Reply #12 on:** April 12, 2013, 10:05 »

A little more info: http://www.websense.com/content/blocked-by-websense.aspx

steheap · « **Reply #13 on:** April 12, 2013, 10:05 »

I've emailed Websense to see if I can find out why they are blocked.

Not a great start to our new adventure!

steve

daveh900 · « **Reply #14 on:** April 12, 2013, 10:18 »

Quote from: steheap on April 12, 2013, 10:05

I've emailed Websense to see if I can find out why they are blocked.

Not a great start to our new adventure!

steve

This could be specific to my location, but it also could be a much bigger issue. A Google search for "bluehost blocked by websense" does bring up several results. I just don't have the time to dig into it much right now.

steheap · « **Reply #15 on:** April 12, 2013, 10:21 »

Yes - there are not many web hits for that phrase though, and I have looked at most of them. There was an issue a couple of years back about some malware getting into Bluehost sites, but I imagine that was fixed back in 2010.

I noticed on the Websense site that they categorize sites into all sorts of categories and one is to do with sites that are predominately images. Maybe we are being categorized in that way and your company doesn't want you looking at those sort of sites - although I'm only guessing.

I'll see what Websense says in response to my email. I've been given a case number!

Steve

cathyslife · « **Reply #16 on:** April 12, 2013, 10:24 »

Quote from: daveh900 on April 12, 2013, 09:59

Quote from: steheap on April 12, 2013, 09:48
I'm with Bluehost - can you please check BackyardStockPhotos.com? Link in my signature below

Steve

Blocked.

Must be an issue with Bluehost and the settings on the firewall here.

Not sure if this is something that can be worked out between BlueHost and Websense, or if someone here blocked the Bluehost IP.

I am not on bluehost so your company must be blocking some other way, if they are blocking. I suspect that your firewall has been configed to block adsense ads, but i am only guessing. I am not up on how that works.

Edit: i did a couple searchs too and i think it might be a company blocking thing.

steheap · « **Reply #17 on:** April 12, 2013, 10:26 »

Quote

block adsense ads

I don't have an adsense ads on my stock photo site

Steve

Kerioak~Christine · « **Reply #18 on:** April 12, 2013, 10:30 »

Just a thought, are these all new domains or established ones. If mine is blocked try kerioak.com to see if that comes up or not?

cathyslife · « **Reply #19 on:** April 12, 2013, 10:32 »

Quote from: steheap on April 12, 2013, 10:26

Quote
block adsense ads

I don't have an adsense ads on my stock photo site

Steve

I dont either. Could there just be some keywords that we are using that the company has included in a block?

daveh900 · « **Reply #20 on:** April 12, 2013, 10:39 »

Quote from: Tinny on April 12, 2013, 10:30

Just a thought, are these all new domains or established ones. If mine is blocked try kerioak.com to see if that comes up or not?

Your site loads, both kerioak.com and your symbio sub domain.

daveh900 · « **Reply #21 on:** April 12, 2013, 10:40 »

Quote from: cclapper on April 12, 2013, 10:24

Quote from: daveh900 on April 12, 2013, 09:59
Quote from: steheap on April 12, 2013, 09:48
I'm with Bluehost - can you please check BackyardStockPhotos.com? Link in my signature below

Steve

Blocked.

Must be an issue with Bluehost and the settings on the firewall here.

Not sure if this is something that can be worked out between BlueHost and Websense, or if someone here blocked the Bluehost IP.

I am not on bluehost so your company must be blocking some other way, if they are blocking. I suspect that your firewall has been configed to block adsense ads, but i am only guessing. I am not up on how that works.

Edit: i did a couple searchs too and i think it might be a company blocking thing.

Not sure why Google AdWords would have anything to do with this.

Leo Blanchette · « **Reply #22 on:** April 12, 2013, 10:42 »

Just found this. Check site reputation. Is my site blocked?

New sites are held suspect for first year since spam sites rarely last more than a year. Btw are those sites using network feature?

I'll find out what it is when I get back

Kerioak~Christine · « **Reply #23 on:** April 12, 2013, 10:47 »

Quote from: Leo on April 12, 2013, 10:42

Just found this. Check site reputation. Is my site blocked?

New sites are held suspect for first year since spam sites rarely last more than a year. Btw are those sites using network feature?

I'll find out what it is when I get back

I was wondering if it was something like that, sites seem to have to earn reputations (think of Symantech blocking sites till enough people say they are okay etc). Mine has been around for years in various forms so should be okay by now I think

Lizard · « **Reply #24 on:** April 12, 2013, 10:48 »

Im not a tech person but I'm just having coffee and and reading local newspapers where it says that there are huge DDOS attacks on wordpress platform and there is large amount of sites that are unavailable at the moment.

cathyslife · « **Reply #25 on:** April 12, 2013, 10:51 »

Quote from: daveh900 on April 12, 2013, 10:40

Not sure why Google AdWords would have anything to do with this.

Because google has something to do with everything?

I have the same question as you guys. I dont use adsense so why is it saying that?

And leos question about site rep...then how come its not blocked where i work or at other places? Guess we will find out.

cathyslife · « **Reply #26 on:** April 12, 2013, 10:55 »

Wonder if it has anything to do with that bogus registration some of us got. Maybe a hack?

Leo Blanchette · « **Reply #27 on:** April 12, 2013, 11:00 »

Unlikely. Spam registrations are sign of healthy site

Chico · « **Reply #28 on:** April 12, 2013, 11:30 »

My site also bluehost hosted.

hitvectors.com

Test others here in my daily job and everything works fine.

Kerioak~Christine · « **Reply #29 on:** April 12, 2013, 11:33 »

.wrong place

ajt · « **Reply #30 on:** April 12, 2013, 11:57 »

Instead of "Websense blocks Bluehost" you should search for "Websense blocks WordPress"

cathyslife · « **Reply #31 on:** April 12, 2013, 12:10 »

Quote from: ajt on April 12, 2013, 11:57

Instead of "Websense blocks Bluehost" you should search for "Websense blocks WordPress"

Thanks for that link.

cathyslife · « **Reply #32 on:** April 12, 2013, 12:11 »

Www.websense.com/content/blocked-by-websense.aspx

Pilens · « **Reply #33 on:** April 12, 2013, 12:42 »

That's sad!

I am on Bluehost, too. (www.imagoborealis.com)

I checked if Bluehost is listed/gets blocked by PeerBlock: No it isn't in their list of malware/spyware/adware/data tracker/advertising servers.

daveh900 · « **Reply #34 on:** April 12, 2013, 12:59 »

A little more poking around... I found the Bluehost forum and found a couple sites running wordpress that I was able to access.

Not sure if that is helpful or not.

mattdixon · « **Reply #35 on:** April 12, 2013, 13:02 »

Hi Dave, I think you've hit on something quiet important, never realised some hosts maybe on a blocked list.

My site is on Just Host - www.travelwitness.net - can you check if this is blocked?

Be good to build a reputable hosting list so Symbistock has a chance to breathe.

daveh900 · « **Reply #36 on:** April 12, 2013, 13:14 »

Quote from: mattdixon on April 12, 2013, 13:02

Hi Dave, I think you've hit on something quiet important, never realised some hosts maybe on a blocked list.

My site is on Just Host - www.travelwitness.net - can you check if this is blocked?

Be good to build a reputable hosting list so Symbistock has a chance to breathe.

Matt, your beautiful site loads just fine.

hotwalkn · « **Reply #37 on:** April 12, 2013, 13:18 »

I'm thinking this has more to do with keywording and download options, than hosting...

This is off of Websense filter setup explanation page.

Block Keywords—When you define keywords and enable keyword blocking, users requesting a site whose URL contains a blocked keyword are not allowed to access the site. See Filtering based on keyword.

Block File Types—When file type blocking is enabled, users attempting to download a file whose type is blocked receive a block page, and the file is not downloaded. See Managing traffic based on file type.

steheap · « **Reply #38 on:** April 12, 2013, 13:20 »

Well, here is the answer. This is the email I just got from Websense:

Quote

The site you submitted has been reviewed and assigned the following category:

http://www.backyardstockphotos.com/ - Shopping

Categorization updates should be reflected in the next scheduled database publication, and will be available shortly to Real-Time Updates subscribers.

Researcher Notes: According to our records, the site was assigned the reputation category Potentially Damaging Content. The category Potentially Damaging Content is a reputation filtering category and is assigned to newly registered uncategorized URLs with certain attributes, such as: 1) if the site is known to be under 14 days old and 2) hosted on an IP or IP range, known to be compromised in the past; 3) if a site potentially hosts a new type of exploit.

Thank you for your inquiry,

Dipti
Websense Labs

Looks like you have to put your websites forward for re-categorizing and then we should be OK. Not sure how often their database is updated.

Steve

mattdixon · « **Reply #39 on:** April 12, 2013, 13:21 »

Thanks :-)

Not sure how we can all do this but it would be a good to compile a list of green lighted hosts and blocked hosts so new sites can avoid any problems.

steheap · « **Reply #40 on:** April 12, 2013, 13:28 »

I told them that we were part of a group of photographers setting up these sites, but I think they will probably accept a list of Symbio sites. I didn't have to prove I owned the site, so I can't see an issue with a group approach.

Steve

Leo Blanchette · « **Reply #41 on:** April 12, 2013, 14:06 »

What an interesting day -
http://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/news/general/wp-login-brute-force-attack

Someone tried to log into the Symbiostock site and told me a block-page had been set up due to security attacks

I'm looking into the original post issue now.

steheap · « **Reply #42 on:** April 12, 2013, 14:37 »

The original issue is solved, Leo. We just have to email the blocking company and they will re-rate our sites.

Steve

cathyslife · « **Reply #43 on:** April 12, 2013, 14:54 »

Im going to take care of it tonight with websense.

Here are a some links to do that

http://www.websense.com/support/article/kbarticle/How-To-Submit-Uncategorized-Sites

http://www.websense.com/support/article/kbarticle/How-do-I-know-how-many-Site-Lookup-request-that-I-have-generated

http://www.websense.com/support/article/kbarticle/How-do-I-add-custom-URLs-or-recategorize-existing-URLs

steheap · « **Reply #44 on:** April 12, 2013, 15:10 »

I just emailed their support email and said:

Subject: BackyardStockPhotos.com blocked by Websense

Quote

A group of photographers who have all built their own stock photo agencies
using Wordpress and a stock agency theme and are hosted on Bluehost have
found that their sites are being blocked by Websense.

My own site - BackyardStockPhotos.com is one of those affected.

Could you please review why this and the similar sites are being blocked -
is there some security risk my site is presenting to users?

cathyslife · « **Reply #45 on:** April 12, 2013, 18:40 »

I registered on the WebSense site to handle this, and hit pages that said I didn't have access privileges, most likely because I don't have an account with them. I did call them and they said to send an email to:

[email protected]

Explain the situation, give them your URL, and ask that it be re-categorized as not being potentially damaging content. They apparently do this to new sites. I have never run into this before. I suppose the extra security is a good thing, but what a pain.

Anyway, my email is sent and he said I should hear back in a couple of days.

Leo Blanchette · « **Reply #46 on:** April 12, 2013, 19:13 »

Guilty till proven innocent.

cathyslife · « **Reply #47 on:** April 12, 2013, 19:59 »

I already have a response:

Hello,

The site you submitted has been reviewed and assigned the following category:

http://www.cathyslifestockphotos.com/ - Shopping

Categorization updates should be reflected in the next scheduled database publication, and will be available shortly to Real-Time Updates subscribers.

Thank you for your inquiry,

Lorna
Websense Labs