Verizon Fios Blocking America Online Client?
Lately I have been running into problems with users of Verizon Fios having connections problems through America Online's client software.
Normally I would think this is a fluke or a router side error, but it has happened with at least 4 Verizon users I know, including myself before switching over to Comcast.
Today I had to help someone figure out why AOL stopped working on all four of their computers. This started last Friday, March 27 and did not resolve. Their verizon fios internet connection worked fine on Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari, as well as Windows XP and Vista had no problem connecting to Windows Updates, detecting their IP address etc.
Each computer was allowing AOL through the firewall. The physical router's firewall settings were clean. So I reinstalled AOL on all the computers, but when you attempted to connect to AOL, it would hang at the TCP/IP detection, and then crash AOL all together.
It was more than obvious something was blocking the software from accessing the internet.
To double check it just was not their computers, I went and got my own laptop, wi-fi'd into their network, only to replicate the same problem with AOL being totally blocked.
I then tested AOL on my Comcast connection 2 minutes later, and it went right through with no connection issues.
I then attempted to get on AOL using another neighbors verizon wireless within the next hour and AOL would not go through.
I contacted Verizon via phone, only to be confronted with a rude employee who at first acted like I had no idea what I was talking about only for him to admit he never used AOL so he had no knowledge of what he was talking about, and his recommendation was to delete AOL and not use it anymore, and to only use the web browser provided by Verizon. (there you go, proof of their marketing ploy)
He denied they were blocking any software, which would be illegal, and only claims AOL's software must be broken or buggy.
After I proved to him I had no problem connecting via Comcast or other broadband companies other than Verizon, he said he was clueless.
This is worth investigating, has anyone else out there noticed recent blocks by Verizon?
I have read some articles that offshoots of Verizon have as recently as February started blocking free web based email providers that reroutes to Verizon's site, perhaps this is what is causing the sudden block?
Normally I would think this is a fluke or a router side error, but it has happened with at least 4 Verizon users I know, including myself before switching over to Comcast.
Today I had to help someone figure out why AOL stopped working on all four of their computers. This started last Friday, March 27 and did not resolve. Their verizon fios internet connection worked fine on Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari, as well as Windows XP and Vista had no problem connecting to Windows Updates, detecting their IP address etc.
Each computer was allowing AOL through the firewall. The physical router's firewall settings were clean. So I reinstalled AOL on all the computers, but when you attempted to connect to AOL, it would hang at the TCP/IP detection, and then crash AOL all together.
It was more than obvious something was blocking the software from accessing the internet.
To double check it just was not their computers, I went and got my own laptop, wi-fi'd into their network, only to replicate the same problem with AOL being totally blocked.
I then tested AOL on my Comcast connection 2 minutes later, and it went right through with no connection issues.
I then attempted to get on AOL using another neighbors verizon wireless within the next hour and AOL would not go through.
I contacted Verizon via phone, only to be confronted with a rude employee who at first acted like I had no idea what I was talking about only for him to admit he never used AOL so he had no knowledge of what he was talking about, and his recommendation was to delete AOL and not use it anymore, and to only use the web browser provided by Verizon. (there you go, proof of their marketing ploy)
He denied they were blocking any software, which would be illegal, and only claims AOL's software must be broken or buggy.
After I proved to him I had no problem connecting via Comcast or other broadband companies other than Verizon, he said he was clueless.
This is worth investigating, has anyone else out there noticed recent blocks by Verizon?
I have read some articles that offshoots of Verizon have as recently as February started blocking free web based email providers that reroutes to Verizon's site, perhaps this is what is causing the sudden block?
posted by Todd Jumper @ Sunday, April 05, 2009
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