Links Don't Open on First Attempt - Random Problem


  1. Posts : 102
    Windows 10
       #1

    Links Don't Open on First Attempt - Random Problem


    I use both Firefox and Chrome browsers both with current updates.

    This is a weird problem that makes me think possibly my internet router (Netgear Nighthawk R6700) doing it - but I could be wrong. Many times I can't open links from outside the browser (link from an email, or from a desktop application, etc). Take for example a forum digest email (not from this forum). It has links to threads. If I click on one, it'll open a tab and say "server not found" - but the URL will be something weird like starting with "link.vesta.threadloom.new.....". If I click the Try Again button, the URL switches to the actual site but it still says "server not found". Then, if I hit that button like 6 more times it will finally open the thread page. It won't do this on every one, it seems to be random. If I click links on pages within the browser they work normally. Its like it is not redirecting outside links properly.

    Then I opened a financial ledger application on my computer and clicked a link in the menu bar "check for updates" and it did not open the page, "server not found". It hit it a few more times and then it worked. I closed the tab, clicked on the link again, and it opened properly in a new tab. So its not just links coming in thru my email. And randomly. I tried disabling Windows Firewall but that didn't help.

    **Just now as I write this, I clicked "preview post" and it said "server not found" on the tenforums.com URL. I clicked Try Again and it worked. So apparently it can happen on links within a browser.
      My Computers


  2. Posts : 2,800
    Windows 7 Pro
       #2

    Hi,

    Your symptoms looks like a failed browser hijack attempt, Run antimalware and antivirus scans.
      My Computers


  3. Posts : 102
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       #3

    Thanks! So far I think that fixed it. I installed Malwarebytes and it found a pup.optional.OpenCandy and I quarantined it. Since then I've had no links fail to open.
      My Computers


  4. Posts : 102
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       #4

    Well, I had to revisit this topic. It seems that it lasted for several days but then began again. Malware Bytes didn't find anything this time. I'm getting random "server not found" errors in the browser but if I hit refresh a bunch of times then it comes up. Same thing happens with Outlook email, hit send/receive and I might get a "server not found" error so I hit send a couple more times and it works.
      My Computers


  5. Posts : 2,800
    Windows 7 Pro
       #5

    Hi,

    Is the problem present only in one Web browser or all are affected ?

    If only one browser is affected, which one is it ?
      My Computers


  6. Posts : 102
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       #6

    I had it on both Firefox and Chrome.
      My Computers


  7. Posts : 102
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       #7

    The problem has been occurring more. Not only on web pages but also email - sometimes Outlook will say "server not found" but then if I hit it again it will find & download the email. So I decided to try an experiment. I bypassed my router....connected the output of the router directly to the modem thus taking the router out of the loop and I have not had the problem since. Maybe there is some setting that is off? My router is a Netgear R6700v3 AC1750 and its fairly new but out of the technical support grace period. This may be the cause of the problem.
      My Computers


  8. Posts : 2,800
    Windows 7 Pro
       #8

    Hi,

    You got your finger on the problem... Nice ! Does your router have the latest firmware installed ? Maybe just power cycling it could also have resolved the problem... Does it persist with the problem if you put it back ?
      My Computers


  9. Posts : 102
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       #9

    Alright, I put it back the way it was with the signal out of the modem through the router to the computer. I did a firmware update but the page said it was just security fixes. Its all current now. I have not had the problem, but it was intermittent before. After I cleaned the malware it was ok for a couple days too.
      My Computers


  10. Posts : 2,800
    Windows 7 Pro
       #10

    Finger crossed !
      My Computers


 

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