Access Denied
Howdy!
Whether I use Google or DuckDuckGo or FireFox, I get this message at the VitaCost.com website when searching for products. I can get to the website via http or https but this message stops me from ordering.
Access Denied You don't have permission to access "http://www.vitacost.com/Search.aspx?" on this server. Reference #18.94467b68.1660002130.7f6a9bb
Can any one give me a clue?
God Bless y'all for any help provided.
Irish Texan
Chosen solution
The "Access Denied" message with a Reference# is characteristic of a perimeter security system/Web Application Firewall designed to prevent bot and other suspicious connections to the website.
Some possible issues to consider:
(A) If you are using a VPN when accessing these sites, try without the VPN.
When you are using a VPN, your IP address is from a remote system used by many strangers. So if that IP address is temporarily banned due to someone else's activity, that also will affect you. If you need the VPN, try selecting a different server or exit node in your VPN software.
(B) If you have customized any private preferences that affect browser requests -- for example, modifying your "user agent" or referring site header -- you may need to undo those changes
Also, some add-ons may modify headers in a way that looks suspicious to these systems. We can't really tell how your browser identified itself to the problem site based on how it identified itself to this site, because add-ons are restricted in how they interact with this site. Can you think of any add-ons you use that might make privacy-related tweaks your your requests?
(C) If you have Firefox set not to accept ANY cookies, that also could be a problem for some sites
(D) Maybe your requests are modified by an intermediary (such as a proxy server, your security software, or an interloper)
Although most people are not intentionally using a proxy server, Firefox may discover one set up in your system settings. Sometimes forcing Firefox to ignore those settings helps with weird connection issues. Here's how:
Open the Settings page using either:
- "3-bar" menu button > Settings
- (menu bar) Tools > Settings
- type or paste about:preferences into the address bar and press Enter/Return to load it
In the very tiny search box at the top of the page, type proxy and Firefox should filter to the "Network Settings" section of the page.
Click the Settings button, change the top setting to "No Proxy" and then click the OK button at the bottom of the dialog to save your change.
Any difference?
Read this answer in context 👍 1All Replies (4)
Chosen Solution
The "Access Denied" message with a Reference# is characteristic of a perimeter security system/Web Application Firewall designed to prevent bot and other suspicious connections to the website.
Some possible issues to consider:
(A) If you are using a VPN when accessing these sites, try without the VPN.
When you are using a VPN, your IP address is from a remote system used by many strangers. So if that IP address is temporarily banned due to someone else's activity, that also will affect you. If you need the VPN, try selecting a different server or exit node in your VPN software.
(B) If you have customized any private preferences that affect browser requests -- for example, modifying your "user agent" or referring site header -- you may need to undo those changes
Also, some add-ons may modify headers in a way that looks suspicious to these systems. We can't really tell how your browser identified itself to the problem site based on how it identified itself to this site, because add-ons are restricted in how they interact with this site. Can you think of any add-ons you use that might make privacy-related tweaks your your requests?
(C) If you have Firefox set not to accept ANY cookies, that also could be a problem for some sites
(D) Maybe your requests are modified by an intermediary (such as a proxy server, your security software, or an interloper)
Although most people are not intentionally using a proxy server, Firefox may discover one set up in your system settings. Sometimes forcing Firefox to ignore those settings helps with weird connection issues. Here's how:
Open the Settings page using either:
- "3-bar" menu button > Settings
- (menu bar) Tools > Settings
- type or paste about:preferences into the address bar and press Enter/Return to load it
In the very tiny search box at the top of the page, type proxy and Firefox should filter to the "Network Settings" section of the page.
Click the Settings button, change the top setting to "No Proxy" and then click the OK button at the bottom of the dialog to save your change.
Any difference?
Modified by jscher2000 - Support Volunteer
jscher2000, one of your options worked. I turned off my VPN. I previously changed my security from strict to normal and that did not work. I did not try any of the other options but I've saved your response for future review.
I did not try dropa's solution as I did not understand it. Your instructions were multiple and easy to understand.
Now, if I can only figure out how to get duckduckgo back as my search option, my Firefox will be complete. I had previously deleted all of the other search engines except Google.
God Bless Y'all for your time, knowledge and caring.
desmond1
To get back deleted search engines, scroll all the way to the bottom of the Search panel on the Settings page and look for a "Restore Default Search Engines" button.
jscher2000, y'all are my Firefox HERO!!! When I filed the above solutions, I see y'all helped me with another problem late in 2021 when the dark theme gave me problems. God Bless Y'all! Your a great help!