Could only reach the forums changing my DNS

[DavidR]

The saga continues again this morning, lots of flip flopping the settings and browser restarts to get into the forum. 

Silence isn't golden it's a pain in the ar5e.

There just doesn't seem to be a specific setting that works all of the time without having to go through this settings and browser restarts flip flop pain.

Could this be the update issue? Maybe its just something they do there and no one can get in, is there any information about the forum servers?

Update of what, nothing has been announced ?
The forum software hasn't been updated.  It certainly can't have anything to do with an Avast program update, as many hold back on program updates.

Mon, 21 Nov 2022 19:06:14 GMT

SMF 2.1.2 Released

Yet we are still on SMF 2.0.18

Essentially Avast has moved the Forum to an Akamai distributed network.  I don't know why, as the forums when you manage to get on, still have periods of slow loading pages, etc.  So it wouldn't appear to have been that.

Avast have been so bloody silent on this, they must know there are issues (or they simply aren't checking) people getting massive error issues trying to connect to the forums.  These errors must be being recorded somewhere (for statistical purposes at least), but it doesn't look like anyone is monitoring these. Or they have hired the Deaf, Dumb, Blind Kid to monitor the forums whilst he plays pinball.

Avast is asleep at the wheel !

[Rundvleeskroket]

The fact that no reaction has come from Avast suggests they don't monitor the forum very much. Or that they rather wait until we've forgotten.

I can understand, somewhat, that in the weekend things go slower, but it's not the weekend anymore.

[polonus]

@ Rundvleeskroket,

These errors are showing us actually how extremely fragile Internet can be at times.

6 weaknesses we have to reckon with.
Internet has to deal with daily problems, but we do not notice until one real big player is involved, like Facebook. Just a few big instances control all of the Interwebz. Attacks or upgrade- and update-errors there could make large parts of the Internet stops functioning. Moreover we now also have to reckon with a proxy war in Europe with possibly world-wide implications, als in cyber-world.

6 weak points -

1. Border Gateway Protocol-Routing issues, AS with BGP=points leaking from time to time.

2. And this may be the case here - Cloudproviders worked by Big Tech players like Google, Microsoft, Amazon,Cloudflare, and yes Akamai.  Remember the Amazon-AWS outing. Even downdetectors-websites went down themselves.

3. Content Delivery Networks - traffic is sorted according to availanle servers.  CDN protects from external attacks. If CDN does not function, none of the websites on it do.

4. DNS does not function as it should. Remember Edge DNS trouble at Akamai's earlier this month,
no big paper websites, no police services, no banking sites available for ye all.

5. Intercontinental cables getting older and also damaged. Also imminent war as a threat factor (North Sea).

6. Trouble at Internet Exchanges (IX). Last year slowed down the AMX (AmsterdamIX) and brought traffic down a 20% minus, long term losses of speed can have serious consequences.

                                                         (quote info source = Dennis Wilman)

What was or is troubling us here, is not known to me. Avast has been silent.
Fact is in the USA connection to the avast forum is not hampered in the least bit,
webproxy from EU server no connection, webproxy from USA connection OK.

Connections in Europe and some other parts of the globe kicks upo errors.

Is there anyone that knows, what is going on here, as it is quite a nuisance to say the least,

polonus

[Luukjr]

@ Rundvleeskroket,

These errors are showing us actually how extremely fragile Internet can be at times.

6 weaknesses we have to reckon with.
Internet has to deal with daily problems, but we do not notice until one real big player is involved, like Facebook. Just a few big instances control all of the Interwebz. Attacks or upgrade- and update-errors there could make large parts of the Internet stops functioning. Moreover we now also have to reckon with a proxy war in Europe with possibly world-wide implications, als in cyber-world.

6 weak points -

1. Border Gateway Protocol-Routing issues, AS with BGP=points leaking from time to time.

2. And this may be the case here - Cloudproviders worked by Big Tech players like Google, Microsoft, Amazon,Cloudflare, and yes Akamai.  Remember the Amazon-AWS outing. Even downdetectors-websites went down themselves.

3. Content Delivery Networks - traffic is sorted according to availanle servers.  CDN protects from external attacks. If CDN does not function, none of the websites on it do.

4. DNS does not function as it should. Remember Edge DNS trouble at Akamai's earlier this month,
no big paper websites, no police services, no banking sites available for ye all.

5. Intercontinental cables getting older and also damaged. Also imminent war as a threat factor (North Sea).

6. Trouble at Internet Exchanges (IX). Last year slowed down the AMX (AmsterdamIX) and brought traffic down a 20% minus, long term losses of speed can have serious consequences.

                                                         (quote info source = Dennis Wilman)

What was or is troubling us here, is not known to me. Avast has been silent.
Fact is in the USA connection to the avast forum is not hampered in the least bit,
webproxy from EU server no connection, webproxy from USA connection OK.

Connections in Europe and some other parts of the globe kicks upo errors.

Is there anyone that knows, what is going on here, as it is quite a nuisance to say the least,

polonus

I just sent a message to Avast, but wonder if there will be a response

[polonus]

What is on Akamai for the IP address 23.215.130.114  SAN

assets-client.avastbrowser.com, assets-client.avgbrowser.com, assets-client.ccleanerbrowser.com, assets.securebrowser.com, autoconfig.decoded.avast.io, autoconfig.engineering.avast.io, autodiscover.decoded.avast.io, autodiscover.engineering.avast.io, avast.ru, avgthreatlabs.com, beta-assets-client.avastbrowser.com, beta-assets-client.avgbrowser.com, beta-assets-client.ccleanerbrowser.com, beta-assets.securebrowser.com, beta-onboarding.avastbrowser.com, beta-onboarding.avgbrowser.com, beta-onboarding.ccleanerbrowser.com, blogs.avg.com, cpanel.decoded.avast.io, cpanel.engineering.avast.io, cpcalendars.decoded.avast.io, cpcalendars.engineering.avast.io, cpcontacts.decoded.avast.io, cpcontacts.engineering.avast.io, decoded.avast.io, dev-assets-client.avastbrowser.com, dev-assets-client.avgbrowser.com, dev-assets-client.ccleanerbrowser.com, dev-assets.securebrowser.com, dev-onboarding.avastbrowser.com, dev-onboarding.avgbrowser.com, dev-onboarding.ccleanerbrowser.com, engineering.avast.io, explabs.com, forum.avast.com, gradient.avast.io, onboarding.avastbrowser.com, onboarding.avgbrowser.com, onboarding.ccleanerbrowser.com, order.partners.avg.com, press.avast.ru, san-ion.avast.com, secure.grisoft.com, t.av.st, tune-up.com, tune-up.it, tuneup-software.co.uk, tuneup.de, tuneup.es, tuneup.kr, tuneup.mx, tuneup.pl, tuneup.ru, webdisk.decoded.avast.io, webdisk.engineering.avast.io, webmail.decoded.avast.io, webmail.engineering.avast.io, etc. etc.

[rocksteady]

Seems like access to forum is unrelaible for past few days, for me anyhow.
Not good for avast reputation as I have seen questions asked on other websites about "avast forum down"
I have just got back in after not being able to. This seems to be the norm. I have not made any changes my end, so assume it is server related.
Not being able to access the forum, I sent "feedback" via avast app, stating forum was down.
Dissapointing not seeing any response by avast staff on the forum,

[schmidthouse]

So far no response on Slack either.

[bob3160]

So far no response on Slack either.

One response, you posted ditto to my request for some input.

[DavidR]

Seems like access to forum is unrelaible for past few days, for me anyhow.
<snip>
I have just got back in after not being able to. This seems to be the norm. I have not made any changes my end, so assume it is server related.
<snip>
Dissapointing not seeing any response by avast staff on the forum,

It has been like this for over 8 days now if my memory isn't failing like the forums.

You need to read the topic to see it is related to Avast move to have the forums connections served by Akamai's Distributed Network service.

There has be extremely little Avast presence in the forum for some considerable time.  I'm not sure if you will see (but I think not) the lack of activity but "There are currently 28 moderator reports open."  These are generally reported by Evangelists, etc. to have some Avast input that we Avast users can't respond to.  This has been growing steadily, so much so I have stopped using this function.

[reddyshyam]

Hi,

Good day! Someone please look at the below thread at wilders regarding DNS issues on Avast. Just surprised that its been going on for a while now and yet no official statement from the team.

https://www.wilderssecurity.com/threads/avast-versions-releases.391826/page-26

[schmidthouse]

Seems like access to forum is unrelaible for past few days, for me anyhow.
<snip>
I have just got back in after not being able to. This seems to be the norm. I have not made any changes my end, so assume it is server related.
<snip>
Dissapointing not seeing any response by avast staff on the forum,

It has been like this for over 8 days now if my memory isn't failing like the forums.

You need to read the topic to see it is related to Avast move to have the forums connections served by Akamai's Distributed Network service.

There has be extremely little Avast presence in the forum for some considerable time.  I'm not sure if you will see (but I think not) the lack of activity but "There are currently 28 moderator reports open."  These are generally reported by Evangelists, etc. to have some Avast input that we Avast users can't respond to.  This has been growing steadily, so much so I have stopped using this function.

It appears, that for some time now, the forum has been a 'Non Priority' to/for Avast.
It aint the community forum many of us so fondly remember.

[polonus]

Only had access through a webproxy now.
Normally trying to go there, I meet with this

An error occurred while processing your request.
Reference #102.f621302.1677013595.49dafb8

Why cannot avast explain where this re-occurinbg error stems from?
Akamai won't tell us, we have to hear it from the horse's mouth.

As schmidthouse contemplates, is the scheme to let the forums actually go 'bonkers'?

polonus

[Rundvleeskroket]

Still no go from most european locations.

An error occurred while processing your request.

Reference #102.a47232b8.1677048656.633027

[DavidR]

Well the worst part after lots of flip flopping network settings and browser restarts, I got in and replied to the post above, on clicking Post, guess what, damn error and dumped out on my arse.

Lets see if it works now.

[polonus]

European Union will now reconsider using American Cloud-services,
and could come up with their own European Cloud.

However decentralise is the way to go i.m.h.o.

Tik Tok feared now as a way that can eventually read user's emotions.

Government officials on this and the other side of the big pond,
should therefore refrain from using Tik Tok.

Using the book 1984 as a manual in stead of using it as an imminent warning.

Who does not learn from history, is bound to repeat it in some way or aspect.

polonus