Lots of sites were blocked

This is a simple story. I connect to the internet by using local operator whom really aggressive in blocking sites. Few years ago so many advertising companies including Google Adsense were being blocked. After so many complaints, Adsense and some advertising companies were 'unblocked'.

Few days ago they released a toolbar in front of each opened sites which break the layout and make the back-end and front-end website failed to work properly. So many complaints about the toolbar from local publisher and surfer. I decide to create post in their Facebook page asking them to remove the toolbar. After few days arguing with them, they decide to remove it.

Today, they were acting strange again. They block 'network-tools.com', 'Alexa.com' and some domains. They were using dynamic IP with 'reverse proxy' which make it difficult to use forum whom using IP as their tracking mechanism. Website whom using capthcha will always fail to identify the user because the IP was changed every few minutes. It is not the fault of Dynamic Ip because the IP was changed over time while connection is 'alive'. 'Reverse Proxy' responsible for this troubles.

What make it even worse, Some popular sites blocking some dynamic IP. I remember VPS.net blocking my IP when I wish to buy VPS.

I'm not complaining about them because I could change operator at anytime. I only wish the internet connection in my country should be better in term speed and usability.

Did your operator also block some 'authority sites'?

 

I live in India, we have had many such incidences here earlier where the ISPs tried to insert malicious advertisements as pop-ups. But now in 2013 there are no such reports, at least in the mainstream media. The govt. tries to ban some website sometimes, but people still bypass the restrictions and enjoy access the the free net!

 

Apology for delay in reply. I was attending 'teacher certification program'.
My first reaction after reading your comment is smile. It seems we have the same opinion about the toolbar.
There are already so many people writing in their customer service page in Facebook but most of the times they get no response other than to submit their phone number and modem/phone types along with their full name.
This are what I did to help them aware with their 'unfinished' product:

1. I write nicely in the page and explaining if the toolbar is 'good product' which make them would be remembered in the history of internet connection in Indonesia (little sarcasm but unnoticed). Then, I ask them their experience while using their product (internet packages) and how they use the toolbar properly.
   I get no response at all. Just like the other suggestions and opinions in that page.
2. I'm sharing my opinion at another statuses in that page and telling them (upset customer) if the the operator is willing to ask for forgiveness from their loyal customer. The only way to ask for forgiveness is by creating so much mistakes and upset their customer.
   This is local jokes. The operator has an advertisement showing people hang their feet in the sky scrapers building. The man did this because he is willing to ask for forgiveness with 'a unique' method. Then, a beautiful girl approach and telling him there is no need to do such thing because the operator is allowing all people to send message with unique ways if they just want to ask for forgiveness.
3. I sent them few screenshot how the toolbar messing the layout and render the page unusable. Even their official pages are not working properly. Yahoo local also affected as well. The layout was broken too.
4. I'm glad they remove the toolbar few days later. It is weird there is no press release about the toolbar and how they decide to remove it.

The toolbar was made from Jquery and it try to inject the element before the end </body> of html. HTTPS/Secure connection was not affected at all. It seems operator inject any packet data in http request.
Here is an example of how the toolbar break the layout:

Toolbar is located in left bottom screen.

About Alexa and Network-tools, I didn't use them all the times. Only when I wish to purchase domain or site from DigitalPoint MarketPlace.
About Alexa and Anti Islamic Propaganda, I had no idea about that.

I have a simple Education blog with the two words domain. There is a word 'STIT' and the operator block it in the past. The reason is simple. The domain which has the name of 'adult' keyword would be blocked. It is a shame because the domain was named as 'local university'. I'm glad they didn't block/filter domain based on keyword.

Till now on, I couldn't debug any 404 from sites. The operator didn't show any 404 as '404' or 'error pages' and decide to redirect it into 'Their pages plastered with ads'. What annoy me is they shown it as 'The page was blocked'. They should tell visitor 'The page was not available'.

This is why I couldn't find out whether the 'network-tools' is under maintenance or truly blocked. If 'Network-Tools' is under maintenance, the operator would still show us 'The page was blocked'. When I check using 'Down for me or anyone else', I see the domain is up and running fine. Now, Alexa and many sites were remain unblocked as well. I wish my operator would show any 404/error pages as is, the same way how another operator deal with 404/error pages.
Showing ads in '404 type page' is not bad. I could accept it (but I definitely don't like it) but they should understand if webmaster need to find out whether the page is truly sent 404 header or not.

Using local operator is just like testing our passion. Many sites block it and it is great lost for me and another people in same countries. I didn't ask the sites to un-block local IP. No, I didn't ask it. I understand they block it because so many Indonesian are doing fraud. Don't quote me on it. I'm not the one to decide whether there are many fraudster or not from my countries.

** Off topic **
I have been few months in DP and I see many country-mate doing 'suspicious things' from buying and selling likes, selling fake domains/sites and try to cheat the system. It really frustrate me. This is why I don't like to give 'likes' for my country-mate. Surely there are many great peoples from my countries. I just couldn't find it till now.
** End off topic **

Indonesia is Asian Country with so huge population. 'Internet User' is growing high. Even villager and farmer now decide to get info from Internet. It just about time Internet would be very important for all peoples. Many new online shopping sites were opened. Even Google open their office in Jakarta and work with trading department. I'm lucky to get two free domain and listed in their 'small business' local places. Too bad My local small business didn't get featured in their videos marketing. A mother with three daughter win over me and get the business being featured.

However, The ISP I'm using is the only provider which has 3G/HSPA (HSDPA/HSUPA). There is four signals from different operator but they were only at Edge.

I'm glad you have very nice experineces with your ISP in this year. Hope it will remain that way from now on.

For All readers (especially Indonesian): Apology if 'this or previous comments' upset anyone. I didn't mean to be rude. I just write it based on my opinion. Surely there would be one or many mistakes in my comments. I'm already aware and understand about it. Kindly tell me if I did the mistakes.