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Help getting into my paypal account
pitboss
Posts: 8,643 ✭✭✭
I have been trying to access my paypal account with no success. I have tried safari, firefox, and internet explorer . All three of them say they cant
find the paypal server. I have had no problems up until today.
Where am I going wrong and how do I fix it?
any suggestions?
0
Comments
I just logged into mine via IE. No problems. Have you cleared your cache, cookies, or history recently? Try that.
Too many positive BST transactions with too many members to list.
Yes, I did that but nothing works. I am using safari and firefox on one computer and internet explorer on my hp. No sucess on either one. .strange.
The fact that this is happening on two computers is a little strange, though.
Try this:
Windows Menu (bottom left of your screen)
Select "Run"
Type "cmd"
Hit enter.
This will bring up a "console screen". Black background, white text.
Type "ping www.paypal.com"
Hit enter.
My results look like this:
Pinging www.paypal.com 64.4.241.49 with 32 bytes of data:
Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Ping statistics for 64.4.241.49:
Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 0, Lost = 4 (100% loss),
Does the bolded IP address above match what you see?
it should be in this list:
66.211.168.65
66.211.168.97
66.211.168.193
66.211.168.209
66.211.169.2
66.211.169.65
64.4.241.16
64.4.241.32
64.4.241.33
64.4.241.34
64.4.241.35
64.4.241.36
64.4.241.37
64.4.241.38
64.4.241.39
64.4.241.49
64.4.241.65
64.4.241.129
216.113.188.32
216.113.188.33
216.113.188.34
216.113.188.35
216.113.188.64
216.113.188.65
216.113.188.66
216.113.188.67
Windows Menu (bottom left of your screen)
Select "Run"
Type "cmd"
Hit enter.
This will bring up a "console screen". Black background, white text.
Type "ipconfig /flushdns"
Hit enter.
A reboot works when I can't get in.
I have tried all that stuff and nothing seems to work. Everything else works great on both computers. It's just paypal. I have called them and they said everything is ok on their end.
What exactly does the error message read?
safari or firefox cant find the server for paypal
Check and make sure your system isn't infected.
I have seen instances where an infected PC can't get to some sites, but can others. Luckily, none of them were my systems.
I use Microsoft Security Essentials (free download) but there are others that work as well.
I've been told I tolerate fools poorly...that may explain things if I have a problem with you. Current ebay items - Nothing at the moment
You may have to reboot both computers if their connected. I find it happens more often when I have more than one window open with PayPal. I use firefox. I did have luck the last time when I used a new Opera browser.
edited cuz I just can't type
Government is the great fiction through which everybody endeavors to live at the expense of everybody else. - Bastiat
Nothing seems to help. Thanks guys.
Sounds like you better call geek squad.
Reason I ask is a charge my wife made over the phone using my paypal debit card for ugg boots for my grand daughter set of a red flag that closed my account until they could verify it over the phone with me.
<< <i>Go to the public library and see if you can log in. -Jerry >>
I second the call to try logging in on a different computer. But logging into a paypal account on a public computer is a bit of a security risk for yourself.
Government is the great fiction through which everybody endeavors to live at the expense of everybody else. - Bastiat
Are you accessing paypal from a bookmark? Try doing a search for it instead and click the link. Something's screwy.
Are you using Mac OS? If you've cleared your caches, rebooted, the next thing I would do is do a google search to see if others are having a problem. And with Mac OS, it never hurts upgrading to the newest system in Software Update.
I just accessed Paypal using Safari. Works with mine.
Problem fixed.
plus.. chrome is so much of a "cleaner browser" no frills... it doesn't resize some web pages as well as other browsers, but it is better overall for my purposes, I haven't had any issues other than resizing mentioned... I'm not looking back.
oh I don't get anymore of those annoying FF updates every other day.
Maybe try that?
Good Luck!
<< <i>I don't want to needlessly alarm you, but if it is just paypal that you can't reach that might suggest some malware being installed on your computer that has changed your DNS setting to point to something that can return bogus IP addresses so that you go to a different site where login information can be harvested. The DNS settings could remain active while the bogus site might be down. It would explain your symptoms.
The fact that this is happening on two computers is a little strange, though.
Try this:
Windows Menu (bottom left of your screen)
Select "Run"
Type "cmd"
Hit enter.
This will bring up a "console screen". Black background, white text.
Type "ping www.paypal.com"
Hit enter.
My results look like this:
Pinging www.paypal.com 64.4.241.49 with 32 bytes of data:
Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Ping statistics for 64.4.241.49:
Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 0, Lost = 4 (100% loss),
Does the bolded IP address above match what you see? >>
tried that got IP addy 64.4.241.33
<< <i>I have been trying to access my paypal account with no success. I have tried safari, firefox, and internet explorer . All three of them say they cant
find the paypal server. I have had no problems up until today.
Where am I going wrong and how do I fix it?
any suggestions? >>
Sounds like a DNS issue. Try this: start > run> cmd > ping 66.211.169.65. If you can ping paypal ip then it is DNS issue.
If the OP goes to the command prompt and enters a ping or tracert on the above list, it WILL work. It won't access the website, but it will ping or provide the route to the entered website.
The ONLY thing it may be is the router/switch route he follows to access PayPal might be down (either a router or switch is down). This is unlikely since I'm sure there's redundancy enroute... but you never know.
Go to the command prompt and enter tracert (IP address)... or pathping (IP address) and you will see where your problem lies.
<< <i>tried that got IP addy 64.4.241.33 >>
That is on the list in the message following the one you quoted and is a valid paypal IP address. You're fine.
<< <i>It's not a DNS issue, he can access other websites. >>
Not so fast there.
Running a DNS server is really easy. Running a DNS server that says www.paypal.com points to a server in china with a site that looks just like paypal right up to the point where you give up your username and password is also easy. And malware that changes you configuration to point to an "owned" DNS server is quite common.
The fact that he can access other websites and NOT paypal is what makes me think it's a DNS problem to start with.
And one other possibility
The DNS settings may not have been tampered with, but it is possible that this file:
C:WindowsSystem32driversetchosts
was. and entry for paypal could have also been added by malware. I've mucked with this file to stop my daughter from going to adult sites before, replacing her favorite forbidden site with the IP address of something a bit more humorous. Of course she never asked me to fix it
However, it could be a virus, it could be cache, it could be the OP typing in the wrong website... it could be a LOT of things. It becomes less likely on multiple machines.
In these cases, it most likely is user error, or a router/server down enroute to the website.
AND... malware edits the registry, not the DNS.
If that IP wont route then its malware or he needs to contact his ISP and do trace route.
Loves me some shiny!
“Often wrong, but never in doubt.”
<< <i>DNS is Domain Name Server, ALL it does is convert domain names; www.whatever.com to IPv4/IPv6. It doesn't discriminate. If it works for one domain, it will work for all. So it is NOT the DNS.
However, it could be a virus, it could be cache, it could be the OP typing in the wrong website... it could be a LOT of things. It becomes less likely on multiple machines.
In these cases, it most likely is user error, or a router/server down enroute to the website.
AND... malware edits the registry, not the DNS. >>
Um. No offense, but you are dead wrong. Your PC is configured to query a particular DNS server. That DNS server may or may not have the IP address of the domain name that you requested. If it does, it serves this IP address. Otherwise it hands you off to a different DNS server. The second list of bullet points on this page give a good description of that process.. Now, the trick is to change the DNS server that the person has configured. And configuring that server to basically say "yes, I know where you can find paypal.com, here you go!" and sending an IP address of your choice. BTW, here is a register article which describes EXACTLY the sort of malware which mangles local DNS settings for a desired result.
And, malware can do whatever it is programmed to do. Up to and including changing your DNS entries. Which are stored in the registry anyway, so the point you tried to make was moot. here is the information about where dns settings are stored in the registry..
<< <i>
<< <i>DNS is Domain Name Server, ALL it does is convert domain names; www.whatever.com to IPv4/IPv6. It doesn't discriminate. If it works for one domain, it will work for all. So it is NOT the DNS.
However, it could be a virus, it could be cache, it could be the OP typing in the wrong website... it could be a LOT of things. It becomes less likely on multiple machines.
In these cases, it most likely is user error, or a router/server down enroute to the website.
AND... malware edits the registry, not the DNS. >>
Um. No offense, but you are dead wrong. Your PC is configured to query a particular DNS server. That DNS server may or may not have the IP address of the domain name that you requested. If it does, it serves this IP address. Otherwise it hands you off to a different DNS server. The second list of bullet points on this page give a good description of that process.. Now, the trick is to change the DNS server that the person has configured. And configuring that server to basically say "yes, I know where you can find paypal.com, here you go!" and sending an IP address of your choice. BTW, here is a register article which describes EXACTLY the sort of malware which mangles local DNS settings for a desired result.
And, malware can do whatever it is programmed to do. Up to and including changing your DNS entries. Which are stored in the registry anyway, so the point you tried to make was moot. here is the information about where dns settings are stored in the registry.. >>
the point you make is moot if he uses an IP address
Loves me some shiny!
“Often wrong, but never in doubt.”
<< <i>the point you make is moot if he uses an IP address >>
Of course he should try an IP address, just as you suggested.
It can only help to narrow down the problem.
Of course he should still probably figure out if it is a DNS issue. The rogue paypal password collection site is down, but wellsfargo/suntrust, etc might not be
Yes, his DNS entry could be changed... but the most likely action is a change to his registry (as pointed out in one of my responses to another OP a week ago). However, it becomes less likely when multiple machines are involved. It also becomes less likely if he's taken the advice of the other posts in this thread. It becomes even more less likely if he typed in the IP address and he stated he attempted. The most likely response is something the OP did to multiple machines... again, for someone to do the same thing twice is unlikely, but it does happen. He could have mistakenly entered paypal.com as a restricted site... more than once. He could have mistakenly clicked on a malicious banner... more than once. He could have done a lot of things, but if he flushed his DNS, ran a registry cleaner, etc. as he stated, it should have been resolved. More than likely, he uses a DHCP server, so unless he's manually entered a DNS, he should be fine. He can go to "Manage Network Connections" click his connection and right click IPV4 (properties) to see if he's DHCP or has a manual DNS. If he has a manual DNS, he can select DHCP. Again, 99.9% of the times, it's user error.
<< <i>mingot - I'm a Senior Network Engineer for the NSA, Dept of State and Dept of Defense (since 1981). I'm a CCNP, MCSE and CISSP, amongst others... next response?
Yes, his DNS entry could be changed... but the most likely action is a change to his registry (as pointed out in one of my responses to another OP a week ago). However, it becomes less likely when multiple machines are involved. It also becomes less likely if he's taken the advice of the other posts in this thread. It becomes even more less likely if he typed in the IP address and he stated he attempted. The most likely response is something the OP did to multiple machines... again, for someone to do the same thing twice is unlikely, but it does happen. He could have mistakenly entered paypal.com as a restricted site... more than once. He could have mistakenly clicked on a malicious banner... more than once. He could have done a lot of things, but if he flushed his DNS, ran a registry cleaner, etc. as he stated, it should have been resolved. More than likely, he uses a DHCP server, so unless he's manually entered a DNS, he should be fine. He can go to "Manage Network Connections" click his connection and right click IPV4 (properties) to see if he's DHCP or has a manual DNS. If he has a manual DNS, he can select DHCP. Again, 99.9% of the times, it's user error. >>
Anything he could have done "more than once" could have triggered installed malware that did ... well anything .... on both machines. You're right. What got me thinking that it was an issue lower in the stack was the fact that it happened across multiple browsers. The fact that only paypal was not working screamed hijacked DNS, because it's just such a simple thing to make happen. With your bonafides you know how simple it is to set up a DNS server and make it point to wherever you want. With mine, I know that writing the payload for malware to point to your bogus DNS is extremely easy -- we're talking a few lines of code here. I do disagree that flushing the DNS cache would solve the problem, though. All that would do would be to clear his local entries and force a refetch from a (still rogue) dns server. I also disagree that a registry cleaner would automatically solve the problem. The registry entries are still valid. They'd just be set to not get the DNS server via DHCP -- which is valid and something a lot of people do. Heck, the last time we had a power outage here (and the UPS on vm host literally went bang) all of the routers were back online before our internal DNS, so I set up a hard IP address and pointed my DNS at 8.8.8.8. Of course a registry sweeper with a good list of rouge DNS addresses would/could pick this up. You are correct that if his DHCP/DNS settings have been altered he can likely simply set them back manually, though.
Now the multiple machine thing -- that's strange -- I guess that has to be either "did the wrong thing more than once", "malware propagated over the network", or ... his router, which is, in all likelihood acting as his DCHP server was compromised.
I have a computer repair man coming out tomorrow morning. I was not able to bring up the PCGS message board today until just now. Something is sure screwed up here and it is far beyond my limited abilities. I still cant access paypal though , strange. I pulled all my ebay listings because of the problem.
you'll likely have to try more than 1 before it works for you.
https://64.4.241.16/
https://64.4.241.32/
https://64.4.241.33/
https://64.4.241.34/
https://64.4.241.35/
https://64.4.241.36/
https://64.4.241.37/
https://64.4.241.38/
https://64.4.241.39/
https://64.4.241.49/
https://64.4.241.65/
https://64.4.241.129/
https://66.211.168.65/
https://66.211.168.97/
https://66.211.168.193/
https://66.211.168.209/
https://66.211.169.2/
https://66.211.169.65/
https://216.113.188.32/
https://216.113.188.33/
https://216.113.188.34/
https://216.113.188.35/
https://216.113.188.64/
https://216.113.188.65/
https://216.113.188.66/
https://216.113.188.67/
I tried all of them with no results. I think I will wait for the computer guy to show up tomorrow morning.
Thanks anyway
Steve
I want to thank everyone that tried to help me . The computer guy came out and fixed the problem which was in the comcast equipment. He
also cleaned up my PC , installed chrome, and updated all my protection systems for only $57. He said my Mac does not need anything done
to it as there are no problems that occur with them as opposed to microsoft.