Why is vodafone blocking my website?

[jackhood9]

Hi,

My website https://ce-tech.info/

Is being blocked by vodafone, stating that it's an 18+ website (it's not 18+ at all!)

It works on wifi and O2 networks, but vodafone is giving an issue.

I have https enabled and SSL certificates (can be checked on 

Please can this be fixed 

[Mark]

Hi @Aliascanlen, I've tried to access the site mentioned from both a Vodafone and none Vodafone connection and this is blocked by multiple connections. With one connection I'm getting a warning of Virus' and malware being present.

[Aliascanlen]

Ok but what is the reason for it being blocked by Vodafone? This website is a Squarespace website that redirects to  applegrovestudio.com  which has just been reclassified (see previous messages in this thread)

[Aliascanlen]

Hi Mark,

Ive just raised this with Squarespace (my domain and website provider) who confirmed all the certificates should work fine for applegrovestudio.com and alinascanlen.com. I have cleared cache on my mobile and still getting the "Age restricted content" message when trying to access the site, or sometimes "Safari couldnt establish a secure connection to server". Everything works fine on Wifi and EE.  What specific issues does Vodafone see with my website and how to rectify them? Thanks for your help.

[Mark]

As there has been Malware and viruses detected on your site via one provider, these will have been detected by our network too, this will be why the site's being restricted.

With regards to the 18+ age limit on applegrovestudio.com, I've taken a quick look through the portfolio on your site and there are a number of pictures where models are topless, or wearing see through tops. These images will be the reason the 18+ limit's been added to your account. 

[Aliascanlen]

Hi Mark,

I am using a standard Squarespace template for my website. Where does the info about malware and viruses come from? Is there any evidence of that?

Re 18+ content  - in the response above, your colleague @Andy  said yesterday that it has been reclassified. There are no graphic sexual images on the website which would require an 18+ classification according to BBFC standards. Even for 15+ there are no constraints on nudity in a non-sexual context - in my case, these images celebrate motherhood (e.g. breastfeeding mothers) and are not sexual. So I believe the website should not be classified as 18+ - and this is what Andy also confirmed earlier.

[Effie]

If you pop your site URL into this checker here you will be able to see the malware and phishing flags. Once all of them are cleared and your site is fully green, we can get a new case raised for you @Aliascanlen 

Just to confirm, applegrovestudio.png is currently classified as generic which can take a little time to settle and you need to clear all cache and cookies before accessing the site again

www.Alinascanlen.com has been flagged as 'malicious' by a security vendor. You can use the link I sent to you to see this. If you are able to clear this we can absolutely raise a case for the site to have the classification rechecked but the team won't do this until the site is clear of any malware, phishing or viruses. 

[SPYERA]

I hope this message finds you in good health and high spirits.

I am writing on behalf of SPYERA, a leading parental control software company. It has come to our attention that Vodafone UK has mistakenly classified our website as containing "+18 content", which has resulted in our website being blocked for Vodafone users.

We would like to clarify that our website is dedicated to providing parents and guardians with tools to ensure the safety and well-being of their children in the digital age. We are committed to maintaining high standards of content, and our platform does not contain, promote or link to any adult or inappropriate content whatsoever.

Given the nature of our service, this misclassification has not only affected our business adversely but has also deprived many concerned parents of the tools they need to safeguard their children. It's vital for us to ensure that our services are accessible to all, especially those who rely on them for the safety of their loved ones.

We kindly request your team to review the categorization of our website and rectify this inadvertent error at the earliest. We believe that this might be a result of an automated system oversight or an unintended human error. We are more than willing to provide any required information or cooperate in any way necessary to expedite this process.

In the interim, if you require any further details regarding our website or the services we provide, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us. We hope for a swift resolution to this matter, and we are confident in Vodafone's commitment to providing its users with accurate and reliable services.

Thank you for your attention to this matter, and we look forward to a positive response.

Warm regards,

Tayloe

SPYERA

https://spyera.com 

[Andy]

Hi @SPYERA 👋 Thanks for bringing this to our attention. I have raised this with the relevant team so this can reviewed, as soon as we hear back we will be in touch again here.

Reference INC000004945365

[zoeballz]

Hi there,

As I have been watching this thread for a number of WEEKS now, as answers seem to be painfully slow forthcoming, it seems to me that your system is woefully inaccurate.

As it appears you get your bad information from a 3rd party, I ask ONCE AGAIN, who the 3rd party is and EXACTLY what information they give you about our websites please.

Please do not take this personally as I realise that you are probably having to wait for answers yourselves, however if you cannot answer our questions in a timely manor, then please escalate this issue to senior management perhaps, who can shed some light on this. I am beginning to get the itch to write to the press.

Many thanks,

Zoe

[zoeballz]

p.s. AND perhaps the ICO.