Unraveling an Unusual Internet Connectivity Issue: Seeking Expertise

In the world of IT, challenges can crop up unexpectedly, often testing the expertise and patience of even the most seasoned professionals. After a decade in this field, I encountered a perplexing situation that has left me scratching my head and reaching out for assistance from fellow experts.

The Scenario

Recently, I received a call from a long-standing client whom I’ve supported for several years. They reported difficulties with their internet connectivity—a common issue that I typically resolve with a quick modem reset or a driver update. However, what began as a straightforward troubleshooting session quickly escalated into a day-long ordeal that would leave anyone baffled.

The Problem

The initial symptoms pointed towards a serious problem: all computers on the network were being redirected to http://msftconnecttest.com, accompanied by a notification of “no internet access.” This is usually a sign that the system isn’t connecting properly, leading Windows to direct users to a connection test page.

I immediately began troubleshooting, starting with the modem reset (Frontier/Verizon). Unfortunately, this did not resolve the issue. I then moved on to resetting network settings and drivers on both Mac and PC devices. While I discovered that only Windows machines were being redirected to the troublesome site, this still proved fruitless.

Despite attempting to disable the msftconnecttest entry in the registry, every effort to access any website led back to that same page, all while seemingly loading in the background.

The Technical Hurdles

Further diagnostic testing revealed even more troubling signs. A ping test to Google resulted in an IP address of 172.19.1.254—a strikingly low response time of under 1ms that clearly did not belong to Google’s servers. This behavior persisted across all website pings, while devices struggled to even ping the modem itself.

I reached out to Frontier’s technical support, which was where things took a rather bizarre turn. One representative bizarrely asserted that “the modem has been hacked by Russia.” After replacing the modem at the Frontier store, I found myself in the same predicament, which further fueled my frustration.

A Curious Twist

Interestingly, when I activated a mobile hotspot, all devices operated flawlessly. This led me to conclude that the issue likely lay with the ISP rather than the internal network. However, upon contacting Frontier once more, a