Experiencing Sudden Inaccessibility to Certain Websites in Indonesia: Troubleshooting and Solutions
If you’ve recently encountered difficulties accessing websites such as NordVPN, Cloudflare, or ChatGPT from Indonesia, and this issue is new after two years of stable connectivity, you’re not alone. Many users have reported similar problems, which can disrupt work and online activities. Understanding the potential causes and exploring effective solutions can help restore your internet access swiftly.
Understanding the Issue
The error message typically seen in this situation is:
“This site can’t be reached”
NordVPN took too long to respond
ERR_TIMED_OUT
This indicates that your browser and network are unable to establish a connection with the target server within the expected timeframe. While this problem can stem from various factors, recent changes in network policies, government restrictions, or regional ISP configurations are common culprits.
Possible Causes
- Government-imposed restrictions or censorship: Some countries impose restrictions on access to VPN services or specific online platforms, which might explain sudden inaccessibility.
- ISP-level blocks or filtering: Internet Service Providers (ISPs) may block certain sites or services due to regulatory or technical reasons.
- Network configuration issues: Changes in local network setups or outdated DNS settings can hinder website access.
- Server outages or maintenance: Although less likely if multiple sites are affected simultaneously.
Troubleshooting Steps
- Verify Network Connection
Ensure your internet connection is stable. Restart your router and reconnect to the network to rule out temporary glitches.
- Clear Browser Cache
You’ve already tried clearing cache on browsers like Chrome and Firefox, which is a good first step.
- Test Access on Different Devices and Networks
Check if the sites are accessible on other devices or using different network connections (e.g., mobile data versus Wi-Fi). This helps identify whether the issue is device-specific or network-wide.
- Use a VPN or Proxy Server
Sometimes, government restrictions or ISP blocks can be bypassed using a VPN. If you weren’t using one, try connecting through a reputable VPN service to see if access is restored. Conversely, if you are using a VPN, disable it to check if the issue persists.
- Change DNS Settings
Switching to alternative DNS servers such as Google DNS (8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4) or Cloud
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