Doesn't go to VK and writes the page is inaccessible: What to do? I can not go to my own page "VKontakte". Password recovery linked to a mobile phone number

What to do if VKontakte does not enter, classmates hacked and similar questions - the most common on various forums or answer services. Still: a huge number of people with very different levels of computer skills are constantly on social networks and, if suddenly instead of the usual page they see messages that their account has been hacked or was caught in sending spam messages and so that the profile is not deleted, often do not know what to do. This is what I will try to tell you intelligibly and in detail. This instruction can also help if your contact page simply does not open in any browser: it writes a DNS error or that the timeout has expired.

Why is it impossible to go to the Vkontakte website?

In 95% of cases, no one broke your account, which is easy to verify by trying to go to your Vkontakte page, or another social network from a computer, say, a friend - you will succeed perfectly. So what's the deal?

The point is a kind of "virus" that you can easily download instead of (or together with) a useful program that helps you download VKontakte videos, increase your ratings, hack another person's page, etc. In fact, you are downloading malware that has completely different goals, namely: to steal your password or significantly empty your mobile phone account. At the same time, as already mentioned, this is not really a virus, and therefore many antivirus programs may not report a possible threat.

After you run such a file, it makes certain changes to the system hosts file, as a result of which, when you try to go to vk.com, odnoklassniki.ru and some other sites, you see a page with a very similar interface, informing you that that the entrance cannot be done and that tells why exactly this cannot be done: spam mailing has been noticed, your account has been hacked, you need to confirm your password, etc. In fact, such pages have nothing to do with VKontakte - just as a result of the work of the mentioned program, entering a familiar address in the address bar of the browser, entries in the hosts file redirect you to a special scam server (specially designed so that no suspicions arise).

Sometimes they ask to send an SMS with a certain text to the specified short number, it happens that you first need to enter your cell phone number, and then - the password that came in the form of SMS. In all cases, all that happens is the loss of money from the mobile. Fraudsters will get rich. In addition, if your account password is stolen, it can be used to send spam: your VKontakte friends will receive messages that have nothing to do with you, including links to download any files, advertisements, etc.

So, two rules:

• do not send any SMS and do not enter phone numbers, account password, no mandatory SMS activation is needed.
• do not panic, everything can be easily fixed.

What to do if VKontakte is hacked

Open the system drive, on it - the Windows folder - System32 - drivers - etc. In the last folder you will find the hosts file, which you need to open in notepad. In a normal state (and in the absence of a cracked Photoshop), the contents of this file should look like this:

# (C) Microsoft Corp. 1993-1999 # # This is a sample HOSTS file used by Microsoft TCP / IP for Windows. # # This file contains mappings of IP addresses to host names. # Each element must be on a separate line. The IP address must be # in the first column, followed by the corresponding name. # IP address and hostname must be separated by at least one space. # # In addition, some lines may contain comments # (such as this line), they must follow the node name and be separated # from it with a "#" character. # # For example: # # 102.54.94.97 rhino.acme.com # source server # 38.25.63.10 x.acme.com # client host x 127.0.0.1 localhost Note: if for some reason the hosts file does not open for you, restart your computer in safe mode and do all the operations there. To load safe mode, after turning on the computer, press f8 and select it in the menu that appears. If after the line 127.0.0.1 localhost there are some other records in which the addresses vk.com, vkontakte.ru, odnoklassniki.ru and others appear, feel free to delete them and save the file. Sometimes, unnecessary entries in the hosts file can be located somewhere at the very bottom, after a significant white space - if you see that the text can be scrolled even lower, do it. In addition, right-click on the "My Computer" icon, select in context menu "Find", then - "files and folders" and check your computer for the presence of the file vkontakte.exe. If such a file is suddenly found, delete it. Then we restart the computer and, if everything was done correctly, and the only problem was that, we can log into our account. Just in case, change your VKontakte password or classmates, perhaps it was stolen while you were trying to get to your page.

If editing hosts does not help to get in touch

It makes sense to check if you were really hacked after all. We launch the command line by clicking Start - Run, typing cmd and pressing enter (you can also press the Win + R keys and enter cmd there). At the command prompt, enter nslookup vk.com (or whatever address you can't access). As a result, we will see a bunch of IP addresses corresponding to VKontakte servers. After that, in the same place enter the ping vk.com command, information will appear that there is an exchange of packets with a specific IP address. If this address matches one of the ones displayed when executing the first command, it means that your account was really blocked by the VKontakte administration.

Another way is to check the ownership of the ip address displayed by the ping vk.com command for ownership using Whois services. To do this, remember or write down this address, go to https://www.nic.ru/whois/ and enter this address. As a result, you will see the following page.

The address really belongs to the social. Vkontakte networks

If it indicates that this IP address belongs to Vkontakte, then, again, your account is really blocked by the administration and it makes sense to enter your phone number (to which the account was registered) where asked. Otherwise, it is still a matter of malware on your computer. If, after following the above instructions, when trying to enter your page, you are told that the password is incorrect, then it is very likely that it was changed by intruders. Try to contact the technical support of the site and explain the situation, most likely they will go to a meeting.

Perhaps your account was really hacked, after which it was blocked by the VKontakte administration for sending spam messages. Again, check this from a different computer. If you see the same message from it, then carefully read the attached instructions and do everything that is said there. If it does not help, contact VKontakte technical support, explain the situation to them, and also provide all the data by which you could be identified as the owner of the account, such as name, phone number, answer to a secret question, etc.

"Doesn't get in contact", "hacked VK profile", "account blocked", I can't get in touch - asks for a phone number or activation code, and similar cries for help, followed by a question about what to do, are very popular in all the online question and answer services I know. In this article, we will talk about simple ways to solve the problem when you cannot get in touch.

Your page has been hacked and is sending spam

One of the most common options when a user cannot enter his page in contact is a message that his profile was allegedly hacked, spam is sent from the page, and in order to activate the page, you must enter your phone number or send an SMS message with a specific code. As a rule, people start looking for instructions after the sent SMS does not solve the problem, but only withdraws money from the phone. Another situation is when the site in contact simply does not open, displaying errors 404, 403 and others. This is resolved and is caused, as a rule, by the same reasons.

You should know the following things about "Page blocked" in contact:

The real reason why you can't get in touch

As mentioned above, the reason that access to the contact is closed is a malicious program (virus) that writes changes to the system network settings (usually to the hosts file) of the computer. As a result, when you enter vk.com into the address bar, and often any other address of any social network, instead of this social network you end up on a "dummy site" whose main task is either to redistribute your money not in your favor, or use your password to contact.

What to do if a contact is hacked

First of all, as we said, it wasn’t hacked. And in fact, the problem is not at all terrible and can be solved in no time. As a rule, changes that prevent you from getting in touch are made by a virus in the hosts file, but this is not the only possible option. To begin with, consider the fastest and easiest way to enter the site, and if it does not help, then try to use in order those that will be described later.

1. Resetting the computer's network parameters using the AVZ anti-virus utility

First of all, try this method - it is faster than the others (especially for novice users), it usually helps to get in touch and does not require much understanding of how, where and what to fix in the hosts file and other places.

Download the free AVZ utility from this link (link leads to the official site). Unpack it and run it as Administrator. After that, in the main menu of the program, select the items "File" - "System Restore". A window will open to restore system settings.

Check the boxes as shown in the picture, then click "Perform marked operations". After restoring the system, restart your computer and try to go to the VKontakte website again. I will note in advance that immediately after restoring using AVZ (before restarting the computer), the connection to the Internet will most likely be disconnected, do not worry, after restarting Windows everything will be normal.

2. We fix the hosts file manually

If for some reason the method described above to get in touch did not help you, or you just don’t want to download any programs, then the first thing to do is return the hosts file to its original state.

How to fix the hosts file:

By default, the hosts file should look like this:

# (C) Microsoft Corp. 1993-1999 # # This is a sample HOSTS file used by Microsoft TCP / IP for Windows. # # This file contains mappings of IP addresses to host names. # Each element must be on a separate line. The IP address must be # in the first column, followed by the corresponding name. # IP address and hostname must be separated by at least one space. # # In addition, some lines may contain comments # (such as this line), they must follow the node name and be separated # from it with the '#' character. # # For example: # # 102.54.94.97 rhino.acme.com # source server # 38.25.63.10 x.acme.com # client host x 127.0.0.1 localhost

If below the standard part of the hosts file you see lines mentioning in contact or other social networks, just delete them, then save the file and restart your computer. Then try to get in touch again. It is worth noting that sometimes the changes made by the virus are specially written after a large number of empty lines at the bottom of the hosts file, be careful: if the file can be skipped below in notepad, do it.

3. Clearing Windows Static Routes

The next possible way of spreading adversity when you cannot get in touch is by writing static routes in Windows. To clear them and bring them to a standard form, find the command line in the start menu, right-click on it and click "Run as Administrator". After that enter the command route -f and press Enter. At this point, Internet access may be interrupted. Do not worry. Restart your computer and try to go to the VK website again.

4. Proxy server settings and automatic network configuration scripts

The least likely, but still possible option for blocking a contact is the virus prescribing scripts for automatic network configuration or "left" proxies. In order to see if this is the case, go to the Windows control panel, select the "Internet Options" item (if suddenly there is no such icon, then first switch the control panel to the classic view), in the browser properties select the "Connections" tab, and in it, click "Network Settings". See what's in these settings. By default, it should be set to "Automatic detection of parameters" and nothing else. If this is not the case for you, change it. You may also need to restart your computer.

In conclusion, if it suddenly turned out that none of the described methods helped, I recommend installing an antivirus (good antivirus) and checking the entire computer for viruses. You can also use a free 30-day version of, for example, Kaspersky. 30 days is quite enough for one complete scan of your computer and removal of viruses that prevent you from getting in touch.

How many people are faced with the fact that they "do not get in touch." Either he writes an error, then he does not want to enter in his favorite browser.

Almost always, the problem is with you. Let's try to figure it out, in each individual case ...

What if you don't get in touch?

You are offered to send an SMS ...

If they write that only in this case you will be able to go to the site "in contact", in no case do not get fooled by this and do not send anything! Do not fall for deception, otherwise you will lose your money, and you will not get in touch. Such a sentence with SMS definitely means that you have picked up a virus. Don't worry, it's very easy to fix. Follow the instructions.

1. Open drive C, then the "WINDOWS" folder, there you find "system32", then "drivers", there "etc" and finally what we need - "hosts".
2. Now look at this hosts file. If the file does not open, then right-click on it and select "open with". Find "notepad" and open it with it.
3. It doesn't matter what icons we see there, it is important to find and delete the lines with the words "vkontakte.ru" or "durov.ru" there. And then don't forget to save the changes to the file.
4. If the "hosts" file still does not open for you, do not worry anyway. It happens that a virus blocks its opening. We can handle this too. Click "start" and select the option "restart your computer" there. When the computer boots, press F8. From all the inscriptions that appear, click on "safe mode". When the computer boots up, follow the first three steps of our instructions. Then we restart the computer again.

It also happens that people just delete the "hosts" file, reboot the computer, and after that they get into contact normally.

What to do if you don't get in touch after fixing or removing "hosts" ...

Surely, these are some other viruses. Let's try to deal with them. We go to "start", there we click on search, select "files and folders", then "my computer". We need to find "vkontakte.exe" and "svc.exe", so we enter these names in the search box one by one, and then we simply delete these files when our computer finds them. Do not forget to restart your computer.

In general, it would be nice to check your computer for viruses if you have an anti-virus program. If not, then be sure to install it. After all, your computer constantly needs protection, not only in order to get in touch without any problems.

Why doesn't contact us - choose a browser

Oddly enough, but it often happens that through the opera does not come into contact in any way. Either the nickname asks another to enter, then it gives an error of some kind. Why it does not come into contact through the mozilla is also incomprehensible to users. It could be a matter of settings. See if the browser is asking for permission to open a particular site. You can download the google chrome browser. If this is the case, then you will definitely contact him.

Writes that the server does not find and does not contact

The reason may be the remote server, that is, not yours. This can be technical work. which are held on the site. Then all your friends at this time will also have problems getting in touch. It is worth waiting for a while, an hour or two.

Another reason is that you simply do not have an Internet connection. Check everything carefully.

Why doesn't contact me - just in case, check the following points:

• Do you have an internet connection. Go to any other site and see if it loads.
• If you are not at home, find out if access to the "in contact" site is allowed in this organization. Often in schools, institutes, at work, access to social networks is prohibited.
• Perhaps you were still blocked by the site administrators for sending spam, frequent name changes or something else, although this is extremely rare. But if this does happen, wait a day or two, then try to log in again.

We have analyzed the most common options for why you might not contact. We really hope that this information will help you. Good luck!

And in this article I will try to answer you the following questions:

Why can't I get in touch, on Yandex, on antivirus sites, or on classmates

In fact, there are many reasons why you cannot log into Vkontakte, so you should consider several options, you should not panic and create a new page on the social network too. The listed problem solutions are suitable for many questions, not just contacting.

Why can't I log into Vkontakte?

As a rule, there are several reasons why a user cannot visit his page on a social network. Let's consider the most popular ones in order from simple to complex:

Perhaps you forgot your password or made a mistake in it;

Either you forgot or entered your email address incorrectly;

Or maybe there is a virus on your computer that blocks access to your page on the social network;

What if your Vkontakte page has been hacked.

These are the most popular reasons in our time. And naturally, all of them are decided, however, you need to approach each of them especially carefully. Naturally, the answers to the question “ I can't get in touch what to do"There are several, so let's get started ...

1. You entered the wrong password

Most people on the network have not only pages on social networks, but also e-mail, and maybe even several, your passwords may be different. Why? It's all about the requirements of e-mails and pages on social networks: the more reliable and complex the password, the more difficult it is to hack your mail or page on a social network. Naturally, no one wants their personal space, even on the Internet, to be violated! That is why users sometimes come up with passwords that are simply impossible to remember. And, of course, out of their own stupidity, people can not remember what they don't - but even write down their new super long password!

What if I forgot my password?

For those who do not know where this help is located:

We go to the site vk.com -> entrance-> Under the buttons " entrance" and " registration"See the link" Forgot password? " (or " Forgot your password or can't log in?») -> Click on this link -> In the window that appears (Login, Email or phone), enter, respectively, either Login, or your E-mail, or phone number -> Next, the Vkontakte administration will send to your mail (if you chose E -mail) password. And the issue has been resolved.

Everything is really simple - because the social network Vkontakte has everything provided for to the smallest detail. So, if you forgot your password, the administration promptly sends it to your mail, or asks a secret question or sends a temporary password to your phone, which you can change by going to your page.

2. Incorrectly entered mail address

“All the same, not I can get in touch", You say. Then, the second reason may be your incorrect email address. Actually, if you have forgotten the email address that you indicated at the very beginning of your registration In contact with, then your action plan will be similar to the action plan with a forgotten password. We also go to the main page, click on the link " Forgot your password or can't login? ", And then - according to the instructions above and in the In contact with.

3. There is a Virus on your computer

"Can I get in touch again? !!!" Well, all this is a virus - the main culprit of all problems related directly to the computer. How to get rid of the virus? you ask. Each user must independently be able to neutralize viruses, well, or at least know the idea of ​​who to contact in such a case.

1. The way to eliminate a virus is to install an anti-virus program on your computer. And it doesn't matter at all what kind of program it will be: Doctor Web, the famous Kaspersky or t; Ask - why?

And the fact is that every day hackers and simply dishonest people create more and more new types of viruses that programs may not have encountered before. So, if your anti-virus database (the database in which the codes of all known viruses are stored) is outdated (that is, it has not been updated for a long time), then there is a possibility of "getting infected" to catch a virus on your computer.

Where can you “catch the V-contact virus”?

Let's go straight to the answer to the subtitle question: where can a user most often catch a virus that blocks access to your Vkontakte page?

If the user has downloaded a program that has nothing to do with Vkontakte, however, the name of the program has something related to the social network.

Such programs are downloaded by users very actively: for example, this is a program for downloading music In contact with... The two most common programs for downloading music and videos from a social network (which, by the way, is illegal - and this is spelled out in the Vkontakte rules):

LoviVkontakte- a very popular program through which any user can download audio and video from the Vkontakte social network;

VKSaver- another program for downloading video and audio from a social network.

Of course, it is these programs that are more or less harmless - but they are the ones that disrupt the work with the site. For example, your page takes longer to load, despite the high speed of the Internet.

Have you noticed that your Vkontakte page has taken longer to load? Remove all programs that download music and video files from the social network immediately!

And what if you downloaded a program like this, the name of which has something related to Vkontakte, and caught a virus? Of course, uninstalling the program alone will not be enough! Do a full scan of your computer with antivirus software immediately.

Don't have an antivirus program and your computer is already seriously compromised? And we just have a whole

The most widespread virus (as well as its analogs), blocking access not only to the social network In contact with but also to Classmates and also you cannot go to Yandex.: you get the same error - error 404 .

First, let's do the following:

Start -> Computer-> Local drive C -> Folder « Windows» -> « System 32 folder"-> Folder" Drivers"->" Folder etc"-> File" hosts", Which we open with notepad (right mouse button, in the appeared window" Select program "select Notepad).

Now remember one thing: the last line in this file should be only one line, namely:

Hosts file in notepad - no viruses

Everything that will be written in this file - absolutely everything must be removed, since it is a virus itself.

For comparison: with a virus. This will give you a clearer picture of the situation.

The hosts file in notepad, in which the virus is present

So, we delete what needs to be deleted, except for the one that should be initially in the "hosts" file. Next, we save the file, and we have a window notifying you about the impossibility of creating a file?

Then we run our hosts file as administrator (right button ...) by selecting the icon “ Run as administrator a "- then we will save the file.

"I can't get in touch after that!" - What to do now?

Try restarting your computer and try again - and you will be able to go to your page on the social network.

4. Another option Has your Vkontakte page been hacked?

What to do this time? Most likely, hackers managed to hack you thanks to a virus on your computer - in fact, the situation is similar, so you need to deal with it in the same way. Check your computer for viruses.

After removing viruses B you go to the site as usual In contact with, « entrance», « Forgot your password? "... And then everything follows the above scheme (first option).

I hope this article helped you figure out why you can't get in touch.

Good luck to you

Perhaps this information will be useful to you:

If, unlike other computers, a website does not open on your computer, there are many reasons for this. If there is a breakdown on the site itself, just wait. If the site does not open only on your computer, there is a problem with your computer or with the network. This problem can be quickly resolved in several ways, but this will take some work. You may need to check your system for viruses or malware, or change your browser or DNS settings.

Steps

Part 1

Basic actions

Try to open the site on a different device or on a different network (if possible, use a cellular network). Try opening the website on your phone or another computer. If the site opens, the problem is with your computer. If the site also does not open on another device, there is a problem with the network or with the site itself.

• If possible, try opening the website on a device connected to your network and then on a device connected to a different network. For example, open a website on a phone that is connected to the same network as your computer; then disconnect from the wireless network and try to open the site by connecting to the cellular network. This will determine if the problem is with the network or with the website.
• If the site does not open on any device and on any network, most likely the site itself is not working. This can be checked through the online service iidrn.com.

1. Reboot your computer. Many problems can be resolved simply by restarting the computer. Restart your computer and try to open the site.

   Try to open the site in a different browser. It is possible that some of your browser settings are not configured correctly. So try to open the site in a different browser.

   • If you don't have a second browser on your computer, download and install one of the popular and free browsers like Firefox, Chrome or Opera.

2. Disable your antivirus software temporarily. Antivirus software may be blocking certain websites from loading. Try disabling your antivirus and then open the site.

   • In the system tray, right-click on the antivirus icon and select "Disable" or "Exit" from the menu. A window may open warning that disabling the antivirus puts the system at risk.
   • After trying to open the site, be sure to turn on your antivirus.

3. Reboot your modem and router. Traffic from a specific website can be blocked by a modem or router. Reboot these devices to access the site.

   • Unplug the power cables from the modem and router (if they are different devices) and wait about a minute.
   • Plug in the power cord and wait for the modem to turn on.
   • Plug in the power cord and wait for the router to turn on.
   • Try opening a website.

4. Check your computer's date and time settings. If the date or time is incorrect, secure (https: //) websites will fail to open. Check the settings on your computer or mobile device to make sure the date and time are correct.

   Make sure parental controls are turned off. Parental controls enabled can block access to certain websites. If possible, disable the system feature or parental control software and try opening the website. The process for turning off parental controls depends on the program.

   Install a fast antivirus. After uninstalling your old antivirus program, be sure to install a different antivirus. The following free antivirus software is highly regarded by cyber security professionals and does not interfere with the loading of websites:

   • Avast!
   • BitDefender
   • AntiVir
   • Microsoft Windows Defender

5. Make sure there is only one antivirus program installed on your computer. Several installed antiviruses will conflict with each other, which can lead to blocking access to some websites. Leave the antivirus you like and remove the others.

   • Read on for general information on how to uninstall programs. For instructions on how to remove specific antivirus programs, visit wikiHow.com.

Part 3

Checking browser settings

1. Make sure JavaScript is enabled. If JavaScript is disabled, many popular sites will not open. Check your browser settings and make sure JavaScript is enabled.

   • In Internet Explorer, click Tools or click the gear icon and select Internet Options from the menu. Go to the Security tab and click Other. Find the section "Scripts" and in the subsection "Active scripts" check the box next to the "Enable" option.
   • In Chrome, click Menu - Settings. At the bottom of the page, click Show Advanced Settings, and then under Personal Information, click Content Settings. Check the box next to "Allow all sites to use JavaScript."
   • In Firefox, enter about: config in the address bar and confirm your decision. Enter javascript.enabled in the search bar. Make sure the "Value" column is set to "true".
   • In Safari, click Safari or Edit and choose Preferences. Go to the Security tab and check the box next to Enable JavaScript.

2. Remove unknown extensions. Certain extensions may be causing your browser to malfunction. Disable or remove unknown or unnecessary extensions. Remember that for normal operation of the browser, extensions are not needed at all, so feel free to disable any extension.

   • In Internet Explorer, click Tools or click the gear icon and select Manage Add-ons from the menu. In the list, highlight the extension and click Disable.
   • In Chrome, click Menu - More Tools - Extensions. For each unnecessary extension, uncheck the Enabled checkbox.
   • In Firefox click "Menu" - "Add-ons". In the left pane, click on Extensions. Next to each unnecessary extension, click Disable.
   • In Safari, click Safari or Edit and choose Preferences. Click the Extensions tab, and then for each extension you don't need, uncheck the Enable option.

3. Check your browser's network settings. If the browser is configured to work through a proxy server, some sites will not load. Open the network settings of your browser and disable the proxy server, and then try to open the site.

   • In Internet Explorer, click Tools or click the gear icon and select Internet Options from the menu. Go to the "Connections" tab and then click "Network Settings". Check the box next to the "Automatic detection of parameters" option and uncheck the box next to the "Use a proxy server for local connections" option.
   • In Chrome, click Menu - Settings. At the bottom of the page, click Show Advanced Settings, and then under Network, click Change Proxy Settings. Click "Network Settings". Check the box next to the "Automatic detection of parameters" option and uncheck the box next to the "Use a proxy server for local connections" option.
   • In Firefox click "Menu" - "Options". Select "Advanced" and go to the "Network" tab. Click Configure and select No Proxy or Use System Proxy Settings.
   • In Safari, click Safari or Edit and choose Preferences. Go to the "Advanced" tab and click "Change settings". Uncheck the boxes for all proxy-related options.

4. Reset browser preferences. If the site still won't open, reset your browser settings. The data stored in the browser will be deleted and the settings will return to their default settings.

Part 4

Scan the system for malware

Download AdwCleaner. It is a free program that scans your computer for malware and unwanted software. AdwCleaner can be downloaded from toolslib.net/downloads/viewdownload/1-adwcleaner/.

Run AdwCleaner. After confirming that you want to run this program, it will download additional files required for scanning. This process will only take a few minutes.

Click "Scan" to start the scanning process. AdwCleaner will scan your computer, which will take about 15-20 minutes.

When the scan is complete, click "Clear". AdwCleaner will remove all malicious files found during the scan.

Download and install the free version of Malwarebytes Anti-Malware. The free version of this program has a fully functional scanner that can be used on home computers. Malwarebytes Anti-Malware can be downloaded from malwarebytes.org/.

• After downloading the installation file, run it to install Anti-Malware. During the installation process, select a free license (if prompted).
• There is a Mac OS version which is the current version of AdwareMedic (it is one of the best anti-malware programs for Mac OS).

1. Launch Anti-Malware and click "Check for Updates". The program will download available updates to find the most malicious files.

   Click "Run Scan" to scan your computer. This process will take slightly longer than the scanning process with AdwCleaner.

   When the scan is complete, click "Quarantine". This will delete all detected files.

   Restart your computer and try opening the website. Whereas previously malicious or unwanted software blocked access to certain sites, these sites will now open.

Part 5

Changing DNS settings

1. Reset DNS settings. DNS (Domain Name System) is a service that translates domain names into IP addresses so that a user can connect to websites. If the local DNS files are corrupted, certain websites will fail to open. During a DNS reset, the local DNS information will be removed and a new copy of DNS will be installed instead.

   • In Windows, click ⊞ Win + R and type cmd to open a command prompt window. Enter ipconfig / flushdns and click ↵ Enter... A message appears stating that the DNS cache has been cleared; close the command prompt window.
   • On Mac OS, open Terminal (from the Utilities folder). Enter dscacheutil -flushcache and click ⏎ Return... Then enter sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder and press ⏎ Return to restart the DNS service. The system will prompt you to enter the administrator password.

2. Find a new DNS server that you can connect to. Typically, users connect to the ISP's DNS server, but there are other options as well. In some cases, you can increase the speed of your internet connection. Search for "free DNS servers list" (without quotes) to find an up-to-date list of free DNS servers. These lists often provide information about the connection speed to different servers.

   • Typically, the user receives two addresses: primary and secondary. At this stage, you need both addresses.
   • Please note that public DNS servers do not provide access to all sites. Therefore, it is recommended to use Google or OpenDNS to guarantee access to as many sites as possible.