Ask HN: Does HN block mobile browsers?

1 points by pbohun 12d ago ↗ HN

Recently I have been unable to visit hn from my mobile phone over the cellular network. I have standard Android and I've tried multiple browsers including Firefox, Chrome, and Brave. I don't need or want to login while I'm about so I was trying to reach the site without an account. If I'm connected to a wifi network then everything works.

Is this the result of a method to keep out bots that is over zealous?

8 comments

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al_borland 12d ago ↗

I was able to load up this page in a private browser (to be logged out) over cellular on an iPhone.

This might be something with your phone.

mtmail 12d ago ↗

I'd say it's an IP or subnet block, unrelated to the type of browser. Maybe automatic block of crawler (too many page requests in short time). If you know your IP address (e.g. https://ipinfo.io/ip) email the moderators. hn@ycombinator.com

RattlesnakeJake 12d ago ↗

Working fine from Firefox on Android over PureTalk (small MVNO using AT&T's spectrum).

timpera 12d ago ↗

Hi! I have the same issue (Orange France mobile network). It might be IPv6-related?

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49499217

brudgers 12d ago ↗

It does not block any of my mobile browsers and never has.

Maybe it is your carrier?

Because you know “hacker.”

benoau 12d ago ↗

I find it blocks a lot on my Android tablet with Firefox, although the "Chrome Mask" extension seems to help. Without it I can only browse a couple pages deep into "/news" and maybe one page of "/newest", and often can't open discussion threads or user profiles.

DeathToJews 11d ago ↗

People like me post from cafes all over SF. I almost always say bad stuff and they ban the IP

So if you’ve been to Stable Cafe, Ikon Coffee, McDonalds, Starbucks, most library branches, and dozens of other places in town they may have banned you by mistake.

The tech stack of this site is laughably absurd and the people at YC and HN are mostly nontechnical.

They don’t know how to actually ban users. They mostly ruin the experience for regular users in their pursuit to eliminate free speech

qup 10d ago ↗

Pixel 9a, Firefox.

Never even imagined I would have a problem. HN is my "is the internet working?" check.