# 403 error: is it just me? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 25, 2004, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/403-error-is-it-just-me/271120 "2004-10-25T21:04:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![choie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/choie/32/7829_2.png) [@choie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/choie)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2004, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/403-error-is-it-just-me/271120/1 "2004-10-25T21:04:21Z")
Very strange stuff happening with a script hosting service I use. (It’s a link directory.) The service went down today, and I visited their [support forums](http://www.indn.org/forums/ikonboard.cgi?) to see what’s up. No one else had reported any problems. So I posted a “help, where’s my directory?!” message on the board, and five minutes later I started getting a 403 error (“Forbidden”) when surfing to the site. “Okay,” thought I, “I guess the whole server is having issues.” However, I’ve just received an email notification that a tech guy has replied to my post. So he’s able to visit the forums, but I’m still getting the 403 error. Is it just me? I assumed the whole site was down, presumably related to the original problem, but … apparently not. Is anyone else receiving the same error? If not, any guesses as to what the problem might be on my end? ---
**Author:** ![ParentalAdvisory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/53a042/32.png) [@ParentalAdvisory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParentalAdvisory)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2004, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/403-error-is-it-just-me/271120/2 "2004-10-25T21:12:15Z")
Nope, not just you. I got it too. Seems to be a server side permission issue. ---
**Author:** ![ParentalAdvisory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/53a042/32.png) [@ParentalAdvisory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParentalAdvisory)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2004, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/403-error-is-it-just-me/271120/3 "2004-10-25T21:15:53Z")
Something on the ‘403’… [http://www.checkupdown.com/status/E403.html](http://www.checkupdown.com/status/E403.html) ---
**Author:** ![ParentalAdvisory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/53a042/32.png) [@ParentalAdvisory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParentalAdvisory)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2004, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/403-error-is-it-just-me/271120/4 "2004-10-25T21:18:09Z")
> [@choie](#): > > However, I’ve just received an email notification that a tech guy has replied to my post. So he’s able to visit the forums, but I’m still getting the 403 error. I’m willing to bet he was on the local server/LAN as an admin of some sort, which enables him all access. He might not realize that others from outside don’t have the proper access. ---
**Author:** ![choie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/choie/32/7829_2.png) [@choie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/choie)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2004, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/403-error-is-it-just-me/271120/5 "2004-10-25T21:24:29Z")
Thanks, **ParentalAdvisory**! (How appropriate a name for someone who’s helping me with a permission access problem! :)) Welp, I wrote the tech dude and let him know of the problem. Hopefully he’ll fix things. If this directory is dead, I’m royally sca-rewed – we’ve got 340 listings on there that will be difficult to replace. The 403 error is kind of a funny coincidence – for a moment there I was thinking, “holy cow, I’ve been banned for asking for help!” Anyway thanks again, PA. I really appreciate your checking this out for me, and providing me with the link. ---
**Author:** ![ParentalAdvisory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/53a042/32.png) [@ParentalAdvisory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParentalAdvisory)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2004, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/403-error-is-it-just-me/271120/6 "2004-10-25T21:38:10Z")
Not a problem, good luck with getting your directory! If it’s just an permission problem, there’s a good chance your data should still be there. This you would have to confirm with your support guy though.