# Why can't I access quicktopic.com from Thailand ? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 27, 2012, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-access-quicktopic-com-from-thailand/614098 "2012-02-27T00:34:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2012, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-access-quicktopic-com-from-thailand/614098/1 "2012-02-27T00:34:49Z")
Does anyone know why I cannot access [http://www.quicktopic.com](http://www.quicktopic.com) from Thailand? I was able to access it a few months ago, but now get: > [@](#): > > Forbidden > > You don’t have permission to access / on this server. I suppose the answer may be: Censorship by the Thai authorities. I get the same error message when I try to access [rollingstone.com](http://rollingstone.com), but there is a difference: If I access via [freeproxyserver.net](http://freeproxyserver.net) I can get to [rollingstone.com](http://rollingstone.com), but I get the same error message as above for [quicktopic.com](http://quicktopic.com). I’m aware of IP address blacklists (e.g. via [whatismyipaddress.com/blacklist-check](http://whatismyipaddress.com/blacklist-check) ). My IP address is on several blacklists but this has never caused me trouble before. The matter could prevent me from playing Mafia at SDMB, as [quicktopic.com](http://quicktopic.com) will probably be used by the upcoming game. :mad: ---
**Author:** ![tellyworth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/977dab/32.png) [@tellyworth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tellyworth)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2012, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-access-quicktopic-com-from-thailand/614098/2 "2012-02-27T00:53:07Z")
In a command prompt or terminal window, do this: > [@](#): > > ping [www.quicktopic.com](http://www.quicktopic.com) What IP address does it display? ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2012, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-access-quicktopic-com-from-thailand/614098/3 "2012-02-27T03:15:19Z")
> [@tellyworth](#): > > what ip address does it display? 209.68.19.130 ---
**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2012, 7:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-access-quicktopic-com-from-thailand/614098/4 "2012-02-27T07:30:01Z")
I’m getting in just fine from Bangkok. ---
**Author:** ![tellyworth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/977dab/32.png) [@tellyworth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tellyworth)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2012, 8:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-access-quicktopic-com-from-thailand/614098/5 "2012-02-27T08:22:14Z")
As best as I can tell, you’re describing the usual symptoms of Thai internet censorship. ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2012, 8:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-access-quicktopic-com-from-thailand/614098/6 "2012-02-27T08:37:46Z")
> [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](#): > > I’m getting in just fine from Bangkok. My provider is CAT. Out of curiosity, can you get [http://www.rollingstone.com/](http://www.rollingstone.com/) ? ---
**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2012, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-access-quicktopic-com-from-thailand/614098/7 "2012-02-27T15:50:49Z")
Access Denied You don’t have permission to access “[http://www.rollingstone.com/](http://www.rollingstone.com/)” on this server. Reference #18.742d613a.1330357818.5173d5c ---
**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2012, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-access-quicktopic-com-from-thailand/614098/8 "2012-02-27T16:26:42Z")
The providers are putzing around with something - routing tables or DNS, I don’t know. I can get to rolling stone if I plug in the IP address ([http://64.147.122.110/](http://64.147.122.110/)) into the URL field, but not by name. I was poking around at the google cache and ended up on the MICT’s [lese majeste page](http://www.mict.go.th/) so I decided to stop there before somebody comes knocking at my door. ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2012, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-access-quicktopic-com-from-thailand/614098/9 "2012-02-27T19:50:10Z")
> [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](#): > > The providers are putzing around with something - routing tables or DNS, I don’t know. I can get to rolling stone if I plug in the IP address ([http://64.147.122.110/](http://64.147.122.110/)) into the URL field, but not by name. I was poking around at the google cache and ended up on the MICT’s [lese majeste page](http://www.mict.go.th/) so I decided to stop there before somebody comes knocking at my door. Thanks, the rollingstone bypass works for me too! However attempting to reach [quicktopic.com](http://quicktopic.com) via [http://209.68.19.130/](http://209.68.19.130/) still gives me “403 Forbidden.” In the past I’ve sometimes found browser waiting for mict.go.th on queries unrelated to Thailand. (I click Stop or Back quickly when I notice this.) In other news, once from Wikipedia I clicked a “go.th” link to learn something about Thai government structure and got … a Malware Warning from Avast Antivirus. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![tellyworth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/977dab/32.png) [@tellyworth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tellyworth)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2012, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-access-quicktopic-com-from-thailand/614098/10 "2012-02-27T22:05:00Z")
The Thai censoring proxies now use plausible-looking error messages, exactly like the first one you posted. The [rollingstone.com](http://rollingstone.com) error looks like a standard Akamai message. I don’t know if the censoring proxies use that style of message or not, but it seems likely. ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2012, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-access-quicktopic-com-from-thailand/614098/11 "2012-02-28T19:02:09Z")
May I hijack this thread to ask about Thai Internet censorship in general? - Why does **Patty O’Furniture** get different results? - Why am I denied access to [quicktopic.com](http://quicktopic.com) even via [freeproxyserver.net](http://freeproxyserver.net) ? - Is there a list of sites disallowed by Thai authorities? - Any recommendations for a better free proxy server than [freeproxyserver.net](http://freeproxyserver.net) ? BTW, just now reading a thread in MPSIMS I clicked on an interesting looking link: [http://wikileaks.org/IMG/pdf/The\_Stratfor\_Glossary\_of\_Useful\_Baffling\_and\_Strange\_Intelligence\_Terms.pdf](http://wikileaks.org/IMG/pdf/The_Stratfor_Glossary_of_Useful_Baffling_and_Strange_Intelligence_Terms.pdf) I did not get the usual “403 Forbidden.” Instead the URL in address bar changed to [http://w3.mict.go.th/](http://w3.mict.go.th/) , which eventually timed out. (Attempting to reach it via [freeproxyserver.net](http://freeproxyserver.net) I got a pdf error message and an all-black display. I can read it via Google by clicking “View as HTML” though I prefer to view pdf’s.) … And then, after experimenting a bit, I discover that inserting “www.” in front of the “[wikileaks.org](http://wikileaks.org)” works (without proxy)!! The pdf then loads. :dubious: :smack: 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2012, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-access-quicktopic-com-from-thailand/614098/12 "2012-02-29T02:17:50Z")
Same as **Patty O’Furniture** , I can get Quick Topic but not Rolling Stone. Our Internet provider is True. ---
**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2012, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-access-quicktopic-com-from-thailand/614098/13 "2012-02-29T04:18:26Z")
> [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](#): > > I’m getting in just fine from Bangkok. Annnnnnnd now I’m not. > [@](#): > > Forbidden > > You don’t have permission to access / on this server. Very strange. ---
**Author:** ![santorum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/22d042/32.png) [@santorum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/santorum)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2012, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-access-quicktopic-com-from-thailand/614098/14 "2012-02-29T13:23:44Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > Same as **Patty O’Furniture** , I can get Quick Topic but not Rolling Stone. Our Internet provider is True. As long as they don’t censor The Dope, I’m good. Do you still use the “free” n-link modem from True? ---
**Author:** ![Vicullum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/6de8d8/32.png) [@Vicullum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vicullum)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2012, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-access-quicktopic-com-from-thailand/614098/15 "2012-02-29T15:04:52Z")
You guys ever tried using the [Tor network?](https://www.torproject.org/) It’s helped me in the past when traveling in censoring countries (Turkey in my case–I didn’t have any problems when I was in Thailand). ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2012, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-access-quicktopic-com-from-thailand/614098/16 "2012-02-29T16:59:10Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > Same as **Patty O’Furniture** , I can get Quick Topic but not Rolling Stone. Our Internet provider is True. > [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](#): > > Annnnnnnd now I’m not. > > Very strange. And now I can’t get it either. Someone must have clued them. > [@santorum](#): > > As long as they don’t censor The Dope, I’m good. Do you still use the “free” n-link modem from True? No, we bought a different modem because we need wireless for the wife’s laptop. ---
**Author:** ![tellyworth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/977dab/32.png) [@tellyworth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tellyworth)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2012, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-access-quicktopic-com-from-thailand/614098/17 "2012-02-29T23:11:17Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > - Why does **Patty O’Furniture** get different results? > - Why am I denied access to [quicktopic.com](http://quicktopic.com) even via [freeproxyserver.net](http://freeproxyserver.net) ? > - Is there a list of sites disallowed by Thai authorities? > - Any recommendations for a better free proxy server than [freeproxyserver.net](http://freeproxyserver.net) ? 1. I believe Thai censorship is implemented separately by each ISP. They probably use different methods and aren’t always in sync. 2. Pure speculation, but since that proxy server is insecure it would be possible for the Thai censoring proxies to also censor the sites you try to access through it. 3. I haven’t seen one but I don’t know. 4. Yes, Tor. Be very careful of proxy servers you just find on the internet: some of them are malicious; they may be monitoring what you do, or injecting malicious code into the pages you view. Tor is designed to remain secure even when many servers have been compromised. ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2012, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-access-quicktopic-com-from-thailand/614098/18 "2012-03-01T22:30:25Z")
> [@tellyworth](#): > > …4. Yes, Tor. I’m posting this reply via Tor. Thank you. It does allow access to all the forbidden sites mentioned upthread. Unless you have a 2-paragraph _How to Use Tor, for Idiots_ to recommend, I may use Tor only when needed. SDMB loads slowly; is that due to Tor itself, or the lack of ABP? ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2012, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-access-quicktopic-com-from-thailand/614098/19 "2012-05-12T18:52:43Z")
Have any other Thailand-based Dopers noticed a sudden upsurge in censorship, just in the last few days? > [@septimus](#): > > BTW, just now reading a thread in MPSIMS I clicked on an interesting looking link: > [http://wikileaks.org/IMG/pdf/The\_Stratfor\_Glossary\_of\_Useful\_Baffling\_and\_Strange\_Intelligence\_Terms.pdf](http://wikileaks.org/IMG/pdf/The_Stratfor_Glossary_of_Useful_Baffling_and_Strange_Intelligence_Terms.pdf) > I did not get the usual “403 Forbidden.” Instead the URL in address bar changed to [http://w3.mict.go.th/](http://w3.mict.go.th/) , which eventually timed out. I guess the government server that displays the “Forbidden” message is getting so many hits, it’s unresponsive. 😉 As I said, I downloaded Tor and it works great. However, it’s not configured right so I only use it when I need to, so I still become aware of these Thai hooks to w3.mict.go.th . Lately, I hit it so often I don’t try to keep track. The first two URL’s in the recent thread about JPM’s $2 billion loss take me to w3.mict.go.th ; e.g. > **[Too Big To Hedge](https://www.ft.com/content/fd71b303-9c7f-32e5-96b3-df04ecc353ee)** (Something lese majeste about the JPM story? :smack: ) Something odd I noticed a few weeks ago is that the King’s wikipedia bio is off-limits: > **[Bhumibol Adulyadej](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhumibol_Adulyadej)** > > Bhumibol Adulyadej\[b\]\[c\] (5 December 1927 – 13 October 2016), titled Rama IX, was King of Thailand from 1946 until his death in 2016. His reign of 70 years and 126 days is the longest of any Thai monarch, the longest on record of any independent Asian sovereign, and the third-longest of any sovereign state. > Born in the United States, Bhumibol spent his early life in Switzerland, in the aftermath of the 1932 Siamese revolution, which toppled Thailand's centuries-old absolute monarchy, ruled at... (Substitute “https” for “http” and/or “th.” for “en.” and you’re OK.) ---
**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2012, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-access-quicktopic-com-from-thailand/614098/20 "2012-05-13T01:30:07Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > Have any other Thailand-based Dopers noticed a sudden upsurge in censorship, just in the last few days? I know it’s been a huge pain trying to find a working proxy back to the USA. They are good at making it seem like a network connection problem too, by just letting the connection time out instead of redirecting to a censorship page. > [@](#): > > I guess the government server that displays the “Forbidden” message is getting so many hits, it’s unresponsive. 😉 As I said above, I think they are purposefully letting the connection sit idle and time out, so that users spend time fiddling with their network or yelling at their ISP. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-access-quicktopic-com-from-thailand/614098.md?page=2)