Ask HN: Does HN block mobile browsers?

5 points by pbohun 1 day ago

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?

qup 2 hours ago

Pixel 9a, Firefox.

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

mtmail 1 day 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

benoau 1 day 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.

brudgers 1 day ago

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

Maybe it is your carrier?

Because you know “hacker.”

al_borland 1 day 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.

RattlesnakeJake 1 day ago

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