From time to time some UK broadband ISPs can block, often by accident due to proxy server changes and URL (website address) filter settings, popular file hosting sites like Rapidshare. Both BT Retail and BSkyB / Easynet ( UKOnline , Sky Broadband etc.) have had problems with this in the recent past, though it can occur sporadically on other ISPs too.

Sites like Rapidshare and Megaupload, two among many similar services, most frequently act as "mirrors" for big software or game updates. Consumers and businesses often use them for reasons of personal online storage. Unfortunately in some cases they can also be abused for copyright infringement, just like any internet service, though both have strict policies against this and a good track record of removing illegal files.

However if your ISP has unintentionally made a change to its service that ends up resulting in an entire website being unfairly blocked then here are some simple workarounds. We won't explain all of these in detail but the critical ones should be easy enough without needing to try everything listed.

Solutions to Rapidshare and Similar Website Blocks by ISPs:

1. Instead of accessing the website with HTTP (e.g. http://www.rapidshare.com), try accessing it via HTTPS (e.g. https://www.rapidshare.com).

2. Replace the website domain (e.g. http://www.rapidshare.com) with its source IP address (e.g. http://195.122.131.46). Some addresses might use sub-domains (e.g. http://moo.rapidshare.com), in which case you can get the IP by just typing the address in here:

http://www.selfseo.com/find_ip_address_of_a_website.php

A quicker solution can be found here:

http://rs2ip.anonymailz.com/

3. Edit the HOSTS file on MS Windows operating systems (e.g. c:/windows/system32/drivers/etc/hosts) and add the following lines for RapidShare (adjust for different sites):

195.122.131.46 rapidshare.com
195.122.131.46 www.rapidshare.com

4. Use a FREE Proxy server to access websites.

http://www.proxy4free.com

5. Use a Virtual Private Network (VPN) service, there are plenty of free ones about but many of those can be quite slow.

Find the one that works for you and use it, though most people should find that no.1 is both the easiest and quickest solution until the ISP has had a chance to fix its system.