Videos won't load from a specific site

[genej101]

I'm having the same trouble in both FireFox and Vivadi (a chromium based browser) something is blocking videos that used to play just fine. I suspect this extension since things worked fine before it. It doesn't block ALL videos, those from the Washington Post play just fine. These play automatically when I select a link from my newsletter. 

The site is: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/donald-trump-whistleblower-ukraine_n_5d841a1de4b070d468c9e2a3?ncid=newsltushpmgnews__TheMorningEmail__092019

[genej101]

I should have added, but can't edit my post. That turning off everything does nothing. Reloading the page, does nothing, the video flashes then goes black. I'll be removing it from my browsers if there's no workaround. 

[genej101]

I'm having the same trouble in both FireFox and Vivadi (a chromium based browser) something is blocking videos that used to play just fine. I suspect this extension since things worked fine before it. It doesn't block ALL videos, those from the Washington Post play just fine. These play automatically when I select a link from my newsletter. I've also noticed I can't stay signed into Disqus which some sites use. I can login but the first click and the login is gone. They seem related somehow given both began after installing the extension.

The site is: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/donald-trump-whistleblower-ukraine_n_5d841a1de4b070d468c9e2a3?ncid=newsltushpmgnews__TheMorningEmail__092019

What happens is the first frame of the video flashes, then the box goes black. I've tried toggling off everything, tried pausing other security extension, reloading the page, nothing helps. This only started after adding this extension. I'd like to know if there's a workaround or I just need to remove the extension. I've other security software, Malwarebytes Premium running anyway, and that didn't interfere in this way with anything. I'm open to suggestions but would like to fix this. Thanks for any ideas. :^)

[exile360]

Greetings,

If you haven't done so already, please try adding huffpost.com to your Allow List in Malwarebytes Browser Guard by clicking the extension's icon in your toolbar then clicking the three vertical dots on the right next to the gear icon and selecting Allow List and either entering the URL in the field provided manually, or if viewing the page with the issue at the time, simply click the square icon to the right of the text box to have it fill in the URL for you automatically and use the drop-down menu on the right to select each of the categories for protection one by one by clicking each category where you'll see each one get added to the field on the right for the URL, then click Done once all categories for the site have been added.  Once that is done, refresh the page and none of its content should be blocked any more regardless of the source, including any video streams regardless of where they might be hosted.

I hope this helps, but please let us know if it does not.

Thanks

[exile360]

Greetings,

Please refer to my response to your post in the other topic here to see if those instructions allow you to get the page working properly, but please let us know if they do not or if you experience any other issues.

Thanks

[genej101]

I tried that in several iterations. I didn't like the idea of allowing malware, so I tried it without that, didn't work. So then I decided okay, for this test, I'll just allow everything. Also didn't work. Same thing happens, the first frame flashes then the video box goes black, if I reload the page, it is the same. It is also the same if I use the EXACT link url, or just HuffingtonPost.com in the url box. 

[exile360]

OK, and have you verified that it is the Malwarebytes Browser Guard causing it by disabling Malwarebytes Browser Guard in your browser completely and trying the site again?  I just want to make absolutely certain that the extension is the cause.

[genej101]

I disabled it. Also disabled Ghostery and Adblock Plus. No change. This only started happening with the last update, maybe that has something to do with it, but I'm beginning to doubt that as nothing I try from your suggestions works in Firefox either. Maybe it is Huffington that has the problem. Thanks for the assists. I'll keep looking around. :^) 

[exile360]

2 hours ago, genej101 said:

I disabled it. Also disabled Ghostery and Adblock Plus. No change. This only started happening with the last update, maybe that has something to do with it, but I'm beginning to doubt that as nothing I try from your suggestions works in Firefox either. Maybe it is Huffington that has the problem. Thanks for the assists. I'll keep looking around. :^) 

You're welcome.  I do have one more thing for you to try however.  Please try clearing your browser cache and DNS cache, then restart your computer and see if the site still has the issue even with your blocking extensions (including Malwarebytes Browser Guard) still disabled in your browser.  It is possible that this is somehow being caused by caching, otherwise yes, it definitely sounds like an issue with the site and might simply be a problem with their site and your particular browser, or simply an issue with the site in general.  Also, if you use any sort of HOSTS file or other type of web filtering/blocking tool, then that also could be the culprit, but that is less likely since you said that the video does start to play (if it were blocked, then I would expect the video not to load/play at all and just remain blank the entire time).

[genej101]

I did that, actually I run CCleaner Pro as well and regularly clearly caches, but I did that from within the browser. I don't use a HOSTS file, I did years ago, but no longer. I think it is the Huffington site as it isolated to that, so it's their problem, not mine nor Vivaldi's. Thanks! :^)

[exile360]

You're welcome.  I'm sorry we couldn't resolve the issue, but at least we were able to eliminate several variables as potential causes.  I hope that they get the problem resolved soon so that you are able to enjoy their content again.

If there is anything else we might assist you with please don't hesitate to let us know.

Thanks

[AdvancedSetup]

I've placed all your posts into your own topic @genej101

So, from my testing I think it may have something to do with the built-in blocking from Firefox.

On Microsoft Edge with no blocker at all installed I see the following and the videos do work.

 

 

On Firefox with no extensions the video is blocked, and you can see some type of Ad is also blocked. Firefox has it's own Ad tracker blocking which depending on how the tracker is coded may block the actual Ad too I believe.

 

On Google Chrome the only extension I have installed is Malwarebytes Browser Guard and the videos do show in that browser for me with our extension enabled and blocking Ads.

 

 

For me, Malwarebytes Browser Guard alone is not blocking videos on that site.

Thanks

Ron

 

[genej101]

Well, I've tried disabling both Malwarebytes and Ghostery on FireFox and Vivaldi, a Chromium based browser, both of which showed those videos prior to installing Malwarebytes browser guard. I couldn't see them in Chrome either - though I rarely use that browser, I did try to see what the situation was there. It is only Huffington. Which I also whitelisted on AdBlock Plus just to be thorough. I don't much care, the rest of the page is fine, the videos I often pause immediately anyway and don't always bother watching. They just used to start immediately and no longer do anything but flash and then go black. It's annoying but it's not FireFox, in fact, Vivaldi has been my default browser for the past few months. I'd sooner give up the videos than the protection...

[genej101]

I found it. I recently changed my default search engine to DuckDuckGo which installed an extension, disabling that allows the videos to play. I only wanted the search engine, not the extension. Removing it allows the videos to play with MalwareBytes active and my other ad blockers for that matter. Sorry for the mess. But glad I found the issue and could fix it! Thanks for all your help! :^) gene

[AdvancedSetup]

Great, glad to hear you were able to find and resolve the issue and thank you for the follow up.

Take care

Ron

 

[exile360]

Sweet, you finally tracked it down, nice detective work

Yep, I use DuckDuckGo as well (including their browser add-on).  It does indeed block a lot of ads/trackers/content so it's not surprising they'd block embedded videos on websites from auto-playing as that is something some users complain about (especially when the video is an ad as they are on some sites).

Edited September 24, 2019 by exile360