Broadband problem - sorted now, phew!

[Sue]

I suddenly can't get online on my laptop.

I have a Plusnet router and a Netgear network extender which I have been using for months, and all of a sudden before I can access any websites I am being asked to sign in and create an account with a password.

The site which is asking me to do this is www.mywifiext.net, and it is not a secure site.

On googling Netgear, it seems they have had issues with hackers 🙄

I have turned on and off my laptop and router, gone into settings/WiFi on my laptop, tried both Firefox (which I normally use) and Opera, and I can't get online at all.

I am working in a different room to usual due to noise from building work, but it has been fine all day. Just in case, I moved my laptop to be right next to the router, and still zilch.

Does anyone know why I would suddenly be asked out of the blue to create a Netgear account from a site which doesn't mention Netgear, and am I safe to do that?

ETA: I have googled, and it seems it is a genuine site, but why am I suddenly being asked to do this now?

I am going to go and lie down in a very very dark room 😭😭😭

I am getting a message saying "You might need to sign up with this network's internet service provider to get access to the internet.

Connections to webpages are currently being redirected to a different webpage".

WTF???

[JohnL]

try creating a "new in private window" on microsoft edge or chrome (CTRL+SHIFT+N) and going to it from there - to rule out cookies etc.

you can also delete all cookies for a site by right clicking on the lock (which shouldn't be there if it's not secure - but noticed I got redirected to a secure site)

[Spartacus]

I found this article online for you

https://kb.netgear.com/23517/How-do-I-set-up-my-NETGEAR-WiFi-range-extender

Try using the address in the format of 192.168.1.... (possibly 150 as the last 3 digits) as that takes you directly to your netgear extender setup page rather than through the website you mentioned above.

Hopefully the article helps

[Sue]

Thanks both, I'll try again this morning.

[Sue]

Oh great.

I can't do any of that because it says I am not connected to the internet.

Going to phone Plusnet I think.

[Spartacus]

Have you got a network cable that you can plug into your router and PC which will give you access to the 192.168.... option ?

[Sue]

Thanks all, it's all sorted now.

It was a WiFi problem. Plusnet were very helpful.