Q. Why am I getting a blocked access message?
Some library users have let us know they get a warning similar to this one when trying to access electronic resources:
Hold On!
We blocked access to ....
This site might compromise your device or contain dangerous content. To avoid these risks, close this window and skip this site.
The exact text of the warning can change, but the URL of the page with the warning contains safebrowse.io, and the blue shield is always present.
As far as we can tell, Xfinity's Xfi service is blocking these pages. On their support page, they say:
Any time a device is blocked from accessing a site, you can choose to temporarily turn off Advanced Security. Keep in mind that by doing so, you may be putting your network at risk and making it vulnerable to malicious activity. We recommend re-enabling Advanced Security once you have finished accessing the blocked site.
If you see this error, please submit a ticket so that we can try to get the page unblocked. It is helpful to include the URL of the page that led to the error and the name of your Internet Service Provider.
For questions about Xfinity's Xfi service and their Advanced Security options, you should contact Xfinity directly.
Thanks!