Why Does This Happen?

1. Local Network & Router Issue: Your office router, local firewall, or Internet Service Provider (ISP like Bell, Rogers, Shaw, Telus) is dropping outbound traffic before it reaches our web server gateway.
    
2. Server Firewall Lock (Fail2ban / Imunify360): Our server firewall temporarily blocked your IP address after detecting multiple failed login attempts to email, FTP, or /wp-admin.
    
3. CMS / Application Security (.htaccess or Plugins): Website security plugins (like Wordfence or iThemes) or .htaccess rules inside your site cached an automated block against your IP address.

Quick 2-Minute Diagnostic Checklist

Step 1: The Mobile Hotspot Test

1. Disconnect your computer or mobile device from your Wi-Fi.
    
2. Connect to your phone’s cellular mobile hotspot.
    
3. Open a new browser window and go to your website.

• If the site LOADS on Hotspot: Your web hosting server, domain, and database are 100% healthy. The block is strictly isolated to your Wi-Fi network address or ISP routing path.
   
• If the site FAILS on Hotspot: The issue is widespread across all networks. Contact Rebel Support right away.

Step 2: Get Your Public IP Address

1. Reconnect to your affected home or office Wi-Fi.
    
2. Visit http://myip.rebel.com.
    
3. Note down the IP address shown (e.g., 184.70.195.118). This is your network’s public digital address.

Step 3: Run a Traceroute (Path Check)

• Windows: Open Command Prompt, type tracert yourdomain.com, and press Enter.
   
• Mac: Open Terminal, type traceroute yourdomain.com, and press Return.

How to Read the Results:

• Stopped at Hops 1–2 (192.168.x.x or 10.x.x.x): Your local office router or internal corporate firewall is dropping outbound connections.
   
• Stopped Mid-Way on an ISP Hop (shawcable.net, rogers.com, bell.ca): Your Internet Service Provider is dropping traffic on their network before reaching our gateway.
   
• Trace Completed Successfully (Reached Server IP): Traffic is reaching our server. If you get an HTTP 403 Forbidden error in your browser, an .htaccess file or security plugin inside your site is blocking your IP (see Step 5).

How to Fix the Connection

Fix 1: Power Cycle Your Modem / Router (For ISP Blocks)

Fix 2: Flush Your Computer's DNS Cache

• Windows: Open Command Prompt as Administrator, type ipconfig /flushdns, and press Enter.
   
• Mac: Open Terminal, execute sudo dscacheutil -flushcache; sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder, enter your password, and press Return.

Fix 3: Resolve HTTP 403 Forbidden Errors (Plesk Control Panel)

Method A: Reset Your .htaccess File

1. Go to Files > httpdocs.
    
2. Right-click .htaccess and rename it to .htaccess.old.
    
3. Click + Create File, name it .htaccess, and paste standard WordPress default code:

   # BEGIN WordPress
   <IfModule mod_rewrite.c>
   RewriteEngine On
   RewriteBase /
   RewriteRule ^index\.php$ - [L]
   RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-f
   RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-d
   RewriteRule . /index.php [L]
   </IfModule>
   # END WordPress

4. Test your website in an Incognito / Private browser window.

Method B: Temporarily Disable Security Plugins

1. Go to Files > httpdocs > wp-content > plugins.
2. Locate your security plugin folder (e.g., wordfence or ithemes-security-pro).
3. Rename the folder by adding _disabled to the end (e.g., wordfence_disabled).

Escalating to Rebel Support

1. Your Domain Name.
2. Your Public IP Address from http://myip.rebel.com.
3. A copy or screenshot of your Traceroute results.
4. Confirmation of whether the site loaded on a Mobile Cellular Hotspot.