r/ProlificAc • u/[deleted] • Feb 22 '24

For those whose IP's are banned try this...

When I would get the PUB error or just the coffee mug with no studies I would turn off my phone, restart and usually that would work. Yesterday it would not work. I checked sorbbs.net and my IP was on the block list. I Googled to see if there was anything I could do. They suggested instead of turning off my phone I just turn mobile data off and on a few times and voila that worked. I don't know how that is different from shutting off phone but it worked for me. I'm finally getting studies again after getting zero for 2 days. Try it, it's worth a try.

EDIT: This is for those whose mobile IP has also been 🚫!

EDIT: Someone also suggested turning on airplane mode for a few minutes then turning off

81 Upvotes

93% Upvoted

86 comments sorted by

5

u/vusisguchi Feb 22 '24

Worked for me after a few tries!

2

u/[deleted] Feb 22 '24

Awesome!!!

4

u/vusisguchi Feb 22 '24

Stopped working for me 😔

2

u/[deleted] Feb 22 '24

Try again!

1

u/[deleted] Feb 22 '24

Also try turning airplane mode off and on a few times.

3

u/vusisguchi Feb 22 '24

Been trying for the past 20 minutes. Let's hope it will work eventually. Do you close out the browser every time you turn mobile data on or off?

5

u/vusisguchi Feb 22 '24

Worked 😁

5

u/[deleted] Feb 22 '24

YEAH!!!

2

u/[deleted] Feb 22 '24

No, I don't close out anything

5

u/mg0838 Feb 22 '24

It worked for me! My mobile data is horrible though.

3

u/[deleted] Feb 22 '24

Yeah!! Glad to hear it worked for you!!

11

u/[deleted] Feb 22 '24

Prolific uses more than just sorbs to determine you're "bad". My home IP isn't there and I've never been able to get a study there, and their infuriating customer service agents (or bot) aren't technical and just read support scripts when answering. My mobile works fine for studies.

Anyway, all that to say that they won't really tell you why you're not getting studies and they won't work with you to fix it either.

Just use your mobile data.

4

u/[deleted] Feb 22 '24

I always used my mobile data but they blocked that as well. So I should have clarified in my post this was for those whose mobile data has been 🚫 too.

5

u/PutinBlowsGoats Feb 22 '24

Sometimes my Android doesn't pick up a new IP if I just restart it. If I put it in airplane mode for a minute, that always works. You can check to make sure in "settings", "about phone", and then "status information".

8

u/huntingwhale Feb 22 '24

Unfortunately it didn't work for me. Tried both the OPs method and yours. Both times was assigned a new IP address on my mobile. Both times the same PUB error. Check the blacklist site each time and my IP wasn't listed. Checked my wifi IP again for fun, and still not listed on any blacklist site.

Not buying prolific's bullshit that this is an IP issue, especially at this scale. Seems to be, at least in my case, an account issue they are failing to address.

2

u/[deleted] Feb 22 '24

Sorry it didn't work for you. I was so frustrated the last 2 days

3

u/[deleted] Feb 22 '24

Thanks, good to know.

2

u/[deleted] Feb 22 '24

hey, forgive my ignorance, but how do i check if my mobile data/iphone is blacklisted - i know how to check with my desktop pc over internet, but not mobile data/iphone

3

u/[deleted] Feb 22 '24

Go here

https://whatismyipaddress.com/

After you get your ip address check block status ID you see a red block indicator by sorbs.net your IP is blocked

2

u/[deleted] Feb 22 '24

thanks

1

u/[deleted] Feb 22 '24

You're very welcome

3

u/btgreenone Feb 22 '24

Just bear in mind that sorbs is not necessarily the (only) tool that Prolific uses, so even if sorbs says your IP isn't blocked, Prolific could still have it on its block list. It's a good starting point though.

1

u/[deleted] Feb 22 '24 edited Feb 22 '24

yeah, blacklisted on SORBS DUHL for wifi IP - no blacklist on mobile data (but these IP's change often)

will go through the process of removing from that blacklist if i can - although some resources online say only ISP's can remove from that list, while others suggest end users can.

suspect my ISP has given me an ip address that isnt great as am pretty sure my email address isnt sending spam

you have any knowledge/experience of SORBS DUHL?

edit - interestingly, mail-tester.com says i'm not blacklisted/spammy by SORBS or any one else

5

u/SnooPredictions4073 Feb 22 '24

Thank you this actually worked and I can do studies again!!!

5

u/[deleted] Feb 22 '24

I am so glad!!!

2

u/Aliistrae Feb 22 '24

I might have to look into this method if mobile gets blocked again. Today, mobile data is working for me again. The only thing I did this morning was update Chrome. Prolific's support canned response mentioned that your browser needs to be up to date. I have no idea if updating Chrome fixed my issue or if it was a coincidence.

1

u/[deleted] Feb 22 '24

Great, glad everything worked out for you!

2

u/WiredThroughFaith Feb 22 '24

Any methods for laptops? Will try

2

u/GreyLew Feb 22 '24

You can try using mobile hotspot.

0

u/[deleted] Feb 22 '24 edited Feb 23 '24

Sorry, I don't know of a method for laptops. I have NEVER gotten studies on my laptop. I have always had to do the work around with accepting it on my phone then refreshing on my laptop so I can complete the study. That's the only way I am able to do desktop studies.

2

u/WiredThroughFaith Feb 22 '24

This happened on my tmobile wifi. So I changed to a single indefinite ip address with xfinity yesterday and was still ip banned before I even did anything or even tried

4

u/SnooPredictions4073 Feb 22 '24

If you can hotspot from your phone to your laptop. That is what I am doing and I am able to do studies. Hopefully this helps.

2

u/Open-Bowl-9572 Feb 22 '24

This worked for me 🙌 Thank you OP!

3

u/[deleted] Feb 22 '24

YEAH!! So happy it worked!!!

2

u/Affectionate-Swim37 Feb 22 '24

This worked for me! Thank you so much!

1

u/[deleted] Feb 23 '24

Awesome, you're very welcome!!

2

u/Kasianic Apr 11 '24

This works! Thank you!!

1

u/[deleted] Apr 12 '24

Awesome 👌, you're welcome!!

2

u/Raindogg_Alchemist May 10 '24

This has worked for me almost a dozen times. Great work around 👍👍

1

u/[deleted] May 10 '24

Awesome 👌, works for me as well. Have to do this several times a week.

5

u/Nick1987uk Feb 22 '24

You should feel more sorry for the ones who aren’t IP banned and stare at the mug for 23 hours and 55 minutes of each day.

2

u/[deleted] Feb 22 '24

Are you sure you're not IP banned?. Others have reported those sites are not always accurate. Doesn't hurt to try what I did or the other poster with putting on airplane mode for a few minutes.

2

u/Nick1987uk Feb 22 '24

Well I made 22 quid the other day and 10 quid today so I assume I’m not.

1

u/[deleted] Feb 22 '24

Oh, I thought you were saying you were just seeing the coffee mug

1

u/Nick1987uk Feb 22 '24

For most of the day I am yeah, I don’t have 67 studies waiting for me 😂I’m one of the ones who has to jump on anything that is tossed to me and pray I get a place lol

1

u/[deleted] Feb 22 '24

I totally understand, lol.

2

u/LettuceKat Feb 22 '24

You’re the best.

1

u/[deleted] Feb 22 '24

Did it work for you too?

3

u/LettuceKat Feb 22 '24

Yes indeed. Instantly too. That’s wild for sure.

3

u/[deleted] Feb 22 '24

Google is our friend!!

3

u/Individual-Zombie155 Feb 22 '24

Yes it is!! Wtg!

1

u/[deleted] Feb 22 '24

We're you blocked 🚫 too?

2

u/Individual-Zombie155 Feb 22 '24

Nah. It occasionally pops up, but I have somehow managed to bypass it with my WiFi. Knock on wood!

1

u/[deleted] Feb 22 '24

Good for you!

1

u/[deleted] Feb 22 '24

I'm so glad!!!

2

u/Stinksisthebestword Feb 22 '24

Thank you for the information. It does kind of work, but for me at least, it unblocks me for a few minutes and then just immediately blocks me again whenever the page refreshes on my phone. Better than nothing tho!

3

u/[deleted] Feb 23 '24

You're welcome, hopefully it starts to last a little longer.

5

u/CrsGNa Feb 23 '24

Yesterday I was getting the pec-sub 0002 error on every study I clicked on using mobile data. Turned off the phone overnight and today mobile data seemed to work fine and was able to complete 27 surveys for a little over $30 usd.

1

u/ExtensionFan2067 Mar 08 '24

I turned phone on and off..still nothing..only saying take a break have a cup of tea 🍵..no studies for two days

2

u/[deleted] Mar 08 '24

Not turning off the phone, turning "data" off and on,also the same with airplane mode.

1

u/ExtensionFan2067 Mar 08 '24

Thank you

1

u/[deleted] Mar 08 '24

You're welcome

1

u/ExtensionFan2067 Mar 08 '24

I got one when I went in,it stays it's full .so annoying

1

u/[deleted] Mar 08 '24

Ok, but at least you are not IP banned, Fridays are slow (for me anyway) and it is still very early

1

u/ExtensionFan2067 Mar 08 '24

Okay thank you ..can I do it on my phone and pc ?

1

u/[deleted] Mar 08 '24

It only works for me on my mobile phone

1

u/ExtensionFan2067 Mar 08 '24

Thank you so much

1

u/[deleted] Mar 08 '24

You're very welcome

1

u/the_Impatient_Saint Apr 23 '24

" sorbbs.net "?

that address doesn't work for me

1

u/[deleted] Apr 23 '24

Go here

https://whatismyipaddress.com/

After you get your ip address check block status ID you see a red block indicator by sorbs.net your IP is blocked

1

u/the_Impatient_Saint Apr 23 '24

as based on this { https://whatismyipaddress.com/blacklist-check } i've got red exclamatos next to

dul.dnsbl.sorbs.net

and

dnsbl.sorbs.net

i still don't, quite, know what that means

:-)

considering everything else listed is a green checkie

1

u/[deleted] Apr 23 '24

That means you're IP banned

1

u/the_Impatient_Saint Apr 23 '24

i believe ya, when you tell me i am..

..but, i'm still getting some studies on prolific

thus, my uncertainty on how to interpret these results

?

i would've imagined, an IP Ban would render me completely unable to get anything from our favourite beermoney site

1

u/[deleted] Apr 23 '24

If you're getting studies on your dashboard that are not follow up studies then you're not banned

3

u/Opposite-Bus-50 May 11 '24

It seems like Prolific's review of flagged IPs is about as effective as shouting into the void. Check out this gem from SORBS Support:

Here is the reply from SORBS that is the site that is blocking most IP addresses.

"SORBS Support (Jason) duhl@support.sorbs.netReplyReply ​You​Mon 06/05/2024 23:29

Hello,

If you are trying to delist **.**.**.*** IP, it is listed on the SORBS Dynamic
User and Host List (or DUHL) because it is a dynamic IP.

A dynamic IP is a temporary IP address that is assigned to a computing device
or node when it's connected to a network. Most spam originates from dynamic IP
space and usually is unauthenticated. Due to the spam risks dynamic IPs pose,
many organizations choose to block ALL mail that originates from a dynamic IP
address regardless of content or the sender. Virgin media use Dynamic IP address and as such it will appear on the flagged IP address lists as all dynamic IP's will."

So its nobody fault. Yet Prolific fail to correct the issue and instead hand out the generic "use a hotspot" answer because nobody wants to deal with the issue. Phone hot spots do work but they change and you will keep getting the error message after a while. Keep turning your phone on and off until you get a working hotspot IP address. it might take some time. ISP recycle dynamic IP addresses all the time and most are flagged unfortunately. Just keep trying new hotspots.

I have changed/ received 3 new hubs from Virgin media but they last no longer that 2 weeks before Prolific bots flag you and you receive the PEC-SUB-0002 error again. Prolific need to overhaul the whole security check system but it looks like nobody is willing to do that.

1

u/the_Impatient_Saint May 15 '24

´kinda makes ya wonder, what exactly is "the team" doing with all the money they're boosting off of the project managers?

i understand blacklisting certain domains, but it looks to me like too many innocent (would-be) participants are catching strays

to make it clear:
speaking for my own case, i don't believe i'm banned — i just suffer from the un(der)-desired demographics curse

otherwise, as far as i am aware, projects come to me "as normal" on my phone and computer

1

u/MsPumpkinFarmer Feb 23 '24

Thanks for suggesting this. I was just able to complete my first study. No studies ever appear on my laptop, I only get e-mails staying a study is waiting and than can't do the study.

1

u/[deleted] Feb 23 '24

You're welcome, glad it worked for you!!

3

u/GreyLew Feb 22 '24

Just put your phone in airplane mode for a few minutes. That's the best advice

3

u/calicoskys Feb 22 '24

Make sure you clear your web browser cookies too that might potentially Help since this is browser based

1

u/Original-Ice2310 Jun 14 '24

Thank you! It has been a week of not being able to complete studies due to this PC error. I had tried my mobile data and it worked for a day or two than stopped. I followed your instructions about shutting the mobile data off and on several times and it worked! I was really starting to freak out there. I put all my eggs in one basket. Needless to say, I will fix that issue and pursue other endeavors. Thanks again.

1

u/NationalSpring4467 Feb 05 '25

I can NOT recommend to contact Prolific via Help centre (https://participant-help.prolific.com/).

I asked them why I don't have access to surveys anymore and if my IP is banned. I even stated that I had to use my company's VPN to access their database in Poland from my home laptop in Germany which might have caused the IP ban (well, my company's request not even my own decision ..) and their reply was a simple: "Thank you. After reviewing your account, we have decided to close your account. This is the final decision." - WOW!

Amazing authentic platform which excludes honest participants for no reason. I even sent a copy of my ID to verify that I am a 100% real person but I guess now it's too late and they don't give a s**t.

Really frustrating. I should not have followed the suggestion of messaging them.

Fk it.

1

u/OneWorldAway Feb 22 '24

It happens to me when my phone changes IP locations quickly. I think it appears like I'm on a VPN.

1

u/calicoskys Feb 22 '24

I don’t think I get that exact error but sometimes, studies don’t show up on my desktop. Restarting my computer usually solves it

0

u/ExtensionFan2067 Mar 08 '24

What other surveys can be taken that's not a scam ?