I am trying to log on to my work training site, and am receiving the message "this IP address is blacklisted." Does anyone know why/how your address can be blacklisted? I run windows 7, BT broadband. I can log on using the works computer, but not my own. And how can I get "unblacklisted"? Thanks.

It is possible that previously some other BT customer had your present ip address and did some naughty things using it.

Swittching your BT router off and back on should result in you being allocated a new ip address, which will hopefully not be on this particular blacklist.

Just to add, switching off the router for a short time may not let it grab a new IP address, they can regain the old one for some time. But that's the way to change it.

If the training site is the only one saying that your IP is blacklisted then its an issue with that site.

Have you ever been able to login to the work training site from home? If no, then it sounds like that site ip restricts to computers only inside the works network. I'd ask them what the situation is.

I usually do my training from my home laptop, with no problem, so it does seem it is an issue with my IP. Just as a process of elimination, I tried to subscribe to a newsletter, using my email address, and managed to do so. Could it be that subscribing to a newsletter is rather generic, but logging onto my works website is more specific, and the security could be stronger? How could someone else have had my IP address, and why if they did something questionable, is it just being blacklisted now? This is the first time ever I have had this problem.

There's no real connection between services that use your email address, and network connections based on IP addresses. The IP address could be on a blacklist from one provider, but another might not have experiences any problems.

When a device establishes a connection to an internet provider, the first thing it will do is ask for an IP address. The provider's server will look for an address that isn't currently in use, and assign it. As long as that connection remains active, the IP address will be assigned to that device. When the device disconnects, the IP address will be returned to the 'pool' waiting for the next request. When you activated your current connection it's quite possible that you were allocated an IP address that was previously used by someone who's PC has a virus and was sending Spam, or perhaps was being used to download stuff illegally.

It is also very likely that your company website will be much more picky about who's allow to connect than other more public sites.

As the other posters suggest, turning off your router for a few hours should result in it being assigned a new IP address when you next connect.

Just to clarify something here.

When you say the works computer logs on OK is this a machine at your workplace on the company network or a laptop provided by your employer that you are using on your home network?

The reason for asking is that as far as any website is concerned both your own computer and any work laptop you use via your home router will have the same IP address so both should be blocked. Unless the work laptop is configured to connect to your company network via a VPN connection and is using that to connect to this website.

Try using a proxy server http://www.uk-proxy.co.uk/

When you say "I can log on using the works computer" do you mean at work or at home?

Could be you need to access the work training site via a VPN, which is common practise.

Ask your IT support person or equivalent.