23/10/2024 - Web filter issues on Windows Laptops

If you are getting "Website blocked" pages on Windows based school laptops where you wouldn't normally expect them, this is due to a bug in our web filter software with the latest versions of Microsoft Edge.

https://kb.smoothwall.com/hc/en-us/articles/16534637315740-Cloud-Filter-issues-with-Microsoft-Edge-v130

Whilst they are investigating a long term fix, a temporary fix is to revert back to an older version of Microsoft Edge.

To check if you are getting this error, check the block screen below. 

If the block page does not show your username, time, location like in the second screenshot below, then you are getting this issue.

To fix, follow the guide below


Incorrectly blocked

Correctly Blocked

1. Go to Start > # IT Support & click on "Refresh Computer Policy"
   
   
   
2.  - The box below will appear
   
   
   
3.  Once this is finished, you will see the below -
   As long as it says "Computer policy update has completed successfully" - You can ignore the rest and close the Window
   
   
   
   
4. Then open Microsoft Edge and click the three dots in the top right hand of the screen - Then scroll down to
   "Help and feedback" & click on "About Microsoft Edge"
   
   
   
   
   If your version says "130.02849.52 " then this is the faulty version -
   Your PC should also show it is "Updating Microsoft Edge" as checking the About page forces an update check.
   
   
   
   
5. Once this is finished, you will be prompted to restart Edge. You must do this to fix the error
   Once you reopen Edge, checking the About page will now show version "129.0.2792.89"
   
   You can now browse normally again.