Google Services blocked

[CeruleanBlue58]

Using my Android device (N4) on the work wifi is becoming more difficult by the week due, I suspect, to blocking of ports used by Google services. For example, my wifi notification stays gray (not blue), and I've just noticed my Google search results through the widget now utterly fail when connected through the firewall, or cached to the firewall. For the latter, after turning off wifi, I have to "clear browsing data" within Chrome in order for search results to appear. Oddly, I can search okay when initiating from the URL address area of Chrome -- just not from the Google widget -- and then Google notifies me SSL is turned off by the network.

The security officer over the firewall (and my supervisor) ain't gonna bend on unblocking what he deems "non-standard" ports like 5228 ... unless, of course, it adversely affects his (iPhone) connectivity. Is this something others of your are experiencing, and do you think Google might improve here and fall back to something more globally acceptable?

 

[Unicorn Rancher]

If your Android device was not issued by work, maybe they prefer it doesn't use their connection. I know wifi at my job is locked down except for work issued devices.

 

[Sir Alex]

An "IT" person uses an iphone. That should tell you something.

 

[anon5664829]

An "IT" person uses an iphone. That should tell you something.

What does that tells you? It's a bloody phone it doesn't signify anything.

Posted via Android Central App

 

[2defmouze]

If the IT guy won't set up an exception for you I don't think there's anything you do to get around that issue on their wifi. Had the same issue on my old university's wifi, just had to deal with it. I have heard of other people on public or corporate wifi networks experience it as well here and there. Only solution I've seen was to have the IT guy in charge set up a pass for you, which most of the time we can't do. Sorry.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2

 

[frenziedfemale]

No help here, sorry. Just wanted to say that that is exactly what the grey vs blue icons mean. Great means that you have a connection to the internet service but not to Google services. Blue means that you are connected to Google Services.

 

[CeruleanBlue58]

I guess more to my point ... why is Google using ports deemed risky by SO's?

 

[Unicorn Rancher]

I guess more to my point ... why is Google using ports deemed risky by SO's?

Well, there are standards that specify what protocols use what ports. There are exceptions, but in general people follow the standards and don't set up their TNS listeners on the SMTP port.

A company can choose to configure their firewall to allow only the ports that have a genuine business use. Maybe there's no business case for accessing the Play Store or Google Talk, so they don't enable that traffic through the firewall. Remember that we're talking about company resources and potential risks to those resources. After all, it's not like they're blocking employees from using the employees' 3G/4G data plan to access personal stuff.

 

[NotJustAPhone]

Keep the discussion civil and on-topic. Thread has been cleaned up.

Sent from my Galaxy Note II