I am using Verizon DSL and have recently experienced a connectivity problem which they finally diagnosed to be due to the subnet mask being set to 255.255.255.255 blocking traffic. I cannot ping IPs that respond to pings, or bring up web pages. Oddly I can resolve hostnames from their nameserver but cannot ping by either hostname or IP. Initially after sign-in I can get to a page, but after a couple of minutes my connectivity gets lost. I am not using a router. Their network technicians indicated it is a "classic" virus problem or action of my firewall or anti-virus software but could offer no further assistance tracking it down. I ran spybot and appear to be clean. I am running ZoneAlarm and Norton Internet Security, problem persists when I disable these. Another interesting feature is the PC worked fine during the week, I had this problem on Friday night. This is the second time it has happened (thinking back perhaps the third) - but the other time two weeks ago this happened, it was again only on a Friday night that it decided to malfunction. Is there some virus which only comes to life on a Friday and likes to play mind-games with subnet mask settings? I have trawled google for signs of similar problems but came up empty Any help or suggestions much appreciated.

That sounds more like one of the CoolWebSearch browser hijackers or an "Internet Accelerator" spyware hijack. But AdAware v6 and/or SpyBot S&D should have picked most of these up (if you keep these programs updated). Start by running CWShedder, OPEN CWshredder.exe by Merijn. Close all Internet Explorer windows and then click Fix. When done, reboot your system and run it again. If that does not correct the problem, take a look in the Control Panel, Network (assumes your DSL is connected through your Ethernet card not USB), and click on the TCP/IP -> your network card ID line. Then the Properties button. The default IP Address tab should show the option "Obtain an IP address automaticall" selected. Now click on the DNS Configuration tab. It should show "Disable DNS". If "Enable DNS" is selected, there will be an IP Address of a DNS server. It had better be the DNS server for your ISP or you have been hijacked through an AD or CoolWebSearch DNS. Try selecting the Disable DNS and Apply and rebooting. Then check it again. Some of these programs are presistant in keeping control of your system. These DNS redirect servers work well most of the time, but on Friday night when the kids get on their hijacked systems, or the porn freaks get active, these DNS hijack servers get to busy and start dropping requests.

The subnet is valid and should not be the reason for the lack of connectivity. If you running a router then disconnect it and go straight from the modem and see if the problem goes away. If you running VIA a USB modem (a Verizon and Comcast favorite) then remove it, toss the USB cable in the nearest river and use the Ethernet connection instead. So far every modem I have seen with the exception of a very few have both. An Ethernet cable will cost you $10 max and fixes a host of issues. If you have no Ethernet card it will set you back another $20 or so but it is money well spent. If you are using the horrid Verizon "dial up" software for the ADSL connection then remove it using ADD/REMOVE programs from the control panel. Then click on- START RUN Type in "inetwiz" (no quotes) and hit ENTER. Follow the wizard and use the option to make an broadband connection that uses a login and password. Barring a hardware problem the issue should be fixed. I personally have installed and repaired probably 50 broadband connections in the field, usually for people on whom Verizon and Comcast has given up trying, and it is nearly always one of these issues. Jimi_l

Jack, Jimi - thanks for your comments. This is most certainly not an issue with the provider, or my ethernet cable, and the 255 in the 4th octet of the subnet mask is most certainly a problem according to the network specialists at Verizon. My IP/DNS settings are all set to auto, nothing has been hard-wired. So as I write I am connected on a laptop with wireless to a router which is connected to Verizon DSL. My PC is connected to the router with the ethernet cable which I also used on the laptop earlier. The laptop is fine, but my PC is currently unable to get an internet connection as of yesterday, regular as clockwork - working fine the day before. Same when connected directly and no router. I get brief connectivity for 1-2 minutes online after reboot. In the short space of connectivity I can get I have managed to update AdAware and NAV, and Spybot claims to be up to date. All three have been run and presented no viruses. I downloaded and ran CWShredder with nothing found. Something is definitely interfering with my connectivity on this PC following my first connection (or use of IE?) after reboot Any further suggestions most gratefully receieved. Thanks Paul

i am experiencing the same problem with the verizon subnet mask issue. verizon techs kept telling me that i had spyware on my computer, i reinstalled my os from scratch. i even went as far as zeroing out the harddrive. i installed firewall, antivirus and spyware then connected the dsl-as soon as i connected my subnet mask was 255.255.255.255. i was connected by ethernet, my dsl speed was at or near dial up speed, i uninstalled the verizon dsl software disabled the ethernet card and reinstalled the verizon software, this time using usb and my dsl speed was back to where it should be, but i still have the 255.255.255.255 subnet mask. my system is clean from all spyware and viruses ect..... joseph patalano