Ookla speed test, in router, has a Flash Player issue

[lpsears63]

I'm using Dell laptop, running Windows 7, using both IE11 and Chrome browsers. The router I have is a Linksys AE6900, with a built in Ookla speed test feature,

which recently stopped working. This is the error message I get:

So, I'm not sure if it's a routerelp narrow, or a Flash Player issue. It doesn't matter which

browser is used, both are using the most current version. Flash is automatically updated in Chrome, and the version in IE is 20.0.0.306. The thing that makes

me wonder if it may be the current Flash version is, after this started, I had to do a system restore from a six month old system image. Before I could get everything

updated it worked until Flash was updated. Although, the same test on both the Ookla site, and on my ISP's site have continued to work all along. I am not using

Active X filters, but I do block third party cookies. Which shouldn't make a difference on my router since it uses a secure connection, and basically my own IP.

It is a wireless connection, but I'm also wireless when visiting the other sits as well. Oh, I also have tried reinstalling Flash, and the router software as well.

I could try installing an archived version of Flash, though I'm kind of picky about security. So, does anyone have any troubleshooting suggestions, that may

help narrow this down? Or do I wait for when the next version comes out, and see if it works then? Thanks to whoever tacks the time to read this lengthy question. 

[Kratika Agarwal]

Hi,

What is the chrome version you are using?

Please go to below link in chrome browser and see what is the Flash player version it shows

Flash Player Help

[lpsears63]

Hi Kratika,

   I'm using the same version as in IE, it's 20.0.0.306. I wasn't sure if I could check it the same way as it updates itself.

What I'm really not sure is what version was on my system image, that worked before I updated it. The image would have

been made around the middle of May 2015. Thanks for replying.

[jeromiec83223024 · Accepted solution]

It sounds like you probably have Flash installed, but the webpage isn't detecting Flash Player.  This doesn't really surprise me for IE11, but it's kind of surprising for Chrome.  My guess is that Chrome is blocking an approach that the router guys are using for security reasons.

Are you using an ad-blocker or anti-tracking plug-in?  If so, you might try disabling those temporarily.  Anything that blocks Flash or JavaScript arbitrarily could cause this.

If you haven't installed a firmware update on your router in a while, I'd start there.  Linksys might have fixed it on their end.  Otherwise, you might be out of luck.  The security landscape requires that we (as in the browser vendors and Flash) move web technologies towards a more strict set of security policies, and that doesn't always leave room for backward compatibility.

While we could spend time trying to identify the root-cause of the issue, it's baked into your router, so the only way to fix is is via a firmware update from Linksys.  If it's not fixed in the latest firmware, it's probably easier to just forego it for using http://www.speedtest.net/ directly... and if that works, you have a pretty decent confirmation that Flash is behaving as expected.

[lpsears63]

   Thank you, I tried different configurations of your suggestion, on both browsers. It is the Ad-block, no problems with the anti-tracking. Which, to me is the more important one. And if I want to

continue using  the ad-block, I can just disable it before I run a test. Use the test to keep an eye on the squirrel activity, the really like to chew on broadband lines.

   The use of stricter security policies is something I wouldn't want to interfere with, but look forward to. Since ending up on a spam list somehow, I value both my security and my privacy.

Hence all the tracking protection, ad-block and aggressive settings on Norton, including cookie policies. By the way, the routers firm is kept up to date automatically, but, I check it manually

periodically anyway. It does have it's own firewall settings, that I might be able to change to allow the ad-block to work, but it will be easier to just disable it when I need to.

  Thank you so much for your help. 

[jeromiec83223024]

Oh yeah, I totally know that feeling.  My cable line was down in the road last spring because the squirrels chewed it apart.  I pulled all the slack out of the line so the cars could pass, but it took the third Cable provider visit and a couple weeks of telling them that my connectivity was terrible before someone actually went across the street and looked at the lines.  I got a nice 3' souvenir section of mostly bare copper and working Internet again, and now the squirrels are my mortal enemies. 

Usually the problem you're describing is self-inflicted, which is why I asked about the ad blockers.  With great power comes great responsibility, etc. 

[lpsears63]

   Yeah, we went thru Thanksgiving and Christmas of 2014 without a phone (it runs thru the same modem). That wasn't very nice, with my mother having late stage COPD. My ISP was through, but every time they thought it was something different. It actually took us seven service calls, including the two bucket truck inspections, and three months of intermittent service for it to get fixed. They do try to keep the lines in good shape here, but it was also winter, so weather had a lot to do with it. We would call at night when the lines were out, and when they would show up during the day to check it the bad place in the lines had thawed out. So, I guess it happens everywhere. Just try to stay ahead of it, so I don't end up with your problem.

   Thanks again for your help. There's no way I would have thought the ad-block would have caused the problem.