Stop unknown proxy server

[petsim]

If I try and download something from a website it reports that I am already downloading and reports my IP address as 194.72.9.17 which I have discovered is a proxy server. I have nothing in my 'use proxy' settings in IE6, so how can I find where I am picking up this proxy from? and how do I get rid of it?

[kempie]

Your ISP (BT) network might intercept all attempts you make to connect to the web and route your request through a transparent web proxy cache, technically known as an interception proxy.

If this is the case then there is nothing you can do to bypass this proxy other than explicitly selecting another proxy server address which may not be downloading or have reached its download limit.

[petsim]

Forgot to mention - this is a recent problem. Everything was OK last week.

[kempie]

I suspect the site in question is Rapidshare.

Their servers have recently been undergoing maintenance which has probably affected their throughput. They could also be 'popping up' this message as an inconvenience to the 'free' users in the hope they will buy premium accesss.

Changing your proxy settings is a method of counteracting this ploy, but you may well need to try a few different proxies before you find one that will enable you to download.