DOS Error? I was temporarily banned..apparently..

[Figure Fan]

I got this message when I tried to enter the forums earlier today:

"An Error Has Occurred!
Sorry Figure Fan, you are banned from using this forum!
DOS Attack!
This ban is set to expire November 18, 2011, 09:51:55 AM."

Though it's not 9:51 AM, I apparently have access again. Has anyone else had this problem? I was worried that the forum had been hacked again..

[stumpy]

I don't think the forum has been hacked, but it thought someone was trying. The forum software now has a few checks that are supposed to make hacking it more difficult and, in this case, it looks like a trigger that checks for rapid reloads (which is indicative of a common DOS tactic) was triggered. It's normally a pretty good feature; looking through our logs over the past couple days, it has banned other IPs for the same type of behavior and I can see that it was correct with those others (the IPs check out as being from known attack sites).

Sorry you got snared in this, FF. I guess it should help to try to avoid multiple reloads of a page over a short period of time. If it becomes regular problem, let me know and I can look into adjusting the settings.

[Figure Fan]

I don't think the forum has been hacked, but it though someone was trying. The forum software now has a few checks that are supposed to make hacking it more difficult and, in this case, it looks like a trigger that checks for rapid reloads (which is indicative of a common DOS tactic) was triggered. It's normally a pretty good feature; looking through our logs over the past couple days, it has banned other IPs for the same type of behavior and I can see that it was correct with those others (the IPs check out as being from known attack sites).

Sorry you got snared in this, FF. I guess it should help to try to avoid multiple reloads of a page over a short period of time. If it becomes regular problem, let me know and I can look into adjusting the settings.

Thanks for the explanation, Stumpy. I don't remember rapidly cycling through pages on the site or anything like that. Hmm.. I'll let you know if it happens again.

[lugaru]

Makes sense to me... figure fan is one of our most controversial members and deserves to be banned for his displays of good nature and frequent artistic contributions.   

[Panther_Gunn]

I think I remember getting something similar once a few weeks back.  I checked back in a while later and all was fine.  I just chalked it up to a bad intertube connection (I occasionally have pages refuse to load until I hit the Refresh button, then all is well).

It's good to know that we now have some anti-butthead tools in place, though.

[catwhowalksbyhimself]

Figure Fan,  do you by any change use the AVG antivirus program?  It includes a web safety module that, if installed (and I make sure it is not on my computer) check for malware by rapidly loading a webpage in the background repeatedly to see if it tried to do anything nasty.  I could see that triggering the DOS check.

[Figure Fan]

Figure Fan,  do you by any change use the AVG antivirus program?  It includes a web safety module that, if installed (and I make sure it is not on my computer) check for malware by rapidly loading a webpage in the background repeatedly to see if it tried to do anything nasty.  I could see that triggering the DOS check.

Thanks for the heads-up. I actually do have that running I think. I recently noticed my AVG had been off so I turned it on..woopsie. I'll turn it off. Thanks!

[catwhowalksbyhimself]

You actually don't have to turn AVG off, you just have to reinstall it and choose not to install the component.  I think it's call linkscanner or something like that.  Unless they've fixed it, turning off AVG doesn't actually disable it, nor does turning that particular option off, you have to install AVG without it.  It is selected by default but can be turned off during the installation process.

[The Phantom Eyebrow]

A DOS error eh?  You should use a Windows operating system (or equivalent) like the rest of us.  Modern.

If anyone else needs computer advice, I'm only too happy to help!

[ow_tiobe_sb]

It's good to know that we now have some anti-butthead tools in place, though.

Oh, grand!  Just grand!  You could simply ask me not to frequent this virtual destination any longer instead of engaging Calvin Codeliner as head of security.








*sniff* I had absolutely no idea that's how you felt about me and my ilk. *sob*

ow_tiobe_sb
Phantom Bunburyist and World Braker

[Outcast]

Played some old Dos Games a few days ago, but it wasn't me. I swear.

[ow_tiobe_sb]

Played some old Dos Games a few days ago...

"Dos?"  Wasn't that the development code name for Windows 2.0?  Ah, I remember that wondrous old system well.  One of the best games at the time was a "set 'em up" game called "Equis," which was first written for DOS and then ported to Windows, where it became known as "Dos Equis."  'Twas a real hit with the college student crowd, especially, as those kids would literally play that programme until they bloody well passed out or blew chunks, whichever came first. 

ow_tiobe_sb
Phantom Bunburyist and Whirled Braker

[Outcast]

Had to look up Dos Equis first.

Not my kind of game though. I don't drink due to health reasons.

My brother is another story. 

[Cardmaster]

Ah crap, and here I just answered your Facebook message. Some help I am! Ha... Glad it all worked out!

-

[Figure Fan]

Ah crap, and here I just answered your Facebook message. Some help I am! Ha... Glad it all worked out!

-

Haha I just saw your Fb message. It's okay. I was mostly trying to get a quick answer just in case the forums were hacked again. Don't worry about it