A ew error message

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  • CorbinH
    Senior Member
    • May 2009
    • 232
    • 4.0.0

    A ew error message

    I have been getting sick of spammers trying to join our forum so I put the following entries in to the Banned IP Address box:
    37.21.1* 172.68.2*. Since then The following error message box has popped up at random intervals. Is it possible that it is being triggered when the spammers are trying to sign up?
    We are running vBulletin 5.4.3.

    Click image for larger version

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  • Wayne Luke
    vBulletin Technical Support Lead
    • Aug 2000
    • 73976

    #2
    If you're seeing this message then it would be due to your own IP address. IP Addresses are not identity and are often shared by many people.
    Translations provided by Google.

    Wayne Luke
    The Rabid Badger - a vBulletin Cloud demonstration site.
    vBulletin 5 API

    Comment


    • CorbinH
      CorbinH commented
      Editing a comment
      Can you explain why this message is appearing at random intervals while I am viewing our forum. It has never happened before, only since I added the IP addresses mentioned in the OP into the Banned IP Address box. My IP address is 101.18x.xx.xxx
  • CorbinH
    Senior Member
    • May 2009
    • 232
    • 4.0.0

    #3
    I have received the message several more times after logging on this morning. Once again at random intervals, I cannot force the message to appear.
    I have removed the added addresses from the Banned IP Address box and will if see message stops appearing.
    Last edited by CorbinH; Thu 10 Jan '19, 4:22pm.

    Comment

    • Wayne Luke
      vBulletin Technical Support Lead
      • Aug 2000
      • 73976

      #4
      Do you use Cloudflare? The second IP address block that you added could block Cloudflare.


      Translations provided by Google.

      Wayne Luke
      The Rabid Badger - a vBulletin Cloud demonstration site.
      vBulletin 5 API

      Comment

      • CorbinH
        Senior Member
        • May 2009
        • 232
        • 4.0.0

        #5
        Not that I'm aware.
        101.188.34.162
        1706828450
        cpe-101-188-34-162.vb03.vic.asp.telstra.net
        1221
        Telstra Internet
        Telstra Internet
        None detected
        Broadband
        Static IP
        Oceania
        Australia
        Victoria
        Doreen

        Comment

        • Wayne Luke
          vBulletin Technical Support Lead
          • Aug 2000
          • 73976

          #6
          Cloudflare has nothing to do with your ISP.

          Cloudflare would be something used on your server. It would sit between you and vBulletin to cache static data.
          Translations provided by Google.

          Wayne Luke
          The Rabid Badger - a vBulletin Cloud demonstration site.
          vBulletin 5 API

          Comment


          • CorbinH
            CorbinH commented
            Editing a comment
            So how would I know if Cloudflare is/was being used?
        • CorbinH
          Senior Member
          • May 2009
          • 232
          • 4.0.0

          #7
          I ran the forum for 24 hours without the addresses in the Banned Internet Address box and the were no instances of the error message. In that this there were 4 instances of spammers trying to join our forum.
          I have just er-inserted the addresses in to the Banned Internet Address box, and will report if the error message appears again.

          Comment

          • OrganForum
            Senior Member
            • Feb 2013
            • 131
            • 5.7.X

            #8
            FWIW, I have about a dozen entries in my Banned Address box and I've never seen this message. Have other users on your site seen this message? I can't think of any way for this to be happening other than the possibility that someone has managed to hack into your session. Are you using https? Have you checked your machine for malware? Has your server been hacked?
            Last edited by OrganForum; Fri 11 Jan '19, 12:33pm.
            VB 5.7.2
            PHP 7.4
            MySQL 8.0.28

            Comment

            • CorbinH
              Senior Member
              • May 2009
              • 232
              • 4.0.0

              #9
              Thanks guys for the responses, but everything is working okay now. It's been 24 hours since I added the offending IP addresses back in to the box and no error messages.
              It must have been some sort of "glitch" at my end, and just a coincidence about the timing.

              Comment

              • CorbinH
                Senior Member
                • May 2009
                • 232
                • 4.0.0

                #10
                I have just added two new IP addresses to the banned list and once again I have received the error message as displayed in the OP.
                This cannot be a coincidence and I would appreciate an answer as to what could be causing this. Please do not be dismissive as this is actually happening, albeit random.

                Click image for larger version

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                I have tried clicking on the here link to send an email to the administrator (me) but cannot do so because my IP address is banned. What the.....

                Comment

                • CorbinH
                  Senior Member
                  • May 2009
                  • 232
                  • 4.0.0

                  #11
                  The message keeps appearing randomly even when I'm posting.
                  I will get this message,
                  Click image for larger version  Name:	Invalid server.jpg Views:	0 Size:	36.3 KB ID:	4406373

                  If I hit OK and the Post button the message will get posted.
                  I am trying to give you guys as much information as I can to help figure this out.

                  Comment

                  • Wayne Luke
                    vBulletin Technical Support Lead
                    • Aug 2000
                    • 73976

                    #12
                    What did you enter for the two new IP addresses? I ask because I've never visited your site before and it says my IP Address is banned. Though, I'll probably have a different IP address tomorrow so I might be able to visit. Or I could use one of the thousands of Proxy servers or VPNs out there to get a new IP Address.

                    It would be better to use the Spam Management features including StopForumSpam and Akismet. IP addresses are really a poor way to track individuals.
                    Translations provided by Google.

                    Wayne Luke
                    The Rabid Badger - a vBulletin Cloud demonstration site.
                    vBulletin 5 API

                    Comment


                    • CorbinH
                      CorbinH commented
                      Editing a comment
                      But if the majority of spammers are coming from the 37.21.xxx area wouldn't it make sense to do a blanket ban?
                  • Wayne Luke
                    vBulletin Technical Support Lead
                    • Aug 2000
                    • 73976

                    #13
                    Please run these queries to reset the IP Banning..

                    Code:
                    update setting set value ='' where varname='banip';
                    delete from datastore where title in ('options', 'miscoptions', 'publicoptions');
                    Then if you want to use this, make sure to use complete IP Addresses. Make sure there is one per line.

                    However, I recommend using more robust systems. One is called mod_security and your hosting provider can do that. vBulletin's Spam Management tools are also helpful and use databases that are not limited to what you can enter.
                    Last edited by Wayne Luke; Tue 15 Jan '19, 7:42pm.
                    Translations provided by Google.

                    Wayne Luke
                    The Rabid Badger - a vBulletin Cloud demonstration site.
                    vBulletin 5 API

                    Comment

                    • CorbinH
                      Senior Member
                      • May 2009
                      • 232
                      • 4.0.0

                      #14
                      Sorry I thought that I had pasted a screenshot of our banned IP address box.

                      Click image for larger version

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                      People banned so far this year.

                      There is a new user, fapedNah at Australian Photoholics Forum
                      Email Address : [email protected]
                      IP Address: 37.21.180.128

                      There is a new user, fapedNah at Australian Photoholics Forum
                      Email Address : [email protected]
                      IP Address: 37.21.232.57

                      There is a new user, japedNah at Australian Photoholics Forum
                      Email Address : [email protected]
                      IP Address: 37.21.133.168

                      There is a new user, rapedNah at Australian Photoholics Forum
                      Email Address : [email protected]
                      IP Address: 37.21.141.60

                      There is a new user, kapedNah at Australian Photoholics Forum
                      Email Address : [email protected]
                      IP Address: 37.21.141.60

                      There is a new user, sapedNah at Australian Photoholics Forum
                      Email Address : [email protected]
                      IP Address: 37.21.141.60

                      There is a new user, dapedNah at Australian Photoholics Forum
                      Email Address : [email protected]
                      IP Address: 37.21.185.97

                      There is a new user, dapedNah at Australian Photoholics Forum
                      Email Address : [email protected]
                      IP Address: 37.21.185.97

                      There is a new user, papedNah at Australian Photoholics Forum
                      Email Address : [email protected]
                      IP Address: 37.21.185.97

                      There is a new user, zapedNah at Australian Photoholics Forum
                      Email Address : [email protected]
                      IP Address: 37.21.218.90

                      There is a new user, oapedNah at Australian Photoholics Forum
                      Email Address : [email protected]
                      IP Address: 37.21.218.90

                      There is a new user, yapedNah at Australian Photoholics Forum
                      Email Address : [email protected]
                      IP Address: 37.21.218.90

                      There is a new user, papedNah at Australian Photoholics Forum
                      Email Address : [email protected]
                      IP Address: 37.21.218.90

                      There is a new user, vapedNah at Australian Photoholics Forum
                      Email Address : [email protected]
                      IP Address: 37.21.180.128

                      There is a new user, fapedNah at Australian Photoholics Forum
                      Email Address : [email protected]
                      IP Address: 37.21.180.128

                      There is a new user, dapedNah at Australian Photoholics Forum
                      Email Address : [email protected]
                      IP Address: 37.21.137.211

                      There is a new user, vapedNah at Australian Photoholics Forum
                      Email Address : [email protected]
                      IP Address: 37.21.196.60

                      There is a new user, wapedNah at Australian Photoholics Forum
                      Email Address : [email protected]
                      IP Address: 37.21.196.60

                      There is a new user, napedNah at Australian Photoholics Forum
                      Email Address : [email protected]
                      IP Address: 37.21.240.15

                      There is a new user, rapedNah at Australian Photoholics Forum
                      Email Address : [email protected]
                      IP Address: 37.21.240.15

                      There is a new user, papedNah at Australian Photoholics Forum
                      Email Address : [email protected]
                      IP Address: 37.21.162.100

                      There is a new user, capedNah at Australian Photoholics Forum
                      Email Address : [email protected]
                      IP Address: 37.21.198.152

                      There is a new user, hapedNah at Australian Photoholics Forum
                      Email Address : [email protected]
                      IP Address: 37.21.237.43

                      There is a new user, TommySkiCt at Australian Photoholics Forum
                      Email Address : [email protected]
                      IP Address: 169.57.142.75

                      There is a new user, coinwealth at Australian Photoholics Forum
                      Email Address : [email protected]
                      IP Address: 172.68.238.154

                      There is a new user, JoxxuzvoiFf at Australian Photoholics Forum
                      Email Address : [email protected]
                      IP Address: 172.68.244.36

                      There is a new user, GarrryllvoiFf at Australian Photoholics Forum
                      Email Address : [email protected]
                      IP Address: 172.68.245.151

                      There is a new user, TheMaestro at Australian Photoholics Forum
                      Email Address : [email protected]
                      IP Address: 172.69.130.88

                      There is a new user, Boschibk at Australian Photoholics Forum
                      Email Address : [email protected]
                      IP Address: 172.69.202.4








                      Comment

                      • CorbinH
                        Senior Member
                        • May 2009
                        • 232
                        • 4.0.0

                        #15
                        Originally posted by Wayne Luke
                        Please run these queries to reset the IP Banning..

                        Code:
                        update setting set value ='' where varname='banip';
                        delete from datastore where title in ('options', 'miscoptions', 'publicoptions');
                        Then if you want to use this, make sure to use complete IP Addresses. Make sure there is one per line.

                        However, I recommend using more robust systems. One is called mod_security and your hosting provider can do that. vBulletin's Spam Management tools are also helpful and use databases that are not limited to what you can enter.
                        Does what I have in the Banned IP address Box not conform to the instructions shown here?

                        Click image for larger version

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                        Comment


                        • OrganForum
                          OrganForum commented
                          Editing a comment
                          I have each entry on its own line and I'm not using the * wildcard. I am using partial ip addresses as follows:


                          Code:
                          27.154
                          27.153.249
                          59.61
                          60.169.78.
                          60.182.
                          …
                          Have never had a problem like yours.

                        • Wayne Luke
                          Wayne Luke commented
                          Editing a comment
                          Are you sure there isn't a space between the period and asterisk in 37.21. *?

                          An Asterisk by itself will ban every IP address. My IP Address starts with 104.

                          As for having each IP address on one line and not using wildcards, there is less chance of mistake.
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