Armed Polite Society

Main Forums => The Roundtable => Topic started by: BobR on February 05, 2019, 07:02:00 PM

Title: Well that was interesting
Post by: BobR on February 05, 2019, 07:02:00 PM: I did something I have never tried before just a bit ago. I went down to the bottom of the page to check users online and clicked it. It took me to a page of current activity. There were a ton of guests there, reading OLD posts, reporting topics to the moderator and even printing a few of the threads, if it can be believed.

Are guests really guest or are they our fellow board members who decided not to log on for one reason or another? And why would a guest be printing out threads, or reporting. I just thought it was interesting so I thought I would share.

That's all.

bob
Title: Re: Well that was interesting
Post by: WLJ on February 05, 2019, 07:14:07 PM: A lot of topics getting reported.
Title: Re: Well that was interesting
Post by: Ben on February 05, 2019, 07:26:16 PM: Most "guests" are spammer bots and the like. For instance, looking just now there are a dozen "guests" on from the 54.36.xxx.xxx domains all from France. Also some Chinese (in an old Ebola thread, interestingly).

We have the forum set at this time to require new account approval and we have anywhere 50-100 "people" signing up every day that have to be checked and deleted. Almost all of their IPs resolve to places like Ragistan, commie pinko countries, etc.

Also, not sure what they're doing in "report a post". They're not reporting posts. I think the last reported post was at least a few weeks ago, by an actual member.
Title: Re: Well that was interesting
Post by: lee n. field on February 05, 2019, 07:43:18 PM: That is interesting.
Title: Re: Well that was interesting
Post by: RoadKingLarry on February 05, 2019, 07:49:57 PM: Quote from: Ben on February 05, 2019, 07:26:16 PM
Most "guests" are spammer bots and the like. For instance, looking just now there are a dozen "guests" on from the 54.36.xxx.xxx domains all from France. Also some Chinese (in an old Ebola thread, interestingly).

We have the forum set at this time to require new account approval and we have anywhere 50-100 "people" signing up every day that have to be checked and deleted. Almost all of their IPs resolve to places like Ragistan, commie pinko countries, etc.

Also, not sure what they're doing in "report a post". They're not reporting posts. I think the last reported post was at least a few weeks ago, by an actual member.

That sounds like a challenge! =D
Title: Re: Well that was interesting
Post by: WLJ on February 05, 2019, 07:51:03 PM: Russian Bots
Title: Re: Well that was interesting
Post by: Ben on February 05, 2019, 07:56:11 PM: Actually, a question: Can non-administrator members see IP addresses when you view "users online"? I just checked the main page logged out as a guest, and you can't even go to "users online".

There's very few things you can click on as a guest, though "report a post" is one of them. So I'm guessing hackers or their bots are just clicking wherever they can in hopes of a backdoor.
Title: Re: Well that was interesting
Post by: BlueStarLizzard on February 05, 2019, 08:35:05 PM: And I just found out we can report a post. Wow. It even has a little blue "Report post to moderator" at the bottom...

Learn something new every day. :lol:
Title: Re: Well that was interesting
Post by: BobR on February 05, 2019, 08:35:19 PM: Quote from: RoadKingLarry on February 05, 2019, 07:49:57 PM

That sounds like a challenge! =D

That was my first thought also!!!!

bob
Title: Re: Well that was interesting
Post by: TechMan on February 06, 2019, 01:29:31 AM: Quote from: RoadKingLarry on February 05, 2019, 07:49:57 PM

That sounds like a challenge! =D

Don’t worry French G. already beat you to it.
Title: Re: Well that was interesting
Post by: Firethorn on February 06, 2019, 01:49:08 AM: Quote from: Ben on February 05, 2019, 07:26:16 PM
Also, not sure what they're doing in "report a post". They're not reporting posts. I think the last reported post was at least a few weeks ago, by an actual member.

Probably a stupid spider crawling robot that hits all links on the page, including the "report a post" ones. Hitting a form they aren't programmed to handle, it goes no further.

Indeed, unless they're actually logged on, can they still report a post as a guest? That's something I'd disable.
Title: Re: Well that was interesting
Post by: Fly320s on February 06, 2019, 05:33:41 AM: Quote from: Ben on February 05, 2019, 07:56:11 PM
Actually, a question: Can non-administrator members see IP addresses when you view "users online"? I just checked the main page logged out as a guest, and you can't even go to "users online".

No, I can’t see IPs.
Title: Re: Well that was interesting
Post by: freakazoid on February 08, 2019, 02:34:03 PM: Interesting. Never clicked on the Print. Nor the Send This Topic.
Title: Re: Well that was interesting
Post by: Hawkmoon on February 08, 2019, 04:51:01 PM: Quote from: BobR on February 05, 2019, 07:02:00 PM
I did something I have never tried before just a bit ago. I went down to the bottom of the page to check users online and clicked it.

Where IS that? I don't see anything to click for users online.
Title: Re: Well that was interesting
Post by: Angel Eyes on February 08, 2019, 04:58:52 PM: Go to the APS home page and scroll to the bottom. You'll see "Users Online"
Title: Re: Well that was interesting
Post by: Hawkmoon on February 08, 2019, 05:13:11 PM: Ah, so.

I was looking at the bottom of a discussion thread page. Thanks.
Title: Re: Well that was interesting
Post by: French G. on February 08, 2019, 07:00:55 PM: Quote from: adively on February 06, 2019, 01:29:31 AM
Don’t worry French G. already beat you to it.

[popcorn] =D
Title: Re: Well that was interesting
Post by: TechMan on February 08, 2019, 08:38:43 PM: Quote from: French G. on February 08, 2019, 07:00:55 PM
[popcorn] =D

Really BSL. Just because you can. :lol:
Title: Re: Well that was interesting
Post by: BlueStarLizzard on February 08, 2019, 08:47:39 PM: Quote from: adively on February 08, 2019, 08:38:43 PM
Really BSL. Just because you can. :lol:

I am a woman. What more reason do I need?
Title: Re: Well that was interesting
Post by: TechMan on February 08, 2019, 09:59:12 PM: Quote from: bluestarlizzard on February 08, 2019, 08:47:39 PM
I am a woman. What more reason do I need?

{sigh}...None.