Author Topic: Well that was interesting  (Read 1344 times)

BobR

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Well that was interesting
« 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

WLJ

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Re: Well that was interesting
« Reply #1 on: February 05, 2019, 07:14:07 PM »
A lot of topics getting reported.
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Ben

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Re: Well that was interesting
« Reply #2 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.
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lee n. field

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Re: Well that was interesting
« Reply #3 on: February 05, 2019, 07:43:18 PM »
That is interesting.   
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RoadKingLarry

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Re: Well that was interesting
« Reply #4 on: February 05, 2019, 07:49:57 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


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WLJ

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Re: Well that was interesting
« Reply #5 on: February 05, 2019, 07:51:03 PM »
Russian Bots
"Sometimes I think the surest sign that intelligent life exists elsewhere in the universe is that none of it has tried to contact us".
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Ben

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Re: Well that was interesting
« Reply #6 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.
"I'm a foolish old man that has been drawn into a wild goose chase by a harpy in trousers and a nincompoop."

BlueStarLizzard

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Re: Well that was interesting
« Reply #7 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:
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BobR

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Re: Well that was interesting
« Reply #8 on: February 05, 2019, 08:35:19 PM »

That sounds like a challenge! =D




That was my first thought also!!!!


bob

TechMan

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Re: Well that was interesting
« Reply #9 on: February 06, 2019, 01:29:31 AM »

That sounds like a challenge! =D




Don’t worry French G. already beat you to it.
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Firethorn

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Re: Well that was interesting
« Reply #10 on: February 06, 2019, 01:49:08 AM »
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.

Fly320s

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Re: Well that was interesting
« Reply #11 on: February 06, 2019, 05:33:41 AM »
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.
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freakazoid

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Re: Well that was interesting
« Reply #12 on: February 08, 2019, 02:34:03 PM »
Interesting. Never clicked on the Print. Nor the Send This Topic.
"so I ended up getting the above because I didn't want to make a whole production of sticking something between my knees and cranking. To me, the cranking on mine is pretty effortless, at least on the coarse setting. Maybe if someone has arthritis or something, it would be more difficult for them." - Ben

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Hawkmoon

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Re: Well that was interesting
« Reply #13 on: February 08, 2019, 04:51:01 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.
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Angel Eyes

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Re: Well that was interesting
« Reply #14 on: February 08, 2019, 04:58:52 PM »
Go to the APS home page and scroll to the bottom.  You'll see "Users Online"
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Hawkmoon

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Re: Well that was interesting
« Reply #15 on: February 08, 2019, 05:13:11 PM »
Ah, so.

I was looking at the bottom of a discussion thread page. Thanks.
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French G.

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Re: Well that was interesting
« Reply #16 on: February 08, 2019, 07:00:55 PM »
Don’t worry French G. already beat you to it.

 [popcorn] =D
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I'm so contrarian that I didn't respond to the thread.

TechMan

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Re: Well that was interesting
« Reply #17 on: February 08, 2019, 08:38:43 PM »
[popcorn] =D

Really BSL.  Just because you can.   :lol:
Quote
Hawkmoon - Never underestimate another person's capacity for stupidity. Any time you think someone can't possibly be that dumb ... they'll prove you wrong.

Bacon and Eggs - A day's work for a chicken; A lifetime commitment for a pig.
Stupidity will always be its own reward.
Bad decisions make good stories.

Quote
Viking - The problem with the modern world is that there aren't really any predators eating stupid people.

BlueStarLizzard

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Re: Well that was interesting
« Reply #18 on: February 08, 2019, 08:47:39 PM »
Really BSL.  Just because you can.   :lol:

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TechMan

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Re: Well that was interesting
« Reply #19 on: February 08, 2019, 09:59:12 PM »
I am a woman. What more reason do I need?

{sigh}...None.
Quote
Hawkmoon - Never underestimate another person's capacity for stupidity. Any time you think someone can't possibly be that dumb ... they'll prove you wrong.

Bacon and Eggs - A day's work for a chicken; A lifetime commitment for a pig.
Stupidity will always be its own reward.
Bad decisions make good stories.

Quote
Viking - The problem with the modern world is that there aren't really any predators eating stupid people.