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ASF Site Performance

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Yes, changes have been made. I'd be interested in hearing from those who were previously having access difficulties.

Apparently ASF is one of a number of websites that has been under attack by a botnet for several months now. This poses absolutely no threat to any ASF user. However, our host has been blocking both the requests to ASF's server and the IP addresses sending them as they happen.

There is one of two reasons why people may have been blocked:

(1) You have downloaded an infected app or have browsed a web page that is infected and your PC has been compromised; or
(2) You are using dynamic IP addresses.

Apparently it can only be one of the two reasons above. I am not a technical person so I can only rely on information that is being conveyed to me by the host's techs.

This is directly from the host, word for word:

"Once a PC is infected you start sending "POST /?ptrxcz_xxxxxxxxxxxxx" to a bunch of different web servers. Most of them are decoys like ASF, but at least one is the real deal, and this is how the drones communicate with the hive. ptrxcz_ is how the drone identifies the request is for the hive, and everything after that is a message or command of some type. So all we are seeing is communication in one direction. We don't see what the hive is sending back to the drones."

If you are using dynamic IP addresses you may be blocked because someone who has used the same IP address has an infected PC that has been sending requests to ASF's server.

The reason access has been restored to those who were previously blocked is because the firewall table has been cleared out and has begun re-populating. Some of the host's tech's were not aware that this was occurring and this is why I was also unaware that IP addresses were being blocked.

This is an article that explains the situation further: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/09/19/pushdo_spews_fake_traffic/. In ASF's situation, it is not Pushdo but a variant on that botnet.
 
Joe Blow said:
Yes, changes have been made. I'd be interested in hearing from those who were previously having access difficulties.
Click to expand...

Fortunately, my problem may have been resolved by my modem going to modem heaven (as most Ultimates do after only a short period) and its temporary replacement most likely will not have the problem as it handles the IP address differently. So I will probably not be able to comment.

We will see what the permanent replacement does in a couple of weeks.

Cheers
Country Lad
 
Seems to work fine now Joe.
Logged on straight away using iPad and Telstra 3G at Adelaide airport.
 
Joe Blow said:
Yes, changes have been made. I'd be interested in hearing from those who were previously having access difficulties.

Apparently ASF is one of a number of websites that has been under attack by a botnet for several months now. This poses absolutely no threat to any ASF user. However, our host has been blocking both the requests to ASF's server and the IP addresses sending them as they happen.

There is one of two reasons why people may have been blocked:

(1) You have downloaded an infected app or have browsed a web page that is infected and your PC has been compromised; or
(2) You are using dynamic IP addresses.

Apparently it can only be one of the two reasons above. I am not a technical person so I can only rely on information that is being conveyed to me by the host's techs.

This is directly from the host, word for word:

"Once a PC is infected you start sending "POST /?ptrxcz_xxxxxxxxxxxxx" to a bunch of different web servers. Most of them are decoys like ASF, but at least one is the real deal, and this is how the drones communicate with the hive. ptrxcz_ is how the drone identifies the request is for the hive, and everything after that is a message or command of some type. So all we are seeing is communication in one direction. We don't see what the hive is sending back to the drones."

If you are using dynamic IP addresses you may be blocked because someone who has used the same IP address has an infected PC that has been sending requests to ASF's server.

The reason access has been restored to those who were previously blocked is because the firewall table has been cleared out and has begun re-populating. Some of the host's tech's were not aware that this was occurring and this is why I was also unaware that IP addresses were being blocked.

This is an article that explains the situation further: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/09/19/pushdo_spews_fake_traffic/. In ASF's situation, it is not Pushdo but a variant on that botnet.
Click to expand...

I saw Skyfall last weekend with Mrs Gumnut and reckoned it was happening to you Joe. Thus my above post.

gg
 
Joe just to add to the mix, I'm getting from time to time a blank page when clicking on the new post email links.

Like this,

ASF.gif

No real problem. Just thought I'd mention it.
 
Not an ASF specific thing, but computer users are being urged to disable Java, which has a recently discovered security flaw.

Experts urge PC users to disable Java, cite security flaw - January 11, 2013

..Computer users are being advised by security experts to disable Oracle's widely used Java software after a security flaw was discovered in the past day that they say hackers are exploiting to attack computers..

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/it-pro/securi...curity-flaw-20130111-2ckog.html#ixzz2HoZBFrEg
Click to expand...
 
Logique said:
Not an ASF specific thing, but computer users are being urged to disable Java, which has a recently discovered security flaw.
Click to expand...

How To Disable Java in Your Browser


Eric Limer





Java isn't good for your for your computer's health right now. It can mess it up pretty bad. Bad enough that the Department of Homeland Security is warning us all to turn it off. OK, but how do you do that? Fortunately, it's not that hard.

All the current Java exploits come from Java (not Javascript) running in your browser. And while you can get all the way down to the root of the problem by uninstalling Java on the whole, you can also just lock it down in all your browsers, or just the browsers you actually use. That way you can still have it around with Minecraft or whatever and still be safe. Here's a rundown:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chrome

Type "chrome://plugins" into your address bar. This will bring up a new tab. Find the item on the list that reads just plain "Java" and click below it where it says "Disable" in blue. Restart your browser.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Safari

Choose "Safari" and then "Preferences" on the taskbar or hit control and comma simultaneously (⌘-,). Click "Security" on the top row of the new window. Uncheck the box that reads "Enable Java" if checked. Restart your browser.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Internet Explorer 8,9, and 10

Go to the "Tools" menu and select "Manage Add-ons." Go to the left of the window that pops up and in the drop-down box below the heading "Show:" select "All Add-ons." Scroll down the list on the right of the window until you find a subheading under the category "Group" that reads "Oracle America, Inc." Select each item and disable it with the "Disable" button in the bottom right-hand corner of the window. Restart your browser.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Firefox

Go to the "Tools" menu and select "Add-ons" or hit ctrl, shift, and the letter 'a' simultaneously. Select "Plug-ins" on the left-hand side of the new tab that shows up. Scroll the list on the right-hand side of the screen until you find an item that reads "Java (TM) Platform [somethingsomethingsomething]." Click the "Disable" button on the right. Restart your browser.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

And there you go. If you really, really want to, you can uninstall Java entirely as well, though that's not necessary. You can find the official instructions for how to do so on OS X here, on Windows Vista, 7, and XP here, and on Linux (!) here.

Good luck out there. Stay safe.
 
Wow, Interactive Brokers uses Java...

thanks Burnsy...will have to investigate...

CanOz

EDIT: Firefox has already disabled the java plug-in...cool. TWS uses an older version of java, so perhaps its ok?
 
Joe,

ASF File Upload Manager
- I am no longer able to upload attachments using Internet Explorer 10
- Worked OK on Saturday and now note that the process has been changed in ASF
 
bigdog said:
Joe,

ASF File Upload Manager
- I am no longer able to upload attachments using Internet Explorer 10
- Worked OK on Saturday and now note that the process has been changed in ASF
Click to expand...

Hi bigdog, no changes have been made at this end. However, I am aware that there are a few issues with regard to IE 10 and a new version of the forum software should be coming soon with a fix for them.

In the meantime, if you are still having issues with IE 10, could you use another browser such as Firefox or Chrome until the new version of the forum software comes through. My guess is it should be released by early May, although I'm not 100% sure. Might be a bit later.

Sorry for any inconvenience!
 
testing

trying to paste an article into a thread and it says the site is offline, tried 2 browsers

Took the article out and just pasted the url, it worked then...........
 
Thanks for letting me know!

Will do some investigating to see if I can figure out what the problem is.
 
McLovin said:
Too many characters in the post, that's what causes the "Site Offline" message.
Click to expand...

Too many ?
I've seen gigantic posts on here that got through ok.

lets test it -


Quote Originally Posted by basilio View Post

Well why not just burn the witch at the stake (with a slow fire ) before dumping her at sea in chaff bag ?

How about banishing any friends or relations of Julia Gilliard to the South Pole for consorting with the witch ? Have we left anything out ? Can we possibly be any nastier or more spiteful ?

I have put little into this thread because I believed it was just a mindless, hate barrage of a politician who is doing their best as they see it. Unfortunately what everyone left of centre wanted to see was the PM turn up her toes and die. Not doing that seems to have enraged an Opposition leader who was determined to destroy this government rather than allow it to see a full term. And of course starting with Alan Jones, Larry Pickering and every other piece of nasty in the country we have had a hate chorus that seems to have infected millions. Just very troubling in my view.

With regard to the Disability care program and the emotional effect that passing the bill and effectively wedging the Libs to support it in the future. There was a good story in The Age on the circumstances around the PMs introduction of the bill into the house.




See you folks. Keep on bitching... Only a few months to go.
So what? We've all got personal stories to tell. Leading government is not about the personal stories it's about the big picture and implementing things that will be good for Australia as a whole. If Gillard is unable to separate the individual from the general she should not be in the job. Using stories like this to tug at peoples heartstrings for political gains is a low thing to do.

I don't want her burned at the stake, hung drawn and quartered, wish no ill will on her family have never said anything along those line. I just want her out of office as I believe she is incompetent and not leading Australia in the right direction.




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Today 11:15 AM

Re: The Gillard Government








Quote Originally Posted by basilio View Post

Well why not just burn the witch at the stake (with a slow fire ) before dumping her at sea in chaff bag ?
How about banishing any friends or relations of Julia Gilliard to the South Pole for consorting with the witch ? Have we left anything out ? Can we possibly be any nastier or more spiteful ? :eek
I have put little into this thread because I believed it was just a mindless, hate barrage of a politician who is doing their best as they see it. Unfortunately what everyone left of centre wanted to see was the PM turn up her toes and die. Not doing that seems to have enraged an Opposition leader who was determined to destroy this government rather than allow it to see a full term. And of course starting with Alan Jones, Larry Pickering and every other piece of nasty in the country we have had a hate chorus that seems to have infected millions. Just very troubling in my view.
With regard to the Disability care program and the emotional effect that passing the bill and effectively wedging the Libs to support it in the future. There was a good story in The Age on the circumstances around the PMs introduction of the bill into the house.
See you folks. Keep on bitching... Only a few months to go.
She knifed Kevin Rudd, she then destroyed the Labor Party and our finances...........poor Julia ?

I don't think so, she a calculating woman who will let nothing or no one stand in the way of her own ambition, now she sees she can't win the election she wants to leave HER mark on the country by taking credit for the NDIS or anything else she can get her hands on, everything she does now is reported by HER as historic.

She will leave a bitter and traumatic legacy on all Australians as they prepare for the pain of repairing the economic damage.

As John Howard said the first $17B of the stimulus package was justified the next $42B was pure waste.

You cry over the poor misunderstood PM if you like but the rest of us certainly will not.



Well why not just burn the witch at the stake (with a slow fire ) before dumping her at sea in chaff bag ?

How about banishing any friends or relations of Julia Gilliard to the South Pole for consorting with the witch ? Have we left anything out ? Can we possibly be any nastier or more spiteful ?

I have put little into this thread because I believed it was just a mindless, hate barrage of a politician who is doing their best as they see it. Unfortunately what everyone left of centre wanted to see was the PM turn up her toes and die. Not doing that seems to have enraged an Opposition leader who was determined to destroy this government rather than allow it to see a full term. And of course starting with Alan Jones, Larry Pickering and every other piece of nasty in the country we have had a hate chorus that seems to have infected millions. Just very troubling in my view.

With regard to the Disability care program and the emotional effect that passing the bill and effectively wedging the Libs to support it in the future. There was a good story in The Age on the circumstances around the PMs introduction of the bill into the house.






The woman of steel sheds her armour



Ms Gillard fought back tears on Wednesday as she recounted the story. Sophie's mother, the veteran disability campaigner Kirsten Deane, said she was not surprised her daughter had made an impression on the Prime Minister.

''One of the things we've always said about Sophie is she's quite unforgettable,'' Ms Deane said.
Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Treasurer Wayne Swan during question time in Parliament House Canberra on Wednesday 15 May 2013.

''She loves going to school, she loves her brothers and sisters, she loves playing on the monkey bars, she's a gun at dancing, she loves to run, she loves television.

''She's just like all the other 12-year-olds you know, and just like every other 12-year-old she was really excited to meet the Prime Minister.'' Ms Deane said Sophie immediately took a shine to Ms Gillard.

''Once she slipped her hand in the Prime Minister's hand, she wasn't letting go,'' she said. ''It had a really big impact on her.''

Speaking personally, Ms Deane said she and her family had long had a knot in the bottom of their stomachs when they thought about what would happen to Sophie when they were no longer around to look after her.

''That knot eases just a little bit, because we know that in the future, her needs will be taken care of,'' she said.

Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/pol...#ixzz2TPPpM5WB


Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/pol...#ixzz2TPPPeq3T See you folks. Keep on bitching... Only a few months to go.




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Today 10:58 AM #6934




Boggo




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Default Re: The Gillard Government



and now we have the federal gov using the budget to secure state labour seats in the upcoming election !

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/s...-1226643137461



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Miss Hale




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Default Re: The Gillard Government








Quote Originally Posted by basilio View Post

Well why not just burn the witch at the stake (with a slow fire ) before dumping her at sea in chaff bag ?

How about banishing any friends or relations of Julia Gilliard to the South Pole for consorting with the witch ? Have we left anything out ? Can we possibly be any nastier or more spiteful ?

I have put little into this thread because I believed it was just a mindless, hate barrage of a politician who is doing their best as they see it. Unfortunately what everyone left of centre wanted to see was the PM turn up her toes and die. Not doing that seems to have enraged an Opposition leader who was determined to destroy this government rather than allow it to see a full term. And of course starting with Alan Jones, Larry Pickering and every other piece of nasty in the country we have had a hate chorus that seems to have infected millions. Just very troubling in my view.

With regard to the Disability care program and the emotional effect that passing the bill and effectively wedging the Libs to support it in the future. There was a good story in The Age on the circumstances around the PMs introduction of the bill into the house.




See you folks. Keep on bitching... Only a few months to go.
So what? We've all got personal stories to tell. Leading government is not about the personal stories it's about the big picture and implementing things that will be good for Australia as a whole. If Gillard is unable to separate the individual from the general she should not be in the job. Using stories like this to tug at peoples heartstrings for political gains is a low thing to do.

I don't want her burned at the stake, hung drawn and quartered, wish no ill will on her family have never said anything along those line. I just want her out of office as I believe she is incompetent and not leading Australia in the right direction.
 

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