Modifications to eOmahaForums

[Omaha Cowboy]

I haven't gone through the sign up in a while, but I wonder if the captcha could be updated. Maybe the bots know how to get around this one now and that another one is needed.

It’s very possible. It seems the forum goes through a spike like this about once every 4 months or so..

I know I’ve also deleted and trashed posts/threads and banned users all week.. Including this morning...

Ciao..LiO...Peace

[Bob from Omaha]

One of the posts is about cheap cialis. I haven't felt the need for such things but I do wonder if buying such a product off the internet from someone you have no idea who they are, just to save some cash, is a wise idea. On the other hand, what's the worst that could happen? THAT will keep me up all night, so to speak.

Have a great weekend campers!

[Coyote]

I haven't gone through the sign up in a while, but I wonder if the captcha could be updated. Maybe the bots know how to get around this one now and that another one is needed.

good suggestion.
Right now it is a Q&A: What city is this forum about? : Omaha.
I changed the question , let's see what happens this weekend.

[BRoss]

good suggestion.
Right now it is a Q&A: What city is this forum about? : Omaha.
I changed the question , let's see what happens this weekend.

And if that doesn't work, maybe a different captcha system altogether.

[Coyote]

good suggestion.
Right now it is a Q&A: What city is this forum about? : Omaha.
I changed the question , let's see what happens this weekend.

And if that doesn't work, maybe a different captcha system altogether.

Knock on wood, no Russians today.
What other Q&A can you think of that Omahans would know?

[BRoss]

What other Q&A can you think of that Omahans would know?

I guess my main worry is keeping out legitimate non-local users (e.g. those from some of the other city forums who just like to see what is going on in other cities).

Maybe a generic captcha system like the crazy words would work good for this. I'm not sure what exists for phpbb though.

[Coyote]

GD Image
GD 3D Image
Simple Image
Q&A
ReCaptcha

[BRoss]

GD Image
GD 3D Image
Simple Image
Q&A
ReCaptcha

I know reCaptcha is a good one.

[jessep28]

I ran into the same problem HR Paperstacks did a few days ago where my browser would download a forum file instead of loading the page. It was either a cookie or cache issue since the site would load fine in an Incognito window.

Clearing the browser cache resolved it.

[Admin]

I ran into the same problem HR Paperstacks did a few days ago where my browser would download a forum file instead of loading the page. It was either a cookie or cache issue since the site would load fine in an Incognito window.

Clearing the browser cache resolved it.

Good to know. Thanks.

[U R my Helix]

Kudos to the team! you all do a great job keeping the spammers out of the forums. I deal with the nasty spammers every day and imagine it is a constant fox hunt keeping them out of the posts.

[Coyote]

We have a very good team, thanks. We even delete potential spammers before they can post.

[nebugeater]

Was this complete thread intended to go to the trash?

[Coyote]

I got this thread out of the trash last week, who keeps trashing it?

[bigredmed1]

I have been getting a lot of “Internal Server Errors” Port 80 errors when I try to log in.

[Padre]

I have been getting a lot of “Internal Server Errors” Port 80 errors when I try to log in.

I’ve been getting them as well.

[debradomayer]

I have been getting a lot of “Internal Server Errors” Port 80 errors when I try to log in.

I’ve been getting them as well.

Me three!

[Busguy2010]

Me too. But I haven't had a problem during this current visit.

[bigredmed1]

Me too. But I haven't had a problem during this current visit.

Same here.

[Omababe]

Lots of these errors over the past week or so. It killed a post I was trying to make on Friday (I think).

[GrandpaaSmucker]

Lots of these errors over the past week or so. It killed a post I was trying to make on Friday (I think).

It killed the whole forum the past week. I suspect most people came to the forum and ran into the endless error messages and just left. Some of the forum veterans like me just muddled through it as we know that technical issues and this forum have always gone hand in hand. All those bogus posts that look like they are from foreign countries could be the source of the problem but then again it just might be that the site that hosts this forum is kind of a joke. I would bet it is both of those issues. I did not want to complain so I did not say anything until now.

P.S.- It is not out of the realm of possibilities that this forum has angered somebody who knows a thing or two about computers who is trying to jack this forum up so it does not work right.

[nativeomahan]

I have been getting a lot of “Internal Server Errors” Port 80 errors when I try to log in.

Over the weekend I must have gotten a dozen or more. I finally gave up. It continues today, plus the site is very slow to load.

[Doctor Fate]

I have been getting a lot of “Internal Server Errors” Port 80 errors when I try to log in.

Over the weekend I must have gotten a dozen or more. I finally gave up. It continues today, plus the site is very slow to load.

Same. I couldn't access the site for several days because of the error. Still having issues today.

[Louie]

Typically, a 500 error like this is some plugin or theme creating an issue. Or it could go back all the way to the server being too small to handle the new 'traffic' and its timing out. Either way this site is practically unusable in this state.

[BRoss]

This issue is typically because of a corruption of the cache. Last time this happened it was because there was a stuck file out there that could not even be deleted.

It's essentially a host problem. The server they have our site on seems to run into problems from time to time.

Mark - lmk if you want me to take a look.

[Omababe]

Significantly worse this morning.

Maybe one out of three tries gives valid results. Many error screens. Lots of times it sits there and spins for several seconds before returning an error or a result.

[Louie]

I'm having no issues at the moment, knock on wood.

[Brad]

I'm having no issues at the moment, knock on wood.

Coyote banned some IP Addresses this morning and hopefully it did the trick!

[Omaha Cowboy]

Yes, it’s been smooth sailing logging in, browsing and posting today.. Hopefully we’re over the hump...

Ciao..LiO...Peace

[EastCB]

Yes, it’s been smooth sailing logging in, browsing and posting today.. Hopefully we’re over the hump...

Ciao..LiO...Peace

Nope. Almost lost my patience trying just now. Wasted 15 minutes.

[Busguy2010]

Everything was pretty alright yesterday and Monday, but I'm experiencing problems again. I'm getting the error message about 2/3 of the time I click and or try to login.

Before Monday and Tuesday, it was about 3 or 4 days of essentially not being able to login/post due to the error message about 80% of the time. Got down to about 20% on Monday and Tuesday, now back to 66% error message.

[nebugeater]

This morning (Thur) it is terrible. I moved about 10 new spam threads out if exitance and it took three or four tries for each step needed using a refresh to get it done.

[nebugeater]

Right now I am flying around the board with no errors. One item of note is that it only shows 34 "users" online rather than the 500 + that have been showing.

[lonnie]

I wonder if you forced HTTPS (redirect HTTP -> HTTPS) could stop some bots. Or just block HTTP altogether.

Regardless, HTTPS would provide more security by default for users by always encrypting their user/pass.

[Coyote]

Thanks. We will look into this.

[Omababe]

Still bad today, hope this posts.

Totally unusable yesterday

[nebugeater]

Still bad today, hope this posts.

Totally unusable yesterday

Agree. A lot of errors this AM ( Friday)

[BRoss]

FYI - https won't stop bots. But it is definitely a good idea. When you log in using http, your password gets sent in the clear which can be intercepted on things like public Wi-Fi.

[lonnie]

FYI - https won't stop bots. But it is definitely a good idea. ...

So there are no simple HTTP-only bots out there ?

But yes, this site should redirect HTTP -> HTTPS (possibly just a checkbox on the hosting site) and then fix the mixed-content errors, s/http:/https:/ on images and such as future browser versions will ignore them.

[Omababe]

I decided today to wait until mid-day to check this board, rather than early in the morning as I usually do.

It's been fine today. No errors, quick response.