Amiga.org
Amiga News and Community Announcements => Amiga News and Community Announcements => Topic started by: SysAdmin on July 14, 2012, 02:04:32 PM
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The Amiga section of the unmoderated spam invested site MooBunny is currently broken. We don't know the whole story but some kind of great new spam filter was created to combat all the junk that makes the site unusable. But one regular thought this was aimed at him and declared war on the site flooding it with junk posts. Seems he was able to break the site and John is trying to fix it.
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I don't believe it's broken, Squid took the Amiga side down (General is stilll up but with spam posts) till he can figure things out. In the short term, he could limit post to once in a 5 minute time period with time stamp on it, duplicate or empty post checker, and block a few of the overly abused/known proxy IPs.
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It's still there i did a Google, and this show up, lol.
http://moobunny.dreamhosters.com/cgi/mbthread.pl/amiga/expand/221335
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I believe John is adding reCAPTCHA (http://www.google.com/recaptcha) to the site.
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The Amiga section of the unmoderated spam invested site MooBunny is currently broken.
No it's not broken. It has been taken down for some modifications. There's a difference.
We don't know the whole story but some kind of great new spam filter was created to combat all the junk that makes the site unusable.
Nope, the site was working just fine, except that some retard who kept flooding it with profanity and other crap. His sole purpose in life was to make the site unusable to others. Motives behind that could be only guessed. My guess is that someone didn't like the honest and informed discussion that happens at moo.
Seems he was able to break the site
I'm fairly sure you're wrong about this one.
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@Piru
Site is broken.
Error message
"Oops.
Probable infinite loop in GetMessageInfo (counter == 2502):"
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How on earth do you write a filter to distinguish between spam posts and typical MooBunny content?
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It is easy. Filter out all messages with scottish or gay content.
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@Piru
Site is broken.
Error message
"Oops.
Probable infinite loop in GetMessageInfo (counter == 2502):"
I am not getting that here. Tried with Firefox, Chrome, Opera and Safari.
Here's what I see:
Moo bunny - always in beta.
Version 4.2 beta 44.
We're down for the weekend while I figure something out.
Guidelines for usage: Enjoy yourselves. In times when people aren't enjoying themselves, messages and threads may be deleted and IPs may be blocked for abusive behavior, pirate site addresses, confidential information, or generally being an ass. Policy complaints and questions to radiographite@gmail.com.
We have other message boards.
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I am not getting that here. Tried with Firefox, Chrome, Opera and Safari.
Try again
http://moobunny.dreamhosters.com/cgi/moobunny.pl/amiga?addmessage&SUBJ=a&MAIL=a&BODY=a&AUTH=a
Oops.
Probable infinite loop in GetMessageInfo (counter == 2502)
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Try again
http://moobunny.dreamhosters.com/cgi/moobunny.pl/amiga?addmessage&SUBJ=a&MAIL=a&BODY=a&AUTH=a
The website has been shut down for the weekend. Why should posting work during this time?
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Rather than a patchwork shielding of the destination, why not cut off the source?
The resolution is simple: complain to Sky Broadband UK that one of their customers is using their services to generate unsolicited spam, backed up with IP records as evidence. Even where proxies have been used, they should be able to tie that in with Franko's IP accessing the proxy at the relevant times.
Internet service removal, Goodbye Franko, headache gone, internet happier.
He's given all the ammunition required, it's just whether John has the time/will to do anything about it. Alternatively, he could ask a UK representative to manage the complaint on behalf of the site (no work/effort for John) to accomplish the same.
I stick by my initial feeling on this: it's like watching a blog of someone going through a nervous breakdown.
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Rather than a patchwork shielding of the destination, why not cut off the source?
You can't. There is this thing called proxies (and tor (https://www.torproject.org/)).
reCAPTCHA (https://developers.google.com/recaptcha/) would be an effective solution to cut down the scripted spam, at least. It shouldn't be too hard to add it to site like moo.
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Rather than a patchwork shielding of the destination, why not cut off the source?
You can't. There is this thing called proxies (and tor (https://www.torproject.org/)).
Captcha would be an effective solution to cut down the scripted spam, at least.
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The website has been shut down for the weekend. Why should posting work during this time?
The site was borked for a good 8 hours before John posted up his message on the site. He hasn't done anything other than to make the main list in the amiga section not display.
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The site was borked for a good 8 hours before John posted up his message on the site. He hasn't done anything other than to make the main list in the amiga section not display.
Ok, didn't notice that myself. I stand corrected.
The cause for the disruption hasn't been stated though?
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You can't. There is this thing called proxies (and tor (https://www.torproject.org/)).
reCAPTCHA (https://developers.google.com/recaptcha/) would be an effective solution to cut down the scripted spam, at least. It shouldn't be too hard to add it to site like moo.
But is it scripted spam on Moo? I really don't think so.
Dammy
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But is it scripted spam on Moo? I really don't think so.
The guy bragged about his scripts on the site, so yes it was.
Even if it was manual, the CAPTCHA would still help by slowing down and annoying the spammer.
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In the future, when our fascist overlords want to show us why "a little censorship doesn't hurt", I imagine they'll pull out Moobunny as evidence :)
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@Piru
"We have other message boards."
That link, which appears throughout the site, has never gone anywhere. He should just replace the link with the same text in statement form.
Anyway, the reason the site exists is for John's artwork, so I don't think this is high on his todo list.
#6
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My guess is that someone didn't like the honest and informed discussion that happens at moo.
It's been at least five years that there was something Amiga related on moobunny you could describe as "honest" or "informed". Moobunny used to be an useful and interesting place, but these days it's merely a dumping ground for anti-OS4 tirades based on AW quotes ripped out of context.
IMHO, John should disable posting, clear the remaining SPAM and leave the site online because of its useful archives. That means there won't be a place in the English part of the web where Amiga users can post anonymously - but in 2012, the Moo approach (i.e. completely unmoderated) simply doesn't work anymore.
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@cgutjahr
http://www.ted.com/talks/christopher_m00t_poole_the_case_for_anonymity_online.html
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Nope, the site was working just fine, except that some retard who kept flooding it with profanity and other crap. His sole purpose in life was to make the site unusable to others. Motives behind that could be only guessed. My guess is that someone didn't like the honest and informed discussion that happens at moo.
To expand on this, there were two spammers, which may have been the same individual. The first would pop up and crapflood the messageboard with one-shot nonsense posts. That's being going on for many months.
More recently, a second spammer appeared, who would mass inject threads with the alleged intent of "clearing out" the other spam by pushing it off the index. Which, of course, it didn't, it simply compounded the original problem that regular threads were lost amid the noise.
As a long time reader of the board, I got a bit sick of this and wrote a simple filter which I hosted on my own server that filtered content based on repetitive subject titles (with some logic thrown in to catch minor variations thereof).
I used this for a little while and decided to share it as the volume of regular threads was diminishing, due to the constant crapflooding making it tedious to locate recent posts.
The second spammer decided this was an unacceptable affront to his right to subject everybody to his crapflooding and that, despite only using the content of the index (which does not show user or IP address), that it was somehow it was targeting him.
He tried a few trivially-countered variations before recognising the fact that a repetition filter won't handle completely random spam and subsequently flooded the place with that, instead.
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http://crap.forumotion.co.uk/t129-transition-gets-it-wrong-as-usual#743
Threats from you don't scare me and I will complain about you to Sky first thing Monday. Mark my words!
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http://www.ted.com/talks/christopher_m00t_poole_the_case_for_anonymity_online.html
Are you comparing moo to 4chan? Seriously?
And you don't need to lecture *me* about the usefulness of anonymity - as long as moo is offline, Senex and me are running the only Amiga related website that allows anonymous posting. And it's not like the other entities in the community love us for having that feature.
But moo has turned into a site that seemed to offer anonymity for anonymity's sake. There was absolutely no useful output in the last few years, just people bashing each other or their favourite target as much as they want. I don't see how that serves a purpose.
You want to point out the numerous flaws, cover ups, lies and desasters surrounding OS4? Be my guest (unless you're a morphos core developer, of course ;)). But quoting an unrelated user, usually only quoting whatever part you need to go on a rant about OS4 this or AmigaOne that, three times a day, 7 days a week - why?
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To expand on this, there were two spammers, which may have been the same individual. The first would pop up and crapflood the messageboard with one-shot nonsense posts. That's being going on for many months.
More recently, a second spammer appeared, who would mass inject threads with the alleged intent of "clearing out" the other spam by pushing it off the index. Which, of course, it didn't, it simply compounded the original problem that regular threads were lost amid the noise.
As a long time reader of the board, I got a bit sick of this and wrote a simple filter which I hosted on my own server that filtered content based on repetitive subject titles (with some logic thrown in to catch minor variations thereof).
I used this for a little while and decided to share it as the volume of regular threads was diminishing, due to the constant crapflooding making it tedious to locate recent posts.
The second spammer decided this was an unacceptable affront to his right to subject everybody to his crapflooding and that, despite only using the content of the index (which does not show user or IP address), that it was somehow it was targeting him.
He tried a few trivially-countered variations before recognising the fact that a repetition filter won't handle completely random spam and subsequently flooded the place with that, instead.
And his script flooded every single subboard on Moo. Formal complaints should be posted by Squid and Dreamhosters to his ISP, they have to keep records of his activity of what proxies he has been using. If anything they might stop giving him a discount and charge him full rates for internet access.
Discussion continues on this thread: http://moobunny.dreamhosters.com/cgi/mbmessage.pl/atarist/353.shtml
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@Karlos
Ah okay, so that's the reason for your name appearing in the spam.
Not surprising the spammer has now targeted the other moo forums. Really, CAPTCHA is the only effective way to handle the situation. Of course even then the spammer is able to post single spam messages, but at least he cannot use his scripts.
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Formal complaints should be posted by Squid and Dreamhosters to his ISP, they have to keep records of his activity of what proxies he has been using.
And how are you going to find out which ISP he is using?
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Are you comparing moo to 4chan?
Not directly no. At first I thought you're just against anonymous discussion in general but since then you've clarified that you're only against it if the topics mostly circle around issues you don't approve of.
But moo has turned into a site that seemed to offer anonymity for anonymity's sake. There was absolutely no useful output in the last few years, just people bashing each other or their favourite target as much as they want.
Well that's your opinion of the matter. I find it different. Of course the site is mostly garbage, but it does have occasional gems. Things that only get posted to moo and turn out to be confirmed as facts later on.
For instance the fact that mr Hermans had left A-Eon appeared first on the moo. It'd be a shame to not have such channel for rumors and gossip.
If you really don't like to read such site, then don't.
You...
Huh?
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And how are you going to find out which ISP he is using?
Once the Amiga section is up, google his post from 2011, that should give you his real IP. Karlos probably has records from AO dating from a year ago as well.
Dammy
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Once the Amiga section is up, google his post from 2011, that should give you his real IP. Karlos probably has records from AO dating from a year ago as well.
Dammy
How can you prove it's the same guy?
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but it does have occasional gems. Things that only get posted to moo and turn out to be confirmed as facts later on.
That doesn't mean that's it's useful.
A program that randomly generates statements would eventually turn out items that would be true later on..
For instance the fact that mr Hermans had left A-Eon appeared first on the moo. It'd be a shame to not have such channel for rumors and gossip.
Also, I think it's likely that if there weren't a Moo, they would have posted elsewhere...
I'm totally OK with totally unmoderated forums. People are free to visit or not visit..
But I don't think people should fool themselves into thinking that a few "gems" mean it's useful and/or those wouldn't have been posted elsewhere...
But it's a free internet.. Have fun..
desiv
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any fix is better than the crapflooding that is happening.
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How can you prove it's the same guy?
His was using a static IP last year. If it is him, his ISP should have logs showing him connecting to the proxy server(s) that was used in the recent attack on Moo during the recent attack.
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His was using a static IP last year. If it is him, his ISP should have logs showing him connecting to the proxy server(s) that was used in the recent attack on Moo during the recent attack.
No, that won't work. See https://www.torproject.org/about/overview.html.en#whyweneedtor
TL;DR: The ISP would only see that the user has connected to tor (and maybe not even that if the perpetrator knows how to use a bridge). The target site only sees someone coming from a TOR exit-node IP address. There is no direct way to connect these two. You could try to perform some time based analysis but that would require access to some very accurate packet logs, and that alone still would not be enough to legally tie the user to the tor activity.
One possibility would be to attempt to reveal the identity through some external application by luring the perpetrator to open some file while browsing with tor. This only works if the perpetrator is careless enough to mix normal and tor browsing.
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Proxied or not, the spammer made plenty of threats to flood the place shortly before it happened.
I won't bother repeating them all, suffice to say, see here (http://amigaworld.net/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?topic_id=36060&forum=4#672515).
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Proxied or not, the spammer made plenty of threats to flood the place shortly before it happened.
I won't bother repeating them all, suffice to say, see here (http://amigaworld.net/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?topic_id=36060&forum=4#672515).
franko sure is tiresome
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That thread on Franko's web forum is sad and pathetic. That man has no life whatsoever. And of course he had to detail his mess on his own site because the only other site where he was free to "gibber sh ite", as he says, without getting banned is down due to his own antisocial behavior. He really shot himself in the foot with that one! :rofl:
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Rather than a patchwork shielding of the destination, why not cut off the source?
The resolution is simple: complain to Sky Broadband UK that one of their customers is using their services to generate unsolicited spam, backed up with IP records as evidence. Even where proxies have been used, they should be able to tie that in with Franko's IP accessing the proxy at the relevant times.
Internet service removal, Goodbye Franko, headache gone, internet happier.
He's given all the ammunition required, it's just whether John has the time/will to do anything about it. Alternatively, he could ask a UK representative to manage the complaint on behalf of the site (no work/effort for John) to accomplish the same.
I stick by my initial feeling on this: it's like watching a blog of someone going through a nervous breakdown.
If you're going to copy my posting verbatim, at least put my name on it please. :-)
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That thread on Franko's web forum is sad and pathetic. That man has no life whatsoever. And of course he had to detail his mess on his own site because the only other site where he was free to "gibber sh ite", as he says, without getting banned is down due to his own antisocial behavior. He really shot himself in the foot with that one! :rofl:
It really is quite astounding isn't it?
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Cleaned up Moo is back!
No posting yet though... seems to be borked.
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A nasty website filled with trolls, not suprissing some of the names championing it.
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A nasty website filled with trolls, not suprissing some of the names championing it.
A different environment from the forums. I will interact with my friends in a pub differently from how I interact with them in the library.
Extending the analogy, interesting discussions and arguements can still be had without being offended or distracted by the inane and offensive background drivel.
Having stayed away for years based on what I've seen when passing on occasion, it's only when I've stopped in for a pint that I've begun to appreciate the spirit of the place.
Franko came in, p155ed up every wall and smashed up the furniture to prove a point (not even a cogent one).
That's John Shephard's house. It may be a raucous party or a depraved den much of the time, but you still don't come in and break up the place. Those are the actions of a tosser.
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The amiga section is back now (with posting). It is now using reCAPTCHA to filter out the automated spam.
http://moobunny.dreamhosters.com/cgi/mbmessage.pl/amiga/225541.shtml
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Looks like the Moo spammers have finally been beat. It took a long time.
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Looks like the Moo spammers have finally been beat. It took a long time.
Well, I don't think John likes to step in for a number of reasons. It will be nice to be free of the gay spam and such, but for a forum with no login it's surprising that moobunny never got any "commercial" spam. It almost seems like spammer automation now expects to set up an account first then spew, and that automation just won't work on a forum with no login - a bit ironic.
Anyway, no matter who the spammer was they will certainly have a hard time of it now. Sad that things had to come to this, but I think it's a reasonable tradeoff.
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Looks like the Moo spammers have finally been beat. It took a long time.
Long time as in "released new OS4 hardware" long time? Or long time as in "released Aladdin 4d" long time? Give us a scale.
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Long time as in "released new OS4 hardware" long time? Or long time as in "released Aladdin 4d" long time? Give us a scale.
You might want to ask Deron about that Aladdin 4D thing, he was paid to complete it.
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You might want to ask Deron about that Aladdin 4D thing, he was paid to complete it.
Would not contacting Deron for an update be more appropriate for Discreetfx Labs to do?
Anyway, I read here about contact problems all the time, and yet July 5, 2012 concerning Pagestream:
"I've emailed him a week ago about v5.0 Pro for the Amiga. He said that it's still under development."
So I'm guessing sending an email might get you the info, since he obviously responded.
Oh, and he has a rep at AmiWest 2012 as usual, so there's another avenue of communication, since I would assume he actually talks to his rep.
#6
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@number6
Pyromania sent him numerous e-mails that just get ignored. The whole situation has Pyromania very upset and he feels royally screwed in the matter and is sad for Aladdin 4D fans that want a new version. Pyromania defiantly feels taken advantage of in this matter and does not understand why. He helped Deron numerous times in the past. Deron is DiscreetFX Labs.
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@number6
Pyromania sent him numerous e-mails that just get ignored. The whole situation has Pyromania very upset and he feels royally screwed in the matter and is sad for Aladdin 4D fans that want a new version. Pyromania defiantly feels taken advantage of in this matter and does not understand why. He helped Deron numerous times in the past.
Understood.
Unfortunately during the long time Amiga was idle, the world changed. We've moved on from promises and handshakes to a world of contracts and ambulance chasing lawyers.
I think that's something you should consider in the future, regardless of what you might feel you lose by moving on from the friendly atmosphere of the past.
Project Management is not just a buzz word.
#6