blocked user!

[H48HPE]

Steve (F170GGT) informs me that he has been totally blocked and his user name wont work.. This is a shame as he was a very enthusiastic owner.

he has asked me to post a link to his new site for those that are interested:



steves new site (http://austinrover.hyperboards.com/index.cgi)

This could be a big misunderstanding but it seems a little OTT to me

Andy

[E_T_V]

Dunno whats up with his account. I did notice a few error messages generated by the forum when I tried to access stuff around lunchtime today I think. Maybe that is it?

As it is the whole MMOC site he can't access rather than just the forum I suspect it is a technical problem at his end (or his ISP)

[tony]

well i am not sure whats up with steve but hes not banned
http://www.maestro.org.uk/forums/member.php?s=&action=getinfo&userid=23

[Beaker]

If a user was to be banned they would be informed 'professionally' of the reasons why and how long their account had been revoked for. Also if a user was to be banned the user would still be able to access the website and the forum as a guest.

As I am aware Steves problem is that he can't access the site full stop.

Would it not be more prudent to ask for suggestions as to why he can't access the site?

Here are a few I can think of off hand,

AOL may have blocked the ip address of the forum? I suggest he tries another computer with a different ISP.

The firewall (assuming he has one) maybe be blocking the site?

[Beaker]

I have sent him some advice to try and resolve the problem. *crosses fingers*

It sounds like to me that he has some nasty critter of a file on his computer (can be incl. when downloading music, cracks, etc) which can cause these problems of websites failing to load. Lets hope I am right.

Can I reccomend some good free programs to protect computers from malicious files whilst I am on the topic.


http://www.lavasoft.de This is a program that will remove spyware from your computer. Spyware isn't particularly pleasant and normally hides in with your cookies for site. It tracks which websites you visit etc, and collects statistics on you. It does what it says on the tin it SPYS on you.

Also a firewall is reccomended for protection whilst on the internet. A good free program for this is www.zonealarm.com (http://www.zonealarm.com)

Finally everyone should have some antivirus software. I use a free program called AVG, it also gives you free updates http://www.grisoft.com/us/us_dwnl_free.php It has never failed to not detect an incoming virus yet.

Also for all you Windows users, make sure you keep all the windows updates for security issues fairly uptodate as unfortunately windows is full of security holes.

[Jonathan]

Not guilty! There's nothing wrong with this account.

If anyone does continually have problems accessing the site of forums, a quick note to me is all it usually takes to sort it out :)

[Maria]

Is Steve using AOL? There are at least 2 people using AOL who can't currently connect to any sites on this server. We're looking into it.

[E_T_V]

Yes steve uses AOL dialup. I mentioned it to him that it maybe an AOL thing.

[Beaker]

AOL :censored: up again it seems. :banghead:

[Maria]

Steve, perhaps it's time you got over the girlie strop and stopped being so melodramatic and paranoid :rolleyes:

Get over the "everyone's got it in for me" attitude already or you really WILL start hacking people off. We've got better things to do than start pointless childish "campaigns" against people. Most of us got over that one once we left the school playground.

Oddly enough, a SERVER ERROR means a SERVER ERROR. It's not rocket science. Perhaps checking the facts before leaping to some half-arsed conclusion might be a good idea in future?

[Dave]

I second that, Maria!

[SimonR]

It was good advice from Skatie about those downloads, interestingly I also use exactly those applications and have so far avoided all sorts of popups, worms, viruses and trojans.

To keep Windows (2000 and XP) up to date go to the Windows Update (http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com) website and Bill will personally take a look at your windows installation and plug the leaks he created. These days keeping windows up-to-date is very time-consuming but also very important if you are to avoid being targeted.

"Windows: Where do you want us to stick it today?"

BUT, that's not why I'm posting.

Did anyone see Watchdog on the BBC last night? There was a feature about Internet Fraud whereby malicious websites have the ability to change the number you dial for the Internet to a premium rate number. This means that next time you dial, instead of paying the pence/minute that an 0845 number costs, you end up paying around £1.50 or more. Furthermore some sites are able to create an autodialler which dialls without you asking it to. I must admit that there was a discrepancy on our phone bill this month which was caused by this, same for some of my relatives. The first you know about it is when you receive a massive phone bill and the 'phone companies won't cover the bill as it looks like you actually made the calls.

So: Yes, do keep your machine updated, but be aware that it may dial numbers without you asking it to.

There are a few things you can do to avoid this:
1. Installing ZoneAlarm will prevent some of the AutoDiallers from working
2. Switching on your modem speaker volume will tell you if your machine is dialling out without your knowledge, learn what the 0845 (or 0800) number sounds like when it's dialled
3. If you're using Broadband (ASDSL) and you also have a modem attached to a phone line, unplug it as you don't need it
4. If you're really worried about this then leave your modem unplugged/your computer switched off when you're not using the Internet until it's clear just how bad this problem is.

I don't wish to scare anyone but it's important to be aware that Windows is not secure and now, more than ever, others are able to use that fact either to make money or just to cause havoc.

[Rich]

sound advice, but erm, I can't use windows update, Bill would look at my version and not be to happy, enough said!!

At home we have Broadband, and the modem has long been out of action, I had problems with a program called Kazza (sp?) which put a lot of worm type things on my computer, so now the one in the dining room is used for downloading music and the files are shared on the network so the three of us get them that way, whatever happenes to the dining room computer doesnt matter!! So be aware that file sharing programs will fill your computer with :censored: !!

Rich

[Beaker]

Yeah Kazaa is bad, Kazaa lite is reccommended tho, it is kazaa with all the nasties removed. Never used any music downloading program really after the demise of Napster, but I know most people reccomend Kazaa 'Lite'

A dodgy version of windows doesn't affect windows update, except service pack 1 as far as I am aware.

[SimonR]

Originally posted by Skatiechik
A dodgy version of windows doesn't affect windows update, except service pack 1 as far as I am aware.

Mostly right - the old corporate keys that were around the Internet when XP was very new allowed it to be installed without activation but Microsoft got wise to this and made SP1 interogate the installation before it performed the update.

However, there are later keys you can get that allow full updating of XP but don't require activation. I got mine via a friend in Hong Kong and so far it's accepted all updates. I'd also like to point out that I have a bought license for XP on the side of my machine so whatever key I use it's legal for me to do so.

As for Windows Update, don't worry if you have a dodgy version of Windows - it's not as if Microsoft are going to fetch up on your doorstep asking to see your license.... ;-)

[haarp]

SKatie is quite right. Whether on broad or narrowband you must protect your PC with a good firewall and anti virus package. As SKatie suggests (I also use them) zonealarm and AVG are excellent, and free for personal use. As for P2P packages!? Yes, they do entail risks in that the music industry is, allegedly, sending out files which are infected with viruses. If you must use P2P you are probably better off with bearshare rather than kazaa - not that I ever use either one, of course! As for AOL here is my advice: don't touch it with a bargepole. Seriously! The AOL app. should be re defined from being software to being leechware/spyware. In other words, once it's in your PC it really hates letting go. I know this because I have been there, done that, warn the tee shirt and reformatted as a last resort. As for Steve believing he has been blocked I cannot believe that unless he has been abusive or otherwise displaying inappropriate behaviour. Since buying my rusty, but much loved, H reg Maestro diesel last year I have visited these forums a few times and read just about all the messages. From my experience it is the most friendly and helpful forum that I think I have ever seen on the web. This is what the net was meant for. This forum truly is a community of like minded people trying to help each other with advice, hints and tips. Long may it continue!

[haarp]

Whoops! Sorry, Skatiechik. Just realised I misspelt your forum name in my last posting. Sorry about that! I guess I was too anxious to put in my own twopennyworth on this particular subject.

[SimonR]

Originally posted by haarp
As for AOL here is my advice: don't touch it with a bargepole. Seriously! The AOL app. should be re defined from being software to being leechware/spyware. In other words, once it's in your PC it really hates letting go. I know this because I have been there, done that, warn the tee shirt and reformatted as a last resort.

Yeah, absolutely. My job is look after computers and computer networks and inevitably other employees often bring their home computers in for me to fix. You would not believe how many appear with a partially-uninstalled AOL browser/dialler. I don't even bother trying to fix them any more - take off the bits you want and reinstall, it's the only way.

Sorry, I think we're a little off-topic for the Announcements and Feedback forum, I'll stop now ;)

[Mat_C]

I'm on AOL dial-up and haven't been able to access the site in 2-3 days. DNS would not even resolve www.maestro.org.uk

I think AOL's DNS cache screwed up - this has happend before.

AOL is indeed useless. I will getting broadband 2morow hopefully but will still keep my AOL for no other reason that I got it way way back when it was the only 0800 provider and don't want to loose me e-mail addys.

[onza100]

I can't access the site from my pc at home either. I am using aol too. Just asumed the site was down for a few days!

[Dave]

Nah, that was 'cos we blocked you.






;) (That was a joke!)

[D87 SMW]

Yes, I am on AOL dialup also. The past three and a half days I have been unable to access the website.
Considering that others were still fully able to access the site over this period, I believed the problem to be that I had been blocked from accessing this site by either my providor or the website itself.
These I believed were the facts, and not just some "half-arsed" conclusion.
It does help if I am able to access the page before I am called melodramatic, and paranoid... were these found via other sources? Those which are not related to this website in order to back up these issues? As it was not allowed for me to do this before with past issues, I am not sure why you seem fit to do it yourself now.

[Dave]

Okay, everyones had there say. Lets leave it now. Again. Points taken from both sides so I cant see anything will be achieved by carrying this on.

[MaestroMatt]

...Deleted post in deference to Dave's sage advice posted simultaneously!...

[Dave]

:)

[Alan the Vanner]

Phew! I have been trying to access the site for a couple of days now, with no success. Perhaps it has just been a glitch in AOL's System?
I'm still running on my Brother's computer with aol 7.0.
Good to know it wasn't just me!:eek:

[talkingcars]

When doing deals on car parts I have had several deals collapse due to AOL deciding I am sending spam mail to AOL captives, now I don't even let teir free trial discs through my front door.

[D87 SMW]

Originally posted by talkingcars
When doing deals on car parts I have had several deals collapse due to AOL deciding I am sending spam mail to AOL captives, now I don't even let teir free trial discs through my front door.

WE can expect AOL 9.0 discs thru the doors now. Oh well, more toys for my puppy. :rolleyes:

[SteveC]

Originally posted by H48HPE
Steve (F170GGT) informs me that he has been totally blocked and his user name wont work.. This is a shame as he was a very enthusiastic owner.


"And a clear lead is starting to appear in the '2004 Understatement of the Year' award poll..."

[H48HPE]

Originally posted by SteveC
"And a clear lead is starting to appear in the '2004 Understatement of the Year' award poll..."

:rolleyes: