Hi there,

Was off for a couple of weeks on a motorcycle tour and now that I'm back, I can no longer access the World from Europe (Switzerland). I am able to write this because I am currently logged into a US-based VPN. Other VPNs located outside the US don't work either... I can't stay on this all the time because I need to be 'local' for a bunch of other stuff. This has been going on for several days now.

The message I get is:
403 Forbidden Access is Denied
You do not have permission to view this directory or page using the credentials you supplied


I know we've been having various kinds of DDoS attacks recently but something on defense changed in the last couple of weeks and legitimate (paid) users (me in any case) are now being screened out. HELP!

@SirAndy

SirAndy made it clear in the DDoS thread: attacks were coming via various VPN sites so he's disabled their access to 914World.

You'll need to disable that VPN to access here (or change to another VPN site).

EDIT: http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?s=&...t&p=3268965

Re-read my message - I am unable to access the site unless I am logged in to a US VPN. Normally I do not want or need use a VPN, I am only using it temporarily as it's the only way I found to be able to make a post here. @SirAndy is not only blocking some Europe VPNs, he is apparently blocking legitimate ISPs in Europe also... I am using Switzerland's largest ISP - the (original) phone company Swisscom. No VPN.

Re-read that link:

"Unfortunately, that might also block legit users that happen to be routed through the same endpoints, even if they aren't using a VPN themselves."

Most of my time is outside the US and have not had a problem. I don't use a VPN. This message is from the far North. Currently in the ice pack.

I thought Idaho was the far north

Lovely... So basically that's saying "Get lost!"

Then it's time to rename '914World' to '914America' - the word 'World' has no business being in the site name anymore.

Well I can't say it's necessarily Sir Andy's fault that whatever hacker(s) used an endpoint that you also utilize. It's also affected at least two US users, so it's not just Europe. Ask Sir Andy for the hackers IP address and go send them a friendly message to use another VPN endpoint.

Yeah I live in Mexico much of the year and can’t access any longer on my laptop. For some reason I can still access on my phone but it’s a PITA.

Some of my US vpns are being blocked now. Had to switch a few times. Vegas is out, Phoenix works.

It's the World of the 914, not the physical World. Subtle difference. Hackers suck! Hopefully we come up with a solution.

I understand the frustration but when you get down to it, we all ought to be using VPN for a multitude of privacy and security reasons. Is it that much to ask to use the VPN to get a US based endpoint?

Let’s face facts. This site is a passion project that is kept online by less than a handful of guys. The software is ancient. The audience is largely old guys like me that will be lucky if we are still above ground in 10-20 years.

I don’t think anyone is intentionally saying get lost. They have simply resorted to limiting ISPs and IP address blocks where the attacks originate from. We all miss the site when it goes down but at the same time, Sir Andy and the moderators don’t have the luxury of migrating this to a high dollar cloud hosted platform that isn’t economically viable.

Well, good luck then. Not interested in paying like $50 a year or more to subscribe to a VPN service with a guaranteed US server just to access this site. It's not necessary for any other site I visit and it actually interferes with my being connected to some local stuff like my website mail. So I would have to be connecting and disconnnecting all the time. And that's just my computer, then there's my phone and pad... And it seems like even using a US VPN will not necessarily guarantee access either.

As AI gets more and more sophisticated, the automated hackerbots are just going to keep multiplying and if the current method of limiting access is the only defense, the number of whitelisted places will just keep getting fewer until there's virtually nothing left. The world will then look like this: ' . '

What's actually funny is the current VPN server i'm posting from (with the 'free' plan they get chosen at random from 10 throughout the world) is in Singapore. Like that's more logically secure than Switzerland. Netherlands does not work. Canada does (for now).

Cheese anyone?

Are you on Facebook? Facebook has a 914World site and a 914World-Garage, amongst plenty of others. I would imagine you wouldn't have the same issues on a Meta based platform. I know it's not the same, but it might scratch the itch, and give you a place to ask and answer questions.

Two posts down from what was linked above has your answer:



They will move on and i'll be able to unblock those European ISPs eventually. You don't have to have a VPN to be blocked, all it takes is for you to be routed through an ISP that has been blocked on any of the hops that normally get you here.

No I don't do Facebook... Try to avoid Meta if posssible, except for WhatsApp, which is pretty much the standard here, replacing a lot of e-mail and phone stuff. I closed my Facebook account years ago, not reaally interested in making a new one.

Unblocking some of Europe right now. Going slow to monitor activity.

Unfortunately, there are a few VPN endpoints that need to stay blocked.
I still see a massive amount of traffic thrown our way.

A lot of VPNs are cheaper than the price mentioned. They are always running deals and discount codes are everywhere. If you are into open source, freeware or shareware they can be even cheaper depending on the OS you are running.

@chmillman
Most of Europe should be back now.

However, there are still some pretty big (European) VPN endpoint blocks in place. So again, if you happen to be near one of those endpoints, you may still be blocked even if you don't use a VPN.

Back on from the UK. Thanks Andy.

also back in the game - thank you Andy

Delete

Working again here too, THANKS!! Hopefully it stays that way.

Note for the people using VPN's - an interesting read:

https://gizmodo.com/you-installed-a-vpn-to-...kers-2000806241

Belgium also back - joehoe ....
Reported the issue a week or two ago and SirAndy took the time to send me a private msg explaining the issue.

Was following via my iphone but that was a pain... glad to be back !! Belgian fries, Belgian chocolate and Belgian beer for the moderators !!!

greetings
Dax - Antwerp city - Belgium

our work connection is interesting, when i'm in the office its blocked, when I'm home but back through the corp VPN it's good to go, I've been missing 914world

Yeah...I didn't read the article but the cyber security guys who work for me consider VPN providers to be a great funnel for organizations like the NSA [or commercial providers] to monitor huge swathes of web traffic from one location...As a rule, all recommend no VPN use unless for getting something inconsequential like foreign TV channels. If you're concerned about tracking or security get a good firewall and understand how to configure a privacy-focused firewall.