Slow Forums: PF Under DDOS Attack

  • Thread starter Borek
  • Start date
In summary: I'm not getting the 503 errors I was getting last night.It's Tuesday morning, March 6th, about 7:30 am EST.In summary, the Physics Forums website has been experiencing slow loading times and errors, particularly the "MySQL server has gone away" error. This is attributed to a DOS attack that occurred on March 5th and is still ongoing. The site moderators are working on fixing the issue and have contacted their data center for assistance. The attack is believed to be from a disgruntled individual or group, and the site is currently being monitored for any further attacks. The site's speed has improved since last night, but it is not yet back to
  • #211
any suggestions on seeing if you are hijacked? willing to see if that's the case, might sense to target frequent users. don't know, just saying.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
  • #212
Insanity said:
any suggestions on seeing if you are hijacked? willing to see if that's the case, might sense to target frequent users. don't know, just saying.

I'd recommend a firewall... Commodo might suit you well, but an AV scan should do it Insanity.

Most of these are not that cleverly hidden, they just dig out a bit of your HD, and run a process in the background. Without going into clinical detail, a firewall that monitors incoming AND outgoing activity is good, as well as a process monitor.

Still, if you've done a full boot scan, and HD/other scan... and it's clean, you're probably clean.

Most people notice that they connection becomes sluggish if they're sending DOS packets, unless the script kiddy had the wit to limit what each zombie sends at any given time.
 
  • #213
connection does not seem slow to anu other sites. still doing scans on both PCs. probably take the night.
 
  • #214
Insanity said:
connection does not seem slow to anu other sites. still doing scans on both PCs. probably take the night.

It's my educated guess, wild though it may be, that your problems with PF are not the result of your computer being infected. Still, it never hurts to scan, and you may find some malware that in some odd way is giving you 'agita'.

Let us know what the results are, would you? I'd like to help you if at all possible, and if there is a need.
 
  • #215
Well, the scan on my laptop were clean, still doing virus scan on desktop, but probably unneeded as just now I am able to get to PF on my laptop, which is my primary PC.

I couldn't get here on either before. Not sure what the issue was, but subscribing to the belief it wasn't me.

Attacks still ongoing by chance?
 
  • #216
Insanity said:
Well, the scan on my laptop were clean, still doing virus scan on desktop, but probably unneeded as just now I am able to get to PF on my laptop, which is my primary PC.

I couldn't get here on either before. Not sure what the issue was, but subscribing to the belief it wasn't me.

Attacks still ongoing by chance?

I'm glad your scan was clean, always a good thing. I'd assume the attack is ongoing, but still petering out as per my description earlier. Greg would know however, I'm just guessing... I doubt the attack has been renewed, and if it has then Greg should be laughing so hard at blocking it that he might not be able to type.
 
  • #217
I was doubtful I'd have anything, software is always doing real-time check against any downloads and sites, but never know. Anywho, glad I can get here now, easier to type on keyboard vs. tapping on phone.
 
  • #218
Insanity said:
I was doubtful I'd have anything, software is always doing real-time check against any downloads and sites, but never know. Anywho, glad I can get here now, easier to type on keyboard vs. tapping on phone.
Good news! Welcome back to using a real keyboard.
 
  • #219
dlgoff said:
Good news! Welcome back to using a real keyboard.

Oh man... I hear you... how the hell do people text so MUCH? I'm not particularly old, but give me a damned keyboard PLEASE...
 
  • #220
nismaratwork said:
Oh man... I hear you... how the hell do people text so MUCH? I'm not particularly old, but give me a damned keyboard PLEASE...
Also; give me a real mouse anytime over those laptop touch thingies.
 
  • #221
dlgoff said:
Also; give me a real mouse anytime over those laptop touch thingies.

YES! Oh.. I LOATE touchpad 'mouses'... bluetooth mice are the best thing to happen to laptops since batteries that last for more than picosecond.
 
  • #222
I agree, bluetooth mouse, real keyboard, I even have an USB numpad for when punching a bunch of numbers.
 
  • #223
Insanity said:
I agree, bluetooth mouse, real keyboard, I even have an USB numpad for when punching a bunch of numbers.

Amen brother! :wink:

I still have a fold-out keyboard for my phone... and damn the stares. :biggrin:
 
  • #224
ever seen something like this?

Code: 
http://www.virtual-laser-keyboard.com/
http://www.palminfocenter.com/view_story.asp?ID=6766

still relatively new I think, but innovative for sure.
 
  • #225
Insanity said:
ever seen something like this?

Code: 
http://www.virtual-laser-keyboard.com/
http://www.palminfocenter.com/view_story.asp?ID=6766

still relatively new I think, but innovative for sure.

I saw a laser keyboard for sale on thinkgeek. I'm not sure how effective it would be though.
 
  • #226
Lancelot59 said:
I saw a laser keyboard for sale on thinkgeek. I'm not sure how effective it would be though.

It hurts like a bastard when you forget that you're slapping fingers on a table...
 
  • #227
Yep, I saw it on thinkgeek.
 
  • #228
nismaratwork said:
Oh man... I hear you... how the hell do people text so MUCH? I'm not particularly old, but give me a damned keyboard PLEASE...
A lot of phones now do have keyboards. The stupid buttons are just a bit too small for my giant hands though.
 
  • #229
Jiggy-Ninja said:
A lot of phones now do have keyboards. The stupid buttons are just a bit too small for my giant hands though.

I know... I'm not sure what elfin hand those things are made for, but not your's or mine it seems! My texts sound like I'm trying to type with 'my left foot'. :tongue:


Oh, except Daniel Day Lewis actually managed the trick of it, and it seems I never will. Voice input please...
 
  • #230
Is the DDOS still ongoing?
 
  • #232
Greg Bernhardt said:
yes it is
Things seem to be running okay here. I hope you will continue to stay on top of it.

Thanks Greg
 
  • #233
Greg Bernhardt said:
yes it is



It's not me is it?

I thought macs where immune to such things.

hmm...

first day I brought my macbook out to play, a hacker friend grabbed it away from me and said; "Oh! a mac. Let me check something. 'clickity clickity clickity'. Ok Om, everything is fine, continue on with your life, as if nothing is being monitored... "

:bugeye:

I'm not a zombie am I?

He does have several high powered servers running in the heart of Montana, from what he's claimed.
 
  • #234
OmCheeto said:
It's not me is it?

I thought macs where immune to such things.

hmm...

first day I brought my macbook out to play, a hacker friend grabbed it away from me and said; "Oh! a mac. Let me check something. 'clickity clickity clickity'. Ok Om, everything is fine, continue on with your life, as if nothing is being monitored... "

:bugeye:

I'm not a zombie am I?

He does have several high powered servers running in the heart of Montana, from what he's claimed.

Do you crave brains? :wink:

@Greg: You've done this... you know you have... I've LITERALLY been this guy.

tcpip_punch1.jpg


I think for DDOS that should be a kick in the grapes, but I'm a known 'harsh' element.
 
  • #235
nismaratwork said:
tcpip_punch1.jpg

I like that a lot.
 
  • #236
The site was sluggish just a minute ago for me. Something to do with the DDoS attack?
 
  • #237
FtlIsAwesome said:
The site was sluggish just a minute ago for me. Something to do with the DDoS attack?

Sorry, that was me... I um... pooped on your modem.
 
  • #238
What??
 
  • #239
FtlIsAwesome said:
What??

Sorry, did I type that out loud? :biggrin:

Just kidding man, I'm having no trouble, if the DDOS is ongoing, Greg is owning it.
 
  • #240
Still slow for me for some pages.
 
  • #241
fluidistic said:
Still slow for me for some pages.

Really? Smooth as silk here...


I can't imagine that even a script kiddy would be so stupid to keep renewing a failed DDOS.

Then again, stupidity is a many splendored thing...
 
  • #242
nismaratwork said:
Really? Smooth as silk here...


I can't imagine that even a script kiddy would be so stupid to keep renewing a failed DDOS.

Then again, stupidity is a many splendored thing...

Smooth here too. And I'm using a dorm connection, so smoothness is exceptional.
 
  • #243
Char. Limit said:
Smooth here too. And I'm using a dorm connection, so smoothness is exceptional.

OK, we've exceeded our limit for "smooth" in two posts. :tongue:

Still, I remember dorm connections... always clogged when you'd expect them to be. :grumpy:
 
  • #244
nismaratwork said:
... I remember dorm connections... always clogged when you'd expect them to be. :grumpy:

At least you didn't have to punch cards to get a connection like I had to. :frown:
 
  • #245
nismaratwork said:
I can't imagine that even a script kiddy would be so stupid to keep renewing a failed DDOS.
I can.


nismaratwork said:
Then again, stupidity is a many splendored thing...
That's a signature. :biggrin:
 

Similar threads

PF Slow Again - Possible DDoS Attack?
    • Feedback and Announcements
Replies
4
Views
2K
Bug Slow Forum Apr 8: Limited Access, JS Error
    • Feedback and Announcements
Replies
7
Views
1K
Complaint Possible Causes of Slow Response from PF and Solutions for Users and Staff
    • Feedback and Announcements
Replies
22
Views
4K
Physics Forums Privacy Policy
    • Feedback and Announcements
Replies
0
Views
94K
  • Sticky
Announcement Easy ways you can support Physics Forums
    • Feedback and Announcements
3
Replies
96
Views
41K
JavaScript PF Alert Machine: Can I Monitor Forum Alerts Without Logging In?
    • Programming and Computer Science
Replies
3
Views
884
Could we make a practical solar fridge?
    • Mechanical Engineering
Replies
30
Views
2K
ABC reference frame synchronous generator modelling in Ltspice
    • Electrical Engineering
Replies
1
Views
964
I Lorentz Transformation: Premises + Derivation
    • Special and General Relativity
Replies
5
Views
959
11 reasons why you should be a Gold Member
    • Feedback and Announcements
Replies
13
Views
3K

Hot Threads

Recent Insights

Back
Top