[Matthew]

1. I have taken down many other threads, including many posts on the "SSPX Resistance" Facebook page, so that I don't give too much information to the attackers, whoever they are. I was very transparent and open with you, the readers and members of CathInfo. Possibly more than I should have been.

2. I have received (or am about to receive) donations from 11 CathInfo members. To all of these generous souls (you know who you are!): Thank you so much for your generosity! May God reward you.

3. I am a computer guy (surprise, surprise!), so I'm a do-it-yourselfer when it comes to computer hardware. Therefore I have ordered parts to build a really nice web server. The fastest CPU that wasn't ridiculously expensive (i7-5820K for those of you who care), reliable motherboard (lots of good reviews), lots of RAM, and plenty of hard drive space. For this server build, I'm going to use many parts I already have on hand (monitor, video card, keyboard, mouse, power supply, DVD drive, etc.) The last piece of the puzzle should be here tomorrow (Wednesday).

4. Today I did a lot of research and purchased a hardware firewall. I'll be using various software "firewall" features as well, but I think it's important to have a hardware firewall between my server and the Internet at large. This will give me options for filtering out malicious traffic, etc.

5. To all those who haven't donated yet: If you are interested in helping pay for this "moat" around the new CathInfo castle, please send me an e-mail (matthew at cathinfo.com) or PM me, and I can give you my home address and/or paypal e-mail address that you can send donations to.


And, last but not least...

I am aware that URLs, images, youtubes, and a couple other "tags" no longer show up in the posts. These items are still there in the various posts; they are just "hidden" for now.

This problem was introduced when I upgraded the site to PHP 5.5 as a result of the server move. Think of PHP as the machinery that makes the forum operate.

Rest assured that I'm doing my best to solve this problem, one way or the other, as soon as possible. If I don't get to it, it's because I have even more urgent things to work on...

[Stubborn]

Thanks Matthew, the site is noticeably quicker and it's nice to have more posts per page too! Moving off the old server turned out to be a nice upgrade!

[Matthew]

I've been unable to create new threads

Just ONCE I was replying to a thread and it gave me an error. But I've created many replies before and after that, with no problems. So it seems to be an intermittent problem.

UPDATE: I think I know what caused this. It happened on another site, and I found out what's causing it. Now I just need to figure out how to disable the "thing" that's causing it.

[Matthew]

I think I know what's causing those errors, and I've been making good progress. That is to say, there are a finite amount of "moles" and I've been whacking them incessantly.

Also, the error message ("file not found") is misleading in this case. What you are actually experiencing is a ridiculous "false positive" which the server is rejecting.

If you are on the old server at the moment, I can't help you. To get this fixed, I'd have to teach *them* (it sounds like bragging, but it's actually kind of annoying -- and it's one of the ways I know it's time for me to run my own web server...).

Fortunately, there is only another day or so left until everyone is on the new server, which I control, and which is currently getting almost no errors like the ones I describe (the "false positives").

I'd hit <F5> for a browser refresh (to see what server you're on), and then try it again -- especially if you're on the new server.

[LaughingAmigo]

Matthew, you forgot to update the favicon to match the new color scheme.  The new banner is yellow but the favicon is blue :  Please correct this grievous error than immediately see a priest to confess this mortal sin ... Thanks.   :smile:

Other than that though, great work on the site!  Images show now :)

[Matthew]

Welcome to the new server, everyone!

This server is even faster then the other one, believe it or not! Now pages take from 0.009 seconds to 0.011 seconds to generate. That's fast!

Now we can click, explore the site and navigate to our hearts' content with no lag, slowness, or (hopefully) errors!

I fixed most of the technical problems already (over the last several days), so if you see any problems FROM NOW ON, please post them in this thread. Thanks!

I just want to quote something from the original post:

I purchased a hardware firewall. I'll be using various software "firewall" features as well, but I think it's important to have a hardware firewall between my server and the Internet at large. This will give me options for filtering out malicious traffic, etc.

5. To all those who haven't donated yet: If you are interested in helping pay for this "moat" around the new CathInfo castle, please send me an e-mail (matthew at cathinfo.com) or PM me, and I can give you my home address and/or paypal e-mail address that you can send donations to.

[LaughingAmigo]

I thought about starting a new thread but heck, I just wanted to make a request.......how about making a CI app for smart phones?

I have no idea what's is involved to do such a thing but just wanted to toss it out there.

I believe you have to have an Apple computer and purchase a license for something like $200.  I looked into making apps a while back.

Nope.

[Matthew]

First of all, I'm not convinced I'm going to use the current software forever. First I'd like to get settled in to whatever new software, and THEN maybe develop an app.

But I will say right now -- regardless of whether or not I eventually release an Apple version of the app, Android users will certainly have the advantage here. I already know Android, own several Android devices, and I'm a Java programmer.

Now I might be able to use some kind of cross-platform tool that lets you write-once, deploy-many places. But even then, when I'm holding an Apple version in my hand, I'd need $100 *per year* to submit to to the Apple store. Maybe a member could help with that, when the time comes. Someone might already have an Apple developer account.
 

[Neil Obstat]

.

I've noticed a marked improvement since the new server;  faster processing of posts, faster searches, fewer glitches, less LOST TEXT when trying to post.  

(I've developed the habit of Select All, Copy on each compose window before I click Preview or Reply, in case my text is lost before it gets posted.)

Right now, I'm on the road taking a break at a Starbucks, using their WiFi with my laptop.  Everything is working smoothly.  

And now I see we're back to 10 posts per page, whereas it used to be 5.  10 is much more convenient to read!!

.

[Neil Obstat]

Is Cathinfo still under attack?

I am getting weird messages when I try to log in and try to post... messages that claim the server is busy, can't be found, or suggest I am blocked because I use TOR (except I don't use TOR).

It sounds like your computer's Internet security might be under attack by some hacker, or you have a malware problem (virus, worm, trojan, whatever).

I suggest you download the free Malwarebytes software, and make sure your antivirus is working at all times.  I hope I don't have to suggest you check if your firewall is ON.  When Internet users neglect these things they encounter a whole world of diverse problems creeping in, often with no clue as to what the source is.  Web miscreants take pleasure in dreaming up subversive programming that slips in under the radar!

[Matthew]

Once in a while (it happened to one person yesterday), the security software goes paranoid and detects evil where there isn't any.

The victim will get that "file not found"/"you might be blocked" error page.

Whenever this happens, I find out about it when I check the logs (several times daily). I disable the "rule" that caused the problem, and now that problem will happen even less than before.

Eventually, there won't be any more rules to give false-positives. I can't disable the whole thing, but I can disable all the stupid rules that cause false positives.

It's working, too. When I first set up the server, I had to disable something like 15 or even 20 "rules" just to be able to make changes to the main website template.

The program in question is seriously paranoid. Imagine a police officer arresting you and doing a full strip search because he found a $5 bill in your wallet, and many drugs are bought with $5 bills! (Um...so are lots of innocent transactions. Hello!)

Any filter that results in tons of false-positives is worthless, in my opinion. Once you go into false-positive territory, it's time to scale back your "filter" and make it more conservative, even if it means catching less.

[Matthew]

If anyone gets that error message after today, please send me an e-mail when it happens. That way I certainly won't miss it.

I can go in to the log and it tells me what stupid "rule" caused the error.

Connecting with my analogy above, the rule might be "look for $5 bills in their wallet. If you find one, it's a drug dealer! Arrest him."

That rule can safely be disabled, as far as I'm concerned, because it's stupid. It's not worth catching a few drug dealers if I'm going to catch 400,000 law-abiding citizens in the process.

[Neil Obstat]

Connecting with my analogy above, the rule might be "look for $5 bills in their wallet. If you find one, it's a drug dealer! Arrest him."

I wasn't feeling okay about not having $5 in my wallet until I read your post.  Thanks!

[Matthew]

What is this "Biggest fan" and "Biggest critic"?

Something I was messing around with today -- but that info is already available, I think, on the left sidebar under the member's name. So I removed it.

[Matthew]

I thought you were going to tell precisely who was the top giver of thumbs up and down for each member.  I think that would discourage people from giving thumbs up or thumbs down.

I agree, which is why I keep that anonymous.