Guests/visitors on PPRune - what's the story?
For the last few months I have been aware of the problems PPRuNe has been having with traffic and security, and I understand the need to take measures to deal with them. However, for the last month or so, I have noticed that some threads which normally get a steady flow of extra views were not. I tried looking at PPRuNe via a public computer in the library but was unable to do so without logging in, subsequently I learnt this was due to attacks by a Hackbot and the temporary measures taken in response.
Early last week this problem continued, looking as a guest achieved nothing except being prompted to log in, and I assumed this may have been due to having an AOL IP address which may be used by the hackbot. Then on Thursday the problem seemed to resolve itself, and the threads (on the military aircrew forum) were getting views again, presumably from outside of PPRuNe. Then on Sunday it returned to demanding log in and the flow of additional views dried up. Once again I assumed it might be due to AOL, and having a different IP address each time, however I had the same problem from the library this Tuesday. Yet on the forums I see that there are guests online, as well as registered users.
One of the great things about PPRuNe is being able to say things where they will be seen, hopefully not just be the regular readers. So I can't help wondering.....
1. If they are guests online, can they read threads?
2. Is it purely numbers that decide whether guests (ie first come first served until a limit is reached) can view PPRuNe, or are certain ISPs banned?
3. Can someone following a link to PPRuNe read posts?
4. Are these current restrictions temporary or permanent?
PPRuNe's an excellent site, particularly for those of us who don't really have other opportunities to make ourselves heard, and the Military Aircrew forum has been very useful in bringing a number of issues out into the public. I have been particularly encouraged by the idea of my writing being read by interested parties, some of whom may not be signed up PPRuNe users.
Sorry if I have asked any daft questions. As you might have guessed, I don't really understand things such as IP addressing or Hackbots.