#1 2017-11-07 2:53 pm

Delarge

Member

Registered: 2017-11-07

Posts: 9

Error: StopForumSpam.com could not be reached -- MyBB (I've donated)

Hello, I've used SFS for many years, however this message is now showing up within the SFS log. As a consequence, virtually no one has been able to register since October 29. Registrations have not been possible because of the inability to query SFS. I've disabled the script (for MyBB) temporary and registrations work once again, however I am at risk of spam accounts.

Does anyone have any suggestions? I'm almost certain that SFS isn't blocked by my host -- waiting for confirmation -- and allow_url_fopen is on.

I found this thread and might try cURL: https://www.stopforumspam.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=3805

That said, the script has always worked before this point. Can anyone offer some insight?

Is there a way to check that my site wasn't improperly blocked? I can PM the IP address.

Last edited by Delarge (2017-11-07 5:42 pm)

Papa Parrot

Member

From: Mexico

Registered: 2011-08-19

Posts: 1,826

Website

Re: Error: StopForumSpam.com could not be reached -- MyBB (I've donated)

You can use the : https://www.stopforumspam.com/search option,
and check the IP your self, see if it is listed.

however I'm not at risk of spam accounts.

Was that a typo, do you mean ? : "I am at risk "

---

Everything is for the Birds

And now, Papa Parrot and his kids

pedigree

uıɐbɐ ʎɐqǝ ɯoɹɟ pɹɐoqʎǝʞ ɐ buıʎnq ɹǝʌǝu ɯ,ı

From: New Zealand

Registered: 2008-04-16

Posts: 7,056

Re: Error: StopForumSpam.com could not be reached -- MyBB (I've donated)

What operating system and version are you using?  ubuntu Trusty?  CentOS 7?  Does your php have the curl module enabled?

download

https://www.stopforumspam.com/sfsdiag.zip

extract the php file, upload it to your server and browse to the that sfsdiag.php file.  Can you copy/paste me the results (in a PM please)?

Its a safe script, it only reads information, please look at it first for peace of mind

If you have SSH access to your server, what does this command output?

curl -o - http://api.stopforumspam.org/api?ip=1.2.3.4

Delarge

Member

Registered: 2017-11-07

Posts: 9

Re: Error: StopForumSpam.com could not be reached -- MyBB (I've donated)

Where's the option to send a PM? cURL does appear to be enabled on my server. As for the OS, I can't find it in the control panel however I know it's Linux (or BSD).

I don't have shell access unfortunately.

I did punch in a couple of IPs, and neither were listed as blocked, but is this actually reliable?

Thanks for the help so far guys!

Delarge

Member

Registered: 2017-11-07

Posts: 9

Re: Error: StopForumSpam.com could not be reached -- MyBB (I've donated)

@pedigree -- I ran the script and have the results, but I see no option for PMs. Where's that buried?

Edit: I found the PM function.

Last edited by Delarge (2017-11-07 7:15 pm)

Papa Parrot

Member

From: Mexico

Registered: 2011-08-19

Posts: 1,826

Website

Re: Error: StopForumSpam.com could not be reached -- MyBB (I've donated)

As for the OS, I can't find it in the control panel however I know it's Linux (or BSD).

You can use this, it should show the OS,... if it is OpenBsd though, it will say unknown
http://browserspy.dk/webserver.php

---

Everything is for the Birds

And now, Papa Parrot and his kids

Delarge

Member

Registered: 2017-11-07

Posts: 9

Re: Error: StopForumSpam.com could not be reached -- MyBB (I've donated)

Hmm, the only thing it's returning is Apache.

"Web server Apache"
"server Apache"
"x-powered-by PHP/5.3.29"

....

Wait, I visited a different site, Netcraft, and it's reporting Linux. No details beyond "Linux" though.

pedigree

uıɐbɐ ʎɐqǝ ɯoɹɟ pɹɐoqʎǝʞ ɐ buıʎnq ɹǝʌǝu ɯ,ı

From: New Zealand

Registered: 2008-04-16

Posts: 7,056

Re: Error: StopForumSpam.com could not be reached -- MyBB (I've donated)

these two lines

file_get_contents for sfs returned string(109) " username no 0 "
curl_exec returned string(109) " username no 0 "

show that your server can connect to the sfs api, so it appears to be a problem with the module.  given the old version of php, which went end of life some years ago, it could be that it doesnt support something so old.

Delarge

Member

Registered: 2017-11-07

Posts: 9

Re: Error: StopForumSpam.com could not be reached -- MyBB (I've donated)

What puzzles me is that things were working flawlessly until September or October (I think October). Was there a change in October?

I can change the PHP version, however a bunch of errors arise because of the age of the scipt (MyBB).

Would switching to cURL help as per https://www.stopforumspam.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=3805

Is there anything else I can test?

Delarge

Member

Registered: 2017-11-07

Posts: 9

Re: Error: StopForumSpam.com could not be reached -- MyBB (I've donated)

Was there an update to SFS over the past two months? Things were working properly until October.

Delarge

Member

Registered: 2017-11-07

Posts: 9

Re: Error: StopForumSpam.com could not be reached -- MyBB (I've donated)

Good news, I changed the PHP version from 5.3 to 5.6 and the script AND SFS are now working.

Delarge

Member

Registered: 2017-11-07

Posts: 9

Re: Error: StopForumSpam.com could not be reached -- MyBB (I've donated)

I spoke too soon. After switching to PHP version 5.6, the plugin started functioning properly. That lasted 24 hours and now it's back to not working. I'm going to try switching back and forth between PHP versions in an effort to restore functionality temporarily.

Anyone know what's going on? Why would it work for a day and stop again?

Last edited by Delarge (2017-11-09 3:30 pm)

pedigree

uıɐbɐ ʎɐqǝ ɯoɹɟ pɹɐoqʎǝʞ ɐ buıʎnq ɹǝʌǝu ɯ,ı

From: New Zealand

Registered: 2008-04-16

Posts: 7,056

Re: Error: StopForumSpam.com could not be reached -- MyBB (I've donated)

there isnt any reason why it should stop suddenly, unless the php version reverted.  can you run the script you PMed me about before?

Delarge

Member

Registered: 2017-11-07

Posts: 9

Re: Error: StopForumSpam.com could not be reached -- MyBB (I've donated)

Sent the new results pedigree. It doesn't appear as though the PHP version reverted or switched around. For one reason or another, SFS started timing out again. I should also note that the plugin/script worked flawlessly on PHP 5.3 until last month.

Not sure what's going on. It's functioning properly again but I suspect, like last time, this too won't last.

NeoFox

Member

From: WI, USA, Earth

Registered: 2013-09-26

Posts: 830

Website

Re: Error: StopForumSpam.com could not be reached -- MyBB (I've donated)

Hey folks, I prettied up that sfsdiag.php file if anyone would like a copy of it.

http://anonfile.com/5fPcebedb3/sfsdiag.php

And here's my results from the sfsdiag.php file if it matters:

Testing gethostbyname:

    SFS result = string(12) "104.27.54.74"
    dyndns result = string(14) "179.113.72.143"

Testing file_get_contents:

    file_get_contents exists
    allow_url_fopen = 1
    attempting file_get_contents with SFS:
    string(109) " username no 0 "
    file_get_contents for sfs returned.
    attemping file_get_contents with dyndns.org:
    string(104) "Current IP Address: XXXXXX"
    file_get_contents for dyndns returned.

Testing curl:

    Curl exists
    Testing SFS:
    resource(5) of type (curl) init returned
    string(109) " username no 0 " curl_exec returned:

    Testing dyndns.org:
    resource(6) of type (curl) init returned
    string(104) "Current IP Address: XXXXXX "
    curl_exec returned:

On that file, if you want it to look perfect, on line #113 replace

echo 'curl_exec returned:<br>'.var_dump($return).'<br>';

with

echo '<br>curl_exec returned:<br>'.var_dump($return).'<br>';

Last edited by NeoFox (2018-04-13 6:26 pm)