You are not logged in.

#1 2018-04-08 9:05 pm

RobLatour
Member
Registered: 2018-04-02
Posts: 14

Unfortunately we can not process your request now due to problems ...

I am trying to set up StopForumSpam on my phpbb (v3.2.2) forum.

However, with StopFourmSpam enabled, when someone tries to register as a new user, after they have entered all their information, the following message appears:

"Unfortunately we can not process your request now due to problems with an external party. You can try again later."

and they are prevented from registering.

I tried adding in and removing my stopforumspam api key - it didn't make a difference.

Any help would be appreciated.

Offline

#2 2018-04-08 10:31 pm

Old Dragon
Member
Registered: 2012-11-25
Posts: 196

Re: Unfortunately we can not process your request now due to problems ...

The API key is for submitting spammers to SFS from your forum, it doesn't affect registration. 

For some reason your site is not able to connect to check the SFS database so the registration is stopped. Is this happening every time someone tries to register or is it intermittent? There is a setting 'Allow if Stop Forum Spam is down' that, if set to 'yes', would allow the registration if no connection is made but that is likely to result in spammers being able to register, especially if you never get a connection.


Spammers can all go feck themselves. With a cactus. A large one. With two branches.  Sideways
SEO = Spam Emitting Organisation

Offline

#3 2018-04-08 10:59 pm

RobLatour
Member
Registered: 2018-04-02
Posts: 14

Re: Unfortunately we can not process your request now due to problems ...

As far as I can tell it is happening all the time.  After seeing your message I set the option 'Allow if Stop Forum Spam is down'  to 'yes' and the registration went through. 

My website is hosted on a shared server, would it be possible that its ip address is blacklisted or something like that?

Offline

#4 2018-04-08 11:18 pm

Papa Parrot
Member
From: Mexico
Registered: 2011-08-19
Posts: 1,826
Website

Re: Unfortunately we can not process your request now due to problems ...

Yes that is possible, you can use the searchhttps://www.stopforumspam.com/search
, to check that.

Offline

#5 2018-04-08 11:57 pm

RobLatour
Member
Registered: 2018-04-02
Posts: 14

Re: Unfortunately we can not process your request now due to problems ...

neither the website name or its ip address showed up in the search

Offline

#6 2018-04-09 12:50 am

NeoFox
Member
From: WI, USA, Earth
Registered: 2013-09-26
Posts: 830
Website

Re: Unfortunately we can not process your request now due to problems ...

Using the lookup technology...something like we use for reporting...

@sfs = get_file_contents

Could a php script be disabled on the (shared) server perhaps? Anyone know what he should look for on his PHP info to see that it's enabled...frankly I do not. Sorry for the wonky wording, I was trying my best to explain lol. sad

We could develop a test script for him and others. I think we should do that and host the code somewhere here. Something that just does a quick verification and if receives a 200 code then gives big green text "congratulations, SFS will work here." smile

...btw I'm working on a business management assignment right now or I'd just jump right in haha.

Last edited by NeoFox (2018-04-09 12:53 am)

Offline

#7 2018-04-09 2:08 am

Papa Parrot
Member
From: Mexico
Registered: 2011-08-19
Posts: 1,826
Website

Re: Unfortunately we can not process your request now due to problems ...

There is another topic right here on the forum, about a similar problem, if it is the same plugin,  to start with the OP needs to be more clear on their details,... exactly which "StopForumSpam" plugin , or mod is it ? there are 2 or 4 using the same name "StopForumSpam",.

https://www.stopforumspam.com/forum/vie … hp?id=8183

If it is this mod, the OP should contact the support/and author of that mod.

from: https://www.stopforumspam.com/forum/vie … hp?id=8183


Extension was fixed by RMcGirr83... very thankful to him/her for that.

Thank you for all your support; especially to RMcGirr83.

Best,
amstel

Unfortunately , they did not ever post any code, nor say what changes needed to be made to the extension.
Also since the OP does not bother telling us exactly which extension (mod, or plugin ) they are using, everything else is just guess work, @OP , Is this : phpbb_3.1_stop_forum_spam/ the extension your using ?

There is a discussion and support forum, for it here : https://www.phpbb.com/customise/db/exte … am/support

****IMPORTANT****edited****
Here is the thread where it was discussed at the phpBB forum:
https://www.phpbb.com/customise/db/exte … 6?start=15
Unfortunately , it is not clear as to exactly what they did to solve it, But I think it would be best for the OP to communicate with RMcGirr83 , the author, assuming this is the same extension.

If it is NOT that extension, please give us some details, to clarify exactly which StopForumSpam plugin, mod or software you are using.

Offline

#8 2018-04-09 10:48 am

RobLatour
Member
Registered: 2018-04-02
Posts: 14

Re: Unfortunately we can not process your request now due to problems ...

Here are the details that show up for the Stop Forum Spam extension I am using:

Extension Details
Display Name: Stop Forum Spam
Clean Name: rmcgirr83/stopforumspam
Description: Queries the stop forum spam database on registration and posting. Extension settings are found under the extension tab of the forum. This extension requires at least phpBB version 3.1.4-RC1.
Version: 1.1.9
Homepage: https://github.com/rmcgirr83/phpbb-3.1-stopforumspam
Release Time: 2017-12-22
Licence: GPL-2.0
Requirements phpBB Version: >=3.1.4-RC1
PHP Version: >=5.3
Author Information
Name: Rich McGirr
Homepage: https://www.phpbb.com/customise/db/author/rmcgirr83/contributions
Role: Lead Developer

Here is where I got the api key: https://www.stopforumspam.com/

It never crossed my mind that there might be multiple plugins with the same name, am I in the right forum for support?

Last edited by RobLatour (2018-04-09 10:55 am)

Offline

#9 2018-04-09 1:26 pm

Old Dragon
Member
Registered: 2012-11-25
Posts: 196

Re: Unfortunately we can not process your request now due to problems ...

am I in the right forum for support?

No, you need to ask on the site you downloaded the extension from.
https://www.phpbb.com/customise/db/extension/phpbb_3.1_stop_forum_spam/support

All phpBB extensions have a discussion/support section for exactly this purpose.


Spammers can all go feck themselves. With a cactus. A large one. With two branches.  Sideways
SEO = Spam Emitting Organisation

Offline

#10 2018-04-09 1:39 pm

Papa Parrot
Member
From: Mexico
Registered: 2011-08-19
Posts: 1,826
Website

Re: Unfortunately we can not process your request now due to problems ...

---edited--@Old Dragon, we posted almost at the same time, I had not seen your post,
so any way,...

@RobLatour,

It never crossed my mind that there might be multiple plugins with the same name,

Thanks, actually it is just a couple with the same name: https://www.stopforumspam.com/mods

phpBB 3.1
Stop Forum Spam
by "RMcGirr83"

Extension will query the stop forum spam database on registration and posting (for guests only) and deny the post and or registration to go through if found. Will log an entry in the ACP if so set.
download links

    phpBB Homepage
    Github

phpbb3.1-Stopforumspam [English and Russian]
by Alex Sheer

This mod allows you to search your existing user list for users reported to Stopforumspam, and to ban and report.

But any way,

--- snip--am I in the right forum for support?

I think in this case , you would be better off asking on the phpBB forum: https://www.phpbb.com/customise/db/exte … 41#p597141
Or start a new topic there,... There are some things on our end that could affect this, but it is most likely something in the way the extension is configured, in any event, Pedigree, the "owner", here is the only one that can verify  and fix any problem that there might be with the data base connectivity, at this time that seems to be fine, I don't have any problem connecting and verifying registrations, but I am using a different plug-in,...any way, RMcGirr83 , the author can and will contact Pedigree, if need be.

by RMcGirr83 » Sat Oct 28, 2017 10:02 am
Owner of stop forum spam contacted me and I believe the issue has been resolved.

Note at the end of the thread, :

by RMcGirr83 » Mon Oct 30, 2017 5:04 pm
Did you validate yourself at stop forum spam by registering on the forum. You must be registered and validated on the sfs forum to get an API key.

The person with the problem , never responded after this, so it is not clear if they ever solved it, ... but to clarify, Are you registered here on this forum, with the same information, you used for your API key ?
  Actually though , I don't see how that would affect it, you shouldn't need to have a API key, to access the data base and check to see if a registration is listed, and deny registrations that are listed as spammers.
All ready mentioned:

Old Dragon>>The API key is for submitting spammers to SFS from your forum, it doesn't affect registration.

  So any way, after all said and done , the best person to ask about this is RMcGirr83, he will have first hand knowledge on how the extension works, etc.  In any event please do keep us posted, and especially  on what the
solution turns out to be, there are now 2 threads on this same problem, one here , the other on the phpBB forum, but neither one has anything clear as to what was done to fix it.
Thanks.

Offline

#11 2018-04-09 5:10 pm

sklerder
Member
Registered: 2012-10-11
Posts: 336
Website

Re: Unfortunately we can not process your request now due to problems ...

HI !

Perhaps is it an issue with your forum installation ?
pedigree posted about the sfsdiag tool at least here, for a similar problem.
This tool could help you (and us smile) to clarify ...

Offline

#12 2018-04-11 1:22 am

Papa Parrot
Member
From: Mexico
Registered: 2011-08-19
Posts: 1,826
Website

Re: Unfortunately we can not process your request now due to problems ...

I feel bad now, about suggesting to the OP to ask at the phpBB support forum, it is terrible for a new member, You can't use the PM service for sensitive details, until you have 5 posts,... plus the posts are moderated, so you have to wait, for a moderator to approve, etc,....
@sklerder

pedigree posted about the sfsdiag tool at least here, for a similar problem.

This : is great for checking some things, including if SFS is really down or not, thanks.
https://www.stopforumspam.com/forum/vie … 039#p48039

Offline

#13 2018-04-11 1:51 am

pedigree
uıɐbɐ ʎɐqǝ ɯoɹɟ pɹɐoqʎǝʞ ɐ buıʎnq ɹǝʌǝu ɯ,ı
From: New Zealand
Registered: 2008-04-16
Posts: 7,054

Re: Unfortunately we can not process your request now due to problems ...

i have a report that something is happening at 5.25 EDT each day, something that results in the load balancers evicting both web servers.  I'm trying to see if this also results in the API servers being evicted as well

Offline

#14 2018-04-13 2:23 pm

Papa Parrot
Member
From: Mexico
Registered: 2011-08-19
Posts: 1,826
Website

Re: Unfortunately we can not process your request now due to problems ...

Thanks pedigree,  Yesterday, at 5:15 EDT to 5:30 EDT,  I tried using the  sfsdiag tool , mentioned here:
https://www.stopforumspam.com/forum/vie … 039#p48039 , I installed it to one of my fluxBB forums, ... any way, connectivity was good, except 1 time , actually pretty close to 5:25, (my clock may not be perect), any way, 1 time I got a "not found" error, but it was only brief, when I tried again, 30 seconds later, it did connect,...  so I don't think it is a issue, related to this.
@RobLatour
Have you tried the "sfsdiag tool", mentioned in the previous posts ?, what does it show ?
Do you have full ssh access to your site/server ?  Some hosting services have configurations on the servers that could be causing the problem as well,  one important thing:

allow_url_fopen = 1

You can use your :

/admin_statistics.php?action=phpinfo

Where it says "core", allow_url_fopen should be on,... ?  If it isn't, try setting it to on and see if the problem still occurs.
===edited, NOTE:
When I installed php,maria data base, etc, and then the fluxbb forum, it worked ok, but when I added the
mod I use there, similar to you, it said it could not connect to SFS data base, when I looked at the "allow_url" setting ,it was OFF, by default, my thoughts are maybe the same for you, Have you checked that ?
====== end edit=====
================
There is no problem , trying to trouble shoot this here, if you can not get any help from RMcGirr83 at phpBB forum,... The easiest thing, if he is willing, and you, would be to give him access to your site/hosting/server, and let him look at your configuration first hand,
  There are also members here with enough experience that they can help tell you step by step, what logs to look at, etc, but it can get complicated, ...
Have you contacted the support people for your hosting ?, some times they can help, and they do have access to everything, sadly most hosting companies are very weak on giving good support, which is why I started hosting my self, on my own servers, but that is another topic,...
  Any way, for now this is all from me. Keep us posted, ...this is not the first time someone has had problems with this phpBB extension, and it would useful to have more details on how the problem is solved, on various hosts/servers, so please do keep us posted.
====================== edited =====
I do have a couple of phpBB boards, but they are outdated : phpBB 3.0.10  and I was not able to use this extension, I use ZBBLOCK, to keep most of the spam bots out, but saddly ZBBLOCK is kind of out of date as well,
There is some more on that here:
https://www.stopforumspam.com/forum/vie … 922#p48922
Or questions about it could be addressed here, (I guess) :http://zb-block.net/zbf/
In any event , it is pretty effective in blocking spammers, as a alternative to the SFS extension, for phpBB.

Offline

#15 2018-04-13 11:49 pm

Papa Parrot
Member
From: Mexico
Registered: 2011-08-19
Posts: 1,826
Website

Re: Unfortunately we can not process your request now due to problems ...

Apology, just checked, and the allow_url_fopen setting does not seem to effect  just checking a registrar , against
the data base, what it does effect is if any any data is submitted, ....it must be on in order to submit data.

Offline

#16 2018-04-14 12:06 am

sklerder
Member
Registered: 2012-10-11
Posts: 336
Website

Re: Unfortunately we can not process your request now due to problems ...

Hello !

As far as I remember, "allow_url_fopen" is of one the methods to handle GET or PUT requests.
Concerning SFS, this function can be used to query the API or to submit a new record to the API.

This capability may be on (needed if curl support is disabled) or off (if curl support is enabled).
At least, one of the two must be on, whether to query or to submit (and the adequate method must be chosen regarding their activation, that's why it's useful to know which one is working).

Please correct me if I'm wrong ...

Last edited by sklerder (2018-04-14 5:40 pm)

Offline

#17 2018-04-14 1:24 am

RobLatour
Member
Registered: 2018-04-02
Posts: 14

Re: Unfortunately we can not process your request now due to problems ...

I went into my phpbb site as an administrator, clicked on the 'System' tab, in the menu bar to the left under 'General Tasks' I clicked on 'PHP information', and on that screen there was a value for 'allow_url_fopen' and to the right of that it said under 'LOCAL VALUE' 'On' and under 'MASTER VALUE' 'On'. So it seems to already be set as required.

Also, there are many curl options, but none mention wrapping - here is what is listed:

curl
cURL support    enabled
cURL Information    7.38.0
Age    3
Features
AsynchDNS    No
CharConv    No
Debug    No
GSS-Negotiate    No
IDN    Yes
IPv6    Yes
krb4    No
Largefile    Yes
libz    Yes
NTLM    Yes
NTLMWB    Yes
SPNEGO    No
SSL    Yes
SSPI    No
TLS-SRP    No
Protocols    dict, file, ftp, ftps, gopher, http, https, imap, imaps, pop3, pop3s, rtsp, smtp, smtps, telnet, tftp
Host    i686-pc-linux-gnu
SSL Version    OpenSSL/0

Offline

#18 2018-04-14 5:43 pm

sklerder
Member
Registered: 2012-10-11
Posts: 336
Website

Re: Unfortunately we can not process your request now due to problems ...

Hello.

I modified my post (wrapping was not the term to search, but support).

cURL support is enabled on your server, so it should work (either with cURL or allow_url_fopen).

Offline

#19 2018-04-14 6:21 pm

Papa Parrot
Member
From: Mexico
Registered: 2011-08-19
Posts: 1,826
Website

Re: Unfortunately we can not process your request now due to problems ...

Thanks Slerder,  Now, on this thread, some one else jumps in claiming SFS is down, and was down yesterday,
https://www.phpbb.com/customise/db/exte … 11#p628311
But the guy/gal gives absolutely zero details, on how they can "confirm" this,.....

Offline

#20 2018-04-14 9:57 pm

sklerder
Member
Registered: 2012-10-11
Posts: 336
Website

Re: Unfortunately we can not process your request now due to problems ...

Hello Papa Parrot !

Well, on my side, no issue :
All detected spammers have been correctly reported (would it be today, yesterday or days before) with SpamBarrier (and when they are not reported, I know why they aren't).

Wouldn't it be an issue with the phpBB plugin ?
Can/May you ask for logs about this issue on phpBB ?

My latest stats with SpamBarrier (FluxBB forum) :

Date     Total     HoneyPot     SFS     DNSBL
01/04/2018    37    37    0    0
02/04/2018    39    39    0    0
03/04/2018    50    50    0    0
04/04/2018    39    39    0    0
05/04/2018    35    35    0    0
06/04/2018    48    48    0    0
07/04/2018    29    29    0    0
08/04/2018    27    27    0    0
09/04/2018    31    31    0    0
10/04/2018    21    21    0    0
11/04/2018    39    39    0    0
12/04/2018    35    35    0    0
13/04/2018    38    38    0    0
14/04/2018    29    29    0    0

Feel free to publish my statistics if needed (and if needed, I can provide a screen capture smile).
Seen from my Web Service Provider (located in France, may be useful), no issue ...

Last edited by sklerder (2018-04-14 10:10 pm)

Offline

#21 2018-04-14 11:25 pm

Papa Parrot
Member
From: Mexico
Registered: 2011-08-19
Posts: 1,826
Website

Re: Unfortunately we can not process your request now due to problems ...

Thanks again,

---snip--I can provide a screen capture ---snip---

I don't think that is necessary,
What you shared here, confirms SFS is not down, for other software (fluxBB),
In the thread I referred to, the person did post a screen shot, it does show the extension thinks SFS is down,and gives the error message,"Stop Forum Spam was down, registration allowed",  I wish it was text pasted into code boxes, it would be easier, but at a glance they all look like spambots, I checked the first one,
https://www.stopforumspam.com/search/185.100.87.207

Results

Found 1000 entries for "185.100.87.207"

,
Goes to show again, if SFS was really down, Friday, april 13, then how did these get submitted ?
https://www.stopforumspam.com/evidence/168098595
=======================================
To see the screen shot:
https://www.phpbb.com/customise/db/exte … 36#p628336

Interesting, that a different server/hosting company, but phpBB and this extension are the one thing they have in common.

Offline

#22 2018-04-18 12:30 am

Papa Parrot
Member
From: Mexico
Registered: 2011-08-19
Posts: 1,826
Website

Re: Unfortunately we can not process your request now due to problems ...

I wanted to check this out "first hand", so I installed the phpBB 3.2.2 on my server, and the SFS extension phpBB
3.1 Stop Forum Spam by RMcGirr83

But I could not duplicate the problem, every thing works fine with the extension, if a someone/something registers and they or it is listed in the data base, they get blocked, the registration is not accepted.
If they are not listed in the data base, they can proceed and register just fine.
Also, the posts made by a new member are moderated, if they are spam, in the moderation "bin" , there is
a button "report to Stop Forum Spam", if that is selected the username, e-mail and IP are submitted to the data base, no evidence included, I would like to look into changing that , so evidence is included, but later when I have time.  If any one else is willing or would like to help me test this, please do, I have 2 test members I created, and it seems to work fine.
  http://www.elchanate.org/parrotforum/phpBB3/index.php

Offline

#23 2018-04-18 1:24 pm

Old Dragon
Member
Registered: 2012-11-25
Posts: 196

Re: Unfortunately we can not process your request now due to problems ...

My forum is phpBB 3.2.2 and I have been using this extension for over a year without any issues. I don't use the report option because I prefer to add evidence and it's not a problem to do it manually because so few spammers actually get through the security to attempt to post. I have just noticed that I need to update the extension, mine is still on version 1.1.8, so once I've updated I will report back if I find any problems that weren't there before.


Spammers can all go feck themselves. With a cactus. A large one. With two branches.  Sideways
SEO = Spam Emitting Organisation

Offline

#24 2018-04-18 1:29 pm

Old Dragon
Member
Registered: 2012-11-25
Posts: 196

Re: Unfortunately we can not process your request now due to problems ...

If any one else is willing or would like to help me test this, please do, I have 2 test members I created, and it seems to work fine.

I have just registered, no problems.


Spammers can all go feck themselves. With a cactus. A large one. With two branches.  Sideways
SEO = Spam Emitting Organisation

Offline

#25 2018-04-18 3:11 pm

Papa Parrot
Member
From: Mexico
Registered: 2011-08-19
Posts: 1,826
Website

Re: Unfortunately we can not process your request now due to problems ...

Thanks, I saw that just now.

I don't use the report option because I prefer to add evidence and it's not a problem to do it manually because so few spammers actually get through the security to attempt to post.

Actually I just finished writing a PM to the author, RMcGirr83, mentioning that would be a nice feature, same for me I prefer including evidence, My suggestion was to make it where one could select all of the post or just part of it, and include that as evidence, ... maybe in future versions.
  In relation to this topic, it appears to me the problems the OP is having are more related to their hosting/server, and it is not the extension,  there are a couple of threads on the phpBB forum, and 1 thing they have in common, the hosting does not allow ssh access,  and to be honest I don't see how the extension could be properly installed and configured if one does not have real ssh access.  Not having ssh access would make it
really hard, or impossible to trouble shoot, the only way I can see would be with help from the hosting support, where they should have techs that have the kind of access needed.

Offline

Board footer

Powered by FluxBB

Close
Close