Pendraken Miniatures Forum

Welcome => Forum Info => Topic started by: petercooman on 27 November 2016, 12:38:13 PM

Title: hacking attempt?
Post by: petercooman on 27 November 2016, 12:38:13 PM
I tried to post a topic just now, and everytime i click it says:

error occured

hacking attempt


?????????????????????????????
Title: Re: hacking attempt?
Post by: fsn on 27 November 2016, 01:21:20 PM
But you just managed to post this topic?

:(

Title: Re: hacking attempt?
Post by: FierceKitty on 27 November 2016, 01:28:07 PM
Maybe he stopped hacking and thrust instead?
Title: Re: hacking attempt?
Post by: petercooman on 27 November 2016, 01:58:04 PM
It only gives that error when I put an image link in my post apparently...
Title: Re: hacking attempt?
Post by: petercooman on 27 November 2016, 02:05:07 PM
Tried again to post pictures, and got this:

Database Error
Please try again. If you come back to this error screen, report the error to an administrator.
Title: Re: hacking attempt?
Post by: petercooman on 27 November 2016, 02:06:01 PM
And i changed the title of the topic, and by wonder it works. very strange
Title: Re: hacking attempt?
Post by: Leon on 27 November 2016, 03:16:20 PM
Interesting one, I'll pass it on to Matt and see if there's anything going on.  The 'Tale of 4 Gamers' thread was a database error as well, so maybe there's something we need to do in the admin section.
Title: Re: hacking attempt?
Post by: Lord Kermit of Birkenhead on 27 November 2016, 03:33:54 PM
I suspect you may need to archive a lot of the older stuff. Also look at the relationship tables they could have been corrupted.

IanS
Title: Re: hacking attempt?
Post by: Duke Speedy of Leighton on 27 November 2016, 04:29:20 PM
Just got a database error while attempting to add a reply to Fred's painting diary!
Title: Re: hacking attempt?
Post by: Duke Speedy of Leighton on 27 November 2016, 08:40:19 PM
And. Now a Hacking attempt!
Non-Pendraken board...
Title: Re: hacking attempt?
Post by: fred. on 27 November 2016, 09:43:05 PM
I just got a hacking attempt when trying to post to my painting dairy thread too.

It had an image link in it - but even taking this out doesn't help
Title: Re: hacking attempt?
Post by: fred. on 27 November 2016, 09:44:57 PM
I get a database error if I try to post a simple text reply to my Painting Diary thread too.   >:(
Title: Re: hacking attempt?
Post by: DFlynSqrl on 27 November 2016, 10:11:07 PM
Same here.  Tried to update my painting diary and got the hacking attempt.  Tried it a second time and it told me I had already posted that particular post.   ???
Title: Re: hacking attempt?
Post by: d_Guy on 27 November 2016, 10:11:40 PM
Just tried to post to Fred's painting thread also - no joy.

Got:

Database Error
Please try again. If you come back to this error screen, report the error to an administrator.
Title: Re: hacking attempt?
Post by: Techno on 28 November 2016, 06:59:05 AM
Same here,(for Fred's painting diary.).....Database error.
Haven't seen the 'hacking attempt' come up on any threads I've tried to post in......Yet.

Cheers - Phil
Title: Re: hacking attempt?
Post by: fred. on 28 November 2016, 07:43:18 AM
So are the problem threads all within the painting diaries board?

Might be worth trying to delete the last post or two from the tale of four gamers?
Title: Re: hacking attempt?
Post by: petercooman on 28 November 2016, 08:00:10 AM
Nope, i had it in the non pendraken board too
Title: Re: hacking attempt?
Post by: Norm on 28 November 2016, 01:18:29 PM
Peter, I can't reply to your statue scenery post - it says my connection is lost!
Title: Re: hacking attempt?
Post by: Techno on 28 November 2016, 01:32:46 PM
How strange.....I've just managed to post there, without any problem.  :-

Cheers - Phil.
Title: Re: hacking attempt?
Post by: Norm on 28 November 2016, 02:10:15 PM
So have I now! so no idea what that was all about.
Title: Re: hacking attempt?
Post by: fred. on 29 November 2016, 08:20:40 PM
Any technical updates on the problems posting to a few threads?

Do I need to start a new painting diary thread? I'm not sure I can cope with starting the 2017 one, while its still November  :o  :'(
Title: Re: hacking attempt?
Post by: Techno on 29 November 2016, 08:25:21 PM
It's got nothing to do with the back-slash not appearing........unless you hit backslash twice, is it ?

= one backslash which probably won't show (It hasn't, even though I've typed it in).........\ = 2 backslashes (and I bet only one will show in the preview and post.)......Yep..there's only one in the preview that shows.

Very peculiar....But something else that's a bit waffy.

Cheers - Phil
Title: Re: hacking attempt?
Post by: fred. on 29 November 2016, 09:16:00 PM
I think Ian is on the right lines with it being a database issue of some kind.

Within the admin pages do you have any options for rebuilding indexes, compressing tables, or similar stuff?

It may be something you need to get the host to deal with.

LAF use the same forum software as Pendraken, and their thread size and volume of data is much larger, and they currently run without issue. But a few years back they were having a lot of stability issues. Might be worth Leon dropping one of their admins a PM, as he is registered on LAF.
Title: Re: hacking attempt?
Post by: Leon on 29 November 2016, 09:24:31 PM
Matt's having a look at it at the moment, as he's got all the Admin logins and stuff.  Hopefully it is just a quick database cleanup or a new version upgrade, etc.  I'll post an update as soon as he gets back to me.
Title: Re: hacking attempt?
Post by: fred. on 29 November 2016, 09:30:56 PM
Great, hope he finds an easy fix.
Title: Re: hacking attempt?
Post by: Megamatman on 03 December 2016, 10:38:11 AM
The fix I'm applying today will resolve this issue. Just to reassure people, the 'hacking attempt' error has nothing to do with hacking - its a case of terrible error message text. It should say 'an unexpected error has occurred' or words to that effect.
Title: Re: hacking attempt?
Post by: Ithoriel on 03 December 2016, 12:01:18 PM
One of my favourite error messages (how geeky is that!) that I came across at work said,"I'm hit! I'm hit! Medic!!! (Replace this with something sensible before release)" :)

I told one of the development team how much it amused me and was disappointed to find that after the next update it said,"Input Error: remove apostrophes from input file and reload" :(
Title: Re: hacking attempt?
Post by: paulr on 03 December 2016, 07:46:03 PM
Quote from: Megamatman on 03 December 2016, 10:38:11 AM
The fix I'm applying today will resolve this issue. Just to reassure people, the 'hacking attempt' error has nothing to do with hacking - its a case of terrible error message text. It should say 'an unexpected error has occurred' or words to that effect.

When ever I see 'an unexpected error has occurred' I think, "If it is unexpected why do you have an error message for it" :-/
Title: Re: hacking attempt?
Post by: Duke Speedy of Leighton on 20 December 2016, 12:39:28 AM
Just got hacking attempt while trying to add to my Stick em in the eye thread...
Title: Re: hacking attempt?
Post by: d_Guy on 20 December 2016, 01:59:38 AM
Have been able to add posts and pics to two threads just now. In fact have been able to do so ever since I cleared out my browser data (at Leon's suggestion) - for some unknown reason, even after the flush, I first had to use a different browser to create a post, then everything worked again.
(That sounds more like magic - but that's what happened.)
Title: Re: hacking attempt?
Post by: petercooman on 24 December 2016, 02:44:28 PM
Just got a bunch of hacking attempts again while trying to post my finished french line regiment. Only worked when i changed the title...
Title: Re: hacking attempt?
Post by: Techno on 27 December 2016, 03:19:43 PM
Harumph!!

Just got a 'hacking attempt' when trying to start a new topic in 'chat and news'.

All I wanted to know was....Is there a 'proper' word to describe puffed, puffy or puff sleeves.
Want to see how I need to do the creases on a model........rather than guessing.

Cheers - Phil
Title: Re: hacking attempt?
Post by: Luddite on 27 December 2016, 04:07:05 PM
Quote from: Techno on 27 December 2016, 03:19:43 PM
Harumph!!

Just got a 'hacking attempt' when trying to start a new topic in 'chat and news'.

All I wanted to know was....Is there a 'proper' word to describe puffed, puffy or puff sleeves.
Want to see how I need to do the creases on a model........rather than guessing.

Cheers - Phil

Paned sleeves
Title: Re: hacking attempt?
Post by: Techno on 27 December 2016, 04:14:27 PM
Thanks, Lud !

Thanks, Ian, for doing the testing too.
Worked fine for me when I tried, just now.

Cheers - Phil

Title: Re: hacking attempt?
Post by: Lord Kermit of Birkenhead on 27 December 2016, 05:16:31 PM
No probs
Title: Re: hacking attempt?
Post by: O Dinas Powys on 01 January 2017, 04:26:25 PM
Getting it now when I try to start a new topic in fun stuff, but had no problem replying to the dragonmen release thread!

Happy New Year!

Meirion
Title: Re: hacking attempt?
Post by: O Dinas Powys on 01 January 2017, 04:57:04 PM
Quote from: O Dinas Powys on 01 January 2017, 04:26:25 PM
Getting it now when I try to start a new topic in fun stuff, but had no problem replying to the dragonmen release thread!

Happy New Year!

Meirion

Okay, after a bit of trial and error, it seems that putting an apostrophe in the Subject was causing the problem!
Title: Re: hacking attempt?
Post by: Techno on 01 January 2017, 07:56:50 PM
I get 'hacking attempt' in one of Will's threads, each time I try and post there  =)

Cheers - Phil
Title: Re: hacking attempt?
Post by: Duke Speedy of Leighton on 01 January 2017, 08:25:10 PM
Try changing the thread title as you do?
Title: Re: hacking attempt?
Post by: Techno on 01 January 2017, 08:29:45 PM
 :-\

I'll probably lose the whole thread, if I try that, Will.  :-[

Cheers - Phil
Title: Re: hacking attempt?
Post by: OldenBUA on 02 January 2017, 04:37:24 AM
As seen in the other thread.

No hacking attempt message when you use double apostrophes in the header if you want a single one.

But you need to add a second apostrophe when replying to a post with an apostrophe in the header as well, or you get the database error.

Backslashes will probably work the same way.

Confused? It's not that hard when you get the hang of it.  @-) @-) :-/

Oh, and a happy new year to you all.
Title: Re: hacking attempt?
Post by: Techno on 02 January 2017, 08:49:29 AM
Weird one, this morning...

Went to reply to Forbes' latest epic game report......got 'database error.'

Came out of that....went back to look for the thread....Couldn't find it in the list of most recent posts......OR.....Having gone into Fred's profile, and looked for his most recent posts.....Couldn't find it there either.

Has it disappeared ?

Cheers - Phil
Title: Re: hacking attempt?
Post by: fred. on 02 January 2017, 09:06:38 AM
Quote from: OldenBUA on 02 January 2017, 04:37:24 AM
No hacking attempt message when you use double apostrophes in the header if you want a single one.

But you need to add a second apostrophe when replying to a post with an apostrophe in the header as well, or you get the database error.

Backslashes will probably work the same way.


Good digging OldenBUA, I had determined that apostrophes in thread titles were bad news - but had't realised that doubling them up worked. But this is a pain for people to remember, so I would suggest avoiding apostrophes in thread titles.

This very much smacks of a software update somewhere - either in the forum software of the database software behind it. That is now rejecting content that was allowable before.
Title: Re: hacking attempt?
Post by: fred. on 02 January 2017, 09:10:49 AM
Quote from: Techno on 02 January 2017, 08:49:29 AM
Went to reply to Forbes' latest epic game report......got 'database error.'

I think this is because it is named Fred's 2016 Painting Diary in the Subject and the apostrophe is not liked by the forum software

Quote from: Techno on 02 January 2017, 08:49:29 AM
Came out of that....went back to look for the thread....Couldn't find it in the list of most recent posts......OR.....Having gone into Fred's profile, and looked for his most recent posts.....Couldn't find it there either.

I wonder if you just weren't going back far enough - it is on page 5 of my posts, and it would have been a fair way back on the Painting Diaries thread as that game was some time ago now.
Title: Re: hacking attempt?
Post by: OldenBUA on 02 January 2017, 10:56:43 AM
Sorry for the confusion created by posting in old threads.  :-[

Even though the small print said 'Nothing to see here'.  :D
Title: Re: hacking attempt?
Post by: OldenBUA on 02 January 2017, 11:00:20 AM
I agree that it's a bit of a pain, feels too much like work if you need to use double apostrophes.

But if it's all due to some update, maybe it can be rolled back?
Title: Re: hacking attempt?
Post by: fsn on 02 January 2017, 11:23:39 AM
Tried to post a new thread using apostrophe. Got "hacking attempt".

Tried again with double apostrophe, go "you've already posted this".

Neither appears on the forum from what I can see.  :(
Title: Re: hacking attempt?
Post by: OldenBUA on 02 January 2017, 11:35:03 AM
I think you do need to use the double apostrophes right from the start when you start a new thread. Otherwise you get the 'hacking attempt' error, and after that everything goes awry.
Title: Re: hacking attempt?
Post by: fred. on 02 January 2017, 11:52:32 AM
Quote from: OldenBUA on 02 January 2017, 11:35:03 AM
I think you do need to use the double apostrophes right from the start when you start a new thread. Otherwise you get the 'hacking attempt' error, and after that everything goes awry.

That would make sense.

Otherwise its too much to expect the person replying to remember to double up on apostrophes or other troublesome characters.

Quote from: fsn on 02 January 2017, 11:23:39 AM
Tried to post a new thread using apostrophe. Got "hacking attempt".

Tried again with double apostrophe, go "you've already posted this".

I've had this problem before - the double post check seems to be running before the hacking attempt code - and stops you from re-posting. I found that I had to copy the text, and start again. All in all quite a pain.
Title: Re: hacking attempt?
Post by: Techno on 02 January 2017, 02:14:31 PM
Quote from: fred. on 02 January 2017, 09:10:49 AM
I wonder if you just weren't going back far enough - it is on page 5 of my posts, and it would have been a fair way back on the Painting Diaries thread as that game was some time ago now.

I THINK this one should have been on first page of 'show the last posts of this person' on your personal profile, Forbes...as I didn't spot it on the forum, last night.
I'm probably cracking up, X_X

Cheers - Phil
Title: Re: hacking attempt?
Post by: OldenBUA on 02 January 2017, 02:30:46 PM
Quote from: Techno on 02 January 2017, 02:14:31 PM
I THINK this one should have been on first page of 'show the last posts of this person' on your personal profile, Forbes...as I didn't spot it on the forum, last night.
I'm probably cracking up, X_X

Cheers - Phil
Phil, that was just me posting in Fred's old 2016 painting diary. The one that he gave up on because of the error messages.

Quote from: fred. on 02 January 2017, 11:52:32 AM
Otherwise its too much to expect the person replying to remember to double up on apostrophes or other troublesome characters.

Sadly no. The double apostrophes get changed to a single one. So you need to insert a second one yourself.
Title: Re: hacking attempt?
Post by: Techno on 02 January 2017, 02:50:17 PM
Told you I was cracking up.  ;)
Cheers - Phil
Title: Re: hacking attempt?
Post by: Ithoriel on 02 January 2017, 03:27:01 PM
Quote from: OldenBUA on 02 January 2017, 02:30:46 PM
Sadly no. The double apostrophes get changed to a single one. So you need to insert a second one yourself.

Or we need to persuade people who want follow up of any sort to post Subjects without apostrophes. :)

"My 2017 Painting Diary by Fred" rather than "Fred's 2017 Painting Diary."

Or a change of forum software, one or the other.
Title: Re: hacking attempt?
Post by: Leon on 03 January 2017, 05:52:31 PM
I'll pass all this info on to Matt and see if it helps find the bug in the software.

Quote from: Ithoriel on 02 January 2017, 03:27:01 PM
Or a change of forum software, one or the other.

I'm not sure if we could keep all of the posts/threads intact with a chance of software, so it's not something we'd be looking to do.  Hopefully we can just fix this error and get things back to normal, as the SMF software is pretty solid and gets updates/support regularly.
Title: Re: hacking attempt?
Post by: Ithoriel on 03 January 2017, 11:31:04 PM
Quote from: Leon on 03 January 2017, 05:52:31 PM
I'll pass all this info on to Matt and see if it helps find the bug in the software.

I'm not sure if we could keep all of the posts/threads intact with a chance of software, so it's not something we'd be looking to do.  Hopefully we can just fix this error and get things back to normal, as the SMF software is pretty solid and gets updates/support regularly.

Sorry! A clumsily worded comment from me - that's what I meant by a change of forum software. i.e. changing the software so it went back to working as it used to.

On the other hand, if tweaking it so search worked better were possible that would be nice.
Title: Re: hacking attempt?
Post by: Techno on 08 January 2017, 01:30:34 PM
Is the 'Show unread posts since last visit' facility working properly ?  :-\

Just used it (my usual method of checking new posts) and nothing came up.
Had a look at 'the latest posts' list....and there were certainly a few there, that weren't there the last time I logged in...So they should have shown up, surely ?

Cheers - Phil.
Title: Re: hacking attempt?
Post by: Techno on 08 January 2017, 03:02:31 PM
Forget that.....Seems to be working fine again, now.

How peculiar.

Cheers - Phil
Title: Re: hacking attempt?
Post by: Techno on 09 January 2017, 08:04:56 AM
I can't get d-Guy's new thread to respond without an error report......I'm sure I'm doing what was advised, though.

Cheers  - Phil (Confused of Wales)

http://www.pendrakenforum.co.uk/index.php/topic,15371.msg223541.html#msg223541

Title: Re: hacking attempt?
Post by: Lord Kermit of Birkenhead on 09 January 2017, 09:18:39 AM
Think it's likewise for me, tried a reply - with one  ' - dbase error, added second and it told me I had already posted. Very odd, looks broke.
Title: Re: hacking attempt?
Post by: OldenBUA on 09 January 2017, 10:32:47 AM
All is explained in d_guy's thread. I hope. And yes, threads with an apostrophe in the subject are currently broken. They did work before but something has been changed that messes things up. Probably not only with apostrophes, it's just that they're the most used.
Title: Re: hacking attempt?
Post by: Ithoriel on 09 January 2017, 12:57:22 PM
An apostrophe is a field limiter in several of the computer systems I've used. I'm guessing this is the root of the problem here. Basically the forum software is reading single apostrophes as an instruction not punctuation.

Either it's smart enough to recognise the difference between paired apostrophes and single ones (some of the systems I've used are) or paired apostrophes "turn it on and turn it off again" or vice versa so don't trigger the problem.

Pretty much all of the systems had somewhere you could choose what characters were treated as instructions though finding where that was ... not always so simple!

Simplest solution meantime would seem to be be for people to avoid apostrophes in Subject lines.
Title: Re: hacking attempt?
Post by: Lord Kermit of Birkenhead on 09 January 2017, 01:22:20 PM
I agree. most keyboards have a reverse apostrophe on the top left hand side. I think this needs a use of the fn or control key to reach, but is ignored by the program controls, in Access at least.

IanS
Title: Re: hacking attempt?
Post by: Matt J on 09 January 2017, 01:40:52 PM
did this post
Title: Re: hacking attempt?
Post by: Matt J on 09 January 2017, 01:41:15 PM
ok that works now then
Title: Re: hacking attempt?
Post by: d_Guy on 28 March 2017, 01:11:11 PM
Again getting these errors while trying to respond to urbancohort in the photo thread.
Tried stripping the apostrophe from title, then ALL the special characters - no joy.
The other strange behavior was in editing the title my space bar no longer worked!
Title: Re: hacking attempt?
Post by: Duke Speedy of Leighton on 28 March 2017, 01:12:57 PM
There are two apostrophes on that one...
Title: Re: hacking attempt?
Post by: d_Guy on 28 March 2017, 01:18:55 PM
Yup! Thanks!  Just saw you're message crawl! Missed the first apostrophe - duh! :)
Still can't type new character (not just space bar) in title - don't know if this is a new issue or not.
Title: Re: hacking attempt?
Post by: Shedman on 13 March 2018, 09:21:13 AM
I'm getting the Hacking Attempt when I try and reply to a post

Any advice?
Title: Re: hacking attempt?
Post by: Shedman on 13 March 2018, 09:23:21 AM
My advice is to remove ' from the title then it works

Alan
Title: Re: hacking attempt?
Post by: toxicpixie on 13 March 2018, 10:00:55 AM
It's a pain, my painting thread title was set way back "before the update" and coped fine with an apostrophe...

Now I have to forget to change it when I post, get the error, go back, copy my post to tool tip, refresh the page, paste the message back in, remove the apostrophe then post :D
Title: Re: hacking attempt?
Post by: Womble67 on 13 March 2018, 11:34:30 AM
Quote from: toxicpixie on 13 March 2018, 10:00:55 AM
It's a pain, my painting thread title was set way back "before the update" and coped fine with an apostrophe...

Now I have to forget to change it when I post, get the error, go back, copy my post to tool tip, refresh the page, paste the message back in, remove the apostrophe then post :D

I tried to post on your thread yesterday but was unable

Take care

Andy
Title: Re: hacking attempt?
Post by: toxicpixie on 13 March 2018, 05:21:06 PM
You need to knock the apostrophe out the title - I should probably start a new thread, half the links are duff and that apostrophe is an arse!
Title: Re: hacking attempt?
Post by: Leon on 13 March 2018, 05:29:51 PM
Quote from: toxicpixie on 13 March 2018, 05:21:06 PM
You need to knock the apostrophe out the title - I should probably start a new thread, half the links are duff and that apostrophe is an arse!

I've edited the original thread title and removed the apostrophe so any subsequent replies will have it removed it as well.
Title: Re: hacking attempt?
Post by: toxicpixie on 13 March 2018, 05:38:22 PM
Cheers Leon!

Guess I should paint more Pendraken stuff to put on now :D
Title: Re: hacking attempt?
Post by: Leon on 13 March 2018, 05:41:26 PM
Quote from: toxicpixie on 13 March 2018, 05:38:22 PM
Guess I should paint more Pendraken stuff to put on now :D

:-bd