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Patch reliability is unclear, but widespread attacks make patching prudent. Go ahead and patch, but watch out for potential problems. |
Just received multiple messages reading, “Your access to this site has been limited by the site owner”
Looks like Woody has been working hard with Wordfence overnight.
He has blocked a large number of our VPN’s servers that I have been using to connect to the site.
Moving forward it looks as if I will have extremely limited access to Woody’s site.
You are being blocked because your IP addresses issued by the VPN are dirty (have been used for spamming, etc). Please read through this thread for an explanation.
I do work day and night, but nevermind.
My guess is that your VPN got hit by a bunch of creeps overnight.
I am pleased that AskWoody is diligent in keeping the site as secure as it is useful even though this entails some inconvenience for me. It is my experience that an increasing number of websites have begun to block access when a VPN is involved. This includes some financial ones that I would most want to access with a VPN from a “public wifi” location. My guess is that in another year a VPN is going to be nearly useless for any serious work for me but still useful for some internet shopping.
I use NordVPN and had to try six different servers to gain access to the Woody site just now because of Wordfence.
Did not have a similar problems with my bank, credit card companies, Newegg, Amazon, etc.
As a result, I will probably be visiting the Woody site less often.
Paul
No VPN – just a normal British Telecom IP address. I have tried it with four different IP addresses, all with th same message (attached). Strangely, I can post here, but cannot start a new question/tread in the Windows 1909 forum.
Cheers
Chris
Win 10 Pro x64 Group A
This is for one of the ‘manager‘s to sort out within Wordfence.
Your IP is clean, probably an IP typo when dealing with a toxic IP
Passed this on to the relevant staff.
We use a VPN to encrypt our internet traffic.
Over recent days it has become increasing more difficult to gain access to the AskWoody forums site without having to try numerous servers run by our VPN due to the site’s use of Wordfence.
The only other site that we have been having similar problems gaining access to is one of the drug stores that is offering Covid vaccinations.
As a result, we will be limiting our participation in AskWoody Forums moving forward.
It is a matter of aggravation vs. benefit.
We use a VPN to encrypt our internet traffic.
Over recent days it has become increasing more difficult to gain access to the AskWoody forums site without having to try numerous servers run by our VPN due to the site’s use of Wordfence.
The only other site that we have been having similar problems gaining access to is one of the drug stores that is offering Covid vaccinations.
As a result, we will be limiting our participation in AskWoody Forums moving forward.
It is a matter of aggravation vs. benefit.
People here think it’s super good to deny you access based on Wordfence’s unprofessional behavior.
The whole world propagates the use of VPN, only here you will be denied the use. That only makes using the internet more unsafe !!
The so-called dangerous IP lists are simply not maintained, they are polluted with old data, while Wordfence has a dubious reputation for security. At the same time, cookies, trackers and fingerprints are actively maintained.
Why?
Susan
We are not disputing that, WordFence is a reputable company and that their software is maintained.
And we are not disputing that, attackers use obfuscation and that the actions we are taking to hide our tracks are also the same patterns that attackers use.
We are simply saying that WordFence is an impediment to our using your site.
The primary reason we use a VPN is to encrypt our web traffic between our computers and the servers of our VPN. Our cable television/internet service provider clearly states in their terms of service that they monitor our traffic in order to push targeted advertising to our equipment.
But we question the value of WordFence in defending your site.
We were using one our VPN’s server in Norway for a number of months while gaining access to the AskWoody site. Then one day we were blocked from entrance by WordFence.
It took a minute or at most two to regain access to the AskWoody by simply trying two or three of our VPN’s other servers in different countries. We are now gaining access to your site via a server in Cyprus.
I am sure that attackers, with nominal skills, can use the same approach – bring into question the value of WordFence in defending your site.
We spend a significant amount of time scoring the internet as part of normal business activity and have not run into another site that blocks our traffic similar to the way WordFence does. From time to time we are blocked from a site because the owner does not conduct business in the country where our VPN’s server is located. An example is CVS pharmacy that does no provide COVID vaccinations outside of the United States.
WordFence also looks for patterns of attacks, so if there is someone attempting to do brute force, SQL injections, etc, so mere IP address alone is not the only protection. I apologize but unfortunately WordFence is the recommended firewall for our site from our vendors. I don’t have an alternative, unfortunately.
Susan Bradley Patch Lady/Prudent patcher
Using a VPN from your home / office is of very little value because the connection you are using is trustworthy – it’s your connection.
Using a VPN when travelling has some benefit if you use free / public wifi as these can be compromised.
Using a VPN to connect to home / office when travelling is good security.
Using a VPN to keep your web surfing private is probably a waste of time these days as most sites, certainly important ones like mail and banking, use SSL. With SSL your data is encrypted from your machine to the remote site and back. A VPN will prevent your ISP finding out what sites you have visited, but the VPN provider still knows.
cheers, Paul
Whether VPN is good, bad or indifferent, that is what I use for working from home at NASA, because that’s how NASA likes it. Maybe they know something about VPN that others might not?
Ex-Windows user (Win. 98, XP, 7); since mid-2017 using also macOS. Presently on Monterey 12.15 & sometimes running also Linux (Mint).
MacBook Pro circa mid-2015, 15" display, with 16GB 1600 GHz DDR3 RAM, 1 TB SSD, a Haswell architecture Intel CPU with 4 Cores and 8 Threads model i7-4870HQ @ 2.50GHz.
Intel Iris Pro GPU with Built-in Bus, VRAM 1.5 GB, Display 2880 x 1800 Retina, 24-Bit color.
macOS Monterey; browsers: Waterfox "Current", Vivaldi and (now and then) Chrome; security apps. Intego AV
I’m all ears if you have a better solution for WordPress.
Susan Bradley Patch Lady/Prudent patcher
VPN’s offer the possibility of a safer and more private internet connections
They don’t
Prevent you going to dodgy /phishing sites.
Downloading malware.
Sending your money to scammers.
Prevent your browsing being tracked.
They do
Protect you from man in the middle attacks on public wifi.
Prevent you interacting with some sites.
Slow your browsing.
As a client / site visitor, they are of little value.
As a service provider – remote access etc – they provide protection to your infrastructure from all and sundry on the internet.
cheers, Paul
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