Kontera Adaware
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Kontera Adaware
Last evening, I noticed a guest was browsing my forum topics. Found that kind of strange as guests are not allowed to view topics. I immediately checked the IP address 52.71.155.178 nat-service.aws.kontera.com.Further checks revealed that Kontera has been identified as a bot/spider. Kontera is considered adware and Kontera is known to install onto computers without user consent, creating registry entries and temporary files in order to spam advertise.
I banned the IP address 52.71.155.178
Checked forum permissions in AP Guests have no rights.
Checked AP messages and emails >contact Form" field, Activate was set to "YES" I selected: Activate:"NO"
Checked AP > Users & Groups > Users > Users Options
Allow members to unsubscribe: the field was selected for "NO"
I have 2 questions: Did I take (Ban) the right action, or was I over reacting?
How do these spam advertisers get into forums to begin with?
Any help or further actions would be appreciated.
I banned the IP address 52.71.155.178
Checked forum permissions in AP Guests have no rights.
Checked AP messages and emails >contact Form" field, Activate was set to "YES" I selected: Activate:"NO"
Checked AP > Users & Groups > Users > Users Options
Allow members to unsubscribe: the field was selected for "NO"
I have 2 questions: Did I take (Ban) the right action, or was I over reacting?
How do these spam advertisers get into forums to begin with?
Any help or further actions would be appreciated.
Last edited by Norton on June 4th 2016, 5:32 pm; edited 1 time in total
Re: Kontera Adaware
If you have the permissions set up correctly, guests will see the log in page only even if the forum shows they viewing areas not visible to guests.
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Re: Kontera Adaware
The forum is set up so guests have no view or reading rights. In the AP panel guest always show as viewing the Forum Index. This particular visitor/guest was shown in the AP to be in one of the forum topics, this is what I don't understand. Was I being overly cautious?
Re: Kontera Adaware
It will say that, but they will only see the log in page.
Lost Founder's Password |Forum's Utilities |Report a Forum |General Rules |FAQ |Tricks & Tips
You need one post to send a PM.
You need one post to send a PM.
When your topic has been solved, ensure you mark the topic solved.
Never post your email in public.
Re: Kontera Adaware
Thanks! But I'm still confused. The only topic visitors/guest can view is For Sale and Wanted.
It was the IP address and Who the party was that concerned me.
It was the IP address and Who the party was that concerned me.
Re: Kontera Adaware
Do you allow guests to post? If no, they can not add anything to your forum.
Lost Founder's Password |Forum's Utilities |Report a Forum |General Rules |FAQ |Tricks & Tips
You need one post to send a PM.
You need one post to send a PM.
When your topic has been solved, ensure you mark the topic solved.
Never post your email in public.
Re: Kontera Adaware
Guest are not allowed to post, they can only view Items For Sale/wanted.
I guess we will never get to the bottom of this, or what or how the spam bot was up to viewing forum topics as observed from the AP.
Thanks!
I guess we will never get to the bottom of this, or what or how the spam bot was up to viewing forum topics as observed from the AP.
Thanks!
Re: Kontera Adaware
Let me try to explain it again:
Guests can not see a hidden area, but they can see the link to it. They go to the page, but they only see the log in page. In the administration panel, it shows they are viewing a hidden area.
Guests can not see a hidden area, but they can see the link to it. They go to the page, but they only see the log in page. In the administration panel, it shows they are viewing a hidden area.
Lost Founder's Password |Forum's Utilities |Report a Forum |General Rules |FAQ |Tricks & Tips
You need one post to send a PM.
You need one post to send a PM.
When your topic has been solved, ensure you mark the topic solved.
Never post your email in public.
Re: Kontera Adaware
That's true if the forum categories are visible, they are not. Visitors/guest can only view the For Sale and Wanted forum; nothing else in the main forum or sub forums. My question still stands unresolved how did IP address 52.71.155.178 Kontera Adaware obtain access to main forum and browse forum topics.
Re: Kontera Adaware
I am not sure why it says it was looking at hidden parts of your forum but i can say if your forum is hidden to all guests then it is not really looking in there it maybe that if its a spy bot then its just showing this to fool you.
I am 100% sure that no one other then our team in the head office can see in your forum if its set to members only.
also if you look in your ACP when your looking at the homepage it can show your looking at the who's online or even a forum you last looked at so maybe when it looks at the log in page it could be showing at looking in a forum and its not really looking.
Also.....
If your forum was not hid at some point and google has a link to this page / forum and you click on it it will take you to that link but show the login page in its place.
I am 100% sure that no one other then our team in the head office can see in your forum if its set to members only.
also if you look in your ACP when your looking at the homepage it can show your looking at the who's online or even a forum you last looked at so maybe when it looks at the log in page it could be showing at looking in a forum and its not really looking.
Also.....
If your forum was not hid at some point and google has a link to this page / forum and you click on it it will take you to that link but show the login page in its place.
Re: Kontera Adaware
SLGray Ape Thanks for your input. I did see them in the forum from the admin panel. I'm confident that took the right action, that was ban the IP. I often see Google... bots but they are searching the Forum Index. Better safe than sorry.
Marked solved by member
Marked solved by member
Re: Kontera Adaware
You are so welcome have a great weekend.
From APE And TheForumotion Team
From APE And TheForumotion Team
Problem solved & topic archived.
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