This does create the feeling I am not wanted around here

[Snowhog]

The issue with the Falkon browser and blocking by ZBBlock has been resolved. Anyone using Falkon should no longer be blocked just for using Falkon. That said, it doesn't mean that one can't still be blocked when using Falkon, as nefarious content within the URL being served can still trigger a blocking rule.

[claydoh]

When I've had this trouble, which snowhog has kindly sorted for me several times, there was no message, just "error 503". I suspect using Tapatalk might cause this; it just says variations on "network error", and after a few attempts to connect, some characteristic of your connection is blacklisted altogether so that when you get to a browser the message is not displayed.

I can corroborate the lack of error messaging when this has happened to me. VPN services were involved often, which are of course oft used by spammers. But not always. Sometimes my mobile IP woukd trigger it. I use tapatalk, but don't recall noticing a relation between it triggering the anti-spam, specifically.

[jlittle]

I totally don't see any problem with that protection message.
If a person is confronted with this message, and he is able to read,
he gets the necessary instructions on what to do next.

IMO, they're unwarranted aspersions about male persons' ability to read, and follow instructions.

When I've had this trouble, which snowhog has kindly sorted for me several times, there was no message, just "error 503". I suspect using Tapatalk might cause this; it just says variations on "network error", and after a few attempts to connect, some characteristic of your connection is blacklisted altogether so that when you get to a browser the message is not displayed.

[jglen490]

Paranoia strikes deep ... etc. And the rest of that particular song.

[Goeroeboeroe]

I run a forum myself. After the forum once was completely spammed with the worst kind of hardcore porn, I also installed protection. I agree that's a bit unfriendly, but seeing some hardcore porn as answer on your question about html is probably much more unfriendly for most of the people.
Like it or not, but you need to have some kind of protection if you run a forum.
You've bad luck if the software blocks you, but I think it's a bit unjustified to make it look like that happens on a lot of visitors/members here.

[mbohets]

You are quite right Bings, in addition the ban that had been placed on my account was lifted.
So for me personally the sun has come out, 'I can see all obstacles in my way'.

But I have a concern.
My concern is for others .
If the algorithm that selected me as 'persona non grata' has performed its mechanical duties in the same way on others.
Who are they, how many of them are there, do they understand what happened to them and why?
Does anyone really care, should they be encouraged to move on, move elsewhere,
is this the wrong sort of place for them?
Should there be a line of appeal?

Are we looking for exclusion or inclusion?

Do you realise that without access to this forum you have no connection to the information here or to the folks who wrote this.
A blank page gives no right of appeal.

Please note I have been a member of this forum for many years. In the main my concern is for others.

If, as we have discovered, it is possible to be banned for using the wrong browser, are there other grey areas?
Is there anyone capable or willing to review this matter?

I cannot stress sufficiently that it is not enough to write this matter off as 'these things will happen from time to time'.
Kubuntu was and should be better than that.

I totally don't see any problem with that protection message.
If a person is confronted with this message, and he is able to read,
he gets the necessary instructions on what to do next (= contact the forum admins as instructed in the message)
Surely people should understand that unfortunately, IT security is very much needed these days.

[Snowhog]

If, as we have discovered, it is possible to be banned for using the wrong browser, are there other grey areas?
Is there anyone capable or willing to review this matter?

I cannot stress sufficiently that it is not enough to write this matter off as 'these things will happen from time to time'.
Kubuntu was and should be better than that.

Speaking personally, you are being both unfair and a tad harsh.

We (KFN) have the absolute right to protect this site. I don't think you appreciate the absolute nightmare we, specifically me, were having cleaning up KFN from posts by spammers and other non-friendly ilk, prior to discovering and implementing the protection that ZBBlock affords. It was BAD!

And I would offer that I doubt you, or any one else, can point to another forum on the 'Net that is as responsive to concerns by it's members than KFN is. I practically live here. I very much care about the experience that members here have. But I simply can't please everyone all the time. But I try.

[Snowhog]

I need to stress here, that being banned by ZBBlock; our site protection script; isn't the same thing as being banned by KFN; by us (Administrators).

[bobbicat]

The settings were changed, you can now access the forum with Falkon.

You are quite right Bings, in addition the ban that had been placed on my account was lifted.
So for me personally the sun has come out, 'I can see all obstacles in my way'.

But I have a concern.
My concern is for others .
If the algorithm that selected me as 'persona non grata' has performed its mechanical duties in the same way on others.
Who are they, how many of them are there, do they understand what happened to them and why?
Does anyone really care, should they be encouraged to move on, move elsewhere,
is this the wrong sort of place for them?
Should there be a line of appeal?

Are we looking for exclusion or inclusion?

Do you realise that without access to this forum you have no connection to the information here or to the folks who wrote this.
A blank page gives no right of appeal.

Please note I have been a member of this forum for many years. In the main my concern is for others.

If, as we have discovered, it is possible to be banned for using the wrong browser, are there other grey areas?
Is there anyone capable or willing to review this matter?

I cannot stress sufficiently that it is not enough to write this matter off as 'these things will happen from time to time'.
Kubuntu was and should be better than that.

[Bings]

The settings were changed, you can now access the forum with Falkon.

[bobbicat]

It is only by bloody mindedness and stubborn refusal to be excluded by what turns out to be a computer script, so I am told, that I appear here writing a post on a thread in these forums.

What I have to say might be upsetting to some but, really, it needs to be said. I make no apology for the comments I am about to make but I want to make it clear that I want the best for Kubuntu and yes for these forums too.

These forums were, are, will be, I hope, the first port of call for those using Kubuntu and in need of support.
I am concerned that this security script might have made everything within here so comfy and secure that nobody has noticed that there are Kubuntu users out there denied access and the hand of a friend when they need it most.
I suppose those excluded need to be counted as just accidental collateral damage, a necessary sacrifice when a fine though possibly flawed computer program becomes essential to the day to day running of things.
I fear that new users falling foul of the support system that is a part of this 'friendly Kubuntu' might decide it would be better to seek friendship of a better quality elsewhere.

There are quite a number of further comments I could and might one day make but for now I feel I have said enough.

Write me off as a crank who would be better off banned if you like, but think about this, if you can:
I would like the O.S. I use to be the best it can and the support it offers to also be available to all and better than adequate.

I use and have used Kubuntu almost for its entire existence because it does what I want and I am happy to pass that message on to whoever I encounter.

[woodsmoke]

Hi
this is not the problem in the thread but it is, I think, related.
When at the college I am now forced to use Google Chrome as a browser.
I have logged into Kubuntu forums and the login name and password are accepted.
Chrome then, later, autofills my name and when i click the password box the "stars" password is entered and I can then get into the forum.
I have NOT clicked the "remember me" box because the computer is an open computer in the lab but Chrome decided it is smarter than me and saves my password anyway.
HOWEVER,
as soon as I am in I get a popup box that says something to the effect of "you have already logged in and cannot get in because you are already logged in, please reload your browser."
I do that and the same message appears.
I repeat
I can do that many, many times and cannot seem to get into the forum.
HOWEVER...

If i then just 'click the tab" for the forum I am "in" with my forum name displayed, even though there is a popup saying that I cannot get into the forum.

So, this is, apparently, a situation of the absolute latest and greatest Chrome browser running on the latest version of windblows

...but the "forum script" ..."sees a problem" and posts a 'warning" and when the user does what the warning says a recurring loop happens which... does not really "do" anything because ...I can get into the forum even though it says that I cannot.

So, this is just a side comment about "the script" and not a criticism in any way.
woodsmoke

[dequire]

I had this problem as well, running Falkon. It's KDE's default browser. It should work here on these forums. The alternative would be to submit a bug report to Falkon, stating that it should work with KFN. That seems a bit awkward...

I submitted a ticket on this to KFN in the past.

[Snowhog]

I am tempted to add more, so being me I will...

Generally in the real world it is the responsibility of those providing web content to attempt to ensure that the content is visible on a range of browsers, rather than vis versa.

Falkon is a KDE browser available for most operating systems. This forum also has connections with KDE and Kubuntu so I thought maybe it would be relevant to post here.

This is the only site that has ever shut Falkon out for me.

I apologise if it was a mistake to post. I won't say any more about the matter.

Fair point. This site does have some bad security "features". Can get IP blocked for a few months if it decides and then by magic you're back.

To you both, but in general for any member who experiences an issue connecting to KFN.

We (KFN) us a protection script that protects sites running on PHP, which vBulletin does. It isn't fool-proof, and isn't perfect. No security application can be. But, it is very good and pretty easy to tweak when the need to do so arises. But if a tweak is indicated, I have to be notified by the affected member who is being blocked by the 403 FORBIDDEN page they see. That page has a clickable link that generates the trouble ticket (an email to us) and provides for you, the affected member, to include in your own words, what you were doing (specifics are a BIG help here) when the 403 page was presented. IF the trouble ticket isn't generated by the affected member, I'm not going to know that you are having a problem.

No one in KFN (the Administrators) is trying to make things difficult for our members. But we are doing what we feel is needed/necessary to protect both our members and KFN itself. We (KFN) used to deal with SPAM (and worse) on a daily basis, and the cleanup effort was taking more and more time to perform. When, in 2012, we installed and started using ZB-Block, that became a thing of the past. Do we still get SPAMMED? On occasion, but it is really rare.

So, again, if a member here does experience a problem connecting to us; sees the 403 FORBIDDEN page; please use the link in that displayed page to create the needed trouble ticket. You can be certain that I will receive and review those tickets and work to remedy the issue quickly.

As a final note: IF when attempting to connect to KFN you receive the dreaded 503 screen instead, you are hard blocked and no trouble ticket can be created. On those occasions, note the exact date/time and what you were doing when you get the 503. Send us an email, with that information, to: blockedATkubuntuforumsDOTnet (replace AT and DOT accordingly).

[Bings]

Generally in the real world it is the responsibility of those providing web content to attempt to ensure that the content is visible on a range of browsers, rather than vis versa.

Fair point. This site does have some bad security "features". Can get IP blocked for a few months if it decides and then by magic you're back.