Jock can't log in.

**Jock Scot** · 9th September 10, 01:43 AM

I am back! No idea what went on, but it seems that I got caught in the cross fire in the never ending battle with the spammers. Onwards and upwards.

Thank you Steve, and Richard.

**Steve Ashton** · 9th September 10, 02:23 AM

Jock, it is good you are back.

To insure you could get back to us I went through all the IP addresses you have ever logged in with. Your Internet service provider uses a dynamic IP address so there were about 142 addresses.
I did find one that was the same as a known spammer. So I unbanned that IP.
If that spammer attempts to come back we have other ways to keep him out.
This may not totally fix your problem as I notice that you travel and log in from different places. Whenever someone uses a wifi connection from a hotel, internet cafe etc. there is always a chance that a spammer has also used that same wifi via a proxy.

But I'm glad to see you back with us.

**Jock Scot** · 9th September 10, 03:33 AM

Oh gosh, where have I been!!!!!!!!

**Tobus** · 9th September 10, 04:07 AM

Originally Posted by Steve Ashton

Would everyone please note.

At any time you experience a problem logging into the site......

Scroll down to the bottom of any page of the forum.
In the bottom right corner you will see some buttons.
The first button says "Contact Us".
Clicking that will send an error message directly to me via email.
The email will include your current IP address.
I will then check that with our banned IP address list.

This is the best method of contacting me if you are having any problems. It is done via email so you do not have to be logged in to use it.

Steve, when I happen to catch an IP address that's banned, it won't let me get to the forum at all. It just gives me a page that says my IP address is banned by the administrator, and won't let me even see the forum, much less get to it. So I'm not sure this method of using the "contact us" button will work, since that button is not available when a person finds their IP address banned.

**Jock Scot** · 9th September 10, 04:13 AM

Originally Posted by Tobus

Steve, when I happen to catch an IP address that's banned, it won't let me get to the forum at all. It just gives me a page that says my IP address is banned by the administrator, and won't let me even see the forum, much less get to it. So I'm not sure this method of using the "contact us" button will work, since that button is not available when a person finds their IP address banned.

Yes indeed, that was precisely one of the problems I had.

**piperdown** · 9th September 10, 08:00 AM

I was in Steve's shop last week for hose and we got to talking re: spammers. He told me that he literally spends hours per day keeping the hounds at bay so we can enjoy a spam free experience at X-marks.

I had no idea how much behind the scenes work was needed.

I think kudo's are in order for the chief.

**ali8780** · 13th September 10, 01:56 PM

Jock,

The day you are officially banned from Xmarks is the day I wholly hand in my resignation as a member.

Welcome back dear friend

**Jock Scot** · 13th September 10, 02:03 PM

Ali just for you, I will try ever so hard not to get officially banned!

**ali8780** · 13th September 10, 03:17 PM

Originally Posted by Jock Scot

Ali just for you, I will try ever so hard not to get officially banned!

Well, you'll have to be on your best behavior. I hear the powers that be get a little trigger-happy at times

**ali8780** · 14th September 10, 10:53 AM

Originally Posted by ali8780

Well, you'll have to be on your best behavior. I hear the powers that be get a little trigger-happy at times

I realize this could have been taken the wrong way, I hope no one was offended by my pathetic attempt at humor.

My deepest apologies to the staff, absolutely no harm was intended.