I had a bit of a crash last night, and unfortunately, I wasn't able
to salvage data in the exec directory, but I did have backups of the
rest (ctrl, msgs, files, xtrn, textfiles, etc.). I was using the CAPTCHA utility from Lord Blackfair at logon, but while I had the captcha.src
file, I can't remember how to integrate it into the logon sequence,
after the answer.msg screen and before the matrix logon module. I
thought it was something related to editing captcha.src and putting it
into possibly default.src, then doing baja default -- but that didn't
work. I also don't recall if an option should be set up in SCFG at
logon.

Daryl Stout, Sysop, The Thunderbolt BBS, Little Rock, Arkansas
---
■ Synchronet ■ The Thunderbolt BBS - Little Rock, Arkansas

Re: CAPTCHA with Synchronet
By: Daryl Stout to All on Wed Feb 22 2023 02:57 pm

I had a bit of a crash last night, and unfortunately, I wasn't able
to salvage data in the exec directory, but I did have backups of the
rest (ctrl, msgs, files, xtrn, textfiles, etc.). I was using the CAPTCHA

What data are you missing in exec? Normally exec should be kept stock, as anything you've modified should go into sbbs\mods or other directories. If you have backups of your other directories, you should be able to get the latest Synchronet binaries and other things for exec and be good to go.

Nightfox

---
■ Synchronet ■ Digital Distortion: digitaldistortionbbs.com

Re: CAPTCHA with Synchronet
By: Nightfox to Daryl Stout on Thu Feb 23 2023 09:10 am

What data are you missing in exec? Normally exec should be kept stock, as anything you've modified should go into sbbs\mods or other directories. If you have backups of your other directories, you should be able to get the latest Synchronet binaries and other things for exec and be good to go.

well the old way was putting stuff into exec instead of mods so maybe he was doing that.
---
■ Synchronet ■ ::: BBSES.info - free BBS services :::

What data are you missing in exec? Normally exec should be kept stock,
as anything you've modified should go into sbbs\mods or other
directories. If you have backups of your other directories, you should
be able to get the latest Synchronet binaries and other things for exec and be good to go.

In short, all of it. I thought I had a backup, but the directory was
gone. I felt that if I tried to put the old data back in on top of the
new data that I'd corrupt things...so I zapped it. To make matters worse,
the 2 USB external drives "quit"...one failed completely, and the other
one wouldn't let me restore data.

The other problem was when tried to run the xtrn-setup program, it
messed up several doors. So, I had to go in, and zap the node#.cfg
files, and change the dropfile to DORINFO1.DEF instead of DOOR.SYS, and
set the doors to "single user only" for the doors to work.

I have discovered in the loss of the CAPTCHA deal that with the entry
in MODOPTS.INI, I lowered the timeout timer for "DUMB terminals" (which
are usually with the bots), to 15 seconds for inactivity. They usually reconnect after getting dumped, and it has tied up all 4 nodes at times.
But, if they enter "an invalid entry" (supervisor, root, sysop, admin,
default, etc.), they get dropped, and a temporary ban (10 days) is put
on the IP.

In looking at the control panel, when I see these "temporary bans",
I copy the IP to the ip.can file, and I do the same for the IP's that repeatedly slam the port. It got so bad with the SSH and QOTD ports
that I had to change those to non-conventional values. Obviously, once
an IP is in ip.can, they are permanently blocked from the BBS.

Twice, I've tried to update to 3.20, and have run into issues both
times...so I'm going to stay with 3.19, unless there's a compelling
reason to upgrade to 3.20, even when the full package comes out. It's
like with support for Windows 10...Microsoft is stopping support for
it in October, 2025...so I'll either quit getting the Windows updates
and leave things as they are...zap 95% of the doors (most legacy, and
what I had paid to register in years past), or just shut the whole
thing down after 35 years of Sysoping. Obviously, none of those options
are desired.

Yet, Microsoft is only interested in corporate greed, and I can't
see discarding perfectly good working hardware and software, just
to buy new stuff to satisfy their bottom line...never mind that being
on a fixed income, I can't afford an upgrade to "the latest and greatest items".

In short, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it"...but that's the advice
I personally should've heeded in regards to upgrading the BBS. I still
use the old DOS 8.3 filename syntax, in case someone has a system that
won't handle the long filenames, even though that was started back with
Windows 95 many years ago.

Daryl

... C:\BELFRY is where I keep my .BAT files. ^^^oo^^^
=== MultiMail/Win v0.52
--- SBBSecho 3.14-Win32
* Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - Little Rock, Arkansas (1:2320/33)

Re: CAPTCHA with Synchronet
By: Daryl Stout to Nightfox on Sun Feb 26 2023 03:30 am

What data are you missing in exec? Normally exec should be kept stock, as anything you've modified should go into sbbs\mods or other directories. If you have backups of your other directories, you should be able to get the latest Synchronet binaries and other things for exec and be good to go.

In short, all of it. I thought I had a backup, but the directory was
gone. I felt that if I tried to put the old data back in on top of the
new data that I'd corrupt things...so I zapped it. To make matters worse, the 2 USB external drives "quit"...one failed completely, and the other
one wouldn't let me restore data.

The other problem was when tried to run the xtrn-setup program, it

just get a dropbox. zip your backups up and encrypt them. have backups upload to dropbox automatically. i do it for the people i host bbses for.
it's not that hard to backup

---
■ Synchronet ■ ::: BBSES.info - free BBS services :::

Re: CAPTCHA with Synchronet
By: Daryl Stout to Nightfox on Sun Feb 26 2023 03:30 am

Twice, I've tried to update to 3.20, and have run into issues both times...so I'm going to stay with 3.19, unless there's a compelling
reason to upgrade to 3.20, even when the full package comes out. It's

IMO, a good reason to upgrade is at least for the bug fixes. And it doesn't cost any money to update Synchronet, so I don't think there's any downside to upgrading. You'd also be missing out on new features if you don't upgrade, but I suppose whether or not you'll use any of those new features is what makes it a "compelling" upgrade or not.

Nightfox

---
■ Synchronet ■ Digital Distortion: digitaldistortionbbs.com

Nightfox wrote to Daryl Stout <=-

Twice, I've tried to update to 3.20, and have run into issues both times...so I'm going to stay with 3.19, unless there's a compelling
reason to upgrade to 3.20, even when the full package comes out. It's

IMO, a good reason to upgrade is at least for the bug fixes. And
it doesn't cost any money to update Synchronet, so I don't think
there's any downside to upgrading. You'd also be missing out on
new features if you don't upgrade, but I suppose whether or not
you'll use any of those new features is what makes it a
"compelling" upgrade or not.

All of that is true. I suppose there are cases where there's no great
benefit to updating, but I have a hard time seeing that logic. There
are *LOTS* of bug fixes, and *LOTS* of new features in 3.20 vs 3.19.
Why someone wouldn't want those is hard to understand.

For Daryl - many people have upgraded without issues. I have to think
it is some procedural error on your part. I can't remember if you've
posted the details on what happened to your upgrade attempts, but if you
would give those details I'm sure we could get things resolved so you
can complete the upgrade.




... Enter any 12-digit prime number to continue.
--- MultiMail/Linux v0.52
■ Synchronet ■ Palantir BBS * palantirbbs.ddns.net * Pensacola, FL

Re: CAPTCHA with Synchronet
By: Daryl Stout to Nightfox on Sun Feb 26 2023 03:30 am

are usually with the bots), to 15 seconds for inactivity. They usually reconnect after getting dumped, and it has tied up all 4 nodes at times. But, if they enter "an invalid entry" (supervisor, root, sysop, admin, default, etc.), they get dropped, and a temporary ban (10 days) is put
on the IP.

Hello Daryl

With a Windows install of Synchronet you may want to try Peerblock small
little foot print program that has a option to make a list bad ip's in
any and all countries. I did a search and found one place that you can
make a list from of bot type peeps and it has worked very well.

The very best thing is something like what I use pfSense the uses
geo country blocking.

I bought 3 small check point firewalls off of ebay wipped the drive and
thew pfSense on one, bang done I can block any and all countries and if
one say message net from over seas I just white lict his IP address.
A day to a week or two you got it done pat.

Best part it only uses 40 watts.


-*|04Hav|12o|04k|07*-

---
■ Synchronet ■ Anarchy BBS - The Villages,FL

Re: Re: CAPTCHA with Synchronet
By: Gamgee to Nightfox on Mon Feb 27 2023 07:48 pm

*LOTS* of bug fixes, and *LOTS* of new features in 3.20 vs 3.19.

Fast question

What are the new features your talking about, I've been following the
development of 3.20 but may have missed a list of things new in it!

Thanks...


-*|04Hav|12o|04k|07*-

---
■ Synchronet ■ Anarchy BBS - The Villages,FL

Re: Re: CAPTCHA with Synchronet
By: Havok to Gamgee on Tue Feb 28 2023 04:46 pm

Re: Re: CAPTCHA with Synchronet
By: Gamgee to Nightfox on Mon Feb 27 2023 07:48 pm

*LOTS* of bug fixes, and *LOTS* of new features in 3.20 vs 3.19.

Fast question

What are the new features your talking about, I've been following the
development of 3.20 but may have missed a list of things new in it!

The configuration file format and userbase formats have opened up a lot of (now easier to add) new features (e.g. File library default directory configuration) or just long-overdue-improvements (e.g. longer internal codes).

There's no single "new feature" list for v3.20 yet, but it'll be quite long. The list of more recent changes since v3.19 has been viewed at https://git.synchro.net/gitpushlog.ssjs (append ?<number> for a longer log/history of changes).
--
digital man (rob)

Rush quote #77:
The world is, the world is, love and life are deep, maybe as his skies are wide Norco, CA WX: 53.2°F, 69.0% humidity, 5 mph ESE wind, 0.07 inches rain/24hrs

Havok wrote to Gamgee <=-

*LOTS* of bug fixes, and *LOTS* of new features in 3.20 vs 3.19.

Fast question

What are the new features your talking about, I've been
following the development of 3.20 but may have missed a list of
things new in it!

I don't know of any actual "list" of features. If you follow the
messages in DoveNet Synchronet Programming and DoveNet Synchronet
Discussion, you'll see the commit messages that DM (or gitlab) posts
in there. There are usually several updates every single day.

Another way is to explore the git commit listings, one such way would be
here:

https://gitlab.com/SynchronetBBS/sbbs/-/commits/master?ref_type=heads



... If it weren't for Edison we'd be using computers by candlelight
--- MultiMail/Linux v0.52
■ Synchronet ■ Palantir BBS * palantirbbs.ddns.net * Pensacola, FL

Re: Re: CAPTCHA with Synchronet
By: Digital Man to Havok on Tue Feb 28 2023 02:36 pm

What are the new features your talking about, I've been following the
development of 3.20 but may have missed a list of things new in it!

Sounds like a plan I look forward to reading through all the things
coming to light with the new release.

Good going...
--- SBBSecho 3.14-Linux
* Origin: Anarchy BBS - The Villages,FL (1:123/131)

Re: Re: CAPTCHA with Synchronet
By: Gamgee to Havok on Tue Feb 28 2023 06:17 pm

https://gitlab.com/SynchronetBBS/sbbs/-/commits/master?ref_type=heads

On my way there now thanks for the feed back, I look forward to reading!
--- SBBSecho 3.14-Linux
* Origin: Anarchy BBS - The Villages,FL (1:123/131)

IMO, a good reason to upgrade is at least for the bug fixes. And it doesn't cost any money to update Synchronet, so I don't think there's
any downside to upgrading. You'd also be missing out on new features
if you don't upgrade, but I suppose whether or not you'll use any of
those new features is what makes it a "compelling" upgrade or not.

I'm going to wait until the new version is released...let everyone else
work out the bugs. Back when I was running GT Power for dial-up, I was
one of the beta testers for the last version released by original author
Paul Meiners.

I did find the original version of the CAPTCHA utility that was done
by Lord Blackfair, which had just one set of 6 numbers, along with the batchfile that I had previously created (I thought all those files were
long gone as well).

Bascially, after decompiling it, I made 144 copies of the file, and
edited in a different number. Then, I named them different batchfiles,
in 5 minute increments, from HOUR0000.BAT to HOUR2355.BAT, around the
clock. Then, I used the Windows 10 Task Scheduler to set up the batchfiles
to run at the appointed times. It copies a new ACEMTRX.BIN file (with the CAPTCHA code) into the \exec directory every 5 minutes. So, while it does
not change with each connect, at least it changes every 5 minutes. And, besides, the bots are unlikely to see the CAPTCHA anyway.

I also lowered the variable for the inactivity timeout from 30 seconds
to 10 seconds. Before I found the original CAPTCHA deal (as noted above),
the bots were slamming the telnet port, tying up all 4 of them. With the "invalid user names" (root, admin, supervisor, sysop, default, etc.), the connects with these are dropped, and in many cases, a temporary ban is
put on them. I then add that IP to the ip.can file.

Daryl

... I found a piano stool -- I thought they were potty trained!!
=== MultiMail/Win v0.52
--- SBBSecho 3.14-Win32
* Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - Little Rock, Arkansas (1:2320/33)

With a Windows install of Synchronet you may want to try Peerblock small
little foot print program that has a option to make a list bad ip's in
any and all countries. I did a search and found one place that you can
make a list from of bot type peeps and it has worked very well.

I already have PeerBlock set up and running. However, for some of the ham radio traffic nets that I do, I had to disable it, as I couldn't connect to certain "reflectors" with the D-Star mode.

At least for the nets that I run, I can leave Peerblock enabled. The fee
to renew the data files each year is only around $10...you can't get a good meal for that anymore!!

As I was telling Nightfox, I found the ORIGINAL CAPTCHA utility that was
done by Lord Blackfair. It first only had one set number with it (he later released another version, which generates a different number with each new connect)...but I was able decompile it with the UNBAJA utility (if I recall correctly).

Then what I did (this was before he released the version that generates a different number with each connect), was to make 144 copies of the file.
Next, I used a Random Number program for Windows to generate such...and I edited that into the file, which basically was a combination of ACEMTRX.SRC
and the different CAPTCHA.SRC files...the latter which were renamed to HOUR####.SRC, where #### was a 24 hour time digit from 0000 (12:00am) to
2355 (11:55pm), in 5 minute intervals around the clock. Then, I compiled
each of these with the Baja module.

Next, I created 144 simple batchfiles, with the same name as the HOUR#### files noted earlier. All that did would copy the HOUR####.BIN file to the ACEMTRX.BIN file within the \exec directory. And to finish it off, I used
the Task Scheduler under Windows 10 to set up the times to run the needed batchfiles.

Admittedly, it was tedious to do it this way...but at least I have a
CAPTCHA deal at logon, after the ANSWER.MSG screen, and before ACEMTRX
kicks in. The bots aren't likely to see the numeric string, anyway...and
I also lowered the "inactivity timeout" for "dumb terminals" from 30 to
10 seconds. Before then, the bots were slamming the ports, and tying up
all the nodes.

Daryl

... I don't drink and drive, but I swig at stoplights.
=== MultiMail/Win v0.52
--- SBBSecho 3.14-Win32
* Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - Little Rock, Arkansas (1:2320/33)

Re: CAPTCHA with Synchronet
By: Daryl Stout to All on Wed Feb 22 2023 14:57:11

I had a bit of a crash last night, and unfortunately, I wasn't able
to salvage data in the exec directory, but I did have backups of the
rest (ctrl, msgs, files, xtrn, textfiles, etc.).

I find it kind of a best practice, to copy the original from sbbs/exec/ to sbbs/mods/ and edit my customized version in mods, never touching sbbs/exec/ Also reducing the risk of destroying a customization, and leaving the original(s) for reference.

I was using the CAPTCHA utility from Lord Blackfair at logon, but

while I had the captcha.src file...

Not familiar with that one... do you have a download location for the original file/zip/package?


--
Michael J. Ryan
+o roughneckbbs.com
tracker1@roughneckbbs.com

---
■ Synchronet ■ Roughneck BBS - roughneckbbs.com

Re: CAPTCHA with Synchronet
By: Daryl Stout to Havok on Tue Feb 28 2023 12:50 am

With a Windows install of Synchronet you may want to try Peerblock small
little foot print program that has a option to make a list bad ip's in
any and all countries. I did a search and found one place that you can
make a list from of bot type peeps and it has worked very well.

I already have PeerBlock set up and running. However, for some of the ham radio traffic nets that I do, I had to disable it, as I couldn't connect to certain "reflectors" with the D-Star mode.

At least for the nets that I run, I can leave Peerblock enabled. The fee to renew the data files each year is only around $10...you can't get a good meal for that anymore!!

i didn't even know they did that.
i just use a custom blocklist.
---
■ Synchronet ■ ::: BBSES.info - free BBS services :::

Re: CAPTCHA with Synchronet
By: Daryl Stout to Havok on Tue Feb 28 2023 12:50 am

I already have PeerBlock set up and running. However, for some of the ham radio traffic nets that I do, I had to disable it, as I couldn't connect to certain "reflectors" with the D-Star mode.

The nice think about peerblock is you can make a ban list of country IP's
and make a white list of a country ip that you want to pass through.
I always like it when I was running VA on xp or Windows 7.
--- SBBSecho 3.14-Linux
* Origin: Anarchy BBS - The Villages,FL (1:123/131)

Re: CAPTCHA with Synchronet
By: Daryl Stout to Havok on Tue Feb 28 2023 12:50 am

As I was telling Nightfox, I found the ORIGINAL CAPTCHA utility that was done by Lord Blackfair. It first only had one set number with it (he later
released another version, which generates a different number with each new connect)...but I was able decompile it with the UNBAJA utility (if I recall
correctly).

Wow sounds like a lot of work, why I like pfSense after about the 3 third
probe it blocks the IP.

But it does sound kewl...


-*|04Hav|12o|04k|07*-

---
■ Synchronet ■ Anarchy BBS - The Villages,FL