Of Post Counts, Gremlins, & Hackers

[SteveColes]

Just wanted to give everyone an update on what has happened. At this point, I am reasonably sure that our Database security WAS NOT breached. Of those cases that I was able to trace, the problem happened because of some poorly designed code. It seems the Post count update code does not work very well when there are multiple sources. vBulletin, itself, Photo Post and the Classifieds and perhaps 2 others.

The key was the number(s) that were coming up. For those that understand such things, the field is an unsigned integer 32 bits in length. So if you subtract one from zero, you get 4294967295.

Is there a fix, not really without getting vBulletin, Photo Post to work together better in this area. Not Likely:realmad::rotflm:

So what I have done is to set each component to NOT try to work together. So posts will mean forum posts only. This is not ideal for our site, but it is the best we can do for now. It also means if you or the staff deletes one of your posts, your post count will go down, not what I wanted and I will look into that. But pictures, uploads, ads, and links will no longer count.

Can something be done on the longer run, perhaps. But not until after the next set of major updates.

If you have lost DQ privilages, because of lost post count, please let me know and I'll see what I can do.

 

[McRabbet]

Dang, that means we can all blame Otto Matic for it (and DaveO for resetting some counts the first time it happened!). I do think is is a relief that no breach has occurred...

 

[Gotcha6]

The only time I really worry 'bout post counts anyway is when I'm walkin' in th' pasture...:rotflm: Just gotta make sure they're all there.

 

[RayH]

Steve,

I believe that all of us appreciate your efforts in keeping this community intact. Post count is a minor point when compared with the information that gets passed here.

Just haven't figured out how you do it. But thanks from all of us.:icon_thum:icon_thum:icon_thum

RayH

 

[sapwood]

Thanks for ferreting out the Gremlins, Steve!
You're a pretty sharp fellow :notworthy:
Thankfully, it wasn't the elves :week:

And I promise not to leave any of my integers unsigned :thumbsup:

Roger

 

[Jim Murphy]

So if you subtract one from zero, you get 4294967295.

Stevie, Stevie... the font change shows that you had to resort to Mr. Gates calculator to copy/paste that answer. You should have had that value memorized.

Anyway--


See, when I was but a chap, you could not subtract 1 from 0. Zero means you have none, so if you ain't got any, you can't be missing any. That makes sense.


Then I grew a little, and folks started talking about negative numbers. Okay, I see what you're saying, but you still can't take one away if you ain't got any. I mean, if you got four screwdrivers, and I steal one, you got three. Makes sense. But if you ain't got no screwdrivers, and I steal one..... wait, how can I steal a screwdriver you don't got?


Then, I get older, the darned transistors start to rule the world (Hello Cousin Brucie on WABC, playing the hits and blowing them down south every night), and suddenly, as Doug Robinson so aptly points out, 10 is 2. What? Base 2? Binary? On/Off? 32767 becomes a magic number. Bits, bytes, words (how many bytes in a word, I forget). Then you have to deal with IEEE encoding for floats and longs and integers and doubles, and suddenly....








All of a sudden.....











When you weren't looking....









And were following along....








Wondering where I was going....










My post count increased by -1 X -1. (That's 01 in binary, decimal, hex, and Klingon)


:tinysmile_tongue_t:

 

[ScottM]

I agree with Mike Davis. Counts are not that important to me. It is what is said not how often.

 

[Bas]

:rotflm::rotflm::rotflm:
As my father-in-law would say: It's nothing personal, I just don't like you.

 

[mcoston2]

Nice way to put it Scott:eusa_clap
SCOTT FOR PRESIDENT:gar-Bi

 

[JimmyC]

Since photos don't count in the post count anymore, can we get rid of all post counts previously added because of photos. I think that DaveO had 9500 photo posts, so if we eliminate those he goes down to under 300:rotflm::rotflm::rotflm:.

Jimmy

 

[TBone]

........ (Hello Cousin Brucie on WABC, playing the hits and blowing them down south every night)

:tinysmile_tongue_t:

I can't believe someone else remembers Cousin Brucie from WABC. Fell asleep many nights listening to him.

Obviously post counts don't mean much to me, it'll only take me 10 years to get where DaveO was a coupla years ago. I've got more to learn than to teach :gar-Bi

 

[rickc]

What? Base 2? Binary? On/Off? 32767 becomes a magic number. Bits, bytes, words (how many bytes in a word, I forget).

• 2 bits: crumb
• 4 bits: nibble
• 5 bits: nickle
• 8 bits: byte
• 16 bits: plate
• 18 bits: chomp
• 32 bits: dinner
• 48 bits: gobble

:gar-La;

 

[Will Goodwin]

Fernhollowman: Don't forget the wonderful world created by the square root of negative one. :eusa_danc

Steve: I am glad you figured out what the deal was.....has your head stopped hurting yet? :BangHead:

Will

 

[CaptnA]

Some posts, (like this one) make me realize
A. How computer dumb I am
B. How other than computer dumb I am
C. How fortunate we are that everyone doesn't fit into A and/or B

 

[Will Goodwin]

CaptnA (and others) let me be honest. There was recently a thread about the things that kids are being taught in schools and the lack of a woodworking class. I think that you are probably a smart guy, you just learned different things. I spent my highschool career being driven to excel and took all the college prep courses. I studied advanced math, all the sciences and went on to study computer science and electrical engineering in college. I burnt out and my first job was a telemarketing job. I have since gotten back into computers, but let me tell you something, I am very sad that I didn't take some of the courses that were offered to me in highschool. They had an automotive class. Until I got married and my brother in law started teaching me about cars, I didn't have the first clue. I'm now learning about growing things and woodworking. (Both agriculture and shop classes available at my highschool). I say, never stop learning. I am a big fan of Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin who never stopped. Reading about them inspires me to keep learning new things. If I don't, I'll have to pay someone a crazy amount of money to do something they think is easy.

I'll get off my soap box...my point is you aren't dumb, you just haven't learned that skill yet.

Will

 

[Bas]

Will, well said! I always keep the idea of the Renaissance man (Homo Universalis - the universal man) in mind. Science, art, crafts, philosophy, athletics, all in equal proportion. There is nothing wrong with specialization, but life is a lot more enjoyable if you stop at the buffet more than once.

 

[Partman]

Well said Will, Like the saying goes. Jack of all trades,:icon_cool
Master of none!:eusa_doh:

Danny

 

[thesource]

I still think Bas did it.

 

[Gofor]

• 2 bits: crumb
• 4 bits: nibble
• 5 bits: nickle
• 8 bits: byte
• 16 bits: plate
• 18 bits: chomp
• 32 bits: dinner
• 48 bits: gobble

:gar-La;

Where I come from and now live: 2 bits = $.25, 4 bits = half dollar, etc. Can't get a plate for $2 and real tough to get dinner for $4, even with the seniors' discount, except at BoJangles.
:wconfused::wconfused:
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