Vox Popoli: World's worst DoS attack?

Check out Sitemeter. This is odd. I'm getting about 4x more page views per visitor than is customary... and it's not everyone hitting refresh like a coke-addled rat in a science lab.

57 Comments:

Daniel January 25, 2013 10:59 AM: This is the way rabbits flee your presence.
Steve Canyon January 25, 2013 11:01 AM: Time to bring out the Holy Hand Grenade!
Darth Toolpodicus January 25, 2013 11:03 AM: To blow thine Enemies to bits...(in His mercy)
Rabbit January 25, 2013 11:07 AM: I can has refresh buttoning?
Herman the German January 25, 2013 11:08 AM: "For it is not one, nor two...nor even four that thou must count unto....Five is RIGHT OUT! Yay, the most Holy and Sacred number....shall be THREE!!" - LOL
Nate January 25, 2013 11:11 AM: /facepalm
tz January 25, 2013 11:14 AM: Rabbot-net?
dh January 25, 2013 11:20 AM: VD--

#1 You've been posting far more frequently than seems to be customary. Several times per day.

#2 Many of the threads have gone very long. There are many bugs with blogger's platform, but mainly, after you post, it typically takes you back to the first page of comments. That then means jumping back to the latest page.

#3 If this is a DDOS, it's the worst one I've ever seen. You aren't going to DDOS Blogger/Google with 4x normal traffic. If it was in the ballpark of 400x you might be talking a DDOS with someone who has a brain.
buzzcut January 25, 2013 11:21 AM: Lab rat? Check.
Coke? Check.
Mouse button? Ready.
Alright then, let's get this started.
Peter Garstig January 25, 2013 11:24 AM: Very likely not a DOS attack. More probably your site has been mentioned somewhere triggering new visitors.
VD January 25, 2013 11:25 AM: /facepalm

I know it's not a genuine DoS attack, but it's not just somebody hitting the refresh button either or it would show up in the Google stats, which isn't happening. But it's also not a Sitemeter bug; at least AG isn't showing a similar anomaly.
Nate January 25, 2013 11:30 AM: "VD--

#1 You've been posting far more frequently than seems to be customary. Several times per day.

#2 Many of the threads have gone very long. There are many bugs with blogger's platform, but mainly, after you post, it typically takes you back to the first page of comments. That then means jumping back to the latest page."

The trouble here is... these things aren't that abnormal. We've had epic threads before.. and the comment section bugs are the same as they were 5 weeks ago. So that doesn't explain the change in behavior.
VD January 25, 2013 11:32 AM: If this is a DDOS, it's the worst one I've ever seen. You aren't going to DDOS Blogger/Google with 4x normal traffic. If it was in the ballpark of 400x you might be talking a DDOS with someone who has a brain.

Agreed. That's why I was wondering if it was some clueless wonder attempting an inept one. I nearly titled the post World's Worst DoS Attack.

#1 You've been posting far more frequently than seems to be customary. Several times per day.

No, I've actually posted fewer posts than normal. 3/day instead of 4/day. Commented a bit more, but not that much.

#2 Many of the threads have gone very long. There are many bugs with blogger's platform, but mainly, after you post, it typically takes you back to the first page of comments. That then means jumping back to the latest page.

True, but the pageviews just started leaping up last night, after the visits and Google pageviews had died down. If it was just a normal traffic issue, I'd expect those to be higher as well. There are already more Sitemeter pageviews today than there were yesterday, when the comments were most heated.

No big deal, I was just curious.
VD January 25, 2013 11:36 AM: To put it in perspective: Google Pageviews are now 1/2 what they were all day yesterday, 13k vs 25k. Sitemeter Pageviews/Visitors are now 22k/5k vs 18k/10k two days ago.
Giraffe January 25, 2013 11:37 AM: The rabbits are massing for attack.
Noah B. January 25, 2013 11:38 AM: It seems to be coming from fmarion.edu.
Godfrey January 25, 2013 11:39 AM: DHS?
dh January 25, 2013 11:40 AM: It does seem like something weird is going on.

I noticed you dont have referral data logging in site meter. Any reason why?

The 4x factor is odd. Did you recently edit the template? There is an awful load of content loaded with each page view, but I don't see any extra HTTP requests back that would trigger a new page view.

Most people coming to site are just making 1-3 page views. There are a few making a lot.

It would be interesting to do some digging and see if a few users are driving up the average, or if the average per user has altered for some reason. The comments theory appears to be blown because it appears that most people dont read the comments, based on the logs.
dh January 25, 2013 11:42 AM: What gives with the massive difference between Google and Sitemeter. There aren't all that many ways to track page views and visits...
Difster January 25, 2013 11:55 AM: Sounds like a glitch somewhere. Maybe a counting algorithm got messed up somewhere. My policy with things like this is that if it happens once, I don't investigate too much, if it keeps happening, then I dig in. There are exceptions of course.

Oh, and the only thing worse than an intermittent problem is an intermittent, intermittent problem.
JartStar January 25, 2013 11:57 AM: Oops look at that, my F5 key was stuck. Carry on.
IM2L844 January 25, 2013 11:57 AM: Apparently, any sort of attention makes fabulous rabbit bait.
Russell January 25, 2013 12:08 PM: Enthusiastic search bot(s)?
Beau January 25, 2013 12:17 PM: It's Skynet becoming self-aware. Shame on you Vox for leading it into sentience :(
Daniel January 25, 2013 12:20 PM: Maybe it is all coming from the people at goodreads who marked A Magic Broken as DO NOT READ (scroll down, mid-page, Jan. 23) who are now coming here to not read this offensive blog.
Outlaw X January 25, 2013 12:22 PM: All that orange shit is me.
TontoBubbaGoldstein January 25, 2013 12:23 PM: All your page views are belong to us.
Anonymous January 25, 2013 12:31 PM: I only saw this site now that I noticed it linked from alphagameplan.blogspot.com
Josh January 25, 2013 12:31 PM: This rabbit is most agitated:

Jan 23, 2013Stefani marked it as thanks-but-not-in-a-million-yearsShelves: attacks-reviewers, author-cant-read, because-of-author, eyeball-explosion, oh-hell-no, rabid-fans

Hell no, fuck no, not even if you paid me to read it. I don't care if someone else paid for this pile of junk, it would go straight in the shredder. No no and even more no.Note: I added this part so that if I ever forget why it's on my DNR list, I will recall my feelings in this moment. I think I want to go vomit now.

Is "I want to go vomit now" the new "I'll never have sex with you"?
Nate January 25, 2013 12:57 PM: Vox... you need to check this out...

http://www.goodreads.com/author_blog_posts/3604597-if-the-status-quo-for-certain-authors-were-the-same-across-other-industr
VryeDenker January 25, 2013 1:07 PM: So, the snowflake refuses to read a book because it's badly written? How does she know?
Daniel January 25, 2013 1:35 PM: BECAUSE SHE AM TYPING.
WinstonWebb January 25, 2013 1:35 PM: Nate January 25, 2013 12:57 PM

Vox... you need to check this out...

http://www.goodreads.com/author_blog_posts/3604597-if-the-status-quo-for-certain-authors-were-the-same-across-other-industr

Angry Frau-Fest.

The best part is that in every example the stupid bitch tries to make, there would (rightfully) be a burden on the customer to prove the original purchase. But I guess one mustn't let something like that get in the way of a fine emoting session.
Daniel January 25, 2013 1:44 PM: Nice Winston. She should add:

V: Did you buy it from here?

C: What?

V: Did you buy it from here?

C: It's ripped! It's torn! It's ruined! This shirt is unwearable!

V: We are a hardware store. We don't sell shirts.

C: How dare you? The customer is always right!

V: You aren't a customer!

C: I have a thing, right here in this bag!

V: The bag is empty.

C: Because the shirt is ruined! It disintegrated.

V: Do you have a receipt?

C: Are you seriously questioning one of your long-time paying customers?

V: I've never seen you before in my life.

C: Because you are an asshole store owner whose reputation I'm going to ruin! RUIN! I'm going to tell all my friends to never buy a shirt from here again. We'll see how you like them apples, Mister!

Harassment as Outrage ought to be A Thing.
Josh January 25, 2013 1:59 PM: Ok dread,

What are these protocols?

What did Reagan and Mitterand have to do with them?
Nate January 25, 2013 2:00 PM: Thank You Dread... for defecating all over the thread. Would you like to rub some kid's clothes on your face while you masturbate in the floor? Baby tear a 72 inch tv off the wall? jump off the roof naked?
Noah B. January 25, 2013 2:09 PM: OT question for the visitor from DOJ.

Isn't this racketeering?
Outlaw X January 25, 2013 2:35 PM: Thank You Dread... for defecating all over the thread. Would you like to rub some kid's clothes on your face while you masturbate in the floor? Baby tear a 72 inch tv off the wall? jump off the roof naked?

If Bane were still alive that would be his MO, Nate
Mina January 25, 2013 2:40 PM: Is Nate here today? I have a special forces (retired) friend who has guy who can build me an AR15 M4. What do I want on it? He is talking $2K budget ... sound reasonable? No Serial.
Noah B. January 25, 2013 3:07 PM: Mina, it all depends on the accessories you're getting with your AR15. $2K is one pricey AR15, though. Around here there are starting to be some nice ones on the shelves again for much less than that. For $2k I would expect to get all kinds of goodies loaded on it.

Given any thought to doing it yourself? It's not hard at all.
Nate January 25, 2013 3:09 PM: Mina
He should be able to build one for a lot less. I just built a spikes tactical AR for about half that...

Spikes tactical lower... spikes tactical upper and barrel. Spikes tactical bolt carrier group...

http://www.spikestactical.com/new/z/punisher-lower-w-enhanced-kit-no-stock-p-506.html

That one. Then you want the magpul stock...

You can look around spikestactical.com and get all the prices of the stuff he'll need. For 2000... you can build a hella rig... and it better damned well have an eotech or aimpoint for that kind of money
Mina January 25, 2013 3:15 PM: He's a crazy special forces dude - he was talking holographic sights and stuff. I reminded him : Low budget! and unsophisticated shooter!

I'll review this data you sent me, thanks. If you have any further thoughts I'll check back after a bit. Appreciate the help.
Nate January 25, 2013 3:17 PM: Mina... I can be found at bloggerblaster.blogspot.com. There is tons of gun stuff on that blog if you search around... including pictures of the rig I just built.
Noah B. January 25, 2013 3:37 PM: Mina, I can't recommend the Eotech enough. It will spoil you real quick.
Giraffe January 25, 2013 4:06 PM: I can't believe you didn't go this way, Nate:

http://www.spikestactical.com/new/z/lower-multi-forged-pirate-bullet-markings-p-564.html
Mina January 25, 2013 4:55 PM: Nate: nice. you build guns for a hobby. I build computers. maybe I need to re-purpose some of my lab space .... mmmmmmm ... looks like an interesting and ~useful~ new hobby I could get to like maybe even more than jury-rigging graphics cards and fiddling with uncooperative raid drivers.
Silas Reinagel January 25, 2013 5:00 PM: I can probably account for a good number of those page views. I definitely was hitting my refresh button like a coke-addled rat--eagerly waiting for UPDATE 3 to the fraudlent review post.

I'm still refreshing... no update yet...
Mina January 25, 2013 5:18 PM: oh yeah, I read your come-back notice and I remembered I was supposed to ask you for a recommendation on a good starting bourbon, too.

sorry for putting all this on you. but if you think of it and happen to jot something down ...
Nate January 25, 2013 5:24 PM: Mina... I build computers too.
Nate January 25, 2013 5:24 PM: Giraffe... The Pirate lowers are hopelessly backordered.
Mina January 25, 2013 5:41 PM: Love the Punisher. super cool emblem for a gun.
Nate January 25, 2013 5:43 PM: By the way boys... ATF returns tonight.
Bogey January 25, 2013 7:49 PM: "Defying King Cuomo" has some 700 responses already, that's impressive for any blog. I think in a round about way you've managed to leach readers from other blogs. Other bloggers have been critical of Vox Popoli and Alpha Game, so naturally anyone who isn't a sheep will think "well who is this RSHD". In the end you get the more intelligent readers of these blogs.
bw January 25, 2013 8:06 PM: In the end you get the more intelligent readers of these blogs.

Run for the StrongHold, Thunderheart.
The Soldiers are Coming.
Josh January 25, 2013 9:21 PM: I was supposed to ask you for a recommendation on a good starting bourbon, too.

Makers or Makers 46
Nate January 25, 2013 11:40 PM: "I was supposed to ask you for a recommendation on a good starting bourbon, too."

Makers Mark, Makers Mark 46, or Wild Turkey Russel's Reserve.

All three of those are reasonable... and fantastic.

They are for sippin'. Pour some in a tumbler. Smell it. Note the sweet caramel and nutmeg and vanilla. Then sip.

ONLY SIP.

Bourbon is not for young pups getting hammered. Its for older maturish types that just want a change of attitude. You know... you walk out onto your porch... you take a sip and you say... Ahhh..hell... it don't matter.
Mina January 26, 2013 1:30 PM: Thanks guys. I do enjoy sipping a prime tequila on the weekends - we've been itching to get into some of the more refined liquor selections but weren't sure where to turn.

Again, the assistance is appreciated.