[RESOLVED] problem access: dev & forum under IE

[lenamtl]

Hi,

I'm getting this message when I'm going into the developers section:

News 
We're sorry!

We're sorry, but you appear to be using a spider or other bot. To preserve the integrity, performance, and availability of this site, you've been denied access with this tool. Please use a standard browser application to access this site.

I'm using IE + Winxp

Also I'm not able to log into the forum
I'm getting error with the password

But if i'm using Mozilla Firefox it's ok I can access both place forum and dev.

I have clean my cookies and IE temp files, check for virus and spyware and check for IE update.

Any clue?

Thanks

[brad]

What is the URL that gives you this error?

[lenamtl]

Hi,

If I click on the Developers button or if I go to this url http://developer.joomla.org
this going automatically at
http://developer.joomla.org/forbidden.html

also
If I'm trying to log myself to the forum I'm getting the message : You should fill in a username or wrong password

thanks

[Affa]

Hi, I have the same problem: I can't reach the developers page, instead getting http://developer.joomla.org/forbidden.html. The two gif files don't get displayed, too. I use IE6 & WinXP.

[kenmcd]

The Joomla forge apparently does not like something in the User-Agent being sent by your browser.
It thinks your browser is a bot and not a real person using a browser.
Some tools and programs add info to the User-Agent string when installed.
IE keeps this info in the registry.

To see your User-Agent string:
- look in the registry (sorry, don't have exact place, you can search)
- look in your own web site logs (find your own browsing in your logs)
- use a free tool such as ieHTTPHeaders

ieHTTPHeaders
http://www.blunck.info/iehttpheaders.html

I use HttpWatch in IE (very useful, not free).
In FF you can use the free Live HTTP Headers extension.


Some User-Agent examples . . .

My IE User-Agent string:
User-Agent: Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 6.0; Windows NT 5.1; iOpus-I-M; .NET CLR 1.1.4322)

My Firefox User-Agent string:
User-Agent: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 5.1; en-US; rv:1.7.12) Gecko/20050915 Firefox/1.0.7


Some web sites may want to block "iOpus-I-M" as it is basically a macro bot.
This is from a program I have installed.
The .NET string is there because I have installed Microsoft .NET.
You may have programs installed which have added something to the User-Agent string like these examples.

The User-Agent string my also be blocked completely or modified by ad blocker, firewall, or proxy software.
Some people hide the user agent for questionable privacy concerns.
I can set the User-Agent string to anything I want in my ad blocker.
When I get the urge some web sites may have "Yeah Right" in their web logs.

The bottom line . . .
The Joomla forge does not like something in your User-Agent string.
Or your User-Agent string is being blocked all together.
It sees your IE as a robot and sends you to the forbidden page.
Check the User-Agent string being sent by your browser.


Perhaps the folks from SF would have some input on this?

[Affa]

Thank you very much!
Your comment lead me to the idea of de-installing the so-called "Free Download Manager", which hooked up into IE. And now I can access the dev sites again.

bests

[lenamtl]

Hi,

I'm using 'Free Download Manager' too, but I was using this before and it was working ok.
Since I have de-installed 'Free Download Manager'  everything is OK.


Thanks for the infos.

[klumpen]

I had the same problem. You found it in the Registry Entry under:

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\5.0\User Agent\Post Platform]
"FDM"=""

To remove it:
Simply create a textfile (ex. notepad) with these data:

Code: Select all

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\5.0\User Agent\Post Platform]
"FDM"=-

-- simply save these file under a name *.reg
than double click on that file
and click "yes"

sil te plait

[timalf]

Yep! it was Free Download Manager who caused all this!  Guess "free" isn't always good...