Got Banned?

If you're reading this, it's probably because you have been prevented from using some feature of this Web site by a function I use to shut out hackers and other miscreants.

Logging functions on this site keep track of misbehavior, such as a person using a password cracker in an attempt to break into users' accounts, and because ISPs aren't particularly interested in policing their paying customers, my only recourse is to blacklist users with addresses from which such activity was detected. I also share my blacklist with other site operators and use the blacklists of others I trust, in an effort to protect the privacy of my own users.

Unfortunately, this often means that completely innocent people get shut out as well. Some other person who was using your current IP address (or another in the same block) or the previous owner of your e-mail address behaved badly, and you have to suffer for it.

Sorry 'bout that.

In the short run, probably the only thing you can do is attempt to access this site from a different location or using a different e-mail address.

In the long run, it would be helpful if you'd drop a note to your ISP, encouraging them to show a bit more social responsibility: the profit they earn by serving a small number of miscreants comes at the disadvantage of all the rest of their users.

For what it's worth, I keep public logs of the IP Addresses and e-mail accounts that have been disallowed access to this site - but for you, these notes will only serve to repeat something you already know: yours has been banned.