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EarlG

(23,177 posts)
Fri Sep 5, 2025, 03:24 PM Sep 5

DU is temporarily in "members only" mode (UPDATE: Back to normal for now) [View all]

Last edited Fri Sep 5, 2025, 07:14 PM - Edit history (3)

UPDATE 7:15 PM ET FRIDAY:

It seems that the excess traffic was caused by a search engine crawler that was spamming us with requests. We've blocked the crawler and it seems to have significantly reduced the excess traffic, so we've switched "members only" mode off again, and the site is currently back to normal. Hopefully things will remain stable overnight.

ORIGINAL MESSAGE:

We are currently seeing a significant spike in traffic above our normal levels, which appears to be ongoing, and the increase in traffic is causing the site to slow down for everyone.

In "members only" mode, DU can only be viewed by members who are signed in, which significantly reduces the number of connections to the database, meaning that signed-in members can use the site as normal while we investigate the situation. We're looking into what is causing this spike in traffic right now.
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Thanks for staying on top of it, Earl. Aristus Sep 5 #1
Thanks for letting us know, my dear EarlG! CaliforniaPeggy Sep 5 #2
Did we get hacked? 1WorldHope Sep 5 #3
No (nt) EarlG Sep 5 #9
Thanks, EarlG! Hope it isn't a DDoS attack, but with this fascist administration... highplainsdem Sep 5 #4
Thanks for the update Earl irisblue Sep 5 #5
See the Star Membership page Pinback Sep 5 #8
Great Idea! FemDemERA Sep 5 #41
I like that! n/t yellow dahlia Sep 5 #12
Done! FemDemERA Sep 5 #43
Thanks malaise Sep 5 #6
Same orangecrush Sep 5 #11
True of many of us True Dough Sep 5 #15
Hehehehhe malaise Sep 5 #27
Ha! So true. 😆 Dave Bowman Sep 5 #44
Same here. ancianita Sep 5 #24
Thanks for information. riversedge Sep 5 #7
I was wondering! BumRushDaShow Sep 5 #10
Battle stations orangecrush Sep 5 #13
Would not surprise me if we find MAGAts KS Toronado Sep 5 #14
Agreed! Flash953 Sep 5 #16
Well, they have nothing better to do. Dave Bowman Sep 5 #45
Earl G Botany Sep 5 #17
Alert: Botany throwing shade at Botany... quaint Sep 5 #21
What you said, Botany BoRaGard Sep 5 #28
I haven't watched cable news in ages, they keep sucking more and more. Cronkite must be spinning fast in his grave. Dave Bowman Sep 5 #46
I can watch some MSNBC later in the day or on the weekends and just a little CNN but there are so many Botany Sep 5 #55
I think that many people in this country and around the world who normally are Apolitico are, since fascism ImNotGod Sep 5 #18
+1, very true. Dave Bowman Sep 5 #47
Thank you, EarlG! bamagal62 Sep 5 #19
I was hoping the spike was due to news of Felon47's death Orrex Sep 5 #20
Me too. Hope springs eternal. NNadir Sep 5 #50
Thank you Keepthesoulalive Sep 5 #22
Caution seems appropriate TNNurse Sep 5 #23
Maybe this... surfered Sep 5 #25
👍 Thank you. mwmisses4289 Sep 5 #26
Why not make DU for registered members all the time? Bluestocking Sep 5 #29
Why? niyad Sep 5 #31
There would be a significant loss of ad revenue if we did that EarlG Sep 5 #32
Hell no! We must reach as many people as possible. mobeau69 Sep 5 #33
+1 Abso-f-ing-lutely! pat_k Sep 5 #40
What pat_k said! Dave Bowman Sep 5 #48
We all found DU somehow. TomSlick Sep 5 #54
Sometimes, I log out and read the latest threads, as well as the replies to my posts. John1956PA Saturday #56
Wondered about that. It was very slow when I checked in earlier, but niyad Sep 5 #30
Thanks for update, EarlG. greatauntoftriplets Sep 5 #34
Echos of November 2016? SleeplessinSoCal Sep 5 #35
Now you have to say, "Pooh, pooh, pooh!" to ward off the evil spirits. Scrivener7 Sep 5 #37
Pooh? IcyPeas Sep 5 #51
Thanks. It's good to know we are protected from the barbarians at our gates! marble falls Sep 5 #36
Keep us safe! Thanks EarlG Pucks mom Sep 5 #38
Many thanks Earl. FalloutShelter Sep 5 #39
I know what it is. tavernier Sep 5 #42
Could be preemptive, like something big is about to hit the news Wednesdays Sep 5 #49
Many thanks, EarlG and Elad Alice Kramden Sep 5 #52
Yes, thanks. hermetic Sep 5 #53
Many thanks Earl for your wonderful care and knowledge Stargazer99 Saturday #57
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