vBulletin LTS

DnP Firewall : SEO Friendly Double-Protection Layers against Flood / DoS / Spam Bots
Mod Version: 1.4, by silveryhat

DnP Firewall Gateway was designed to stand against the massive DoS attack targeted DnP Network™ few years ago. Upon installed, it has been reducing the severe level of many incidents and preventing my forum from being overload ever since. It also nearly blocks away all the automated bots that come to register for spamming on the forum. The last release was almost 3 years ago and there had never been any update to the MOD. Version 0.3 came with many issues though it was very stable. I decide to give another upgrade and simplify the code a little for another release. Don't hesitate to install DnP Firewall Gateway for your forum and hope you will find it as useful as I do.


1 - Use this simple Firewall to protect your ( vBulletin / phpBB / SMF / IPB / etc.. ) forum

1. Deny unwanted Bots
2. Reduce Spamming
3. Block Flooding Attack
4. Partially weaken DoS
5. Prevent automated malicious scripts pass through

2 - Side features

1. Increase your Adsense Impression and Revenue.
2. Act as an Introduction page for your forum.
3. SEO Friendly. (DnP Network has this firewall installed for more than 2 years. https://www.google.com/search?q=silveryhat+site:silveryhat.com returns 29,000+ results)
4. No query executed / Extremely fast

3 - Installation for vBulletin Forum

a. Upload all files from package to your forum_root
b. Open global.php using Notepad. (Why global.php ? Because global.php is the core file of vBulletin system , it is also the initial startup file that calls important database queries and keeps sensitive information. The Firewall comes before any of the processes run to prevent direct damage to the forum. That is the reason why DnP Firewall does not use any hook or come as an automatic plugin like other MOD)

Find
Add BEFORE

Simply remove this line to deactivate the firewall

c. Save and Reupload global.php to your server. Done!

3b - Upgrade
Simply perform step *If you have custom layout, do not overwrite dnp_fw_template.php*

4 - Note

Eventhough the DnP Firewall Gateway could reduce the damage of a flooding attack, it does not guarantee that all of the negative affects of an attack could be avoided. I do not hold any responsibility for such matters. As an administrator you should know that there is not software firewall that could be as effective as a hardware firewall.

You are free and encouraged to modify the Layout of the Gateway page in dnp_fw_template.php but please respect the copyrights notice of the author. Additional templates are also available if you'd want different look. (http://www.silveryhat.com/delynie/how-to-change-dnp-firewall-template-6984.html)


DnP Firewall Gateway also acts as an Introduction page for your forum if you fill it up with rich information content of your site. Adsense or other Ads could be placed here to maximize your revenue since every visitor will need to pass by this Introduction page. It almost 100% guarantees that your CTR or Page Impression will raise quickly.

5 - Compability

This MOD can be used with almost any system that runs PHP. Compatible with all vBulletin forum from 3.0.x to 3.8.x

It should not conflict with any existing MODs on your forum.

DnP Firewall Gateway consumes very little server resource because on the surface, it is just a simpe webpage. It does not execute any query, therefore your database will not be affected under any circumstances by this MOD.

DnP Firewall Gateway could together be used with http://www.silveryhat.com/delynie/f141/c-i-t-t-ng-l-inv-firewall-script-cho-di-n-3106.html to act as doubled-firewall system that 2 x the strength against Flood /DoS Attack with bonus of denying malicious query and tracking access.

DnP Firewall Gateway is also compatible with DnP Instant! AJAX/SEO Musicbox & News smart anti-flood protection that brings extra power to the firewall. The 3 firewalls, DnP Firewall Gateway - http://www.silveryhat.com/delynie/f141/c-i-t-t-ng-l-inv-firewall-script-cho-di-n-3106.html and Smart Anti-Flood from DnP Instant! AJAX/SEO Musicbox & News can be used altogether to triple the strength.

6 - History Log

v1.4

1. Optimize firewall structure
2. Optimize 2nd-layer protection

v1.3

1. Add 2nd layer protection
2. 3 more options for 2nd layer protection in config file

v1.2 Beta

1. Improve Firewall Stability
2. Add Domain option
3. Separate config file

7 - Useful links

1. http://www.silveryhat.com/delynie/f142/setup-domain-list-for-dnp-firewall-gateway-6993.html
2. http://www.silveryhat.com/delynie/f142/how-to-change-dnp-firewall-template-6984.html
3. http://www.silveryhat.com/delynie/f142/what-are-the-search-engines-allowed-by-dnp-firewall-gateway-6990.html
4. http://www.silveryhat.com/delynie/f142/branding-free-license-of-dnp-firewall-gateway-7013.html
5. http://www.silveryhat.com/delynie/f142/detail-information-about-dnp-firewall-2nd-layer-protection-7019.html
6. http://www.silveryhat.com/delynie/f143/