Until today I've had no problems with Cloudflare, but something seems off. I know a security check will be performed when I first log in and that's fine. Today it's performing a check for almost everything I try to do. This includes clicking the new thread link, submitting new threads and replying to threads which occurs only after I try to submit my reply. At that point after verification is complete the screen goes white and after a minute or so the post goes through. I don't mind the initial verification when I first log in, but all this seems a little ridiculous.

Until today I've had no problems with Cloudflare, but something seems off. I know a security check will be performed when I first log in and that's fine. Today it's performing a check for almost everything I try to do. This includes clicking the new thread link, submitting new threads and replying to threads which occurs only after I try to submit my reply. At that point after verification is complete the screen goes white and after a minute or so the post goes through. I don't mind the initial verification when I first log in, but all this seems a little ridiculous.

That was me back in March. I didn’t start a new thread but put it in a preexisting one

https://sitcomsonline.com/boards/showthread.php?t=491271&page=5

Maybe something TJ said back then could help now.

That was me back in March. I didn’t start a new thread but put it in a preexisting one

https://sitcomsonline.com/boards/showthread.php?t=491271&page=5

Maybe something TJ said back then could help now.


I should have posted there, TJ will probably move it.

I should have posted there, TJ will probably move it.

I think he ended up doing something with my IP address and that fixed it.

The managed challenges are set for once a week.

Challenge passage
Specify the length of time that a visitor, who has successfully completed a Challenge (Non-Interactive Challenge, Managed Challenge, or Interactive Challenge), can access your website. When the configured timeout expires, the visitor will be issued a new challenge. Challenge Passage does not apply to Rate Limiting.
Configurations
Timeout: 1 week

What browser are you using? There are many reasons for the Cloudflare managed challenges being triggered.

I will add your IP address to the skip list.

AI Overview

Cloudflare challenges are triggered by its Bot Management system when a web request exhibits suspicious or automated behavior. Common triggers include:

Low Bot Scores: Cloudflare assigns requests a bot score from 1 to 99; scores below 30 typically trigger an immediate challenge.

IP Reputation: Using shared or low-cost VPNs, proxy servers, or IP addresses flagged for previous malicious or scraping activity.

Unusual Request Rates: Navigating the site much faster than a human could (e.g., automated bots) or making rapid, repeated requests.

Browser Environment: Using headless browsers (like Selenium or Playwright), disabled JavaScript, or having ad-blockers that disrupt client-side signals.

Firewall Rules: Website administrators may manually set specific WAF Custom Rules to challenge traffic from certain regions, host servers, or unauthorized command-line tools.

Im thankful I do not get any challenges as I would not be able to pass them!!!

Same thing again this morning. Every link I click a verification is done and when I refresh a page. I should also mention that I'm using my phone, don't know if it makes a difference or not.

I was blocked yesterday for a little bit but then it let me in again... (I think Todd refreshed stuff)

I kind of get inundated with them sometimes--it varies--I've had 2 challenges this morning, which is no big deal. Todd did say it could be due to an ad blocker, which I use. My internet provider is Comcast.

One thing it has occasionally done, is challenge in the middle of a post, and a bot doesn't post. I doubt Cloudflare is sophisticated enough to "know" that though.

I'm glad we have Cloudflare, since the alternative would be no Sitcoms site, it seems.

I didn't make any changes. It's odd Charlie would still be getting them because I whitelisted his IP address. The only time I saw more than one challenge in a week was when I got disconnected a few times within minutes.

I'm going to try it without the managed challenges for the USA to see how it runs. What could possibly go wrong? I think most of the automated traffic and bots will still be blocked. I still have the managed challenges turned on for all of the other countries where the bulk of the bots are located.

I turned them back on for the USA. It's definitely noticeably faster with them on for every country. There were also many more spammer registrations by bots when they were turned off. I changed the challenge passage time to 1 month instead of 1 week.

If anyone is getting the repeated challenges, we need to figure out what's causing them. Do they happen just on this site or other sites that use Cloudflare as well?

If your IP address has been whitelisted and you are still getting the challenges, then you likely have been flagged by Cloudflare as suspicious for one the triggers listed in an earlier post.

I know you tried to add nicetrick.info todd but I still cant get on with it..

If you add the IP I should be able tp get here right?

I'm all for the Cloudflare thing, since it was pretty sluggish earlier.

I know you tried to add nicetrick.info todd but I still cant get on with it..

If you add the IP I should be able tp get here right?

Maybe. What's the IP address? Cloudflare could be blocking it.

I'm all for the Cloudflare thing, since it was pretty sluggish earlier.

It was pretty sluggish for me earlier too.

There were 278,444 requests from Baidu (a Chinese search engine) in the last 24 hours. I blocked them. It should be faster now with more of the US bots blocked.

You can see some big spikes in the amount of requests when it slows down.

Special thanks to opus for sending a donation to help pay for this month's Cloudflare service.

:tiphat:

Thank you Opus!!

I would like to send Todd money also if I could!! -- I SEE HOW HARD IT IS TO RUN THIS SITE!!

Todd: I left you an email on how to allow HTTP with cloudfare.. (Then your HTACCESS file will dictate things again)

There were 278,444 requests from Baidu (a Chinese search engine) in the last 24 hours. I blocked them. It should be faster now with more of the US bots blocked.

You can see some big spikes in the amount of requests when it slows down.

Special thanks to opus for sending a donation to help pay for this month's Cloudflare service.

Looking at the "Currently Active" list, I think this was a key find--thanks!

Is anyone else who uses Safari on a Mac having problems accessing the site? I received the below message. I added his IP address to the whitelist.

Love your website BUT the last few days using SAFARI to access your website isn't working properly and keeps taking me to RELOAD THE PAGE which I've tried multiple times. Today I gave up and by using CHROME the problem is gone. Please look into this as I'm sure many MAC users have encountered the exact same problem, and Yes, I have the LATEST version installed.

Safari works ok when I use it Todd....

Is anyone else who uses Safari on a Mac having problems accessing the site? I received the below message. I added his IP address to the whitelist.

Love your website BUT the last few days using SAFARI to access your website isn't working properly and keeps taking me to RELOAD THE PAGE which I've tried multiple times. Today I gave up and by using CHROME the problem is gone. Please look into this as I'm sure many MAC users have encountered the exact same problem, and Yes, I have the LATEST version installed.

I'm on MacOS/Safari 26.5.2 (which is the latest release) and I have had a few messages about a reload due to the site using significant memory. It's not as pervasive as the message you attached--I had it once last night, and a few times over the last several weeks. Previous to that, I never got the message, which makes me think it's a Safari browser problem.

Special thanks to opus for sending a donation to help pay for this month's Cloudflare service.

:tiphat:

Cool. Now when it acts all wonky everyone knows who to blame :thumbsup:

I got a Cloudflare question. Not here, because I have EZ Pass here, but at other sites when I get it. For example, let’s say theGangGreen.com, a Jets site, which I read but haven’t registered, just lurk (Don’t ask why, just because). Sometimes it verifies me and lets me right in, sometimes I have click I’m human. How come it varies?

I got a Cloudflare question. Not here, because I have EZ Pass here, but at other sites when I get it. For example, let’s say theGangGreen.com, a Jets site, which I read but haven’t registered, just lurk (Don’t ask why, just because). Sometimes it verifies me and lets me right in, sometimes I have click I’m human. How come it varies?

I've never had to click the checkbox in Google Chrome. It's always automatic. I went to theGangGreen.com. It took a good 20-30 seconds for it to verify.

I've had to click the checkbox on some other sites when using different browsers. I guess it depends on your browser and what you are doing at the time.

The amount of searches you do on here was probably the trigger for you getting multiple challenges.

AI Overview
Cloudflare challenges are triggered by suspicious traffic signals, bad IP reputations, and strict security settings. They serve to separate real humans from automated bots.

Common Triggers
IP Reputation: High threat scores, shared VPNs/proxies, or networks with past abuse flag the connection.

Browser and Environment Issues: Missing JavaScript, strict ad-blockers, or headless browsers/automation tools (like Selenium) fail silent checks.

Traffic Patterns: Rapid-fire requests or unusual user-agent headers look like automated scripts.

Security Rules: Website owner configurations like Web Application Firewall (WAF) custom rules, rate limiting, or high site security levels.

Why Different Challenge Types Appear
JS (JavaScript) Challenge: Runs silently in the background to test if a browser can execute simple scripts without bothering the user.

Managed Challenge: Adjusts its difficulty automatically based on how suspicious the visitor looks, ranging from invisible checks to a simple checkbox.

Interactive Challenge: Forces a manual user action (like checking a Turnstile box) when automated signals are too strong to verify passively.