How to fix Invalid URL issue This worked like a treat, easy to do and works every time. FIX – flushdns Click on Start Click on Run Type cmd and click on OK button In the command prompt windows, type ipconfig /flushdns and hit enter button. FIXED – try the website again.. Refresh page (F5) […]
IT Talk, Discussion & Articles
Covering Domain Names, Email, Hosting, Internet, Publishing, Search, Software and Technical topics
Stop Contact Form 7 Spam in WordPress
After a flood of spam originating through our WordPress Contact forms with No CAPTCHA reCAPTCHA, we needed a fix. This excellent article by barn2.co.uk shows 6 Ways to Stop Contact Form 7 Spam in WordPress The 2 we liked and are now trying are: 1. Quiz Simple quizzes are becoming a popular way to combat […]
Spam Emails: trаnsfer 0.5 bitcоins
Has anyone else received “trаnsfer 0.5 bitcоins” message over the past few days (August-September 2018)? We’re receiving 100 an hour. To make matters worse, setting up a rule to deal with them doesn’t work. First I tried: “bitcоins” and then “0.5 bitcоins” but the rule does not remove all the messages. Any suggestions? From: MiguelGyday […]
Back To Firefox
Like many, I moved to Chrome because Firefox was experiencing too many bugs and issues. But wow, here in 2018 I discover (see article blow) that the latest Firefox is much improved and capable of better managing privacy. I’ve been saying for some time, the shine has gone off Chrome (chuckles) which has become a […]
How to fix scanpst: Microsoft Outlook
Issues with Microsoft Outlook can be fixed by running Microsoft’s excellent scanpst.exe software. scanpst.exe resolves issues including Outlook Data File (.pst or .ost) won’t open, error message that Outlook can’t open this set of folders, or if you suspect the file is damaged. How to repair your Outlook personal folder file (.pst) Applies to: Outlook 2000 – […]
Google Chrome: Your connection is not private
The reality is Google Chrome security warnings are going to become more prevalent. It is well known Google is ramping up its warnings on insecure websites from May 2018. As this screenshot highlights, it is strict enough to include it’s own web sites. Here is the offending message when we visited: https://www.google.com/recaptcha/admin Your connection is not […]
Spam Emails: No Senders Email Address
The latest bout of spam emails flooding in is proving to be very difficult to combat. The usual practice of using rules to manage them is more time consuming than deleting them one by one. SPAMfighter is not dealing with them. The issue is that each message has a different: Senders name Senders email address […]
Hotmail Blocklist (S3150)
No-one likes spam specially HOTMAIL. Personally, I’d rather HOTMAIL adopted the Gmail approach of moving suspected spam into a spam folder instead of rejecting the email. In this case, HOTMAIL has determined my Internet Service Provider’s IP Address is blocked, not me or my IP address but the entire network. My ISP is Optus (Australia) so effectively, […]
Google + Mobile First Index
Who doesn’t love saying: I told you so I have been banging on about Google and MOBILE for quite some time. To me it was only logical. More and more people are searching the internet on mobile devices, whether on tablets or smartphones. So, it was only a matter of time before engines like Google […]
Google Search: Event Calendar
The search engine that is Google is not only amazing, it is responsive, constantly changing and full of anomalies. Imagine how complicated the algorithm is that decides how results are shown? Indexing content aside, search engine results are what every Google customer is interested in. An anomaly we see relates to “event” websites. The current (2018) algorithm […]
Support Ticket Frustrations
I find it extremely frustrating when I receive a response to a ticket that does not include my original message. Generally we’re talking about support tickets, where the customer requests a service (ie rectify). I understand the need for business to provide a ticketing system to manage support services but so many are frustrating, slow and […]
Why You Need A Website Security Certificate
If there were any doubts about whether to get a security certificate for your web site then this message from Trustico, one of the world’s biggest certificate suppliers will help. Address = http: Google Chrome will show NOT SECURE to every visitor from May 2018. Address = https: Web site is secure (no message). In […]
Don’t Let Your Website Be Marked as “Not Secure”
SECURITY NEWS | FEBRUARY 2018 All types of website: business, freelance, creative, agency or blogger will need SSL. Unless you want Google telling visitors that your website is NOT secure, then you must have a security certificate. From July 2018, Google Chrome will display a warning message on HTTP web sites with any type of […]
How to change .htaccess IP address
This explains how to update an IP address in a .htaccess file. 1. Login to cpanel (hosting control panel). 2. Go to File Manager 3. Select public_html (left side navigation), displays all folders & files 4. Highlight (left click) .htaccess (first file under folders). If you cannot see the file, go to Settings (top right […]
How To Block Senders Name: Outlook
Yes, me again, raving on about how to deal with spam emails. Today I have good news. I get hundreds emails every day that are spam often from the same name. One of the issues that filters have trouble dealing with is spammers that use one name but different sending email addresses. Now, I have […]
Could not copy file: wordpress
WordPress 4.9.1 is available! Please update now. You can update to WordPress 4.9.1 automatically: I ran the update and got his message: Unpacking the update… Verifying the unpacked files… Preparing to install the latest version… The update cannot be installed because we will be unable to copy some files. When I googled the error I […]
Backslash PHP Issue Resolved
A previously good working edit form starting adding a backslash ( \ ) before every quotation character ( “ ) after save. Before Save = src=”file.jpg” After Save = src=\”file.jpg\” I discovered the cause was located in a php.ini file (root – public_html) The cause = magic_quotes I turned [magic_quotes] OFF and it stopped adding the backslash magic_quotes_gpc […]
Spam Idea: Outsmarting Spammers
I’ve got an idea how to automate moving spam from the inbox direct to the delete folder: I operate a publishing company with multiple email addresses. Every day, spam messages flood in with the “same” spam message going to multiple email addresses. Doesn’t this mean, this is a way of identifying spam> Isn’t this an […]
How to Fix: Enter Network Password Credentials
This simple and easy to follow fix works 100% every time. MJTube presents a video of a simple fix how to stop a PC asking you to Enter Network Password Credentials in Windows 10,8.1,7. The only thing he doesn’t say is: change the setting on the computer you are trying to connect to. ie: Message […]
WS_FTP LE | Profiles Missing
This is a short story about WS_FTP LE profiles | Now You See Them, Now You Don’t I see and experience some weird stuff working on my Windows10 PC and various software including WS_FTP LE I’m writing this for the software users out there that may run into the same issue. I fired up my PC […]
cPanel: AutoSSL certificate renewal may cause a reduction of coverage
Typical email from cPanel to account contact: domain.com: The AutoSSL certificate renewal may cause a reduction of coverage starting 2017-00-00 at 00:00:00 A reduction of coverage refers to “search engine ranking”. Emails include a list of failures for cname like ftp, web disk etc. Fix: Disregard email (delete) Please check the release notes for 68 […]
Explained: .well-known
Looking through my hosting folders and noticed a new subdirectory (folder) that we didn’t put there. .well-known | pki-validation What is it and how did it get there? cPanel automatically adds SSL certificates to your domains so you rank better on search engines and have a more secure site. The process of generating these certificates […]
Domain Name Spam
It was only a matter of time. Register a new domain name and watch the emails flood in, and lately, phone calls as well. Spam offers Search engine registration (SEO) Logo design Website design Hosting services Renew domain These are all products and services we offer so it’s a matter of dealing with them. Fantastic […]
My Story: Online Directory
My story is one of frustration, having a great idea, building it and then having it taken away. The idea: build a target specific online directory. Build it: Commencing in 1998, the UK Motoring Directory (ukmd.co.uk) was one of the world’s first online automotive directories It was definitely the world’s first CMS, dynamic and database […]
Get A Valid SSL Certificate
Google’s Chrome browser will display a security warning on all web sites that are not HTTPS starting October 2017. If your website has text input fields on an HTTP page or it is opened in the incognito mode, Chrome will display a warning notification to the user. What’s next? Your website will be deemed “not […]
Chrome Browser Secure Warnings
Google’s Chrome browser will add new ‘Not secure’ warnings starting October 2017. Chrome (version 62) will show a ‘NOT SECURE’ warning when users enter text in a form on an HTTP page, and for all HTTP pages in Incognito mode. Google has been on the secure browser path for a number of years now and […]
Advertising Agencies & Publishing
This page is a heads up for advertising agencies and “millennial” upstarts. Before you make contact, please understand our attitude towards advertising agencies. We’ve seen hundreds over the years in various forms. Odds on, first contact to us comes from the agency newbie who’s done the course and passed with flying colours. Our phone rings […]
Web Page Accessibility
We received an email which raised the subject of web accessibility, in other words, are our web pages accessible by people with disabilities. In this case, the writer was referring to sight impairment, although there are many kinds of disability that can be considered. Accessibility Inquiry* I noticed your page onlymelbourne.com.au links to timeanddate.com from […]
How To Change Content
Here we explain how to make changes to content found on the Ripefruit network. Changing information is extremely easy. Follow these steps Go to the page you wish to change Scroll down and locate an UPDATE link below the content. On some sites it is a large blue UPDATE button. Click on it. The next […]
Server Migration: Uber > Netregistry
VPS server (ripefruitdns): leased from UberGlobal (previously Jumba) since 2008. In February 2017, AFR reported: Melbourne IT has acquired Australia’s third largest cloud service provider UberGlobal. In March 2017 we were advised by UberGlobal by email that it was moving to Netregistry. Melbourne IT acquired NetRegistry in 2014. We will be relocating your VPS to our new […]
Best WordPress Security Fix
How we locked down our WordPress web sites, but in one move drastically improved server performance. Keeping in mind that the most common attack against WordPress is brute force passwords, then why not stop it in it’s tracks by blocking access to wp-admin. By blocking all access to WordPress Admin except to known IP Addresses, […]
How important is website security?
As a host as well as a developer we see both sides of website security when it comes to attack and defence. An idea of the level of attacks still taking place, we see a (monthly) report published by security expert Wordfence, WordPress Attack Report. WordPress Attack Report This report contains the top 25 attacking […]
Mobile Friendly Web Sites
MOBILE now accounts for over half of all web traffic¹, making performance on small screens more important than ever. Scary isn’t it.. “half” of all traffic comes from users on smart phones. A mobile responsive web site detects the device being used and displays the page according to the device. Web sites that are mobile […]
Wordfence Security Audit Service
I read this morning (May 2017) that Wordfence (security) has launched a WordPress Security Audit Service. Long overdue, it is a must for any WordPress owner who values their security. Here is the announced by Mark Maunder, Wordfence Founder/CEO. Wordfence Launches WordPress Security Audit Service This morning I am very excited to announce that Wordfence is […]
Don’t Risk Your Search Ranking
I was actually in the process of buying a security certificate for a customer when this message flashed up on my screen Don’t Risk Your Search Ranking Search engines give better search ranking results to websites that are encrypted with an officially recognized SSL Certificate. It then prompted me to add an email address and […]
3rd Party Email Services
This page is for customers who wish to use a 3rd party service to manage their email accounts. Common 3rd party services include: Office 365, Rackspace, Google Apps. The same basic instructions apply for each service. ccess to MX records and Advanced Zone Control modules is made via cPanel It is highly recommended that customers engage […]
Scam Of The Day: searchregistration.org
This week’s scam email comes from a company [searchregistration.org] OMG, avoid late fees and register these domains – shock horror! Scared, what am I going to do! Beside the web site was down when I visited, a whois shows another hidden faceless company attempting to scam/scare good people out of their money Who are they? No-one […]
WPMU DEV: Directory Plugin for Non Members
Once again with WPMU DEV, the devil is in the detail. My version of ‘Directory’ plugin is out of date: There is a new version of Directory available on WPMU DEV. View version 2.2.6.5 details or Install WPMU DEV Dashboard to update. For reasons detailed here, I cancelled my WPMU DEV some time ago, so […]
Plugin: I’m not a robot CAPATCHA
There is not a internet user anywhere that likes seeing a CAPTCHA at the bottom of a form. In 2016, we started seeing “I’m not a robot” simple one TICK verification and immediately fell in love. It’s so simple and most importantly, works every time with a simple click by a human. How it works […]
WordPress Plugin Updates: Do They Ever End?
Is it just me? WordPress plugin updates never seem to end. I totally understand regular updates to “security” plugins but why are there so many for “SEO” plugins? Almost every week there is an update, messages all over admin alerting changes, bla bla bla. A common culprit is NextGEN Gallery, it too seems to update […]
Sell A Domain Name & Web Site
We often get asked where can we sell our domain name, web site or both. There are a multitude of places where you can sell, suggestions include: Place a FOR SALE sign on your web site Advertise in related publications Advertise in web brokerages Web Brokerage & Marketplace SEDO.com – the world’s largest domain name marketplace […]
Email Reply Account
This page describes how to create a professional looking REPLY email account that can be used to reply to any email. It is easy to create, follow the steps below. Open Email Software Program (ie Outlook) on PC/MAC File/Account Settings Email Accounts (pop-up screen) select New…, Email Account, Next, Manual setup (option), Next, POP/IMAP, Next […]
The BEST WordPress Security Plugin of all time
Having read forums, Googled for hours, I wanted to know: What is the best security plugin? What is the best security plugin to deal with Brute Force attacks? What WordPress security plugin is best to block comment spammers? WordPress is the most popular blogging platform in the world with millions of websites using WordPress as […]
Spam: See Your Invoice
August 2016 – The latest round of spam emails invite the reader to view an invoice that is attached to the email. What I find alarming is the spammer has managed to send these spam emails to email addresses which are not in the public domain. They are email addresses we setup for specific use, […]
Firefox: Your connection is not secure
We do have a giggle when we see a page with this error message. Your connection is not secure In this instance we were using Firefox to access Google Adsense: https://www.google.com/adsense/ We visit this page most days, so we “know” the link address is OK. It’s very kind of Firefox to alert us so the question […]
WPMU DEV
When I first found WPMU DEV, I was impressed. On the surface, here is a service born and managed in my home city of Melbourne offering 100+ plugins, themes and support for WordPress. My first major disappointment was the cost. Having done my “due dilligence”, the contact page shows Australian contact information leading me to believe […]
Affiliate Marketing: Australia
Website owners (publishers) looking for revenue streams have three options: Advertising – Google Adsense, Bing Ads Affiliations – Commission, Pay-Per-Click Products/Services – Marketing retail Affiliation marketing is an excellent revenue source for publishers. Publisher* A publisher is a website owner with a sizable audience of visitors. What Is Affiliation? An affiliation program is when a […]
WordPress Admin Protection
This post explains how WordPress owners can lock down and fully protect their website, and improve server performance. It is achieved by denying access to WordPress Admin by allowing only known IP Addresses to access the area. All Ripefruit hosting clients with WordPress are fully protected If a client sees a 404 or 500 Forbidden […]
LastPass = Fail & Pass
FINALLY.. the end for LastPass! After repeated complaints, each time with LastPass blaming Chrome for its issues, I’d had enough. April 2023 = Get RoboForm After years of bitching and complaining about LastPass, I bit the bullet, downloaded and installed RoboForm.. and wished I had done it years ago. Purchase and learn more about RoboForm www.roboform.com […]
Ransomware – What Is It & How To Remove
Ransomware is a particularly invasive form of malware that takes a victim’s data or device and holds it hostage (or displays bogus claims of illegal activity, porn usage or suggests that a system is already infected with viruses) until a sum of money is handed over in order to secure its release. While ransomware has […]