Unusally heavy boydsmaps usage

[Boyd]

Looking at the logfile, we had just about the busiest 24 hours I've ever seen. That's great, the site is here for you to use! But looking closer, much of it appeared to come from one person. I don't snoop on users or watch their activity, I just look at summaries of how much data is transferred, how many map tiles are accessed and how many people are accessing them. I also see the number of tiles and amount of data from each unique IP address.

The usage from this IP address was way beyond reasonable and suggests that somebody was mass downloading maps. Everyone is welcome to browse the maps, use them on their computers/phones and take screenshots to their hearts content. But please don't try to download them to use for other purposes, that's not what the site is for. I'll update the terms of use soon to make this clear and will probably also require everyone to click "I agree" to the rules.

I have blocked access from that IP address and will block others in the future if needed. Again, we're talking about extremely large amounts of data, many times greater than I've ever seen from a single IP address in one day. But maybe there's a good explanation? If they're an NJPB member, they can send me a private message (click on my avatar and choose "start conversation").

Think of boydsmaps like a party at my place where everyone's welcome and the food and drinks are free. Party all night, but don't fill your cooler with the free beer and take it home.

 

[bobpbx]

Looking at the logfile, we had just about the busiest 24 hours I've ever seen. That's great, the site is here for you to use! But looking closer, much of it appeared to come from one person. I don't snoop on users or watch their activity, I just look at summaries of how much data is transferred, how many map tiles are accessed and how many people are accessing them. I also see the number of tiles and amount of data from each unique IP address.

The usage from this IP address was way beyond reasonable and suggests that somebody was mass downloading maps. Everyone is welcome to browse the maps, use them on their computers/phones and take screenshots to their hearts content. But please don't try to download them to use for other purposes, that's not what the site is for. I'll update the terms of use soon to make this clear and will probably also require everyone to click "I agree" to the rules.

I have blocked access from that IP address and will block others in the future if needed. Again, we're talking about extremely large amounts of data, many times greater than I've ever seen from a single IP address in one day. But maybe there's a good explanation? If they're an NJPB member, they can send me a private message (click on my avatar and choose "start conversation").

Think of boydsmaps like a party at my place where everyone's welcome and the food and drinks are free. Party all night, but don't fill your cooler with the free beer and take it home.

Too bad you can't find the culprit. It makes zero sense to do what they are doing. They will be useless in efficiency at the very least.

 

[Boyd]

Thanks, but not looking to catch anyone. And there might be a perfectly good explanation anyway... at my "party" I notice the refrigerator is empty and naturally assume somebody is taking it home. But then I notice that Big Eddie has been sitting in the corner all night eating pizza and drinking lots of beer.

 

[Teegate]

Thanks, but not looking to catch anyone. And there might be a perfectly good explanation anyway... at my "party" I notice the refrigerator is empty and naturally assume somebody is taking it home. But then I notice that Big Eddie has been sitting in the corner all night eating pizza and drinking lots of beer.

You need to throw Big Eddy out the door.

 

[Boyd]

Naw, some people just have a bigger appetite. Join the party, eat and drink all you like. But no take-outs.

 

[Boyd]

I see somebody else had a suspiciously huge number of hits at boydsmaps last night, apparently attempting to download the 24k topos and also generating over 10,000 errors accessing nonexistent map tiles. Especially suspicious since this person was using a Linux system.

It's impossible for me to tell exactly what they were up to and I suppose it could be somebody staying up all night binging on the topo. But just a "word to the wise"... Don't try to mass download the maps on my site, that's not what it's for. So far, this seems pretty rare, but if it becomes more common, that's a good way to get me to completely pull the plug on the site. And if I get mad enough to do that, it will just be the end with no further discussion. If you know who is doing this, please ask them to stop.

 

[bobpbx]

I think it might be this guy.

https://preview.redd.it/tfz4x49g25o41.jpg?width=1080&crop=smart&auto=webp&s=88a9bf8ef3794ed27600ab63399a5c3aa5bd70af

 

[RednekF350]

I don't want to live in a world without Boyd's Maps.

 

[Boyd]

I wouldn't worry too much, just venting mainly. One incident every couple months hardly indicates a trend.

 

[Boyd]

Don't try to mass download the maps on my site, that's not what it's for.

Have not seen this for awhile, but last night somebody accessed an unreasonable number of maps over a period of about 4 hours, also generating a huge number of errors. This is very unusual and suggests downloading to me. As I have said, use the site as much as you like - stay up all night! But don't attempt to mass-download data, that will get you blocked. Thanks.

From the site terms of use

Locally-hosted maps are only available for use within the app and bulk downloading of map tiles is strictly prohibited. Activity that suggests a user is attempting to download map data in this fashion may result in a permanent block on their IP address. Suspicious or malicious user access outside of normal app functions may also result in permanent blockage. All decisions to block access are final and there is no appeal process.​

 

[rc911]

Always somebody to ruin a good thing for the rest of us. Thank's for all your, what I can only imagine, very hard work. Please continue it.