PSA: Script Enforcer Backdoor
phoenix is plotting a revenge scheme 
Probably also shows how many people are still trying to use old shity leaks that had SE code in it...
I actually had a chat with him before this PSA, as my admins were effected due to the "wonky" way my server's permissions work.
I was the same calm person I always am, and he actually helped me identify his script, which addon might be running it, etc.
Found the outdated addon, and updated it. Redirects solved. Then I helped him solve the texture issue on his map for helping me.
I'm not wholesomely defending Phoenix, but let's take this into account:
If he did something benign, people would care less if there's a problem...
Though, this is apparently the most obvious thing that could be done to notify people "Hey, my script is no longer valid, please change away from it." without being really malevolent...
Honestly, he could have done worse, like sell his domain to a hacking group. :/
There was no need to redirect users to his server to tell people scripts are outdated...
He re-directed users to his server, for gain. If he truly wanted to enforce people to stop using SE, he could of just threw the print in there, and been done. Eventually server owners get tired of random prints spamming their console and they'll investigate. but to actually cause people to redirect to his server (which is for financial gain obviously) is where it isn't excusable.
He even threw in a randomization which in these types of situations, is so people can't exactly "pin point" what action is triggering the response. When something is going wrong with your server, you start flipping through everything, and look for pattern, with randomization, it's a lot harder to find said pattern.
Also good luck finding what addon has SE from the 200 addons servers run.
If it was some sort of visual thing like chat spam or something on-screen, I'm sure somebody would just code something to block it then call it a day.
I've seen that sort of thing before in another game, and it wasn't until the author started crashing servers that everyone made the shift away...
I can understand the frustration, I felt it too when I was dealing with the issue on my network!
Though, in the end, I was calm, I actually went out of my way to contact him and learn the whole truth.
That's why I'm not supportive of what he did, but I see where he's coming from and can agree he could have done MUCH worse to the many servers running addons with SE script.
ByHanderilat 10th of February 2018 19:05:23
If it was some sort of visual thing like chat spam or something on-screen, I'm sure somebody would just code something to block it then call it a day.I've seen that sort of thing before in another game, and it wasn't until the author started crashing servers that everyone made the shift away...
I doubt someone would put the effort in figuring out how to block the spam instead of just updating the addon if the source of it was provided.
It depends on entirely on the server owner. I never liked my servers spamming useless shit. I would kill any scripts prints on bootup or run unless they were vital, and I would make a debug command which only allowed for console prints to happen for 20 minutes, and then kick off. Some server owners don't care, while others will clean it up. You cannot force every single person. But finding the source is a lot easier than writing an override to stop it. A lot of server owners have zero idea of how to write gLua.
But hell, I would have even been a little better with "You're using SE, get rid of it" and then forced the server to just restart, rather than redirecting people to his own gmod server.
nice post and also nice work with the help for posting grep line for finding his shit
most useful post ive read so far in past 2 weeks
ByRichardat 10th of February 2018 19:07:50
It depends on entirely on the server owner. I never liked my servers spamming useless shit. I would kill any scripts prints on bootup or run unless they were vital, and I would make a debug command which only allowed for console prints to happen for 20 minutes, and then kick off. Some server owners don't care, while others will clean it up. You cannot force every single person. But finding the source is a lot easier than writing an override to stop it. A lot of server owners have zero idea of how to write gLua.But hell, I would have even been a little better with"You're using SE, get rid of it" and then forced the server to just restart, rather than redirecting people to his own gmod server.
Hence why I don't support it, say he could have done worse, that sort of thing.
He could have done better, but in the end he still achieved his goal. Getting a PSA active so people can hopefully deactivate SE...
Edited
ByQuack🦆at 10th of February 2018 19:12:40
nice post and also nice work with the help for posting grep line for finding his shitmost useful post ive read so far in past 2 weeks
Are you running an old version of ZForum Sync? If you are, chances are, you're being effected by SE script from the old DRM.
wireshark + beautifier, boom bypassed in 20 seconds
As far as I know from learning the full story, the SE domain may be closing soon, and since who knows who or what will buy a domain under the same IP/name...
...yeah...
This thread contains the first posts I have ever made here in GModstore/Sciptfodder, and the main point I'm trying to get across is, let's focus on helping networks remove the backdoor instead of demonizing Phoenix.
Who knows? Now that we know about what he's doing, maybe he could help us with that sort of fix...?
I just encountered him less than or equal to a week ago, so do what you will, but I'm on the "let's help networks close the backdoor", since we are basically on a time limit.
ByHanderilat 10th of February 2018 19:27:19
As far as I know from learning the full story, the SE domain may be closing soon, and since who knows who or what will buy a domain under the same IP/name......yeah...This thread contains the first posts I have ever made here in GModstore/Sciptfodder, and the main point I'm trying to get across is, let's focus on helping networks remove the backdoor instead of demonizing Phoenix.Who knows? Now that we know about what he's doing, maybe he could help us with that sort of fix...?I just encountered him less than or equal to a week ago, so do what you will, but I'm on the "let's help networks close the backdoor", since we are basically on a time limit.
Phoenix will just stab you in the back when you least expect it, he's like a snake. Trust us, a lot of us know him personally and even gave him money when he was on his ass with no job or home and we still got screwed over.
If you really want to hate on the guy because it's essential to your process of coping, then maybe focus on the fix, then after it's made, finish your coping process. Even if it's a free script that when dropped into garrysmod/addons simply reads all other addons for SE script and prints them for concerned server owners, it's something productive towards the issue...
I shared this to other creators that i bought from to make sure they know about this
Some people are lazy and look for something automatic, trust me, I've encountered them more than once before.
The other thing I've encountered is people focus on demonizing the person responsible, instead of finding an automatic way of fixing what they've done.
Call me dumb or whatever, I've put up with all sorts of hate all throughout my life for how I think, but in the end, I think we can all agree that fixing the mess is probably more important in "the long run"