Guest users

[Tony Hoyle]

Whenever I log in there are around ten gust users online while I am alone as a registered user and I wonder who these guest users are and why hey are online.

[John Ratsey]

That's a valid question. I believe that such guests comprise (i) anyone who is viewing those parts of the forum which can be seen without logging in and (ii) the search engine spiders which crawl around the internet cataloging whatever they can see.

A bigger question is who / what comprised "Most Online Ever: 950 (January 23, 2020, 02:01:43 AM)". I have to wonder if someone thought it a good idea to try to crash our site using a botnet. In the past I've noted a surprising amount of website traffic from Ukraine and have blocked all access from Ukrainian web addresses as I reckon that such users are more likely to be mischief-makers than Halcrow pensioners.

[Jerry Neville]

Sounds the right approach John.  And I imagine that the Ukraine would only be one of many looking for chinks in the armour of whatever website is open for visitors/guests.