RLGaming.com

well, we are perhaps at it again... looking for a new software.

in case some of you are not aware, some folks seem to have hacked onto the ventrilo server. they did no harm, and it is not like they could really hurt anything as far as i know - other than actually cause mischief in the ventrilo itself.

i have looked into the new version, and do not like what i see in the license agreement. it is limited to 8 clients at a time, or you have to pay or be liable to punitive measures... in this day and age i am not too comfortable with that. i am kinda tired of that guy just trying to make money - although i guess we all are...

so i guess we can stick where we are...or look for something else. what are everyone's thoughts?

and i want to hear from everyone! we can/will of course give anything new time for testing before we switch to anything...

looks like the other options are:

battlecom

roger wilco

teamspeak 2

battlecom is old, but some folks still think it is the best.

rw we all know...

teamspeak 2 is a newer version....rolled out early this year i think. has a lot of options and is probably a bit more than what we need, but...

opinions?

I hate RW's quality. Can't understand people when you need to the most!

TS2 has decent quality. Better than RW, not as good as Ventrilo. I've used it a few times and it hasn't impressed me one way or another.

Battlecomm I used a long time past, before I found Ventrilo. I don't remember too much about it now.

Is there no way to lock down the Ventrilo server better? Was it a case of them finding out the password, or was it just a vulnerability they exploited?

Well there are three basic criteria IMHO - it has to be better than what we are using now, and it has to be free. And, of course it has to be 'team friendly'.
But I'm not sure what's going on here with regard to a search for new software. Are we experiencing problems which are unacceptable, or that exclude a member of the team from taking part? I may not be privvy to any problem if it's not happening with FalconAF or iL-2.

ummm...just read the first post.

and yes, inn addition we have one person on crappy 56k that has problems, but his config has not been tweaked yet for a lower bandwidth codec.

I'm happy with just sticking to Ventrilo but I also dont mind going back to Roger Wilco. Sure, the sound quality isn't so great but it's passable.

I asked Steel to look into the new Vent software because at times in groups for Guild Wars, teams require you to have the latest Vent client. This is mainly for teaming in the high end areas where voice comms are a must for survival.

Unlike TS, you cant have 2 versions of Vent on your PC. I have no idea if Vent is backwards compatible with eariler version like TS was. Anyone know if the lastest Vent client will work with the Current server?

I have 2 versions of Ventrilo installed. You have to install the newer version (2.3) first, and then the older version. (2.13). I have to manually enter the PW for each server when I switch, but it's not a big deal.

As far as the "hackers" go, might I suggest you make a few people vent server admins and when these "hackers" log onto the server, they can be banished by either name or IP#. I don't know if they can get around the banishments, but it might work. It almost sounds like one of us WOF/ELH members has a compromised computer (its been hacked) and these hackers have picked up some info that allows them access to the Vent server info.

I used to run a TS2 server for Shadowbane and CoH from my 2nd computer. TS2 is a decent program, it has good functionality and options. I shut down the TS2 server due to lack of usage. I could always turn it back on as a backup for our Ventrilo, unless Steel can run a Vent and TS2 server at the same time. If we do not switch to the newer version of Vent, I suggest we try TS2.

Oh yeah, okay I see now. Earlier on when replying i was in a rush on the way out the door for hockey so only really scanned the post quickly.
SB, if that were the case surely all we need do is replace the password? Not sure there. And maybe we could do with a general forum on PC security, suggested programs, links for useful net stuff. What do you all think? I mean, fore those of us who aren't too net savvy, or whose 'interest' is focused elsewhere, maybe a fast-track quick glance of what can be done to ensure a bit more security for their own PC, and as a result the server side may actually benefit from there being less chance of personal PC infection or being compromised. Surely there are enough guys here who know more than enough. bring it to a level for us simpletons, who are really net beginners in a sense. Just an idea . . . .

i would recommend TS2. The 151 use it exculsively and have had little/no problems with it. The biggest thing to happen was the ip changed when the hosts upgraded our server

i can actually run both at the same time...on the server - TS2 and Vent.

a password change could easily fix any potential issues - it may be just that they found the password documented somewhere.

that is the easiest route of course, change the password and leave it as is.

Buff,
do those other folks always have a server you can use (the ones wiht the newer version of vent)?

Moose,
are any of the 151 still on dialup??? does TS2 work o.k. there?

I have to say that I love vent and perhaps it's a simple measure of giving ppl the right to ban unwelcomed guests. However, if that is impossible, it sounds like TS2 is the way to go.

well I tried to have 2 installs but it tells me to remove one to instal lthe other.......so much for that. I am not that good to get into the registy to run a dual install........back to the drawing board

Softball can probably help...

SB???

Steel wrote:on dialup??? does TS2 work o.k. there?

Worked okay for Hondo and Stache (both on dialup) back when Sir Death ran a TS2 server.

TD

I would say first that we change the password and see if that fends off the baddies. If we can go two or more years between hack attempts, that's good enough for me.

I like Ventrilo and would favor it over a change. I have no knowledge over the other clients except that I despise RW.

none of the 151 are on dialup as far as i know. That being said, back in the day, when i was on a measly 56k connection, TS always ran well for me, and as Tach mentioned, others have found it to work well too.

Well, if that is the first time we've been hacked in so long then perhaps it's a good record. Maybe a password changhe will be adequate?
I have been, and will continue to monitor my own system for any hacks. And will also be purchasing some new software this weekend for the benefit of a decent firewall and anti-virus/anti-spyware. If I can find something that is. Do any of you guys have any suggestions or recommendations? Even if it's freeware, I don't mind - it's more important that it does the job than anything else of course.

KODIAK wrote:Do any of you guys have any suggestions or recommendations? Even if it's freeware, I don't mind - it's more important that it does the job than anything else of course.

You might take a look at Sygate Personal Firewall. It's free.

Also see:

AdAware
Spybot
Mozilla Firefox web browser
Cookie Pal (can detect and control cookies in things other than browsers - yes, cookies are everywhere)

And if you use Outlook Express set it to send and receive plain text only with NO preview pane. An ounce of prevention...

TD

actually, there is absolutely nothing wrong with the XP firewall. I suggest using it. It is free as it comes with your operating system and is intergrated with it. You can also try the Microsoft anti spam/blocker software, which is also free, but any of the other anti- software above is good too.

so i think we can just stick with what we have for voice comms. i am going to change the password in the near future - so hopefully everyone is reading this. it will be posted in the forums.

i found where the password was... when i moved the ventrilo server over to the new linux machine, i ftp'ed the directory contents over to the new server. the .ini file was in that directory, and of course it contains the password for admins and the ventrilo server connect password. so those folks did not really hack it, they just stumbled across it. i have removed it now...but will still be changing the passwords.