Timed 6...

So I made it through the first five timed challenges with javascript/greasemonkey fine but I'm having trouble with posting the answer. I retrieved the google result from google.co.uk with greasemonkey's xmlhttpRequest… (anyone needing help using this, pm me).

The problem comes with posting back. I don't think index.php?url= works because that is a GET so I used xmlHttpRequest to return the post. The variable passes fine according to tamperData and I recieve my onload debug message but the page doesn't do anything. Well all the text is then smaller so something changed but no 'time' or 'success message'.

I am fairly confident my script is right but if I could pm someone what I'm posting, I think that'd help. Also, knowing the time limit and whether I should get a 'too long' message would let me know where my errors are.

I notice that javascript is not used as much on these missions but I'm willing to help anyone looking.

zbert

256 views and no one has an opinion??

Sounds like your a very unlucky guy is all… :P

SO when it submits you get a blank white page? Or something else… I am a little confused.

No, I get the same page which has only changed in text size. Like, all the text goes from 10 to 8 pt font. I know the page is right, I know the b64 is coded to the same page as I'm sending with the http:// attached and then I know that it is getting sent as POST to index.php

is it at a different page for the POST? like submit.php? I didn't see it anywhere but it seems that it's working correctly. I don't know the time limit for this one either because it doesn't say but assuming it is 2 or 3 seconds, it should be fast enough…

zbert

Seriosly, hunderds of views and one contributer? Nice community!

zbert wrote: Seriosly, hunderds of views and one contributer? Nice community! Hah. And insulting us is definitely going to help. Maybe hundreds of people have looked at it, had no idea to the answer, and moved on, rather than posting some useless shit to clog up the forum? Ever think of that?

As to the actual question, I have no idea. Does the fact that I posted here make you feel better?

[EDIT] I've used Python for all the others. I have no experience with Greasemonkey.

Sorry for your lack of familiarity with this community. Notice that some people are not always on and some don't know the answer to life, the universe and everything. (42)

Anyways. I am not sure what is going on… You might want to check that the text you encode is correct. Try different formatting of your answer.

Sorry about that Futility, I didn't mean it as an insult though. If you notice in the initial post, I stated that those looking for help could use this forum, rather than start a new one, to post questions, especially pertaining to javascript on this challenge. I appologize for my poor choice of wording and next time will say 'nice, community let's talk about this missions whether you have questions or answers.' I just felt my previous messages were too wordy so I was trying to cut it down… but lets end this discussion so the thread stays productive!

I've started using python on this one and am learning it to be faster but am still frustrated the greasemonkey script is not working as I don't want to end up in the same spot… so thinking I may have more basic than complicated errors holding me back, here are my questions.

1. Is the format url=(in base64(http://www.result.etc)) or url=(in base64(www.result.etc))?
2. Are we using google.co.uk to search within google.co.uk specifically to UK sites or is it broader (such as all of google from google.co.uk)?
3. As the page doesn't state it, what's the time limit?
4. If the answer is right but the time too long, is there a page letting us know this or does it just bring a reload of the same page?
5. Is the POST to index.php or is there another page to post to such as previous challenges being 'index.php?check'?

Thanks, zbert

I'm wondering the same. I swear mine should be working.

Okay, here's my frustrations that I've waited to be answered:

1. Does the answer need to be url encoded as well?
2. WHAT IS THE TIME LIMIT?
3. Does a wrong answer produce a page saying wrong answer?

Short and simple, as I've asked some of these more than once, I hope someone can help a bit…

Thanks, zbert

Wow… no one can answer these questions, I'm amazed that of all the people who've done the challenge, not one person can say how long the time limit is, or whether the url is sent as http://www.example or www.example… really? Obviously I'm just venting but keep an eye on this post, for those who also tagged on to this post with the same questions, I'll post the answer to those questions when I know them.

URL only needs to be base64 encoded. You have to POST your data, don't use GET. Post back your frustrations.

There is a very small chance the challenge is broken, I actually think it's not, though.

spyware wrote: URL only needs to be base64 encoded. You have to POST your data, don't use GET. Post back your frustrations.

There is a very small change the challenge is broken, I actually think it's not, though.

Thanks for the answer I know the url needs to be b64 encoded, but is it encode(http://www.example.com) or encode(www.example.com)

I understand to post the data but I've tried it in greasemonkey, even saw the post in tamper data go across and nothing happened but a page refresh… Am I posting to index.php or is there a url for checking it? I've done this in grease monkey and I think it takes too long, what is the time limit? I'm pulling my sites from a google.co.uk search of the web, do these need to be UK sites only?

I really feel these small details being left out is frustrating, I mean I have well over ten variations…

I've got a faster program in python but how do I post the information to the same page… it seems to me that sending a second request to post will send it to a new, refreshed page… is there any way to 'keep it open' so I'll send my post to the same page I had got the information from?

You know what, I've just bookmarked this thread. When I catch system, or any other admin with code access, I'll ask 'em to answer your questions/patch up the challenge.

zbert wrote : I know the url needs to be b64 encoded, but is it encode(http://www.example.com) or encode(www.example.com)

If the answer is right but the time too long, is there a page letting us know this or does it just bring a reload of the same page?

Is the POST to index.php or is there another page to post to such as previous challenges being 'index.php?check'?

The url is sent with the http:// at the start and any slashes on the end have to be included too .

When I did this one the search query was the fouth result for "family guy" and when I base 64 encoded it , I missed out the forward slash at the end , and it produced this error message :

Wrong string, or you went over the time limit! 1218705083 1218705082 http://www.familyguynow.com http://www.familyguynow.com/ As for the POST and time limit , I posted mine straight to index.php , and it took at least 2 seconds from getting the data , to posting it back . Hope this answers some of your questions , although the challenge seems to be down for now .

Is there an error page for taking too long or having the wrong answer? This would be nice so I know my POST is going through…

I have a Greasemonkey script that I think should do all the steps, would anyone be willing to look at it to see if I'm missing any part? I see the post come across but it doesn't really do anything but make the text bigger on the page…

rex_mundi wrote: When I did this one the search query was the fouth result for "family guy" and when I base 64 encoded it , I missed out the forward slash at the end , and it produced this error message :

[quote]Wrong string, or you went over the time limit! 1218705083 1218705082 http://www.familyguynow.com http://www.familyguynow.com/ As for the POST and time limit , I posted mine straight to index.php , and it took at least 2 seconds from getting the data , to posting it back . Hope this answers some of your questions , although the challenge seems to be down for now . [/quote]

Can you read?

Yes, I can read, my question about an error page was refrencing when it is running, or to rephrase that, whether rex_mundi's error was a result of the challenge being down or if that is what is seen when the challenge is up.

Now, I don't care to waste space on forums or side track the subject so I'm going back on topic…

I'm thinking that I have a python script and javascript program that both are doing it right… but it only refreshes the page or shrinks the font size following the post, respectively. If anyone would be willing to look at either of these scripts, I think it'd be a great help… and then on to timed 7!

Any idea when this challenge will be back up, it's one of the only challenges I have left so I'm eager to have them all done…

As far as I know, at the moment you won't get any error page or any change in the challenge page regardless of whatever you try. I think you should go for Timed 7 and wait for 6 it to be up again.

Thanks, does anyone know when this challenge will be back up? I got my scripts confirmed so now I'm just needing it to be up…

Crap… I forgot this challenge was down. Was wondering why my curl script wasn't working. :whoa:

Edit: Before anyone assumes I don't know what I'm doing, here is the problem I'm running into. I get the term and all okay from the instructions, get the URL okay from Google UK, encode it just fine, and POST it back to index. Instead of getting a "wrong string or time exceeded" or any kind of message, I'm just getting another set of instructions back as if I had accessed the page normally. I've already checked to make sure the POST is happening. Just clarifying that before it comes up.

Zephyr_Pure wrote: Crap… I forgot this challenge was down. Was wondering why my curl script wasn't working. :whoa:

Edit: Before anyone assumes I don't know what I'm doing, here is the problem I'm running into. I get the term and all okay from the instructions, get the URL okay from Google UK, encode it just fine, and POST it back to index. Instead of getting a "wrong string or time exceeded" or any kind of message, I'm just getting another set of instructions back as if I had accessed the page normally. I've already checked to make sure the POST is happening. Just clarifying that before it comes up.

Would have been really nice to know an hour ago. I've been fucking driving myself up the wall trying to figure out why the hell my script wasn't working when I knew for a fact all my variables were right.

Then again, I hate it when a noob goes off and says 'omg the challenge is down' when they just can't get it right, so I didn't want to ask :p.

Why is it down?

This challenge is not down, i just did it again… Just make sure there is no "==" at the end of your base64 nor "===" remove all the ='s

EDIT: and keep trying refreshing your code, for some reason i didn't get it done from the first time too :S

ZvirX wrote: This challenge is not down, i just did it again… Just make sure there is no "==" at the end of your base64 nor "===" remove all the ='s

EDIT: and keep trying refreshing your code, for some reason i didn't get it done from the first time too :S

Wanna look at my code? It doesn't even say incorrect or too much time, it just keeps giving me words and result numbers to return.

This is just so peculiar, because when I use my CURL script to retrieve a result from google.co.uk, it all seems to work fine, with my debugger script running it gives me the word, the result it returns, and which result number it is, but when I actually do a manual google search the results I'm returning with my CURL script aren't anywhere in my manual search. Now, the results I'm returning with my CURL script ARE relevant, but there NOWHERE in my manual search. It makes no fucking sense and I can't find any errors on my part, I've been looking for probably a few hours now :xx:.

This is just so peculiar, because when I use my CURL script to retrieve a result from google.co.uk, it all seems to work fine, with my debugger script running it gives me the word, the result it returns, and which result number it is, but when I actually do a manual google search the results I'm returning with my CURL script aren't anywhere in my manual search. Now, the results I'm returning with my CURL script ARE relevant, but there NOWHERE in my manual search. It makes no fucking sense and I can't find any errors on my part, I've been looking for probably a few hours now :xx:.

Thats weird, but PM me your script.. maybe i can see whats wrong :S.

ZvirX wrote: [quote]This is just so peculiar, because when I use my CURL script to retrieve a result from google.co.uk, it all seems to work fine, with my debugger script running it gives me the word, the result it returns, and which result number it is, but when I actually do a manual google search the results I'm returning with my CURL script aren't anywhere in my manual search. Now, the results I'm returning with my CURL script ARE relevant, but there NOWHERE in my manual search. It makes no fucking sense and I can't find any errors on my part, I've been looking for probably a few hours now :xx:.

Thats weird, but PM me your script.. maybe i can see whats wrong :S.[/quote]

Never mind, I'm gettin there. But I will PM you with my code if I need any further help. It was putting the strong tags in the google search throwing everything off, and for some reason I didn't think until now to echo the google search :xx:.

Heh, yeah that's all it was: I forgot to add the <strong> tags in my regex and it threw everything off. Bleh :p.

lol Dude thats like the first thing to do when starting it :P but yeah regex can be a real pain in the @ss. anyway grats :D

I finished it 1 minute ago with Greasemonkey.

Back to the first questions:

1. Is the format url=(in base64(http://www.result.etc)) or url=(in base64(www.result.etc))? -> url=(in base64(http://www.result.etc))

2. Are we using google.co.uk to search within google.co.uk specifically to UK sites or is it broader (such as all of google from google.co.uk)? -> We search "the web" not "pages from the UK"

3. As the page doesn't state it, what's the time limit? -> The page doesnt state it, but my greasemonkey-script did it in 2-3 sec, so thats ok.

4. If the answer is right but the time too long, is there a page letting us know this or does it just bring a reload of the same page? -> the page let us know if our url is right. It also says, what the right url was.

5. Is the POST to index.php or is there another page to post to such as previous challenges being 'index.php?check'? -> we have to post the answer back(so its the same page)

been working on this since 5pm today and down to the last part where I post the answer in base64 including both attempts with http and without http.

error message:

Wrong string, or you went over the time limit! 1259733742 1259733741

I wonder what the numbers mean… I even filtered the forward slash in the result by adding and removing…

both ways gets me dead end.. any pointers?

DONE – THANKS FOR THE BIG TIP!!!!!

Dunuin wrote:

…

4. If the answer is right but the time too long, is there a page letting us know this or does it just bring a reload of the same page? -> the page let us know if our url is right. It also says, what the right url was.

…

I'm not currently getting any error message. My code is running a little slower than I had hoped, but just like some of the other people who have posted here, the page I'm getting upon posting my result, is just the Timed 6 index page. Does that indicate that the mission is down again, or has the mission been recoded since the last post was made on this thread? Thanks in advance.

Okay, I am getting an error now, but I think something is definitely wrong with the mission's validator. Here's the error I got:

Wrong string, or you went over the time limit!
1276736663
1276736662

www.hellomagazine.com/
/search?q=hello&hl=en&prmd=vi&source=univ&tbs=vid:1&tbo=u&ei=lHQZTPj5M4ukONv7kMsK&sa=X&oi=video_result_group&ct=title&resnum=4&ved=0CD0QqwQwAw">Videos for <em>hello</em></a></h3><table class=ts style="margin-top:-1px"><tr><td valign=top colspan=1 width=290><!--m--><div><table class=ts style="width:auto"><tr><td valign=top style="padding:7px 8px 0 0"><a href="/url?q=http://www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3DPDZcqBgCS74&sa=X&ei=lHQZTPj5M4ukONv7kMsK&ved=0CDUQuAIwAw&usg=AFQjCNEo8LuHffUUhQ-OxzBmjZ7QDkLO_A"><div style="height:33px;position:absolute;width:44px"><div class=play_icon></div></div><img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAP///////yH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" alt="" align=middle border=1 height=60 id=vidthumb4 class=vidthumb4 style="display:-moz-inline-box;height:60px;;padding:1px 1px;width:80px" width=80><div style="margin-top:-23px;margin-right:4px;text-align:right"><img src="/images/icons/sectionized_ui/play_c.gif" alt="" border=0 height=20 style="-moz-opacity:.88;filter:alpha(opacity=88);opacity:.88" width=20></div></a><td valign=top style="padding:5px 10px 0 0"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PDZcqBgCS74</div>

According to that, the "correct" result was nearly half the SERP for the term. Can anybody confirm whether or not this mission is working?

No, I'm submitting the top one. I verified that by dumping my variables while debugging. I know in this example it's missing the 'http://' part, but apparently intentionally screwing with the url was the only way to get the error. It doesn't give it every time though. If it helps, I'm using PHP, with cURL to get the pages here at HBH, and the DOMDocument class to handle the google search and parsing.

something is very wrong with this challenge

when i get the "Wrong string, or you went ….." page it always gives me the same …. shit for the right answer

like : ```markup Wrong string, or you went over the time limit! 1280244374 1280245015

http://www.matrixhaircare.co.uk/

http://www.google.co.uk/images?q=system_meltdown&um=1&ie=UTF-8&source=univ&ei=k_pOTPuyFoOhOOOivMoN&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&ct=title&resnum=4&ved=0CC8QsAQwAw&quot;&gt;Images for <em>system_meltdown</em></a></h3……….

i like to thanke up front rex_mundi and MoshBat for taking the time and interest in this

and the thing is the first url is my url the one i passed and the second on is the one HBH is returning me as the correct string

my script ….. progam is in C i have a couple of function and structures that i made for handeling different internet protocols so this way im testing them

so i can give the source but its in a lot of different files so……