They were the reason I started blocking data-centers. I wanted to see if I could block all of their addresses which turned into quite an exercise. Initially I was able to block them by blocking TCP SYN packets with an MSS of 1380 and 1300 but talking about it here was a mistake as their admin is on HN. They fixed that and made their MSS 1460 like a nominal home internet connection.

The next thing I had to block was the Russian Federation. That seems to be where the controlling nodes are, I think. That made me even more curious who they were so I just kept iterating through the blocking process. I ended up blocking a number of ASN's and all of Russia. They are all in the linked archive file in the article but I don't specifically call out the ones that are archive.is.

Most on HN think they operate on a shoe-string budget but I have my doubts. I suspect an asset of a technical arm of an intelligence agency but to what purpose and what end I have no clue. They are very clever whoever they are and certainly earned my respect. Either way I think their site is useful, I just wanted to see if I could block it.