---
title: "You are a spammer, hacker or an otherwise bad person"
date: 2020-05-02
description: "How to fix the problem of the message You are a spammer, hacker or an otherwise bad person coming from Akeeba Admin Tools."
author: "Jeroen Moolenschot"
---

# You are a spammer, hacker or an otherwise bad person

The message "You are a spammer, hacker or an otherwise bad person" is not coming from Joomla itself, but from the security extension "Akeeba Admin Tools" installed on your website.

 The message below shows up in your screen because you logged in multiple times with an incorrect password, or performed other suspicious actions. The blocking is based on your IP address.

 
## Message from Akeeba Admin Tools

 You are a spammer, hacker or an otherwise bad person. If you are the administrator of this site and have blocked your own IP address on accident please visit https://www.jouwwebsite.nl/administrator/index.php?admintools_rescue=you@example.com where [you@example.com](mailto:you@example.com) is the email address of your (Super User) account. This URL will only send you an email if the IP address from which you are accessing it is being blocked by Admin Tools. If you are not blocked no email will be sent; you don't need an email with instructions to unblock your IP if your IP is not blocked.

 Of course it is nice that your website is so well protected, but sometimes it can be disingenuous.

 If you use the default settings, your account will first be blocked for 15 minutes, after which you can log in again. (so just wait a while). But if this happens several times, your IP address is blocked for good.

 
## Unblocking using the rescue URL

 This method will only work if you have an account with superuser rights.

 Visit: [https://www.jouwwebsite.nl/administrator/index.php?admintools_rescue=you@example.com](https://www.jouwwebsite.nl/administrator/index.php?admintools_rescue=you@example.com) (replace "yourwebsite.com" with your domain name and replace "you@example.com" with your email address).

 After entering the URL with your email address, you will see the message "Check your email for Rescue URL information" and have received an email with instructions.

 The e-mail contains a new URL with a unique code. (This code is only valid temporarily). When you visit this URL, you can log in again.

 Go to "Components > Admin Tools" and click on the button "Unblock my IP".

 ![admintools unblock](https://www.joomill.com/images/kennisbank/admintools-unblock.png)

 Then click the "End Rescue mode" button to restore Admin Tools to normal operation.

 
## Unblocking by renaming plugin

 For this, you need access to the FTP. Go to: /plugins/system

 There you will see the "Admin Tools" folder. You must rename this folder to, for example, "-admintools".

 Now you can access your website again, but admintools security is completely disabled.

 Go to "Components > Admin Tools" and click the "Unblock my IP" button.

 Don't forget to go back to your FTP environment and restore the folder you just renamed to "admintools".

 
## Unblock using a different IP address or administrator

 Since your IP address is blocked and not your account, you can log in with another IP address. You can do this by using a VPN or phone with a 3G / 4G / 5G connection (as long as you are not on WiFi with the same IP address).

 You can also have your IP address unblocked by another administrator who has access to the administrator area of Joomla.

 Login to the administrator area and go to "Components > Admin Tools"

 Go to "Web Application Firewall" and then "Auto IP Blocking Administration". Find the IP address and remove it from the list.

 Or go to "Unblock an IP" and enter the address that is blocked here.


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