Yes you can, but it's always recommended to use your localhost NXT.
If you absolutely have to use someone else's, use https://ip:7875 secure connection only.
Still, it's best to use your own NXT running locally.

These are my VPS servers that have the current block chain

I have added a wiki page on creating hallmarks, and updated the VPS setup page to suggest people do this.  I have also added an FAQ section on hallmarks.

Eventually it will find the longest chain, but u may be isolated from the rest of the network.

Currently I'm no

23132      4747512364439223888      23.12.2013 21:35:42   
2      0 + 2      270 B   
1      17884012563827109766      805 %

Noone should approve well-known peers, Nxt is decentralized. That's why such peers are set in web.xml, not hardcoded into software.

CfB - I deleted the blockchain - and it updated until 23081 where it is now stuck again.

So the stalling at this block has clearly nothing to do with DDoS (otherwise how did I get there so quickly?).

I would really appreciate it if you guys admitted there is a *bug* with the software that has nothing to do with any sort of attack and just fix the bug.

how come, the majority of users can now run the chain without problems?

Sorry, but the network is under attack, this is not a bug. Look at uploaded volume after 10 mins of working:



And this is only 1/3 of the complete list.

it did happen for bitcoin...

Litecoin had an army of miners the second the network started.

Are there separate client and server programs or is everyone running the same thing?

How can we monitor the distribution of Nxt amongst stakeholders?