What we really need is a module which will poll a website, check for a CRC on a file and if it differs from the CRC on a current file, grab and replace.

You should be able to list multiple web sites to poll for updates.

If a site has an update you should be able to selectively merge the updates.

It should allow for a configurable time period between polling.

There should be an administrative module for sorting, importing and exporting.

Should also allow for pinging each IP in the list.

Should allow for manual single entry, search and replace.

It should export as a hosts.deny, an RSS feed and integrate into IP bans.

If someone writes such a module I will immediatly donate $20.00, host it on my site as a distribution site, host the first RSS feed and set up a support forum for it.

Is this really within the scope of what a module should be doing? I don't think this could be setup as an install and forget style module as you'd need to configure webserver/OS level permissions so the module could write/change/delete files. A host.deny exportation feature would be ok for Apache users, but what about all the other people using IIS and other webservers (there are a lot of them)? A fair amount of thought would have to be given to implementing and mainting a very good level of security too, as if this module got hijacked a LOT of damage could be done.

It would make for a great tool for central site managment though.

I had to read it a few times and I'm still not sure what you are trying to update. modules? static files? some respository of IP addresses that becomes your hosts.deny file?

hosts.deny doesn't affect XOOPS or a web server. Trying to block IPs for an FTP/POP3/IMAP server?

Modules don't use cron jobs but are triggered by the user browsing. But implementing cron to run a scripted browsing session might be interesting..