diff --git a/src/middleware/userCounter.js b/src/middleware/userCounter.js
index 183e1b4..85be545 100644
--- a/src/middleware/userCounter.js
+++ b/src/middleware/userCounter.js
@@ -1,11 +1,16 @@
 var request = require('request');
 
-var config = require('../config.js');
-var getIP = require('../utils/getIP.js');
+const config = require('../config.js');
+const getIP = require('../utils/getIP.js');
 const getHash = require('../utils/getHash.js');
+const logger = require('../utils/logger.js');
 
 module.exports = function userCounter(req, res, next) {
-    request.post(config.userCounterURL + "/api/v1/addIP?hashedIP=" + getHash(getIP(req), 1));
+    try {
+        request.post(config.userCounterURL + "/api/v1/addIP?hashedIP=" + getHash(getIP(req), 1));
+    } catch(e) {
+        logger.debug("Failing to connect to user counter at: " + config.userCounterURL);
+    }
 
     next();
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/routes/getTotalStats.js b/src/routes/getTotalStats.js
index d2be079..6d3841e 100644
--- a/src/routes/getTotalStats.js
+++ b/src/routes/getTotalStats.js
@@ -12,28 +12,30 @@ let apiUsersCache = null;
 let lastUserCountCheck = 0;
 
 module.exports = function getTotalStats (req, res) {
-  let row = db.prepare('get', "SELECT COUNT(DISTINCT userID) as userCount, COUNT(*) as totalSubmissions, " +
+    let row = db.prepare('get', "SELECT COUNT(DISTINCT userID) as userCount, COUNT(*) as totalSubmissions, " +
               "SUM(views) as viewCount, SUM((endTime - startTime) / 60 * views) as minutesSaved FROM sponsorTimes WHERE shadowHidden != 1 AND votes >= 0", []);
 
-  if (row !== undefined) {
-      //send this result
-      res.send({
-          userCount: row.userCount,
-          activeUsers: chromeUsersCache + firefoxUsersCache,
-          apiUsers: apiUsersCache,
-          viewCount: row.viewCount,
-          totalSubmissions: row.totalSubmissions,
-          minutesSaved: row.minutesSaved
-      });
+    if (row !== undefined) {
+        let extensionUsers = chromeUsersCache + firefoxUsersCache;
 
-      // Check if the cache should be updated (every ~14 hours)
-      let now = Date.now();
-      if (now - lastUserCountCheck > 5000000) {
-          lastUserCountCheck = now;
+        //send this result
+        res.send({
+            userCount: row.userCount,
+            activeUsers: extensionUsers,
+            apiUsers: Math.max(apiUsersCache, extensionUsers),
+            viewCount: row.viewCount,
+            totalSubmissions: row.totalSubmissions,
+            minutesSaved: row.minutesSaved
+        });
 
-          updateExtensionUsers();
-      }
-  }
+        // Check if the cache should be updated (every ~14 hours)
+        let now = Date.now();
+        if (now - lastUserCountCheck > 5000000) {
+            lastUserCountCheck = now;
+
+            updateExtensionUsers();
+        }
+    }
 }
 
 function updateExtensionUsers() {
diff --git a/src/routes/postSkipSegments.js b/src/routes/postSkipSegments.js
index d9408b6..48fbb76 100644
--- a/src/routes/postSkipSegments.js
+++ b/src/routes/postSkipSegments.js
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ function sendWebhooks(userID, videoID, UUID, segmentInfo) {
             
             // If it is a first time submission
             // Then send a notification to discord
-            if (config.discordFirstTimeSubmissionsWebhookURL === null) return;
+            if (config.discordFirstTimeSubmissionsWebhookURL === null || userSubmissionCountRow.submissionCount > 1) return;
             request.post(config.discordFirstTimeSubmissionsWebhookURL, {
                 json: {
                     "embeds": [{
diff --git a/src/routes/shadowBanUser.js b/src/routes/shadowBanUser.js
index ba5052e..3617a94 100644
--- a/src/routes/shadowBanUser.js
+++ b/src/routes/shadowBanUser.js
@@ -1,5 +1,3 @@
-var config = require('../config.js');
-
 var databases = require('../databases/databases.js');
 var db = databases.db;
 var privateDB = databases.privateDB;
@@ -30,7 +28,8 @@ module.exports = async function shadowBanUser(req, res) {
   //hash the userID
   adminUserIDInput = getHash(adminUserIDInput);
 
-  if (adminUserIDInput !== config.adminUserID) {
+  let isVIP = db.prepare("get", "SELECT count(*) as userCount FROM vipUsers WHERE userID = ?", [adminUserIDInput]).userCount > 0;
+  if (!isVIP) {
       //not authorized
       res.sendStatus(403);
       return;