diff --git a/VERSION b/VERSION
index 428b770e3e..1c99cf0e80 100644
--- a/VERSION
+++ b/VERSION
@@ -1 +1 @@
-1.4.3
+1.4.4
diff --git a/accounts/abi/abi.go b/accounts/abi/abi.go
index 32df6f19d7..1b07b2f68e 100644
--- a/accounts/abi/abi.go
+++ b/accounts/abi/abi.go
@@ -238,8 +238,16 @@ func (abi ABI) Unpack(v interface{}, name string, output []byte) error {
 		return fmt.Errorf("abi: unmarshalling empty output")
 	}
 
-	value := reflect.ValueOf(v).Elem()
-	typ := value.Type()
+	// make sure the passed value is a pointer
+	valueOf := reflect.ValueOf(v)
+	if reflect.Ptr != valueOf.Kind() {
+		return fmt.Errorf("abi: Unpack(non-pointer %T)", v)
+	}
+
+	var (
+		value = valueOf.Elem()
+		typ   = value.Type()
+	)
 
 	if len(method.Outputs) > 1 {
 		switch value.Kind() {
@@ -268,6 +276,25 @@ func (abi ABI) Unpack(v interface{}, name string, output []byte) error {
 				return fmt.Errorf("abi: cannot marshal tuple in to slice %T (only []interface{} is supported)", v)
 			}
 
+			// if the slice already contains values, set those instead of the interface slice itself.
+			if value.Len() > 0 {
+				if len(method.Outputs) > value.Len() {
+					return fmt.Errorf("abi: cannot marshal in to slices of unequal size (require: %v, got: %v)", len(method.Outputs), value.Len())
+				}
+
+				for i := 0; i < len(method.Outputs); i++ {
+					marshalledValue, err := toGoType(i, method.Outputs[i], output)
+					if err != nil {
+						return err
+					}
+					reflectValue := reflect.ValueOf(marshalledValue)
+					if err := set(value.Index(i).Elem(), reflectValue, method.Outputs[i]); err != nil {
+						return err
+					}
+				}
+				return nil
+			}
+
 			// create a new slice and start appending the unmarshalled
 			// values to the new interface slice.
 			z := reflect.MakeSlice(typ, 0, len(method.Outputs))
@@ -296,34 +323,6 @@ func (abi ABI) Unpack(v interface{}, name string, output []byte) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
-// set attempts to assign src to dst by either setting, copying or otherwise.
-//
-// set is a bit more lenient when it comes to assignment and doesn't force an as
-// strict ruleset as bare `reflect` does.
-func set(dst, src reflect.Value, output Argument) error {
-	dstType := dst.Type()
-	srcType := src.Type()
-
-	switch {
-	case dstType.AssignableTo(src.Type()):
-		dst.Set(src)
-	case dstType.Kind() == reflect.Array && srcType.Kind() == reflect.Slice:
-		if !dstType.Elem().AssignableTo(r_byte) {
-			return fmt.Errorf("abi: cannot unmarshal %v in to array of elem %v", src.Type(), dstType.Elem())
-		}
-
-		if dst.Len() < output.Type.SliceSize {
-			return fmt.Errorf("abi: cannot unmarshal src (len=%d) in to dst (len=%d)", output.Type.SliceSize, dst.Len())
-		}
-		reflect.Copy(dst, src)
-	case dstType.Kind() == reflect.Interface:
-		dst.Set(src)
-	default:
-		return fmt.Errorf("abi: cannot unmarshal %v in to %v", src.Type(), dst.Type())
-	}
-	return nil
-}
-
 func (abi *ABI) UnmarshalJSON(data []byte) error {
 	var fields []struct {
 		Type     string
diff --git a/accounts/abi/abi_test.go b/accounts/abi/abi_test.go
index 05535b3b50..df89ba1381 100644
--- a/accounts/abi/abi_test.go
+++ b/accounts/abi/abi_test.go
@@ -289,6 +289,37 @@ func TestSimpleMethodUnpack(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+func TestUnpackSetInterfaceSlice(t *testing.T) {
+	var (
+		var1 = new(uint8)
+		var2 = new(uint8)
+	)
+	out := []interface{}{var1, var2}
+	abi, err := JSON(strings.NewReader(`[{"type":"function", "name":"ints", "outputs":[{"type":"uint8"}, {"type":"uint8"}]}]`))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	marshalledReturn := append(pad([]byte{1}, 32, true), pad([]byte{2}, 32, true)...)
+	err = abi.Unpack(&out, "ints", marshalledReturn)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if *var1 != 1 {
+		t.Errorf("expected var1 to be 1, got", *var1)
+	}
+	if *var2 != 2 {
+		t.Errorf("expected var2 to be 2, got", *var2)
+	}
+
+	out = []interface{}{var1}
+	err = abi.Unpack(&out, "ints", marshalledReturn)
+
+	expErr := "abi: cannot marshal in to slices of unequal size (require: 2, got: 1)"
+	if err == nil || err.Error() != expErr {
+		t.Error("expected err:", expErr, "Got:", err)
+	}
+}
+
 func TestPack(t *testing.T) {
 	for i, test := range []struct {
 		typ string
diff --git a/accounts/abi/bind/bind_test.go b/accounts/abi/bind/bind_test.go
index f9cc8aba47..a80560821c 100644
--- a/accounts/abi/bind/bind_test.go
+++ b/accounts/abi/bind/bind_test.go
@@ -194,12 +194,44 @@ var bindTests = []struct {
 			}
 		`,
 	},
+	// Tests that plain values can be properly returned and deserialized
+	{
+		`Getter`,
+		`
+			contract Getter {
+				function getter() constant returns (string, int, bytes32) {
+					return ("Hi", 1, sha3(""));
+				}
+			}
+		`,
+		`606060405260dc8060106000396000f3606060405260e060020a6000350463993a04b78114601a575b005b600060605260c0604052600260809081527f486900000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000060a05260017fc5d2460186f7233c927e7db2dcc703c0e500b653ca82273b7bfad8045d85a47060e0829052610100819052606060c0908152600261012081905281906101409060a09080838184600060046012f1505081517fffff000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000169091525050604051610160819003945092505050f3`,
+		`[{"constant":true,"inputs":[],"name":"getter","outputs":[{"name":"","type":"string"},{"name":"","type":"int256"},{"name":"","type":"bytes32"}],"type":"function"}]`,
+		`
+			// Generate a new random account and a funded simulator
+			key, _ := crypto.GenerateKey()
+			auth := bind.NewKeyedTransactor(key)
+			sim := backends.NewSimulatedBackend(core.GenesisAccount{Address: auth.From, Balance: big.NewInt(10000000000)})
+
+			// Deploy a tuple tester contract and execute a structured call on it
+			_, _, getter, err := DeployGetter(auth, sim)
+			if err != nil {
+				t.Fatalf("Failed to deploy getter contract: %v", err)
+			}
+			sim.Commit()
+
+			if str, num, _, err := getter.Getter(nil); err != nil {
+				t.Fatalf("Failed to call anonymous field retriever: %v", err)
+			} else if str != "Hi" || num.Cmp(big.NewInt(1)) != 0 {
+				t.Fatalf("Retrieved value mismatch: have %v/%v, want %v/%v", str, num, "Hi", 1)
+			}
+		`,
+	},
 	// Tests that tuples can be properly returned and deserialized
 	{
 		`Tupler`,
 		`
 			contract Tupler {
-				function tuple() returns (string a, int b, bytes32 c) {
+				function tuple() constant returns (string a, int b, bytes32 c) {
 					return ("Hi", 1, sha3(""));
 				}
 			}
@@ -219,8 +251,10 @@ var bindTests = []struct {
 			}
 			sim.Commit()
 
-			if _, err := tupler.Tuple(nil); err != nil {
+			if res, err := tupler.Tuple(nil); err != nil {
 				t.Fatalf("Failed to call structure retriever: %v", err)
+			} else if res.A != "Hi" || res.B.Cmp(big.NewInt(1)) != 0 {
+				t.Fatalf("Retrieved value mismatch: have %v/%v, want %v/%v", res.A, res.B, "Hi", 1)
 			}
 		`,
 	},
diff --git a/accounts/abi/bind/template.go b/accounts/abi/bind/template.go
index 36ac1d78d0..72998bb6d8 100644
--- a/accounts/abi/bind/template.go
+++ b/accounts/abi/bind/template.go
@@ -211,7 +211,7 @@ package {{.Package}}
 				{{range $i, $_ := .Normalized.Outputs}}ret{{$i}} = new({{bindtype .Type}})
 				{{end}}
 			){{end}}
-			out := {{if .Structured}}ret{{else}}{{if eq (len .Normalized.Outputs) 1}}ret0{{else}}[]interface{}{
+			out := {{if .Structured}}ret{{else}}{{if eq (len .Normalized.Outputs) 1}}ret0{{else}}&[]interface{}{
 				{{range $i, $_ := .Normalized.Outputs}}ret{{$i}},
 				{{end}}
 			}{{end}}{{end}}
diff --git a/accounts/abi/reflect.go b/accounts/abi/reflect.go
index 780c64c66e..ab5020200e 100644
--- a/accounts/abi/reflect.go
+++ b/accounts/abi/reflect.go
@@ -16,7 +16,10 @@
 
 package abi
 
-import "reflect"
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"reflect"
+)
 
 // indirect recursively dereferences the value until it either gets the value
 // or finds a big.Int
@@ -62,3 +65,33 @@ func mustArrayToByteSlice(value reflect.Value) reflect.Value {
 	reflect.Copy(slice, value)
 	return slice
 }
+
+// set attempts to assign src to dst by either setting, copying or otherwise.
+//
+// set is a bit more lenient when it comes to assignment and doesn't force an as
+// strict ruleset as bare `reflect` does.
+func set(dst, src reflect.Value, output Argument) error {
+	dstType := dst.Type()
+	srcType := src.Type()
+
+	switch {
+	case dstType.AssignableTo(src.Type()):
+		dst.Set(src)
+	case dstType.Kind() == reflect.Array && srcType.Kind() == reflect.Slice:
+		if !dstType.Elem().AssignableTo(r_byte) {
+			return fmt.Errorf("abi: cannot unmarshal %v in to array of elem %v", src.Type(), dstType.Elem())
+		}
+
+		if dst.Len() < output.Type.SliceSize {
+			return fmt.Errorf("abi: cannot unmarshal src (len=%d) in to dst (len=%d)", output.Type.SliceSize, dst.Len())
+		}
+		reflect.Copy(dst, src)
+	case dstType.Kind() == reflect.Interface:
+		dst.Set(src)
+	case dstType.Kind() == reflect.Ptr:
+		return set(dst.Elem(), src, output)
+	default:
+		return fmt.Errorf("abi: cannot unmarshal %v in to %v", src.Type(), dst.Type())
+	}
+	return nil
+}
diff --git a/cmd/geth/main.go b/cmd/geth/main.go
index a6c36582c9..5a2fc62873 100644
--- a/cmd/geth/main.go
+++ b/cmd/geth/main.go
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ const (
 	clientIdentifier = "Geth"   // Client identifier to advertise over the network
 	versionMajor     = 1        // Major version component of the current release
 	versionMinor     = 4        // Minor version component of the current release
-	versionPatch     = 3        // Patch version component of the current release
+	versionPatch     = 4        // Patch version component of the current release
 	versionMeta      = "stable" // Version metadata to append to the version string
 
 	versionOracle = "0xfa7b9770ca4cb04296cac84f37736d4041251cdf" // Ethereum address of the Geth release oracle
diff --git a/core/block_validator.go b/core/block_validator.go
index 555c5ee064..801d2572b6 100644
--- a/core/block_validator.go
+++ b/core/block_validator.go
@@ -292,7 +292,7 @@ func calcDifficultyHomestead(time, parentTime uint64, parentNumber, parentDiff *
 
 	// minimum difficulty can ever be (before exponential factor)
 	if x.Cmp(params.MinimumDifficulty) < 0 {
-		x = params.MinimumDifficulty
+		x.Set(params.MinimumDifficulty)
 	}
 
 	// for the exponential factor
@@ -325,7 +325,7 @@ func calcDifficultyFrontier(time, parentTime uint64, parentNumber, parentDiff *b
 		diff.Sub(parentDiff, adjust)
 	}
 	if diff.Cmp(params.MinimumDifficulty) < 0 {
-		diff = params.MinimumDifficulty
+		diff.Set(params.MinimumDifficulty)
 	}
 
 	periodCount := new(big.Int).Add(parentNumber, common.Big1)
diff --git a/eth/downloader/downloader.go b/eth/downloader/downloader.go
index 801181712f..0f76357cba 100644
--- a/eth/downloader/downloader.go
+++ b/eth/downloader/downloader.go
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/event"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/logger"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/logger/glog"
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/params"
 	"github.com/rcrowley/go-metrics"
 )
 
@@ -45,6 +46,8 @@ var (
 	MaxReceiptFetch = 256 // Amount of transaction receipts to allow fetching per request
 	MaxStateFetch   = 384 // Amount of node state values to allow fetching per request
 
+	MaxForkAncestry = 3 * params.EpochDuration.Uint64() // Maximum chain reorganisation
+
 	hashTTL        = 3 * time.Second     // [eth/61] Time it takes for a hash request to time out
 	blockTargetRTT = 3 * time.Second / 2 // [eth/61] Target time for completing a block retrieval request
 	blockTTL       = 3 * blockTargetRTT  // [eth/61] Maximum time allowance before a block request is considered expired
@@ -79,6 +82,7 @@ var (
 	errEmptyHeaderSet     = errors.New("empty header set by peer")
 	errPeersUnavailable   = errors.New("no peers available or all tried for download")
 	errAlreadyInPool      = errors.New("hash already in pool")
+	errInvalidAncestor    = errors.New("retrieved ancestor is invalid")
 	errInvalidChain       = errors.New("retrieved hash chain is invalid")
 	errInvalidBlock       = errors.New("retrieved block is invalid")
 	errInvalidBody        = errors.New("retrieved block body is invalid")
@@ -266,7 +270,7 @@ func (d *Downloader) Synchronise(id string, head common.Hash, td *big.Int, mode
 	case errBusy:
 		glog.V(logger.Detail).Infof("Synchronisation already in progress")
 
-	case errTimeout, errBadPeer, errStallingPeer, errEmptyHashSet, errEmptyHeaderSet, errPeersUnavailable, errInvalidChain:
+	case errTimeout, errBadPeer, errStallingPeer, errEmptyHashSet, errEmptyHeaderSet, errPeersUnavailable, errInvalidAncestor, errInvalidChain:
 		glog.V(logger.Debug).Infof("Removing peer %v: %v", id, err)
 		d.dropPeer(id)
 
@@ -353,7 +357,7 @@ func (d *Downloader) syncWithPeer(p *peer, hash common.Hash, td *big.Int) (err e
 		if err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
-		origin, err := d.findAncestor61(p)
+		origin, err := d.findAncestor61(p, latest)
 		if err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
@@ -380,7 +384,7 @@ func (d *Downloader) syncWithPeer(p *peer, hash common.Hash, td *big.Int) (err e
 		if err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
-		origin, err := d.findAncestor(p)
+		origin, err := d.findAncestor(p, latest)
 		if err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
@@ -536,11 +540,19 @@ func (d *Downloader) fetchHeight61(p *peer) (uint64, error) {
 // on the correct chain, checking the top N blocks should already get us a match.
 // In the rare scenario when we ended up on a long reorganisation (i.e. none of
 // the head blocks match), we do a binary search to find the common ancestor.
-func (d *Downloader) findAncestor61(p *peer) (uint64, error) {
+func (d *Downloader) findAncestor61(p *peer, height uint64) (uint64, error) {
 	glog.V(logger.Debug).Infof("%v: looking for common ancestor", p)
 
-	// Request out head blocks to short circuit ancestor location
-	head := d.headBlock().NumberU64()
+	// Figure out the valid ancestor range to prevent rewrite attacks
+	floor, ceil := int64(-1), d.headBlock().NumberU64()
+	if ceil >= MaxForkAncestry {
+		floor = int64(ceil - MaxForkAncestry)
+	}
+	// Request the topmost blocks to short circuit binary ancestor lookup
+	head := ceil
+	if head > height {
+		head = height
+	}
 	from := int64(head) - int64(MaxHashFetch) + 1
 	if from < 0 {
 		from = 0
@@ -600,11 +612,18 @@ func (d *Downloader) findAncestor61(p *peer) (uint64, error) {
 	}
 	// If the head fetch already found an ancestor, return
 	if !common.EmptyHash(hash) {
+		if int64(number) <= floor {
+			glog.V(logger.Warn).Infof("%v: potential rewrite attack: #%d [%x…] <= #%d limit", p, number, hash[:4], floor)
+			return 0, errInvalidAncestor
+		}
 		glog.V(logger.Debug).Infof("%v: common ancestor: #%d [%x…]", p, number, hash[:4])
 		return number, nil
 	}
 	// Ancestor not found, we need to binary search over our chain
 	start, end := uint64(0), head
+	if floor > 0 {
+		start = uint64(floor)
+	}
 	for start+1 < end {
 		// Split our chain interval in two, and request the hash to cross check
 		check := (start + end) / 2
@@ -660,6 +679,12 @@ func (d *Downloader) findAncestor61(p *peer) (uint64, error) {
 			}
 		}
 	}
+	// Ensure valid ancestry and return
+	if int64(start) <= floor {
+		glog.V(logger.Warn).Infof("%v: potential rewrite attack: #%d [%x…] <= #%d limit", p, start, hash[:4], floor)
+		return 0, errInvalidAncestor
+	}
+	glog.V(logger.Debug).Infof("%v: common ancestor: #%d [%x…]", p, start, hash[:4])
 	return start, nil
 }
 
@@ -961,15 +986,23 @@ func (d *Downloader) fetchHeight(p *peer) (uint64, error) {
 // on the correct chain, checking the top N links should already get us a match.
 // In the rare scenario when we ended up on a long reorganisation (i.e. none of
 // the head links match), we do a binary search to find the common ancestor.
-func (d *Downloader) findAncestor(p *peer) (uint64, error) {
+func (d *Downloader) findAncestor(p *peer, height uint64) (uint64, error) {
 	glog.V(logger.Debug).Infof("%v: looking for common ancestor", p)
 
-	// Request our head headers to short circuit ancestor location
-	head := d.headHeader().Number.Uint64()
+	// Figure out the valid ancestor range to prevent rewrite attacks
+	floor, ceil := int64(-1), d.headHeader().Number.Uint64()
 	if d.mode == FullSync {
-		head = d.headBlock().NumberU64()
+		ceil = d.headBlock().NumberU64()
 	} else if d.mode == FastSync {
-		head = d.headFastBlock().NumberU64()
+		ceil = d.headFastBlock().NumberU64()
+	}
+	if ceil >= MaxForkAncestry {
+		floor = int64(ceil - MaxForkAncestry)
+	}
+	// Request the topmost blocks to short circuit binary ancestor lookup
+	head := ceil
+	if head > height {
+		head = height
 	}
 	from := int64(head) - int64(MaxHeaderFetch) + 1
 	if from < 0 {
@@ -1040,11 +1073,18 @@ func (d *Downloader) findAncestor(p *peer) (uint64, error) {
 	}
 	// If the head fetch already found an ancestor, return
 	if !common.EmptyHash(hash) {
+		if int64(number) <= floor {
+			glog.V(logger.Warn).Infof("%v: potential rewrite attack: #%d [%x…] <= #%d limit", p, number, hash[:4], floor)
+			return 0, errInvalidAncestor
+		}
 		glog.V(logger.Debug).Infof("%v: common ancestor: #%d [%x…]", p, number, hash[:4])
 		return number, nil
 	}
 	// Ancestor not found, we need to binary search over our chain
 	start, end := uint64(0), head
+	if floor > 0 {
+		start = uint64(floor)
+	}
 	for start+1 < end {
 		// Split our chain interval in two, and request the hash to cross check
 		check := (start + end) / 2
@@ -1100,6 +1140,12 @@ func (d *Downloader) findAncestor(p *peer) (uint64, error) {
 			}
 		}
 	}
+	// Ensure valid ancestry and return
+	if int64(start) <= floor {
+		glog.V(logger.Warn).Infof("%v: potential rewrite attack: #%d [%x…] <= #%d limit", p, start, hash[:4], floor)
+		return 0, errInvalidAncestor
+	}
+	glog.V(logger.Debug).Infof("%v: common ancestor: #%d [%x…]", p, start, hash[:4])
 	return start, nil
 }
 
diff --git a/eth/downloader/downloader_test.go b/eth/downloader/downloader_test.go
index e66a902643..b0b0c2bd32 100644
--- a/eth/downloader/downloader_test.go
+++ b/eth/downloader/downloader_test.go
@@ -43,8 +43,9 @@ var (
 	genesis     = core.GenesisBlockForTesting(testdb, testAddress, big.NewInt(1000000000))
 )
 
-// Reduce the block cache limit, otherwise the tests will be very heavy.
+// Reduce some of the parameters to make the tester faster.
 func init() {
+	MaxForkAncestry = uint64(10000)
 	blockCacheLimit = 1024
 }
 
@@ -52,11 +53,15 @@ func init() {
 // the returned hash chain is ordered head->parent. In addition, every 3rd block
 // contains a transaction and every 5th an uncle to allow testing correct block
 // reassembly.
-func makeChain(n int, seed byte, parent *types.Block, parentReceipts types.Receipts) ([]common.Hash, map[common.Hash]*types.Header, map[common.Hash]*types.Block, map[common.Hash]types.Receipts) {
+func makeChain(n int, seed byte, parent *types.Block, parentReceipts types.Receipts, heavy bool) ([]common.Hash, map[common.Hash]*types.Header, map[common.Hash]*types.Block, map[common.Hash]types.Receipts) {
 	// Generate the block chain
 	blocks, receipts := core.GenerateChain(parent, testdb, n, func(i int, block *core.BlockGen) {
 		block.SetCoinbase(common.Address{seed})
 
+		// If a heavy chain is requested, delay blocks to raise difficulty
+		if heavy {
+			block.OffsetTime(-1)
+		}
 		// If the block number is multiple of 3, send a bonus transaction to the miner
 		if parent == genesis && i%3 == 0 {
 			tx, err := types.NewTransaction(block.TxNonce(testAddress), common.Address{seed}, big.NewInt(1000), params.TxGas, nil, nil).SignECDSA(testKey)
@@ -97,15 +102,19 @@ func makeChain(n int, seed byte, parent *types.Block, parentReceipts types.Recei
 
 // makeChainFork creates two chains of length n, such that h1[:f] and
 // h2[:f] are different but have a common suffix of length n-f.
-func makeChainFork(n, f int, parent *types.Block, parentReceipts types.Receipts) ([]common.Hash, []common.Hash, map[common.Hash]*types.Header, map[common.Hash]*types.Header, map[common.Hash]*types.Block, map[common.Hash]*types.Block, map[common.Hash]types.Receipts, map[common.Hash]types.Receipts) {
+func makeChainFork(n, f int, parent *types.Block, parentReceipts types.Receipts, balanced bool) ([]common.Hash, []common.Hash, map[common.Hash]*types.Header, map[common.Hash]*types.Header, map[common.Hash]*types.Block, map[common.Hash]*types.Block, map[common.Hash]types.Receipts, map[common.Hash]types.Receipts) {
 	// Create the common suffix
-	hashes, headers, blocks, receipts := makeChain(n-f, 0, parent, parentReceipts)
+	hashes, headers, blocks, receipts := makeChain(n-f, 0, parent, parentReceipts, false)
 
-	// Create the forks
-	hashes1, headers1, blocks1, receipts1 := makeChain(f, 1, blocks[hashes[0]], receipts[hashes[0]])
+	// Create the forks, making the second heavyer if non balanced forks were requested
+	hashes1, headers1, blocks1, receipts1 := makeChain(f, 1, blocks[hashes[0]], receipts[hashes[0]], false)
 	hashes1 = append(hashes1, hashes[1:]...)
 
-	hashes2, headers2, blocks2, receipts2 := makeChain(f, 2, blocks[hashes[0]], receipts[hashes[0]])
+	heavy := false
+	if !balanced {
+		heavy = true
+	}
+	hashes2, headers2, blocks2, receipts2 := makeChain(f, 2, blocks[hashes[0]], receipts[hashes[0]], heavy)
 	hashes2 = append(hashes2, hashes[1:]...)
 
 	for hash, header := range headers {
@@ -712,7 +721,7 @@ func testCanonicalSynchronisation(t *testing.T, protocol int, mode SyncMode) {
 
 	// Create a small enough block chain to download
 	targetBlocks := blockCacheLimit - 15
-	hashes, headers, blocks, receipts := makeChain(targetBlocks, 0, genesis, nil)
+	hashes, headers, blocks, receipts := makeChain(targetBlocks, 0, genesis, nil, false)
 
 	tester := newTester()
 	tester.newPeer("peer", protocol, hashes, headers, blocks, receipts)
@@ -736,7 +745,7 @@ func TestThrottling64Fast(t *testing.T) { testThrottling(t, 64, FastSync) }
 func testThrottling(t *testing.T, protocol int, mode SyncMode) {
 	// Create a long block chain to download and the tester
 	targetBlocks := 8 * blockCacheLimit
-	hashes, headers, blocks, receipts := makeChain(targetBlocks, 0, genesis, nil)
+	hashes, headers, blocks, receipts := makeChain(targetBlocks, 0, genesis, nil, false)
 
 	tester := newTester()
 	tester.newPeer("peer", protocol, hashes, headers, blocks, receipts)
@@ -810,20 +819,20 @@ func testThrottling(t *testing.T, protocol int, mode SyncMode) {
 // Tests that simple synchronization against a forked chain works correctly. In
 // this test common ancestor lookup should *not* be short circuited, and a full
 // binary search should be executed.
-func TestForkedSynchronisation61(t *testing.T)      { testForkedSynchronisation(t, 61, FullSync) }
-func TestForkedSynchronisation62(t *testing.T)      { testForkedSynchronisation(t, 62, FullSync) }
-func TestForkedSynchronisation63Full(t *testing.T)  { testForkedSynchronisation(t, 63, FullSync) }
-func TestForkedSynchronisation63Fast(t *testing.T)  { testForkedSynchronisation(t, 63, FastSync) }
-func TestForkedSynchronisation64Full(t *testing.T)  { testForkedSynchronisation(t, 64, FullSync) }
-func TestForkedSynchronisation64Fast(t *testing.T)  { testForkedSynchronisation(t, 64, FastSync) }
-func TestForkedSynchronisation64Light(t *testing.T) { testForkedSynchronisation(t, 64, LightSync) }
+func TestForkedSync61(t *testing.T)      { testForkedSync(t, 61, FullSync) }
+func TestForkedSync62(t *testing.T)      { testForkedSync(t, 62, FullSync) }
+func TestForkedSync63Full(t *testing.T)  { testForkedSync(t, 63, FullSync) }
+func TestForkedSync63Fast(t *testing.T)  { testForkedSync(t, 63, FastSync) }
+func TestForkedSync64Full(t *testing.T)  { testForkedSync(t, 64, FullSync) }
+func TestForkedSync64Fast(t *testing.T)  { testForkedSync(t, 64, FastSync) }
+func TestForkedSync64Light(t *testing.T) { testForkedSync(t, 64, LightSync) }
 
-func testForkedSynchronisation(t *testing.T, protocol int, mode SyncMode) {
+func testForkedSync(t *testing.T, protocol int, mode SyncMode) {
 	t.Parallel()
 
 	// Create a long enough forked chain
 	common, fork := MaxHashFetch, 2*MaxHashFetch
-	hashesA, hashesB, headersA, headersB, blocksA, blocksB, receiptsA, receiptsB := makeChainFork(common+fork, fork, genesis, nil)
+	hashesA, hashesB, headersA, headersB, blocksA, blocksB, receiptsA, receiptsB := makeChainFork(common+fork, fork, genesis, nil, true)
 
 	tester := newTester()
 	tester.newPeer("fork A", protocol, hashesA, headersA, blocksA, receiptsA)
@@ -842,6 +851,40 @@ func testForkedSynchronisation(t *testing.T, protocol int, mode SyncMode) {
 	assertOwnForkedChain(t, tester, common+1, []int{common + fork + 1, common + fork + 1})
 }
 
+// Tests that synchronising against a much shorter but much heavyer fork works
+// corrently and is not dropped.
+func TestHeavyForkedSync61(t *testing.T)      { testHeavyForkedSync(t, 61, FullSync) }
+func TestHeavyForkedSync62(t *testing.T)      { testHeavyForkedSync(t, 62, FullSync) }
+func TestHeavyForkedSync63Full(t *testing.T)  { testHeavyForkedSync(t, 63, FullSync) }
+func TestHeavyForkedSync63Fast(t *testing.T)  { testHeavyForkedSync(t, 63, FastSync) }
+func TestHeavyForkedSync64Full(t *testing.T)  { testHeavyForkedSync(t, 64, FullSync) }
+func TestHeavyForkedSync64Fast(t *testing.T)  { testHeavyForkedSync(t, 64, FastSync) }
+func TestHeavyForkedSync64Light(t *testing.T) { testHeavyForkedSync(t, 64, LightSync) }
+
+func testHeavyForkedSync(t *testing.T, protocol int, mode SyncMode) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	// Create a long enough forked chain
+	common, fork := MaxHashFetch, 4*MaxHashFetch
+	hashesA, hashesB, headersA, headersB, blocksA, blocksB, receiptsA, receiptsB := makeChainFork(common+fork, fork, genesis, nil, false)
+
+	tester := newTester()
+	tester.newPeer("light", protocol, hashesA, headersA, blocksA, receiptsA)
+	tester.newPeer("heavy", protocol, hashesB[fork/2:], headersB, blocksB, receiptsB)
+
+	// Synchronise with the peer and make sure all blocks were retrieved
+	if err := tester.sync("light", nil, mode); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("failed to synchronise blocks: %v", err)
+	}
+	assertOwnChain(t, tester, common+fork+1)
+
+	// Synchronise with the second peer and make sure that fork is pulled too
+	if err := tester.sync("heavy", nil, mode); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("failed to synchronise blocks: %v", err)
+	}
+	assertOwnForkedChain(t, tester, common+1, []int{common + fork + 1, common + fork/2 + 1})
+}
+
 // Tests that an inactive downloader will not accept incoming hashes and blocks.
 func TestInactiveDownloader61(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Parallel()
@@ -856,6 +899,74 @@ func TestInactiveDownloader61(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+// Tests that chain forks are contained within a certain interval of the current
+// chain head, ensuring that malicious peers cannot waste resources by feeding
+// long dead chains.
+func TestBoundedForkedSync61(t *testing.T)      { testBoundedForkedSync(t, 61, FullSync) }
+func TestBoundedForkedSync62(t *testing.T)      { testBoundedForkedSync(t, 62, FullSync) }
+func TestBoundedForkedSync63Full(t *testing.T)  { testBoundedForkedSync(t, 63, FullSync) }
+func TestBoundedForkedSync63Fast(t *testing.T)  { testBoundedForkedSync(t, 63, FastSync) }
+func TestBoundedForkedSync64Full(t *testing.T)  { testBoundedForkedSync(t, 64, FullSync) }
+func TestBoundedForkedSync64Fast(t *testing.T)  { testBoundedForkedSync(t, 64, FastSync) }
+func TestBoundedForkedSync64Light(t *testing.T) { testBoundedForkedSync(t, 64, LightSync) }
+
+func testBoundedForkedSync(t *testing.T, protocol int, mode SyncMode) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	// Create a long enough forked chain
+	common, fork := 13, int(MaxForkAncestry+17)
+	hashesA, hashesB, headersA, headersB, blocksA, blocksB, receiptsA, receiptsB := makeChainFork(common+fork, fork, genesis, nil, true)
+
+	tester := newTester()
+	tester.newPeer("original", protocol, hashesA, headersA, blocksA, receiptsA)
+	tester.newPeer("rewriter", protocol, hashesB, headersB, blocksB, receiptsB)
+
+	// Synchronise with the peer and make sure all blocks were retrieved
+	if err := tester.sync("original", nil, mode); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("failed to synchronise blocks: %v", err)
+	}
+	assertOwnChain(t, tester, common+fork+1)
+
+	// Synchronise with the second peer and ensure that the fork is rejected to being too old
+	if err := tester.sync("rewriter", nil, mode); err != errInvalidAncestor {
+		t.Fatalf("sync failure mismatch: have %v, want %v", err, errInvalidAncestor)
+	}
+}
+
+// Tests that chain forks are contained within a certain interval of the current
+// chain head for short but heavy forks too. These are a bit special because they
+// take different ancestor lookup paths.
+func TestBoundedHeavyForkedSync61(t *testing.T)      { testBoundedHeavyForkedSync(t, 61, FullSync) }
+func TestBoundedHeavyForkedSync62(t *testing.T)      { testBoundedHeavyForkedSync(t, 62, FullSync) }
+func TestBoundedHeavyForkedSync63Full(t *testing.T)  { testBoundedHeavyForkedSync(t, 63, FullSync) }
+func TestBoundedHeavyForkedSync63Fast(t *testing.T)  { testBoundedHeavyForkedSync(t, 63, FastSync) }
+func TestBoundedHeavyForkedSync64Full(t *testing.T)  { testBoundedHeavyForkedSync(t, 64, FullSync) }
+func TestBoundedHeavyForkedSync64Fast(t *testing.T)  { testBoundedHeavyForkedSync(t, 64, FastSync) }
+func TestBoundedHeavyForkedSync64Light(t *testing.T) { testBoundedHeavyForkedSync(t, 64, LightSync) }
+
+func testBoundedHeavyForkedSync(t *testing.T, protocol int, mode SyncMode) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	// Create a long enough forked chain
+	common, fork := 13, int(MaxForkAncestry+17)
+	hashesA, hashesB, headersA, headersB, blocksA, blocksB, receiptsA, receiptsB := makeChainFork(common+fork, fork, genesis, nil, false)
+
+	tester := newTester()
+	tester.newPeer("original", protocol, hashesA, headersA, blocksA, receiptsA)
+	tester.newPeer("heavy-rewriter", protocol, hashesB[MaxForkAncestry-17:], headersB, blocksB, receiptsB) // Root the fork below the ancestor limit
+
+	// Synchronise with the peer and make sure all blocks were retrieved
+	if err := tester.sync("original", nil, mode); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("failed to synchronise blocks: %v", err)
+	}
+	assertOwnChain(t, tester, common+fork+1)
+
+	// Synchronise with the second peer and ensure that the fork is rejected to being too old
+	if err := tester.sync("heavy-rewriter", nil, mode); err != errInvalidAncestor {
+		t.Fatalf("sync failure mismatch: have %v, want %v", err, errInvalidAncestor)
+	}
+}
+
 // Tests that an inactive downloader will not accept incoming block headers and
 // bodies.
 func TestInactiveDownloader62(t *testing.T) {
@@ -909,7 +1020,7 @@ func testCancel(t *testing.T, protocol int, mode SyncMode) {
 	if targetBlocks >= MaxHeaderFetch {
 		targetBlocks = MaxHeaderFetch - 15
 	}
-	hashes, headers, blocks, receipts := makeChain(targetBlocks, 0, genesis, nil)
+	hashes, headers, blocks, receipts := makeChain(targetBlocks, 0, genesis, nil, false)
 
 	tester := newTester()
 	tester.newPeer("peer", protocol, hashes, headers, blocks, receipts)
@@ -944,7 +1055,7 @@ func testMultiSynchronisation(t *testing.T, protocol int, mode SyncMode) {
 	// Create various peers with various parts of the chain
 	targetPeers := 8
 	targetBlocks := targetPeers*blockCacheLimit - 15
-	hashes, headers, blocks, receipts := makeChain(targetBlocks, 0, genesis, nil)
+	hashes, headers, blocks, receipts := makeChain(targetBlocks, 0, genesis, nil, false)
 
 	tester := newTester()
 	for i := 0; i < targetPeers; i++ {
@@ -972,7 +1083,7 @@ func testMultiProtoSync(t *testing.T, protocol int, mode SyncMode) {
 
 	// Create a small enough block chain to download
 	targetBlocks := blockCacheLimit - 15
-	hashes, headers, blocks, receipts := makeChain(targetBlocks, 0, genesis, nil)
+	hashes, headers, blocks, receipts := makeChain(targetBlocks, 0, genesis, nil, false)
 
 	// Create peers of every type
 	tester := newTester()
@@ -1010,7 +1121,7 @@ func testEmptyShortCircuit(t *testing.T, protocol int, mode SyncMode) {
 
 	// Create a block chain to download
 	targetBlocks := 2*blockCacheLimit - 15
-	hashes, headers, blocks, receipts := makeChain(targetBlocks, 0, genesis, nil)
+	hashes, headers, blocks, receipts := makeChain(targetBlocks, 0, genesis, nil, false)
 
 	tester := newTester()
 	tester.newPeer("peer", protocol, hashes, headers, blocks, receipts)
@@ -1063,7 +1174,7 @@ func testMissingHeaderAttack(t *testing.T, protocol int, mode SyncMode) {
 
 	// Create a small enough block chain to download
 	targetBlocks := blockCacheLimit - 15
-	hashes, headers, blocks, receipts := makeChain(targetBlocks, 0, genesis, nil)
+	hashes, headers, blocks, receipts := makeChain(targetBlocks, 0, genesis, nil, false)
 
 	tester := newTester()
 
@@ -1095,7 +1206,7 @@ func TestShiftedHeaderAttack64Light(t *testing.T) { testShiftedHeaderAttack(t, 6
 func testShiftedHeaderAttack(t *testing.T, protocol int, mode SyncMode) {
 	// Create a small enough block chain to download
 	targetBlocks := blockCacheLimit - 15
-	hashes, headers, blocks, receipts := makeChain(targetBlocks, 0, genesis, nil)
+	hashes, headers, blocks, receipts := makeChain(targetBlocks, 0, genesis, nil, false)
 
 	tester := newTester()
 
@@ -1126,7 +1237,7 @@ func TestInvalidHeaderRollback64Light(t *testing.T) { testInvalidHeaderRollback(
 func testInvalidHeaderRollback(t *testing.T, protocol int, mode SyncMode) {
 	// Create a small enough block chain to download
 	targetBlocks := 3*fsHeaderSafetyNet + fsMinFullBlocks
-	hashes, headers, blocks, receipts := makeChain(targetBlocks, 0, genesis, nil)
+	hashes, headers, blocks, receipts := makeChain(targetBlocks, 0, genesis, nil, false)
 
 	tester := newTester()
 
@@ -1217,7 +1328,7 @@ func testHighTDStarvationAttack(t *testing.T, protocol int, mode SyncMode) {
 	t.Parallel()
 
 	tester := newTester()
-	hashes, headers, blocks, receipts := makeChain(0, 0, genesis, nil)
+	hashes, headers, blocks, receipts := makeChain(0, 0, genesis, nil, false)
 
 	tester.newPeer("attack", protocol, []common.Hash{hashes[0]}, headers, blocks, receipts)
 	if err := tester.sync("attack", big.NewInt(1000000), mode); err != errStallingPeer {
@@ -1247,6 +1358,7 @@ func testBlockHeaderAttackerDropping(t *testing.T, protocol int) {
 		{errEmptyHashSet, true},        // No hashes were returned as a response, drop as it's a dead end
 		{errEmptyHeaderSet, true},      // No headers were returned as a response, drop as it's a dead end
 		{errPeersUnavailable, true},    // Nobody had the advertised blocks, drop the advertiser
+		{errInvalidAncestor, true},     // Agreed upon ancestor is not acceptable, drop the chain rewriter
 		{errInvalidChain, true},        // Hash chain was detected as invalid, definitely drop
 		{errInvalidBlock, false},       // A bad peer was detected, but not the sync origin
 		{errInvalidBody, false},        // A bad peer was detected, but not the sync origin
@@ -1294,7 +1406,7 @@ func testSyncProgress(t *testing.T, protocol int, mode SyncMode) {
 
 	// Create a small enough block chain to download
 	targetBlocks := blockCacheLimit - 15
-	hashes, headers, blocks, receipts := makeChain(targetBlocks, 0, genesis, nil)
+	hashes, headers, blocks, receipts := makeChain(targetBlocks, 0, genesis, nil, false)
 
 	// Set a sync init hook to catch progress changes
 	starting := make(chan struct{})
@@ -1366,7 +1478,7 @@ func testForkedSyncProgress(t *testing.T, protocol int, mode SyncMode) {
 
 	// Create a forked chain to simulate origin revertal
 	common, fork := MaxHashFetch, 2*MaxHashFetch
-	hashesA, hashesB, headersA, headersB, blocksA, blocksB, receiptsA, receiptsB := makeChainFork(common+fork, fork, genesis, nil)
+	hashesA, hashesB, headersA, headersB, blocksA, blocksB, receiptsA, receiptsB := makeChainFork(common+fork, fork, genesis, nil, true)
 
 	// Set a sync init hook to catch progress changes
 	starting := make(chan struct{})
@@ -1441,7 +1553,7 @@ func testFailedSyncProgress(t *testing.T, protocol int, mode SyncMode) {
 
 	// Create a small enough block chain to download
 	targetBlocks := blockCacheLimit - 15
-	hashes, headers, blocks, receipts := makeChain(targetBlocks, 0, genesis, nil)
+	hashes, headers, blocks, receipts := makeChain(targetBlocks, 0, genesis, nil, false)
 
 	// Set a sync init hook to catch progress changes
 	starting := make(chan struct{})
@@ -1517,7 +1629,7 @@ func testFakedSyncProgress(t *testing.T, protocol int, mode SyncMode) {
 
 	// Create a small block chain
 	targetBlocks := blockCacheLimit - 15
-	hashes, headers, blocks, receipts := makeChain(targetBlocks+3, 0, genesis, nil)
+	hashes, headers, blocks, receipts := makeChain(targetBlocks+3, 0, genesis, nil, false)
 
 	// Set a sync init hook to catch progress changes
 	starting := make(chan struct{})
@@ -1590,7 +1702,7 @@ func TestDeliverHeadersHang64Light(t *testing.T) { testDeliverHeadersHang(t, 64,
 
 func testDeliverHeadersHang(t *testing.T, protocol int, mode SyncMode) {
 	t.Parallel()
-	hashes, headers, blocks, receipts := makeChain(5, 0, genesis, nil)
+	hashes, headers, blocks, receipts := makeChain(5, 0, genesis, nil, false)
 	fakeHeads := []*types.Header{{}, {}, {}, {}}
 	for i := 0; i < 200; i++ {
 		tester := newTester()
diff --git a/event/event.go b/event/event.go
index 57dd52baa1..fd0bcfbd48 100644
--- a/event/event.go
+++ b/event/event.go
@@ -66,6 +66,9 @@ func (mux *TypeMux) Subscribe(types ...interface{}) Subscription {
 	mux.mutex.Lock()
 	defer mux.mutex.Unlock()
 	if mux.stopped {
+		// set the status to closed so that calling Unsubscribe after this
+		// call will short curuit
+		sub.closed = true
 		close(sub.postC)
 	} else {
 		if mux.subm == nil {
diff --git a/event/event_test.go b/event/event_test.go
index 323cfea49e..3940293013 100644
--- a/event/event_test.go
+++ b/event/event_test.go
@@ -25,6 +25,14 @@ import (
 
 type testEvent int
 
+func TestSubCloseUnsub(t *testing.T) {
+	// the point of this test is **not** to panic
+	var mux TypeMux
+	mux.Stop()
+	sub := mux.Subscribe(int(0))
+	sub.Unsubscribe()
+}
+
 func TestSub(t *testing.T) {
 	mux := new(TypeMux)
 	defer mux.Stop()
diff --git a/rpc/websocket.go b/rpc/websocket.go
index 1303f98db1..fe9354d946 100644
--- a/rpc/websocket.go
+++ b/rpc/websocket.go
@@ -61,22 +61,22 @@ func wsHandshakeValidator(allowedOrigins []string) func(*websocket.Config, *http
 			allowAllOrigins = true
 		}
 		if origin != "" {
-			origins.Add(origin)
+			origins.Add(strings.ToLower(origin))
 		}
 	}
 
-	// allow localhost if no allowedOrigins are specified
+	// allow localhost if no allowedOrigins are specified.
 	if len(origins.List()) == 0 {
 		origins.Add("http://localhost")
 		if hostname, err := os.Hostname(); err == nil {
-			origins.Add("http://" + hostname)
+			origins.Add("http://" + strings.ToLower(hostname))
 		}
 	}
 
 	glog.V(logger.Debug).Infof("Allowed origin(s) for WS RPC interface %v\n", origins.List())
 
 	f := func(cfg *websocket.Config, req *http.Request) error {
-		origin := req.Header.Get("Origin")
+		origin := strings.ToLower(req.Header.Get("Origin"))
 		if allowAllOrigins || origins.Has(origin) {
 			return nil
 		}