TLO Hacked
 

TLO was hacked sometime within the past few days and being preoccupied over the holiday I did not realize it until Roy Robbins brought it to my attention via email. I have restored the site and at first glance it appears that it was limited to the root directory and the database has not been compromised. I will continue to investigate this incident and report it to the Host Service Provider as well. If for some reason the hackers decide to continue their efforts the site may go down periodically until everything gets sorted out.

Re: TLO Hacked
 

It was extremely distressing. I left a nasty message on their Facebook page, but then I freaked about getting hacked myself so I deleted it. I am overjoy'd to return to TLO. Not having it for all of those days reminded me how very precious it is, a wondrous realm of Literature, Art, Intellect, Ideas, and Good Souls.

Re: TLO Hacked
 

What did we ever do to you? Not cool, Kosovo. Not cool.

Ahem. Anyway...

Thank you, Dr., for bringing the site back up. Though I'm clearly not too active around here, I'll have to echo hopfrog's sentiment here regarding the value of this place, this haven for all these really unique, different, and yet like-minded people.

Re: TLO Hacked
 

In most instances, attacks like this are not directed to the website itself. Sometimes they are simply the result of roaming hackers searching for easy prey, of which open based forums tend to be more susceptible to attack. In other instances they are not even directed by human activity, but instead roaming bots that do the dirty deeds en masse. Regardless, our best defense is to continue onward and hope that they find more interesting things to do with their time and talent. Incidentally, the site may a bit sluggish tonight as I back up content and sift through files searching for naughty bits.

Re: TLO Hacked
 

Wonderful to see everything back to normal here. Thanks you, as always, for your ongoing Webmastering and curatorship, Brother Brian.

Re: TLO Hacked
 

1. If you see a small page asking you to click to update your Google Chrome, don't do it. Look at the spelling. Reset your computer - you probably won't be able to leave the page any other way.

2. If you receive an email at your Outlook box, asking you to click to 'Verify Outlook' so it can be updated - failure to do so will result in 'account suspension'. I suggest you delete it. One of the links in the attached PDF opens to 404 Not Found. The other just doesn't open at all.

3. If you receive an email telling you that payment will soon be due on PC Performer, view with suspicion. I don't have PC Performer on my computer. I've found this page:http://forums.anvisoft.com/viewtopic-55-4701-0.html

The 'PC Performer' email includes the last four digits of my debit card.

Glad to see TLO's back. Thanks, Doc. (this message previously posted at The Workshop of Filthy Creation)

For the record, I invested in McAffee after the 'bizcoaching' incident. I wanted to be sure my computer was clean before I posted any videos. Yesterday I bought the pro version of Spybot Search and Destroy.

Re: TLO Hacked
 

For clarification, the warnings issued above are not related to TLO, correct?

Re: TLO Hacked
 

thanks for resurrection of TLO! this bloody hackers spoiled my whole weekend by that stupid attack on TLO, but I'm glad to see everything is back to normal

Re: TLO Hacked
 

That's correct. It's just that I've seen so much unpleasant and suspicious stuff on the net recently - the 3 instances I've given all occurred in the past few days - I decided to post this on a number of boards. With hindsight, for clarity, it would have been better if I'd started a new thread here.

Anyway, it's good to see you back.:)

Re: TLO Hacked
 

Thanks Doc, for the return of TLO and for the associated quality of life restored.