In case you’ve been wondering if I have run off with an unemployed tuba player this past week – and that’s why you have not seen any articles -
You are wrong.
My blog was HACKED. No entry. Just some horrible message when you clicked on it. Worse than a 404.
I called my server, who I have decided not to name because they gave me so much double talk like I was over memory. I mean, like I have one little blog. How can that be? They did not have a clue that I was a victim of hacking.
Then, I called my “Mommy” – in case you don’t know – that is Michelle who is a super tech. Even she could not get into the site to see what was going on.
But Michelle has a super uber tech she calls – in LONDON for God’s sakes – who spotted the problem immediately.
It took two days for the two of them to straighten out the problem. I am up and running now as you can see and I owe them my life.
But we had to tell the server what the problem was and suggest they get someone on the job who knew what they were doing. Annoying, to say the least.
I thought I would never see you again. All of you – gone forever.
I have two questions.
WHY ME?
WHY?
There is nothing on my site that an identity thief could use and my site is pretty innocuous. Could you please tell me why someone would do this? What could they possibly get out of it?
If you know, please tell me.
In the meantime, I did clean out some closets. That’s one good thing that came out of it.
But that was only because no out of work tuba player showed up.
Thank you, Michelle. Special thanks to Peter, her friend, across the pond. I will love both of you forever!
And, welcome back, all of you. Please tell me what you know why anyone would do this.
Special note to my treasured friends who comment. We have had to do a massive clean up here. Switched those who subscribed to a different place to guard against hackers. You accidently may have been swept out along with the troublemakers.
If you do not get a notification of a new post from me in the next week, please, please come back and subscribe again. You will be in a safe place. I do not want to lose you – or you to lose me! I know it is a bother – but do it anyway for me. Thanks!
{ 16 comments… read them below or add one }
The photo is perfect!.. I think they hackers were trying to find a way to put up links to their sites… Not sure what else they wanted – maybe your email to send out spam? Thank you for the mention. Next time you see me it will be on a video blog post made with my flip video and good back lighting.
That picture is classic!!
It’s highly annoying to have a site get hacked, especially when it’s a personal blog. Good thing it was caught early. I don’t understand the psychology/motivation of hackers (although I do know that if you spam enough you will get a response, so it is a numbers game). That type of creativity needed for hacking would be so powerful channelled into running a real business. Much more profitable too.
Anyway, I was happy to be able to help you out…any time!
Why you? Why not you? I told you it was Mercury Retrograde and you laughed again.
I know about this energy – I have proof – I have seen it far too many times to think it is just a coincidence.
I thought it was silly when I hear about it in 1987 — but
it isn’t … All the “re” words apply here – re-do, re-think, re-whatever. Who knows what this may have saved you later.
One time, just about every computer, printer, copier, etc just broker – know why? – they were all old and need to be “re” placed. Re-gurgitate comes to mind now but I bet you got through that Ted Kennedy book.
I’m so glad Michelle is in your life …. this one could have put you away!!! Also my dear, it did take your mind off other past events ….
OK OK – Lily Rose. Ok. I’m a believer in mercury retrograde.
It just hasn’t hit me so forcefully before.
I’ll admit. I am more likely to lose my car keys. My dishwasher breaks down. The vaccum stops suddenly.
But my whole blog IS SHUT DOWN???
So, tell me since to know about these things. What do we do that can counteract against it?
What needs to be “re-do, re-think, re-whatever. Who knows what this may have saved you later.”
Lots of people might be really interested in your answer!
Dear Michelle and Peter -
My life jackets.
Glad you liked the picture on the post. It is true. We are all addicted to this Internet game. We don’t know what to do when it is not available.
I kept thinking. “What will people do. Will they leave me. You just don’t stop posting srticles. Will they come back?”
We are crazy people and it is time to admit it.
Corinne – Just accept it and fix what breaks – Happens to all of us at different times. Not a good time to sign contracts or take trips – “communication stuff” but don’t take it so seriously.
It’s a wonderful sweet slow-down time 3 or 4 times a year and it is a blessing. Time to reflect on where you have been in the past year and especially in the past several months … A yellow pause light. The only “re”word that doesn’t apply is “REACT”.. just let it be and re-ground. What have you been working on in the past 3 months – where were you exactly a year ago – do yu wan to continuet this past.
It’s a quiet look at what you have been doing. Kind of a “tell me where you have been and I’ll tell you where you are going”.
We Americans are habituated to constantly make progress- slow down folks and screw it for 3 weeks – We’ll all going to be dead soon – why don’t we just reflect on that one and STOP STOP STOP AND RE-LAX.
Corinne – I always admit to being crazy (at times).
Dear Lily Rose -
This was not a “yellow” pause light. This was a RED LIGHT. STOP!
Probably I could pause because there is no way in the world I could muddle out of this myself. But Michelle and Peter could not pause.
They have already secured their crowns in heaven for all the work they have done to fix this nightmare. And they did it with so little fuss and with grace. Bless them.
But it is 99.9% fixed now! I am grateful.
More important than fixed, they took big steps so that the likelihood of my being hacked again is very low.
And they have taught me what to watch for in the future. I learned quite a bit for a non-techie!
Wow, Corrine, what the heck? Fortunately, none of this pulled me, a faithful subscriber, off your list! I am glad you’re back in business, thanks to Michele and her friend across the pond. Whew.
Keep your chin up – it is times of adversity where you discover your greatest strengths (or weaknesses) and go from there. It looks like you made a remarkable recovery but I’m sorry to see you had to go through this. What happened exactly? Do you know?
Stephen Hopsons last blog post..NEWSFLASH: It’s Official…….
Hi Stephen -
It is not what the heck. It is what the hack.
It evidently did not affect you because you were already switched over to Feedburner. Lots of early subscribers were still on wordpress. Huge amounts of spam. Overpowered my site. Lots from Russia.(???????????? why?)
I learned one thing. When someone puts in a “name” click on it to check it to see if it goes to a site. Usually, a high pressure sales page.Then if it does, just delete. No matter how interesting the comment is. It is spam. This is different than someone putting in their site in the appropriate box.
It is clear now. Lots of work for Michelle and Peter and even this non-tech person learned a lot.
That’s funny, “what the hack.” LOL. You managed to retain your sense of humor and that’s a good thing. I’m glad it’s settled and now you can move forward. Whew!
Stephen Hopsons last blog post..NEWSFLASH: It’s Official…….
I take small exception to your line, “But Michelle has a super uber tech she calls – in LONDON for God’s sakes – who spotted the problem immediately.
It was an Englishman who invented the internet, Sir Timothy John Berners-Lee, OM, KBE, FRS, FREng, FRSA so why not call London.
Perhaps I’m being sensitive but Americans often give the impression they invented everything including the lightbulb.
Swan was installing them in homes in Britain years before Edison got his idea patented. Look it up on the internet if you don’t believe me.
OK Chris -
Whoops! As soon as I hit publish I thought “Chris is definitely going to have something to say about this!”
It was a lopsided compliment. I love the Brits. You are all brilliant – especially you.
And Peter is a doll. And he is an uber techie.
My apologies, my friend.
Thanks for the education on the Internet. Of course we didn’t know that. How could we? Al Gore told us it was him.
Hey Chris, My dad’s a Brit and I lived in London and England for years, (years ago that is), so I’m a sort of Brit as well. No problem calling London for help. Especially when I’ve got friends there. (one is Peter, whom I’ve never met in person). The Brit’s invented, Tea, Marmite, Treacle Pud and Vinegar on Fish and Chips. Why not the internet indeed?!
I made a comment sometime during when your blog was hacked and it vanished. Was that the hacker or was that you? If it’s you, the irony is that my weblink this time and last time links to a rant I wrote complaining about the very kind of abuses the deleter did.
Dear Richard -
Never saw your comment when it came in. Who knows where it went. I did not do the clean up on my blog. I am a writer – not a techie.
But I just clicked on your name and read it.
Yes, it is a rant. But we are all entitled to one here and there.
Thanks for following up.
All I know is that my site is up and perfect again.
Thanks for the sympathy!
That must have been horrible. Glad you’ve recovered AND you got those closets cleaned out.