So Sorry about the unplanned downtime - a major attack was the cause

[djkimmel]

Due to a major attack of the entire site by someone from a Latvian IP address that is making their way cruelly through the Internet right now, a number of parts of the site had to be disabled and/or taken down with no notice until I could get help fixing the damage from my web host security, and I could find out how it was done so I knew what to do to keep the same thing from happening again. And also find out what risks, if any occurred for anyone.

It appears to mainly be an elaborate spamming attempt to add a whole bunch of junk links to the code of certain types of web pages. I do not find anything more so far than that.

Unfortunately, due to the type of attack the peron(s) is using across the Internet and the risk it could be done again, I have had to take away the ability to upload your own avatar to the forum until further notice.

You can still attach files for now, but no uploading your own avatar. You can link to one you already have somewhere on the Internet (Photobucket, etc or your own web space) or pick one from those I have available on the site. Granted I don't have much in the way of outdoors avatars.

I will lift this block if I can at some point when and if the sofware developers solve the problem.

Dan Kimmel
Admin

[djkimmel]

The change to not allow new avatars to be uploaded should only affect new uploads not previous uploads any of you have already have on your account.

[Skulley]

These attacks on websites seem to be getting more numerous and worse.  My clubs website has been under attack several times in the last couple of months.  I think they were attacked by the same Latvian.......at least that is what our website provider told us.  All we can do is keep fighting them off.


BD           

[djkimmel]

They aren't going away. Unfortunately...

[Skulley]

No they are NOT going away.  My Paypal account got hacked on Sunday nite.  I am now just getting on top of the situation.....thanks to my bank and the way Paypal does business.  It is not just the European countries but a lot of these attacks come from China.  Face it we are in an electronic war with these countries.  Always be careful about what you do on the net and make sure all your computers are updated with the latest in anti-virus and firewall software.  The attack on Paypal wasn't my fault.  The unscrupulous individual attacked their server and hacked a whole bunch of people.

BD         

[djkimmel]

China and Russia are the biggest overall from what I see. But it is easy for them to get free access to IP addresses that mislead where they are really coming from too.

[MadWags]

It is a communist plot!