Forums hacked - back online - Techwatch: Satellite TV forums, FTA, Cable, Hardware, & Tech forums

brian · 05-09-08, 07:20 PM

Terribly sorry about the forums having been down for the past couple of hours - they were targeted by a hacker who somehow managed to gain access to the server, and in trying to upload some hacking scripts, crippled the forum.

Luckily it looks as though the hacker was something of a script kiddie as they didn't get the scripts they wanted to run to install, but I'm currently completing rebuilding the forums, and after that, will have all passwords changed on my admin logins in case.

Members should be safe - they were not the target of this attack - instead a hacker was trying to upload their own content to the site, and it was precisely because this disrupted forum operations that I was able to get them locked out.

Unfortunately, I've had to completely rebuild the forums in doing so, to make sure there are no files left on the site that the hacker could use to gain back door access to in future.

In the meantime, you'll probably see a few bugs, but I should hopefully have everything else smoothed out within the next hour or so.

Apologies again for the inconvenience, and pass the rage smiley.

ronster · 05-09-08, 07:53 PM

Cheers for the heads up brian,not been able to log on since about 12.00.
Do you think we should change our passwords too?

brian · 05-09-08, 07:55 PM

I should you should be fine regarding passwords - it was the server that was compromised, not the members accounts.

Also, if anyone ever sees the forums down, I do have contact details here:
About Techwatch

Many thanks to Southern Satellite for making the effort to call me and warn me about the forums being down.

Analoguesat · 05-09-08, 08:15 PM

Most of the attached pictures seem to be missing atm Brian.

brian · 05-09-08, 08:25 PM

1GB in attachments? Moved - see if that's working now.

Analoguesat · 05-09-08, 08:37 PM

That seems to have fixed it

jonjlp · 05-09-08, 08:55 PM

Keep up the good work to all the team.Fantastic forum!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yorks · 05-09-08, 09:08 PM

Nice to be back. Well done Brian. I'll shelve the medication for now.

brian · 05-09-08, 09:14 PM

I'll probably have to take the forums offline momentarily - found some other stuff uploaded to a couple of non-forum folders.

Rather than just delete, I'm going to reinstall everything on the site again - but because I know the forums are clean I can make the switch over occur within a few seconds, so hopefully the forums will be offline only momentarily.

After that, the server should be clean.

brian · 05-09-08, 09:46 PM

Okay, everything reinstalled and the server should be clean now.

05-09-08, 07:20 PM	#1 (permalink)
brian Administrator Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Inverness, Scotland Posts: 1,814 Thanks: 29 Thanked 155 Times in 74 Posts	Forums hacked - back online Terribly sorry about the forums having been down for the past couple of hours - they were targeted by a hacker who somehow managed to gain access to the server, and in trying to upload some hacking scripts, crippled the forum. Luckily it looks as though the hacker was something of a script kiddie as they didn't get the scripts they wanted to run to install, but I'm currently completing rebuilding the forums, and after that, will have all passwords changed on my admin logins in case. Members should be safe - they were not the target of this attack - instead a hacker was trying to upload their own content to the site, and it was precisely because this disrupted forum operations that I was able to get them locked out. Unfortunately, I've had to completely rebuild the forums in doing so, to make sure there are no files left on the site that the hacker could use to gain back door access to in future. In the meantime, you'll probably see a few bugs, but I should hopefully have everything else smoothed out within the next hour or so. Apologies again for the inconvenience, and pass the rage smiley.

05-09-08, 07:53 PM	#2 (permalink)
ronster Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Here Posts: 1,382 Thanks: 36 Thanked 410 Times in 173 Posts	Re: Forums hacked - back online Cheers for the heads up brian,not been able to log on since about 12.00. Do you think we should change our passwords too?

05-09-08, 07:55 PM	#3 (permalink)
brian Administrator Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Inverness, Scotland Posts: 1,814 Thanks: 29 Thanked 155 Times in 74 Posts	Re: Forums hacked - back online I should you should be fine regarding passwords - it was the server that was compromised, not the members accounts. Also, if anyone ever sees the forums down, I do have contact details here: About Techwatch Many thanks to Southern Satellite for making the effort to call me and warn me about the forums being down.

05-09-08, 08:15 PM	#4 (permalink)
Analoguesat satellite expert Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Scottish Borders Posts: 8,297 Thanks: 10 Thanked 269 Times in 241 Posts	Re: Forums hacked - back online Most of the attached pictures seem to be missing atm Brian. __________________ To all the cable boys - do not post: keys of any sort firmware for receivers links to sites carrying files, keys or fixes Read the rules before you post - click here to read them

05-09-08, 08:25 PM	#5 (permalink)
brian Administrator Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Inverness, Scotland Posts: 1,814 Thanks: 29 Thanked 155 Times in 74 Posts	Re: Forums hacked - back online 1GB in attachments? Moved - see if that's working now.


Technology Forums: FTA, Satellite, Cable, Home Media, Hardware & Computers \| Home \| Forums \| News \| Blog \|

05-09-08, 08:37 PM	#6 (permalink)
Analoguesat satellite expert Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Scottish Borders Posts: 8,297 Thanks: 10 Thanked 269 Times in 241 Posts	Re: Forums hacked - back online That seems to have fixed it __________________ To all the cable boys - do not post: keys of any sort firmware for receivers links to sites carrying files, keys or fixes Read the rules before you post - click here to read them

05-09-08, 08:55 PM	#7 (permalink)
jonjlp Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Somewhere Posts: 115 Thanks: 77 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Re: Forums hacked - back online Keep up the good work to all the team.Fantastic forum!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

05-09-08, 09:08 PM	#8 (permalink)
Yorks Just very slightly mad Join Date: May 2006 Location: S. Yorks Posts: 1,470 Thanks: 5 Thanked 45 Times in 43 Posts	Re: Forums hacked - back online Nice to be back. Well done Brian. I'll shelve the medication for now. __________________ They're coming to take me away haha TM1500CI, 53E to 61W

05-09-08, 09:14 PM	#9 (permalink)
brian Administrator Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Inverness, Scotland Posts: 1,814 Thanks: 29 Thanked 155 Times in 74 Posts	Re: Forums hacked - back online I'll probably have to take the forums offline momentarily - found some other stuff uploaded to a couple of non-forum folders. Rather than just delete, I'm going to reinstall everything on the site again - but because I know the forums are clean I can make the switch over occur within a few seconds, so hopefully the forums will be offline only momentarily. After that, the server should be clean.

05-09-08, 09:46 PM	#10 (permalink)
brian Administrator Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Inverness, Scotland Posts: 1,814 Thanks: 29 Thanked 155 Times in 74 Posts	Re: Forums hacked - back online Okay, everything reinstalled and the server should be clean now.

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