Forums hacked - back online - Techwatch Support Forums: Digital & Satellite TV, FTA, Cable, Computers, Mobile Phones, Apple and General 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: 3,726 Thanks: 286 Thanked 1,682 Times in 584 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: 2,398 Thanks: 140 Thanked 981 Times in 529 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: 3,726 Thanks: 286 Thanked 1,682 Times in 584 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 manic midlander retired mod Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Scottish Borders Posts: 11,668 Thanks: 21 Thanked 1,334 Times in 985 Posts	Re: Forums hacked - back online Most of the attached pictures seem to be missing atm Brian. __________________ Basic forum rules for both satellite & cable: no keys no patches no offering or asking for card shares Anyone pm'ing me for details of card sharing or anything to do with hacking cable will be banned immediately Analogue forever!!

05-09-08, 08:25 PM	#5 (permalink)
brian Administrator Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Inverness, Scotland Posts: 3,726 Thanks: 286 Thanked 1,682 Times in 584 Posts	Re: Forums hacked - back online 1GB in attachments? Moved - see if that's working now.

05-09-08, 08:37 PM	#6 (permalink)
Analoguesat manic midlander retired mod Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Scottish Borders Posts: 11,668 Thanks: 21 Thanked 1,334 Times in 985 Posts	Re: Forums hacked - back online That seems to have fixed it __________________ Basic forum rules for both satellite & cable: no keys no patches no offering or asking for card shares Anyone pm'ing me for details of card sharing or anything to do with hacking cable will be banned immediately Analogue forever!!

05-09-08, 08:55 PM	#7 (permalink)
jonjlp Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Somewhere Posts: 145 Thanks: 82 Thanked 7 Times in 7 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 Nook in footer Join Date: May 2006 Location: S. Yorks Posts: 1,760 Thanks: 12 Thanked 129 Times in 108 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: 3,726 Thanks: 286 Thanked 1,682 Times in 584 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: 3,726 Thanks: 286 Thanked 1,682 Times in 584 Posts	Re: Forums hacked - back online Okay, everything reinstalled and the server should be clean now.

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