Hacker strike KTOG board

Fritzer · 09-15-2004, 03:50 PM

John D., Admins, and the forum members,

I was just peeking around at other boards around the net, and read the horrific story of the KTOG.org (Kel Tec - plastic guns) discussion board which was completely wiped out by a hacker.

It was replaced with this 'tag' http://flyerwires.com/hackedktog.html

I'm not a member of that forum, but from what I have read - it sounded like all was lost, and may not be recovered.

The admins over there are very angry and frustrated. I know it's a lot of thankless effort just to overcome the ghost in the machines.

I belive the hackers used some code to break-in to the site, and wiped it out.

I can't imagine loosing the vast reference materials stored here on this site. Hopefully forwarned is forarmed - but there are new vulnerabilities exposed every day.

Just wanted to pass this along to the group, and thank you for all of your hard work!

Regards,
Fritz.

John D. · 09-15-2004, 06:44 PM

Hi Fritz..!

Thanks for the heads-up, it's much appreciated... I guess I just don't understand why folks need to hack sites - as it accomplishes nothing - except to degrade the folks that give freely to the "content and community" of that site.

As the person who manages all the security, program, systems, software, connections for this Forum in my spare time after my paying job (to pay for this - along with a number of other sites) - hackers are out there everyday. I won't tell you how many times these servers are "tested" on a weekly basis, but - it's a lot....

For my main sites, I've been fortunate over the past 8 years that no one has figured out how to make it past the firewalls/servers/intrusion systems in place - but know that in my office - I also host some major credit union sites and car manufacturer sites, and they have been untouched...

I say all that "knocking on wood" - as you need to "walk fast" to keep a step ahead of some of the idiots out there......

Best to you - and thanks again,

John D.

Frank H. · 09-16-2004, 04:11 AM

Scary stuff! I'm glad I saved key tech tips from that site, I've got 2 9mm Kel-tecs, those guys sure did a lot of great work creating and maintaining that site...

Thanks as well for all the great help here on THIS site!

Frank H.

Edward Tinker · 09-16-2004, 12:13 PM

...and everything is backed up frequently by John D., so although unlikely to happen, the info here is backed up by him.

<img border="0" alt="[cheers]" title="" src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" /> brother John, thanks and keep up the good work.

Ed

John D. · 09-16-2004, 02:48 PM

Thanks guys..!

Yes - I full back-ups on this whole site on a pretty regular basis. Honestly - I'd rather be out a few weeks posts if the server disk arrays went down, then trying to rebuild from scratch. About once a month, I also make back-ups of the Forum Upload directories - the thinking there being that if it was a recent thread, most will still have their photos in their computers...

It's a manual task - as a lot of the back-ups require that servers be connected behind my VPN/Firewalls, which are left dis-connected most of the time, due to how I manage security within the internal 'net..

Anyway - the only "got'cha" would be if my office were to burn down - or there was a catastrophic failure. In which case - I'd be more concerned about rebuilding my home then a website <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" /> (My office is attached to my house - so the commute is absolute hell in the morning..

)

Best to you!

09-15-2004, 03:50 PM	#1
Fritzer User Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Michigan Posts: 134 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Hacker strike KTOG board John D., Admins, and the forum members, I was just peeking around at other boards around the net, and read the horrific story of the KTOG.org (Kel Tec - plastic guns) discussion board which was completely wiped out by a hacker. It was replaced with this 'tag' http://flyerwires.com/hackedktog.html I'm not a member of that forum, but from what I have read - it sounded like all was lost, and may not be recovered. The admins over there are very angry and frustrated. I know it's a lot of thankless effort just to overcome the ghost in the machines. I belive the hackers used some code to break-in to the site, and wiped it out. I can't imagine loosing the vast reference materials stored here on this site. Hopefully forwarned is forarmed - but there are new vulnerabilities exposed every day. Just wanted to pass this along to the group, and thank you for all of your hard work! Regards, Fritz.

09-16-2004, 12:13 PM	#4
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,909 Thanks: 1,986 Thanked 4,500 Times in 2,076 Posts	...and everything is backed up frequently by John D., so although unlikely to happen, the info here is backed up by him. <img border="0" alt="[cheers]" title="" src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" /> brother John, thanks and keep up the good work. Ed __________________ Edward Tinker ************ Co-Author of Police Lugers - Co-Author of Simson Lugers Author of Veteran Bring Backs Vol I, Vol II, Vol III and Vol IV

09-15-2004, 06:44 PM	#2
John D. Administrator & Site Owner LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: A Little NE of Somewhere... Posts: 2,651 Thanks: 471 Thanked 513 Times in 127 Posts	Hi Fritz..! Thanks for the heads-up, it's much appreciated... I guess I just don't understand why folks need to hack sites - as it accomplishes nothing - except to degrade the folks that give freely to the "content and community" of that site. As the person who manages all the security, program, systems, software, connections for this Forum in my spare time after my paying job (to pay for this - along with a number of other sites) - hackers are out there everyday. I won't tell you how many times these servers are "tested" on a weekly basis, but - it's a lot.... For my main sites, I've been fortunate over the past 8 years that no one has figured out how to make it past the firewalls/servers/intrusion systems in place - but know that in my office - I also host some major credit union sites and car manufacturer sites, and they have been untouched... I say all that "knocking on wood" - as you need to "walk fast" to keep a step ahead of some of the idiots out there...... Best to you - and thanks again, John D.

09-16-2004, 04:11 AM	#3
Frank H. User Join Date: May 2004 Location: Oregon, south of Portland Posts: 84 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Scary stuff! I'm glad I saved key tech tips from that site, I've got 2 9mm Kel-tecs, those guys sure did a lot of great work creating and maintaining that site... Thanks as well for all the great help here on THIS site! Frank H.

09-16-2004, 02:48 PM	#5
John D. Administrator & Site Owner LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: A Little NE of Somewhere... Posts: 2,651 Thanks: 471 Thanked 513 Times in 127 Posts	Thanks guys..! Yes - I full back-ups on this whole site on a pretty regular basis. Honestly - I'd rather be out a few weeks posts if the server disk arrays went down, then trying to rebuild from scratch. About once a month, I also make back-ups of the Forum Upload directories - the thinking there being that if it was a recent thread, most will still have their photos in their computers... It's a manual task - as a lot of the back-ups require that servers be connected behind my VPN/Firewalls, which are left dis-connected most of the time, due to how I manage security within the internal 'net.. Anyway - the only "got'cha" would be if my office were to burn down - or there was a catastrophic failure. In which case - I'd be more concerned about rebuilding my home then a website <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" /> (My office is attached to my house - so the commute is absolute hell in the morning.. ) Best to you!