Stopgap measures

[Erk]

We have taken some temporary measures in repairing the damage done by the hacker, after finding that our server created a new backup overtop of the old, hack-free one. We will still be able to repair much of the damage, but in the meantime, I have created a message in any hacked post explaining how to retrieve information if you've made any previous edits to the post.

We have a way to roll back to previous edits on any edited post, which we will apply as soon as possible. I know this is no fun, but do remember: it is no worse than the time Serith deleted half our topics

/sigh

To summarise for any people coming to this topic later:

-The host had a backup, but do to their slow response time and poor backup system, it was overwritten.
-We did not make our own backup; this is not a mistake that we will repeat. Our new backup system has been tested and should be very safe. Further tests continue.
-The hole the hacker probably exploited has been repaired.
-We do not know who the hacker is, and while it sucks, we probably will not find out. We have improved our tracking settings, and have a better chance of detecting this kind of thing should it happen again.
-If you edited a post before the hack attack, you can use the View Edit History button under your user avatar to get previous edit versions back. That table was not damaged.
-If you never edited the post and do not have a hardcopy stored on your computer, you will have to retype it. If you do not wish to retype it, the mods will come by and delete old posts once we have some time.
-I am looking into making the rmxp.net database viewable so that lost data can be retrieved from there as well. No timeframe available on that yet, but it is in the works.

This does suck, and is a pretty sad plea for attention, but the forum has recovered from worse before. At least we have our edit tables still; last time the forum was attacked, the entire script forum was destroyed.

 

[Ellie]

Couldn't you technically sue his behind or something like that? Because he's caused damage stuff.

 

[BlueScope]

Also, I'd like to know how to actually restore the post, because there's just an option to view the previous version, not to give it priority ...

 

[arctrooper48]

Ok, I know about this hacker thing, and I've tried to edit my post, and I've gotten something very disturbing... very, very disturbing.

 

[syvkal]

Ok.. there was a hacker?
This is a bit strange... who would want to hack .org?

Umm, do you know who's done this? Because I think someone did something to this person.
When I tried to edit my post on one my topics it came up with this:

Spoiler: Contains Swearing

Why did you all flame my topic. Screw your fucking forums.

Any ideas?

:EDIT:
Ok it won't let me post it so nevermind...

 

[LegACy]

what does it say actually?

 

[Sailor Taurus]

Well, what I did, was go to a previous edit, copy everything from that post, and then paste it over the offensive comment. Images won't be pasted, but you can easily apply them back.

Motivational Speech Time:
This hacking has hit all of us. Hard. From the long project topics to the small debates, this is a complete nuisence. But we shouldn't let this get to us. It isn't the first time a forum has been hacked, and it isn't even the first time this one has been hacked, and we've all lived through these. Everyone should now work together to restore at least the more important posts here at RMXP.org, namely the starts of topics (including projects, debates and rescorces).
I also urge EVERYONE to edit their post at least twice, wether it be recovering from this hacking, or making a new post. If there are 2 edits of the same post, if one (the most recent one) is lost, you can return to the second copy, and not have to fix and update older edits. Hopefully there will be a time when we won't have to do this, but for now we should concentrate on rebuilding RMXP.org to it's original splendor.

EDIT: BTW, the original message (although I won't quote it exactly), appears to be from a disgruntled member. The post used swear words, mentioning that everyone flamed his topic. Quite easily, if anyone knows of a topic (most proberbly a game or graphic rescorce topic) that got alot of flaming done to it, it might help in tracking the hacker. Might.

 

[Danny]

I wondered what had happened. When I went to edit a post that had be overwritten it cam up: Why did you flame my topic, fuck your forums.

 

[Me(tm)]

Ahem.. All the posts of mine that where added has this as edit history:

1 -> the management edit
0 -> the original post, however, you can not read the text if you are not in edit mode... Good bye sweet translations.. X_x

Spoiler: Don't look

And then I won't say told you so.. its only a matter of time X_x... I'l never ever take a look in the future... its bad.. arg..

 

[Cruelty]

We can deal with it.. hopefully. Like he said, they're still making repairs, right?

Now, is this the backup? If I make a topic now, will it be deleted by a backup or something? I'd like things to just return to normal ASAP.

 

[syvkal]

I also urge EVERYONE to edit their post at least twice, wether it be recovering from this hacking, or making a new post.

That's one heck of a good idea.
I think that should become one of the Forum Rules, well for all the topics you want to keep :D .

 

[Anonymous]

I would like everyone to know we have scheduled our own backups to run very, very frequently and keep old copies rather than overwrite them. If this were to ever happen again, the most we would lose is 1-3 days worth of posts.

 

[HamsterMan]

This is completely unfair. I hope you find the guy who did that and strap his privates to a toaster.

All the scripts and resources and hours of backbreaking work has been temporarily lost and for what? A guy unhappy with the truth.

I wish the management and everybody else good luck with retreaving people's work and hopefully we can get the comunity back to what it once was.

PS. Maybe an archive should be created for scripts (Which take up the most time) and kept somewhere (Preferably not in the same domain) so that the most used reasource will not be lost.

 

[$t3v0]

These things happen, i guess. Could have been worse

~ $t3v0

 

[Ceroscuro]

This is completely unfair. I hope you find the guy who did that and strap his privates to a toaster.

All the scripts and resources and hours of backbreaking work has been temporarily lost and for what? A guy unhappy with the truth.

I wish the management and everybody else good luck with retreaving people's work and hopefully we can get the comunity back to what it once was.

PS. Maybe an archive should be created for scripts (Which take up the most time) and kept somewhere (Preferably not in the same domain) so that the most used reasource will not be lost.

Well to my knowledge, the resource manager was not affected. And I doubt many scripters ONLY put their code in their topic... they probably have it on their computer. So it should be (fairly) easily replaceable.

 

[Erk]

Be aware that we are working on an automated script that will restore your edit history. So far we have had problems with it, so we can't guarantee it will workm but if we can get it to function then it will roll back and include formatting etc. Otherwise you have to view your edits and manually copy-and-paste the information into the newest version of the post

Please, folks, I know it's rough and we're all upset, but we don't need more people talking about how much this sucks. Post if you have questions or issues that we can actually do something about.

 

[Azu]

You guys must have pissed someone off.

 

[Rye]

Jee, Azu, that's kinda self-explanitory.

That sucks about the hacker though. At least you have everything basically under control now.

 

[KaitLynn]

Okay..... well I don't think this has been said yet...

Erk, ccoa, thank you for being on top of this.

This is a pain in the butt, but we'll all manage. Not the end of the world. It happens, the risk is part of internet life.

Anywho... my two cents - take it or leave it... I'm gonna go enjoy having the forums back :D

oh yeah... thank goddess I'm a horrible typer :P I think I've edited everything at least once ... pays to be sloppy I guess.

 

[Anonymous]

This is a shocker. :\

Anyways, as bad as this might seem no actual damage is done, no one has been hurt, physically. That and there are backups, so no worrys of lasting damage in the data department.

About the misconception between cracker and hacker.
I had to study this along with the history of computers last year so crackers are the ones that just access data and don't do any damage, and hackers are the ones that do damage.

That's part of the reason they were named so -
Crackers - crack their way into data
Hackers - freaking hack their way through data and hack it up

And I'm sure the staff wont reveal how the hacker(s) managed to damage that much of the forum at the same time. And if somebody else does I recommend they don't say so. If this were revealed, the possibility that even more people will use the same method to destroy the forum would rise.

- Tsuno Out