Need I be concerned?

[griff671]

Just kinda wondering what's up with the latest onslaught of spam posts?

I've only been with HM for about a year & 1/2 and have not seen this kind of activity in this forum since I've been a member.

Along with the recent hacker posts, I can't help but wonder if I should be concerned about the security of HM in general and my sites (again) specifically. They are as secure as I know how to make them, and I'm fairly security-savvy now, having been hacked once.

Any feedback from veteran HM'ers is greatly appreciated!

Griff

[shadmego]

I've been here a bit longer than you. In fact, I think I was among the first users to sign up for the forums. I agree with you, that the recent onslaught of spam posts is cause for concern.

I don't think this reflects on HM's level of security in general though. The forums were sort of just thrown together to get a community started. You can tell because nothing about the style has changed since it was created. I've been lobbying to get it changed by creating a competition of sorts for the community to submit a redesign, but HM staffers has been extra busy lately and I haven't heard back.

I'm also trying to see if we can get an admin that spends a fair amount of time on the boards. Someone with the level of access that can affect real change. Like the avatar issue and the security issue. I'm patiently waiting for someone to get back to me though. In the meantime, we moderators have to rely on the eyes of our fellow members to spot and report posts that look like spam.

I'm not sure I know about the hacker posts. Do you have more information on that?

~regards

[griff671]

Thank you for your input, Shadmego! I hope someone gets back to you soon on a HM admin'r actively cruising the boards.

As concerns referenced "hacker posts": While my own "I've been hacked" post at the end of January 2008 was moderated off (for reasons I can't explain), a forum search for "hacked" or "hacker" will reveal quite a few posts since the beginning of this year.

I have truly been quite satisfied with the level of service provided by HM, but all this recent activity and having been hacked has made me a wee bit paranoid I guess.

Thanks again for the response!

[webing]

well it's not really HM's fault if you go and put unsecure scripts on your website i think, i'm not too known with security stuff but to how i see it, it's quite simmilar to viruses and malware, even with the greatest anti-viruses, firewalls - if you are not careful, you will get viruses.

Atleast thats my point of view ;)

[griff671]

Hi Webing!

Thanks for the reply!

Please don't misunderstand me, I'm not going to blame HM for anything! I fully understand it's up to me to keep my sites secure. It just makes me wonder if I've done everything that can be done.

I learned a LOT from the time I was hacked but I'm smart enough to know that I don't know everything. I'm just a little concerned that I may have overlooked something in my inexperience (and the person that hacked my sites before was also hosted by HM, I have the documentation).

It just saddens me to see that kind of activity being more and more prevalent.

Thanks again for the replies, folks!

Griff

[webing]

yeah i did understand you, just wanted to point it out. :)