Don't Panic

CinneMon · **Posted:** 05 31 05 5:15 pm

<img src=http://jammerbabe.com/images/Smiley/panic.gif ALT=":panic"> 
 
It looks like we have lost, hopefully just temporarily, many posts in some of our forums, a few hundred members, and our Community Chest balance is incorrect. 
 
For example, the Bar Archives forums show thousands of posts and pages, but the pages are blank going back to around April 2004. That's about when the Community Chest transactions disappear. Yet other forums are as they should be. 
 
<img src=http://jammerbabe.com/images/Smiley/shrug.gif ALT=":shrug"> 
 
Clearly, EZBoard had some sort of meltdown last night and they are working hard to fix the problem. 
 
I will keep you posted as we learn more. 
 
For now, grab a Painkiller, kick back, and let's see where this ride takes us. <img src=http://jammerbabe.com/images/Smiley/loony.gif ALT=":loony"> 
 
<img src=http://jammerbabe.com/images/Smiley/crossfingers.gif ALT=":cross"> 
Edited by: <A HREF=http://p211.ezboard.com/bwindjammerflotilla.showUserPublicProfile?gid=cinnemon>CinneMon</A> <IMG HEIGHT=10 WIDTH=10 SRC="http://jammerbabe.com/images/Smiley/usaribbon.gif" BORDER=0> at: 5/31/05 7:30 pm

CinneMon · **Posted:** 05 31 05 7:32 pm

The word isn't good...EZBoard was victim of a hacker. Some of the data loss could be permanent. <img src=http://jammerbabe.com/images/Smiley/blue.gif ALT=":blue"> 
*************** 
 
<a href="http://p079.ezboard.com/fezboardimportantannouncements.showMessage?topicID=504.topic">p079.ezboard.com/fezboard...=504.topic</a> 
 
 
Dear ezboard Family, 
 
On Tuesday May 31 ezboard's systems were the victim of a very precise and malicious internet attack. This attack resulted in the loss of a significant amount of current and historical board postings and interrupted services across all systems. I deeply apologize for the inconvenience that this has caused and am here to give you the first of several in-depth updates. 
 
At this time most board management services have been restored and our goal is to have post/reply repaired on Wednesday . We are working to restore board data from our back-up systems. This will take some time, and complete data restoration may not be possible, but it is what we are working towards. What we know now is that the attacker deleted current board and back-up data. We are taking the fastest route to restore data, but it may take up to 48 hours to get data back to approximately 9,000 boards. A more manual method requiring upwards of seven to ten days is required to restore data to the other boards that lost data. Regrettably we may not be able to restore data to all boards that lost data. 
 
Second to restoring board data we are gathering information on how the attacker went about his or her business and what evidence was left behind. We are using this information to reduce the opportunity for future attackers as we build our new release. Should you hear or read anything about this attack we would love to know about it at legal@ezboard.com. 
 
You should be aware that there is no evidence that personal information was touched. There was also no opportunity to see or download credit card information as ezboard does not keep credit card numbers on file. 
 
Again, I apologize to you for any inconvenience caused as we value your participation on ezboard today and as we move towards an exciting - and more robust - version of the experience. We are working to restore your systems as fast as possible. Gold Board managers will be receiving information on GB subscription credits in the next few days. 
 
We we keep you updated as the restoration progresses. 
 
Sincerely, 
 
Rob 
 
Robert Labatt 
CEO 
ezboard, Inc.

CinneMon · **Posted:** 05 31 05 8:21 pm

<img src=http://www.jammerbabe.com/images/Smiley/gracethink.jpg ALT=":funnybone"> 
 
In honor of this crappy situation, new emoticons are being loaded.

CinneMon · **Posted:** 06 01 05 4:19 am

During this time of uncertainty and anticipated board restorations, I suggest temporarily holding off on creating any new trip reports or substantive posts you don't want to have to recreate. If you posted a trip report in the past few weeks, I suggest saving a copy to another program (Word, Notepad) *just in case* the restoration takes us back in time.  
 
More boards continue to report ongoing losses. 
 
Hackers suck and I hope they catch this one and put him in jail. <img src=http://jammerbabe.com/images/Smiley/sigh.gif ALT=":sigh">

Setsail 51 · **Joined:** 01 30 03 5:23 pm **Posts:** 67

Hope they find the <img src=http://jammerbabe.com/images/Smiley/grinch.gif ALT=":grinch"> and sentence it to 6 weeks on a <img src=http://jammerbabe.com/images/Smiley/foofoo2.gif ALT=":foofoo2"> . 
 
I know it may harsh, however never mess with a WJ. 
 
Setsail51

BoTam · **Joined:** 04 12 02 2:28 pm **Posts:** 10943

<img src=http://www.jammerbabe.com/images/Smiley/evilgrin.gif ALT=":evilgrin"> Nope <img src=http://jammerbabe.com/images/Smiley/noway.gif ALT=":noway"> , send him to me, I need a punching <img src=http://jammerbabe.com/images/Smiley/boxing2.gif ALT=":boxing2"> bag right now, got lot's of anger to release.... Bring 'em on baby..... <img src=http://jammerbabe.com/images/Smiley/tapfoot.gif ALT=":tapfoot"> TamBo <img src="http://www.jammerbabe.com/images/gifs/icon_pirate-doll.gif"/>

Jodi1161 · **Posted:** 06 01 05 12:48 pm

Six weeks on a <img src=http://jammerbabe.com/images/Smiley/foofoo2.gif ALT=":foofoo2"> or Tambo's <img src=http://jammerbabe.com/images/Smiley/boxing2.gif ALT=":boxing2"> ? 
How about both? 
Jodi 
<img src=http://jammerbabe.com/images/Smiley/snorkel2.gif ALT=":snorkel3">

CinneMon · **Posted:** 06 05 05 5:54 pm

The updates have been a bit confusing this weekend, but I'm still hoping for the best. 
 
I think we will permanently lose anything posted between May 9 and May 31 that wasn't replied to in the first days after the attack. 
 
Worst case scenario is we have lost everything between February 2004 and May 31, 2005. <img src=http://jammerbabe.com/images/Smiley/blue.gif ALT=":blue"> 
 
The restoration process is being done from the lowest board/server numbers to the highest. We are on #211. (It's part of the URL for our board.) I have no idea what number they are on now. 
 
When our board is finally "restored" don't be surprised if this temporary forum is hosed. I've seen conflicting reports on the help boards. 
 
Thank you all for your continued patience and support during this frustrating time. I'm deeply sorry to everyone who has lost trip reports and other posts that took a lot of time and effort to create. We may not be able to get the past back, but surely we can create new memories together! <img src=http://jammerbabe.com/images/Smiley/grin.gif ALT=":grin">

CinneMon · **Posted:** 06 06 05 4:01 am

There are wildly conflicting reports on what happens during the board restorations. Unfortunately, even the moderators of the help forums are stumped. I have a feeling that if/when our board is restored to the May 9 backup, the temporary forum (and all new posts/threads) will disappear because it didn't exist at the time of the backup. <img src=http://jammerbabe.com/images/Smiley/dunno.gif ALT=":dunno"> 
 
Someone asked me to move some threads into this forum to save them. I don't think that will do any good. (Plus, last night this forum didn't show up as an option when I tried to move the recent emoticons thread here.) 
 
If there is an important thread you want to preserve, I suggest you save the contents so that it can be reposted later. I'm sorry I don't have any better news or suggestions. To make matters worse, things are extremely busy for me at work, and I'll be traveling on business from this Thursday to next Wednesday, so I won't be around much to keep an eye on things. Timing sucks, but it is what it is.

Tigger · **Posted:** 06 06 05 6:32 am

<img src=http://jammerbabe.com/images/Smiley/cinnemon.gif ALT=":cinnemon"> 
I have copied off the threads that i was asking you to move. No sweat! 
Please don't stress too much about this mess. Concentrate on your work, since it enables you to go <img src=http://jammerbabe.com/images/Smiley/ship.gif ALT=":ship"> 
You are doing a wonderful job keeping us informed. 
<img src=http://www.jammerbabe.com/images/Smiley/bow.gif ALT=":bow"> <img src=http://www.jammerbabe.com/images/Smiley/bow.gif ALT=":bow"> <img src=http://www.jammerbabe.com/images/Smiley/dozenroses.gif ALT=":roses"> <img src=http://www.jammerbabe.com/images/Smiley/dozenroses.gif ALT=":roses"> <img src=http://www.jammerbabe.com/images/Smiley/dozenroses.gif ALT=":roses"> <img src=http://www.jammerbabe.com/images/Smiley/bow.gif ALT=":bow"> 
<img src=http://www.jammerbabe.com/images/gifs/icon_Tigger.gif ALT=":tigger">

grannycog · **Posted:** 06 06 05 3:58 pm

When you as computer illerate as I am, it is hard to imagine that one person could cause this much trouble.

CinneMon · **Posted:** 06 06 05 4:44 pm

Believe it, Joyce! That's why you need to keep your virus definitions up to date and don't open anything from anyone you don't know. My life revolves around fighting spammers and phishers...I might need to add hackers to my list of bad guys. This bad guy was probably just a malicious a-hole, but others make a lot of money off of it. (Financial data being the most valuable commodity.) Probably a disgruntled employee or a ticked off customer trying to prove a point. But it's a good lesson for all of us - the Internet isn't really a safe place, and you can't depend upon data being indefinitely. Hopefully Ezboard learned a valuable lesson...something along the lines of keeping backups on tapes in an offsite location. I'm surprised their insurance company doesn't require that. <img src=http://jammerbabe.com/images/Smiley/dunno.gif ALT=":dunno"> Assuming they are insured, of course. 
 
As a matter of fact, just as I was writing this I received a new PayPal Phish from the "PayPal Account Review Department." But since it was sent from an IP address in Korea, I can pretty safely say that it wasn't from PayPal. 
 
Trust few...suspect everyone. <img src=http://jammerbabe.com/images/Smiley/blxsuspicious.gif ALT=":suspect">

CinneMon · **Posted:** 06 06 05 4:54 pm

BTW...I'm still keeping my sense of humor. In fact, the new emoticon <img src=http://www.jammerbabe.com/images/Smiley/s15.gif ALT=":picknose"> is the funniest thing I have seen for ages! It reminds me of all we can do as we wait for news from the Ezboard staff. 
 
<img src=http://www.jammerbabe.com/images/Smiley/ezboard.gif ALT=":ezboard">

TOMTOES · **Posted:** 06 06 05 5:19 pm

<img src=http://jammerbabe.com/images/Smiley/hanginthere.gif ALT=":hangin"> <img src=http://jammerbabe.com/images/Smiley/cinnemon.gif ALT=":cinnemon"> AND, Please use a tissue! <img src=http://www.jammerbabe.com/images/Smiley/poke.gif ALT=":poke"> <img src=http://jammerbabe.com/images/Smiley/rofl3.gif ALT=":rofl3"> <img src=http://jammerbabe.com/images/Smiley/rofl3.gif ALT=":rofl3"> 
 
<img src=http://www.jammerbabe.com/images/Smiley/bighug.gif ALT=":bighug"> <img src="http://www.jammerbabe.com/images/gifs/icon_feet2.jpg" style="border:0;"/>

CinneMon · **Posted:** 06 07 05 4:33 am

From one of the Ezboard staff: 
 
<blockquote>Quote:<hr>The real answer is that we advise you not to use the original forums, and use a temporary forum. A temporary forum will not be affected by the restore, and you can move the threads when everything is back to normal. 
 
Posting in an existing thread may lead to those posts being lost when it is restored back. 
 
Posting a new thread in an existing forum may lead to it being lost when the forum is restored. 
 
We can't be 100% sure that this will happen , but posting in a temporary forum will ensure that it can't.<hr></blockquote> 
 
I'm not impressed with last night's "comprehensive" update. No listing of servers and/or identification of which of the 5 stages of restoration any of the servers have been through. Oh well. I guess the good news is that if you believe the quote above, everything in the temporary forum should be OK. But I also believed that they were following a standard disaster recovery plan that includes offsite storage of backup tapes. 
 
Cynical? 
 
<img src=http://jammerbabe.com/images/Smiley/whome.gif ALT=":whome"> 
 
<img src=http://www.jammerbabe.com/images/Smiley/s15.gif ALT=":picknose">

BrekkeLynn · **Posted:** 06 07 05 10:22 pm

Hey, Cinnemon, thanks for all you do. This is yet another glitch in the "system" we all live in. Thanks to you and all the moderators, we have good information to share and good times to report. Thanks for all you do. Safe travel this week!!!

grannycog · **Posted:** 06 10 05 4:16 pm

This must be taking an enormous amount of your free time, and we are all grateful. Anything any of us can do to help - we all will be willing and able to do so. Just let us know. Maybe not so able in my case, but willing to try.

Don't Panic

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