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Yesterday, I woke up to discover my website had been hacked.
Some suggested it might be a Kitten and Little prank.
Others wondered if the ghost of Mean Rooster could be involved.
Or could it be Clover, angry over the tiara she’s not getting for Christmas?
Or Jack, upset over the lack of attention?
But in fact it was one of those very strange human beings who exist to manufacture trouble for innocent people. As someone noted yesterday, people like this should get a farm so they can have more constructive ways to occupy their time. In any case, I want you to know that I have expert technical and maintenance support on this website. (I don’t maintain this site by myself. I don’t have the technical expertise.) My site is continually updated and secured. Spammers and hackers can’t always be stopped, even with expert care. It has been a frustrating experience. My site was thoroughly corrected by not only my own professional tech but also technical support from my hosting company.
As to what happened, someone hacked into my server and placed malicious code on my site. It was a deliberate attack. This caused warning flags to appear to many of the visitors to my site, and my site was blocked by Google. (Even AFTER it was fixed. It takes time for the block to clear even after the site has been restored.) I’ve worked very hard on this website every single day for years, and I rely on this website to make a living. (I don’t want to dwell too much on my distress, but let me just say that I’m distressed.) I’m really just a girl on a farm with a blog. Someone left me a comment recently accusing me of being a self-promoter. YES, I AM. This is how I earn my living, writing this blog. But it’s not the only reason I do it. I do it because I love it and I love doing it for you. It’s my little positive thing to do in the world. And I’m absolutely devastated that this happened.
What does this mean to you other than possibly not being able to access my site yesterday? You can (should) run a virus check on your computer as a precaution. Please take this as a reminder to use updated virus protection because any website, email, or other information received over the internet at any time can fall victim to a hacker or spammer.
Unfortunately, yesterday, it was my website.
Fortunately, they thought I was worth hacking. (Right???)
Bear with me as I try to look on the (dubious) bright side of a terrible event. The Pioneer Woman website was hacked recently in a similar manner, so I’m trying to take this unpleasant assault as a compliment.
Not one I really wanted to receive.
In the meantime, I have received notification that my website has been officially reviewed and cleared by Google. It may take up to 24 hours for the UNblocking to propagate across the internet. Some users may still receive warnings. Again, I want to assure you that I have expert, professional technical support on this and my server is being monitored. I have done, and am continuing to do, everything I can. This was an extensive, vicious, and intentional attack. My site has been thoroughly cleaned and restored.
It’s my promise to you to be here every day. I apologize for not being able to be here yesterday for many of you.
*I want to thank the people who made such quick work of cleaning up a truly massive insertion of malicious code. (I recommend these people!) My own professional designer and technical expert, Emily Carlin of Swank Web Style, along with the abuse and security specialists at Surpass Hosting. Thank you also to my readers for your patience!
Posted by Suzanne McMinn on December 17, 2009
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I’m never quite sure why anyone would say something negative about self-promoting. Don’t we all self-promote when we go for a job interview or even just go out and do our jobs on a daily basis? Aren’t we all in the business of trying to get positive attention, (from our bosses or whoever keeps us working) so that we can manage to put food on the table? I read that comment you referred to, and I was completely perplexed. To criticize someone for trying to be a good provider for their family didn’t even make sense to me.
And it’s clear that this is more than just a job for you. It’s also clear that all of us who are readers reap the benefit of you being here blogging every single day. Anyone who criticizes has surely never tried to maintain a never-fail, always-there blog. It’s hard work to be constantly creative and it’s daunting for some of us (me) to even think about having to do something where there are no days off.
To your credit, regarding the hacking, you stayed positive all day and the mood on the blog from visitors was positive. That says a lot about you and about the popularity of this blog.
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You are loved and appreciated, and we missed you. Hugs and blessings coming your way.
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Welcome back. Your bolg is a total must for me everyday and the fun and happiness that you spread through your words are beyond description.
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Chris
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Hope your day is better one today!!
Hugs to you Suzanne!!
Granny Trace’
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I am terribly sorry this happened but you have handled it in a manner that says only good things about you. You are determined, passionate and generous. There are so many of us that are happy to have you share your life and blessings with us through your blog.
Why, just this past weekend I canned for the first time (cranberry sauce and it is lovely.) Then, I gathered twigs in the woods and made twig stars. They are beautiful and it gave me so much pleasure. I have dried oranges for the tree and made Grandmother Bread and enjoyed many other things that you have shown us. Thanks for the truly ordinary splendor.
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I have a question – how did you find the code?
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Some people are just mean!!
Jealous of you or whatever their problem is!
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Just glad you are up and running today.
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I think you are a very wise woman. If the hackers got a farm they could learn all kinds of lessons.
Blessings to you!
Susan
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Glad your crack staff is on the ball! So happy you were back today!
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I wanted to let you know the calendar came yesterday! Your farm kids are beautiful, of course
Thanks so much to the random drawing chooser thingy!
Lucy
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Anyway, I’m glad you got it cleared up.
People confuse me.
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Blessings and thanks for keeping us in the loop!!
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Yep. You took good care of him too.
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I am always puzzled why people that have the knowledge tp create sofware that will invade another persons website or use it to cheat in some fashion dont use their talents to do something good–like earn a living for themselves and leave others alone! I guess we have to deal with these “high tech” criminals and thiefs. it is part of our world today.
What sort of twisted mind can get a thrill out of such things?
I am sure they probably go back to read the sights they have invaded to see the problems they have caused for a laugh, I wish there was an avatar to express my feels toward this type of scum, but I think you can guess what it might be.
JO
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Unfortunately the hackers hit everywhere….sad…suppose they have nothing better to do ….
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Suzanne, hang in there, your loyal fans and friends are here for you. Now give that goat her darn tiara. Really, for me…..
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~Jenny~
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Have a brilliant day.
Juliana
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Great blog Suzanne. You so don’t deserve this. It’s a shame there are jealous, vindictive people out there.
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I stopped at the Library this morning to read your blog. I have to get my daily “CITR fix.”
My mother has a cute saying for folks who cause great havoc and mischief. She says, “The devil is working overtime chopping firewood for some people.!”
Much love to you today!
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Shirley
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….in other words, glad you’re back!
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I will never understand why some people do the things they do. I, for one, always try to look for the good in people and don’t ever really thing that people would do bad and mean things, but they do :(
Thank you again. Even though we do not know each other personally, I like to think that we would be friends and I care about you and your family. I bring you into my house every morning and, again, thank you so very much !
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Jealousy sure can have an ugly face.
I’m glad all that is over with! I wonder how someone hacks into anothers system?? What a devious little mind…LOL They just haven’t had any “raising”. That is what my Granny always said when a child was doing mischief and being a brat! And I agree!
Deb
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Something in their life or mind isn’t right. Let’s pray for her/him and hope that some of the goodness of you blog rubs off on them the way it has on us.
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On another note, yesterday I received the “A Very Clover Calendar” I won in your contest. It is a beautiful calendar, I love the photos and captions, and it is made on extremely high quality paper. Thanks again to you and the anonymous donor.
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Beth aka oneoldgoat
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Mean people suck!!!
Rys
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Seems like some people are not happy unless they are spreading unhappiness and distress. But you’re a goodie and your recovery is quite the pay back to the “Grinch”.
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Is Jack’s nose as soft as it looks?
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Pattie
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I, too, have been wondering about the Sam-E contest . . .
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Gayle
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PS You’re one of the four blogs I read regularly (well, daily, in your case) and right up there on my navigation toolbar so I don’t even have to open my favorites folder to get to you
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Kudos to your tech support folks, however. (And this is just another reason to love those computers with the fruit logo.)
My calendar arrived yesterday, too–I’m looking forward to seeing Clover every day of 2010. Thanks, Suzanne!
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http://download.cnet.com/windows/
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I hope your life will quickly be back to ordinary splendor Suzanne, and that this will never ever happen to you again.
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I am outraged on your behalf and so sorry that it happened to you. I am grateful that you moved so quickly and decisively to correct the problem. And I hope when you read all these comments filled with support and love, you will take each of them personally.
Julia
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So sorry this happened to you, I know firsthand what a major pain it is to fix and how awful it makes one feel to be targeted like this. Good for you that you rose above the meanness, and also that you have wonderful tech support at both your website and host.
Has Clover been a Baaaaaaad Girl, that she’s not getting a tiara? Because if it’s just an issue of finding a tiara, I have one I’d be happy to send you for her. Gold with sparkly jewels in several colors; I think it would look great on her! Please email me if you’d like it ~
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Love your blog.
Mary
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Suzanne, I’m so glad you’ve come through this rotten assault with humor and grace … and so quickly thanks to your support! What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, so the bad boys lose. Big time.
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I’m sending you a great, big hug this morning. Know you are loved.
Just to help you understand the magnitude of this hug, and to help you understand how important you are, I’m going to be “self-promoting” and tell you a little bit about me.
My job requires me to convincingly act like I know everything. I must be serious all the time, and I have to be very stern and determined,and sometimes even a little bit mean. Your blog keeps me grounded. Can you imagine what my day would be like if I didn’t have something decent and wholesome to smile about? When I go home, my husband says, “What was your day like?” and I say, “One of the ladies on Suzanne’s forum is having a new grandbaby, and the little red hen has eggs of her own!”
I start my work day by scanning through my emails to scare myself over how bad of a day it’s going to be. Then I go get a cup of coffee, open Chickens in the Road, and calm down.
I work internationally, and trust me, there are people all across the globe who have better days because you made me smile. It’s impossible to truly be upset over some meaningless business thing when I have visions of the duck family, fluffy chicken butts or Pocahontas’s inquisitive nose in my head.
I know on the SAM-e site, there was some criticism about you writing a farm blog in a world where not everyone is a farmer. I felt so bad for those people because they were obviously unable to understand that you write about life against the backgrop of your farm. You use the animals to create little vignettes full of depth and meaning.
I wrote my thesis on the psychological importance of the fairy tale. What draws me to you is that you have an instinctive understanding of how to use the deceptive simplicity of the fairy tale to touch us all on a deeply subconscious level and, in so doing, trust me … your meanings are clear and our lives are better.
My second favorite thing about your site is that it is enormously nurturing. In today’s cut-throat world, the single most important thing we are lacking is the nurturing sense of love we used to get from our extended families. Although I am not in favor replacing the physical world with the virtual one, I will say that due to the nature of my job and the fact that my extended family is more myth than reality, I really count on you and your forum to fill a certain void in my life.
Despite the demands of my job, I do not know everything. Your forum is the place I sneak off to when I need to find out all about the things I don’t already know. Why won’t my bread rise? What do I do with vegetable scraps? How many dead animals can I feet in my freezer? To me, these are the mysteries of life.
Thank you for being here, Suzanne. My life is genuinely better because of you.
-B
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As for the inane comment, of course you are self promoting. That’s what the self employed NEED TO DO to survive. Some people are clueless.
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Thanks,
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kris in Ga.
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YOU, ON THE OTHER HAND, ROCK!
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I don’t read ANY blog because I am too stinking busy, yet I try to make it a point to drop by every other day and catch up on what I missed in yours. Your recipes and advice are freely given, people chat here, and yes, you mention your books and ask people to buy them. Isn’t that what every author does? In every venue they can? Do they advertise? Do they do book signings? Those are ways to promote their books. This is your much more homey way to do it.
Don’t be sad – you go, girl!
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I LOVE your site and I’m glad it is back. Tomorrow we’re getting snow, so I think I’ll make Grandma Bread cinnamon rolls.
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We your readers love and support you!! You just keep promoting yourself, we love it!!!
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By the way, are you SURE it wasn’t the ghost of Mean Rooster???
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Suzanne, yes, the cookies are too good! I made one batch. I’ll have to make more later. My grand, Kansas, helped. She rolled out the balls and stuck the chips in then rolled some more. Too cute! She’s a great helper.
I hope all is well for you today.
Kris
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And I doubt the perp was the actual hacker. They probably paid someone, because if they had the skill and intelligence to do a major hack job like this one, they probably have enough income to not give a damn about Suzanne’s blog.
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SOME PEOPLE ARE JUST ASSES! (No reflection on Jack)
You are a very intelligent, smart, funny and kind human being to put all of the hours into this blog that you do and if it seems a little self promoting to someone, well, tough. The rest of us, who are here for the RIGHT reasons, love what you do and that’s why we are here. Those who want to be stone-tossers and negative nellies need to go find a hobby. Perhaps they could use their time solving the evils of the world and leave poor little farm girls trying to make a living and a difference in the world the HECK along.
As for the hacker, you are obviously good…..go find a real job where your talents can be put to good use. You know…like a real grown up…something productive.
Ok, packing up my soapbox once again til the next time someone decides to be an idiot
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Apparently my security software was not good enough, and I GOT that stinkin’ virus, and BOY oh BOY was it a dooozy. Thank goodness that my FIL is a computer wizard and was able to get it off for us (Microsoft wanted to change me $250 to do it). I have to admit, I was VERY cautious about coming here again, but I had to come back. Sorry about the contest! I was hoping you would win. Glad to see things are back to normal around here.
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