Well it looks like the site is back to normal again.  The web host (where this site is stored / hosted) was hacked so the problem reached much further than just MSG. 

I don't have much time right now.. but until later, welcome back.

I'm missing that hackers page already

The guy is obviously a capable computer geek, but he's an idiot because he thinks it's OK to do something like that.   

I read he wanted to break a world record and hacked into 700 000 sites simultaneously yestderday.

I hope in time he'll put his skills towards something more constructive and less DEstructive.

Such as hacking into IS and FT and increase our royalties to the level that they should be.

Quote from: rubyroo on September 26, 2011, 05:11

I hope in time he'll put his skills towards something more constructive and less DEstructive.

Such as hacking into IS and FT and increase our royalties to the level that they should be.

Shall we make him an offer? 

Quote from: rubyroo on September 26, 2011, 05:11

Ahhh... the youth of today.  Such aspirations.  

I hope in time he'll put his skills towards something more constructive and less DEstructive.

Me too. Lets face it, the guy is smart. Sometimes big companies employ hackers to test their systems.

True but not in a matter in which it was done!

Never enter on hacked site with headphones ON

I was almost deaf for a hour...

I was blind for two days...

well, Kevin Mitnick (I hope this is correctly spelled) is a consultant now, after paying time in jail. In some circumstances crime pays... I understand the philosophy of hiring these very skilled people, but at the same time it's like forgiving them for the wrong things they did. One day off-line for a business, even on a weekend,  is a loss.

Anyway, it's good to have our forum back!

Nice to have the site back

  Any word on the status of the data held by the server? I'm specifically thinking of password/username/email address data. Is that encrypted?

Yes, usernames and passwords are encrypted in the database.  I couldn't even see them if I wanted to.  I don't think the hacker got ahold of any of this info either.  He hacked the whole network host (thousands of sites) .. so I really don't think he bothered scrounging the MSG database for secret passwords. 

here is what the web host wrote

As you may be aware, our network, and potentially your server, was the
target of a large scale website defacing attack this morning, Sunday,
the 25th.  The defacement worked by replacing index files in all
public_html directories with the attacker''s index.php.  At this time, it
does not appear to be any more malicious than taking over the web site''s
home page, but we are still reviewing servers at this time.

We understand the method the attacker used to accomplished this and the
main exploit path was through an internal management server that can
control Cpanel on other servers.  The management server was used to
change passwords on the Cpanel servers then login with those passwords.

It does not appear that gaining passwords was a goal or was
accomplished, just password changes were used.  Access to the management
server was gained from an exploited customer''s server that was within
our network.

Though our team moved quickly to disable the internal management server
and limit the exposure of the servers to this attack when it began, it
was a very serious breach and could have been much worse if the hacker
had intended to do more harm.

At this time, we want to be sure you are aware of the attack and your
server''s potential exposure.  Please you review your sites if you have
not already done so.  If you were affected and you need assistance
recovering the home page or other directory indexes, please contact us.

Further, if you feel your server has been targeted more in-depth than
the index.php defacement, please contact us immediately and we will do
an additional scan on your server.

Though it does not appear gaining passwords was an intent of this
attack, it is recommended that you update all of your passwords related
to your server.

Please note, our billing, domain management, and customer tracking
system (AMP) was not targeted, nor was available to the Cpanel
management server.  It is on a separate network and firewall.

Please accept our apologies as we go through this process.  We are very
aware of our failure in this situation and we will provide more details
when we have completed the work of recovery.

Again, please review your server and sites if you have not done so
already.  Reach out to us immediately if you suspect a more in-depth
attack on your server.

Glad to see were back up and running!