It appears someone has hacked the SoapBlox code and is systematically going through SoapBlox sites and taking them down.
Information is over at Daily Kos, and initial reports are that Paul (pacified) is overwhelmed and possibly calling the whole thing quits on account of the lack of income associated with the whole venture.
Anyone know what this means for Colorado Pols if the hackers reach here?
There are many sites still up, but from the looks of the discussion, sites are still being taken down as this discussion is going on.
This could be a really bad day for blogging. SoapBlox hosts much of the 50-state Progressive Blogosphere, as well as a number of non-partisan and issue-related sites.
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Just a thought – it might be a good idea to get a backup of the current database and transfer it to a PC where it can’t be hacked.
We are closely monitoring the situation and are working on contingency plans now.
Is it just hackers being hackers for the hell of it, or is it something more sinister?
If it’s not someone doing it just to do it, then it’s a very big deal. Someone who could maliciously take down a shitload of liberal blogs would be incredibly dangerous. The more people turn to the internet for information, the more powerful blogs become. If you can actually get in there and erase a blog, you can control your opposition’s means of communication.
Affected sites are back up.
Paul (the Soapbox owner, administrator) says he thinks he has a Unix problem he can’t deal with. Been there done that.
He needs to accept the help of a Unix expert or hire someone who can fix the problem. Unix and Mysql malfunction now and then.
With so many techies laid off, it shouldn’t be hard to find someone who really knows what to do and will work for $50 an hour for 5 or 10 hours.
It appears the Soapbox community is able to raise the money needed to pay for a consultant and secure the host.
Also, if one guy, Paul, is running the ISP and coding the software in his spare time, I’d think the Dems’ fund raising machine could pay him and a couple of helpers to run the operation full time.
Paul and I are talking.
If you can’t do the work, I hope you know how to help him find and evaluate volunteers who claim they can.
All sites should be usable at this time and restored to their former glory – there were good backups and mostly annoying problems to fix, and pacified did a good job taking care of that.
There’s some more cleanup to be done, and some serious hardening work, but it’ll be okay. There have been a lot of offers of assistance, and a bit of a wake-up to the SoapBlox community – I think things will turn out alright.
I would be happy to offer help – both me and some of my developers.
Unix is much better and easier to maintain, I understand. I’ve had few problems with it over the last dozen years.
Not only wrong 100% of the time on political issues, but on computer advice too. Windows has problems but it’s much easier to use and administer than Unix.
And easier to do basic administration; not so much easier to secure or make it dance to your tune…
I can produce a reasonably hardened Linux box using a single command and a few tweaks. Setting up an Internet-facing Windows environment is a pain by comparison.
But, I get paid to do both, and Microsoft keeps me in business as much as Red Hat does – or more.
For SquareState’s purposes and configuration, UNIX/Linux systems are the way to go.
It came back up toady BTW. Thank you.
Just random hackers in need of day jobs?
to just go down.
There is important historic documentation on soapblox sites (this one not included ;).
I have spoken to Paul at various times and I know that he has basically volunteered his time to make and maintain this platform. Part of the reason why the soapblox network is so large is because he charges a pittance for people to create a theatre for their… soap box.
I sincerely hope that he finds a way to get a sizable return on his efforts. Everyone, please get on your knees and pucker the fuck up.