Brief shut down...

Hi Fran

What about the hijacking? - it took me ages to log off my PC last night when it happened.


Can this be prevented?

Regards
Heather

I was worried about virus attacks etc too. Is there a problem with the security of these attacks?

When is someone going to address the security of these forums? How can we be sure that our personal data is safe when the forums are repeatedly being attacked? Fingers crossed isn't good enough. Appreciate the forums are increasingly less relevant for you as the link from the front page is difficult to find, but it would at the very least be courteous for you to give a little more detail on the problems, what action you've taken and whether our computer security is guaranteed.

I agree with BGB.

And this is the second time it's happened in a few weeks. How do you know it wont happen again? Keeping fingers crossed isn't going to help, is it.

quote:Originally posted by LizBjk
I agree with BGB.

And this is the second time it's happened in a few weeks. How do you know it wont happen again? Keeping fingers crossed isn't going to help, is it.

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Exactly what others said. "Fingers crossed" doesn't fill me with much confidence, especially as I've had 2 trojans from both of these hacks, the last being the other week.

The site needs to be protected better and I have a feeling if it keeps happening, more and more people will stay away in fear of their own PCs security etc.

I agree with BGB too, it's getting ridiculous now.

Both times this site has been hacked recently I've ended up with a virus and trojans on my laptop.

Why was it just the forum what was affected and none of the other pages?

When it was hacked last night my anti-virus software went mental and I had to spend almost two hours cleaning up my computer - which is actually a laptop from work, not my own PC. I had to delete over 100 files that had been infected. In that respect I'm lucky it was my work laptop as it automatically backs up daily to the server at work. Had it been my own PC those files might have been gone forever.

I know this is a free service, but at the same time I do feel the owners/managers of hitched owe us some duty of care and should be doing everything they can to ensure that this can't and won't happen again. I've only been a member since January and this is the fourth time this has happened. It smacks of a certain amount of irresponsibility on the part of the site owners.

WTS to most of the above plus I know that this is a wedding site and I know that the forums are down the list but it would be appreciated if these sorts of things were posted across the forums. I have the forums open most of the time but I'm not necessarily posting so it's unhelpful to suddenly find a random post talking about the hacking (again).

Can someone help or point me in the direction of knowing if my laptop and/or pc has a virus? How do I check? They do both have anti virus software but since they are both work computers I don't have a clue how good they are. If I get a virus from being on a wedding forum I would be in big trouble.

I had to crash my laptop last night as I couldn't get the hackers message off my screen and music was being played.

quote:Originally posted by PurrfectGems
Can someone help or point me in the direction of knowing if my laptop and/or pc has a virus? How do I check? They do both have anti virus software but since they are both work computers I don't have a clue how good they are. If I get a virus from being on a wedding forum I would be in big trouble.

I had to crash my laptop last night as I couldn't get the hackers message off my screen and music was being played.

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House call is quite good for one off scanshttps://go2.trendmicro.com/geoip/housecall or AVG is free to download.

quote:Originally posted by Bohemian Raspberry
I agree with BGB too, it's getting ridiculous now.

Both times this site has been hacked recently I've ended up with a virus and trojans on my laptop.

Why was it just the forum what was affected and none of the other pages?

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WTS - It's a big concern for me, it sent my PC haywire last night and took me ages to sort it out.

I know it's a public forum but I think some measures need to be taken, a 'fingers crossed' doesn't fill me with any confidence.

Strange how the last time this happened and a sticky was posted it stayed for a couple of weeks, but this time - when we're expressing legitimate concerns - it's being dropped like a hot potato.

Anyone else think we should keep bumping this until we get a response? They must have read our posts to have taken off the sticky.

Very true Melancholie.

I for one, do not want my laptop buggered up because of some Turkish Loons. I tend not to take a fingers crossed attitude to my computer security so I feel that forums shouldn't either.

These Turkish nutters have shown that they will do this again - so no doubt they will try again in the future.

Permission for bangy head man please. ☹️!]

quote:Originally posted by Melancholie
Strange how the last time this happened and a sticky was posted it stayed for a couple of weeks, but this time - when we're expressing legitimate concerns - it's being dropped like a hot potato.

Anyone else think we should keep bumping this until we get a response? They must have read our posts to have taken off the sticky.

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I agree and why was it only posted on WP, all boards were affected.

Totally agree!!

Its not good enough that a "fingers crossed" approach has been taken.

This caused me so much work last night, only to find that its being washed over by those who offer this service.

I appreciate its free but how can I trust to put personal information with Hitched?

quote:Originally posted by PurrfectGems
Can someone help or point me in the direction of knowing if my laptop and/or pc has a virus? How do I check? They do both have anti virus software but since they are both work computers I don't have a clue how good they are. If I get a virus from being on a wedding forum I would be in big trouble.

I had to crash my laptop last night as I couldn't get the hackers message off my screen and music was being played.id="red">

id="quote">

Yeah, the page wouldnt shut down, really buggin. Just press Ctrl, Alt and delete all at the same time for sticky pages like that, then only that page closes down without you having to close down your pc ?

N x

Who is Dean?

I didn't realise hitched had been hacked before. i thought last night was a one-off. if it's going to keep happening something really needs to be done about it.

my anti-virus didn't send up any messages- should i be worried or does that mean it's just sorted itself out? (it is up to date).

I logged on this morning like many others the find the page hacked, first thing I did was run a virus scan to check everything was ok. You'd think since this is not the first time it had happened they would be able to identify the problem and rectify it, obviously this has not been done. I also noticed the sticky had been removed, at first I thought the whole post had been deleted but then I located it half way down the page. I do also find it interesting that quite a few people have commented so far with no response from Hitched. Think more people should post on here and hopefully they'll pay some attention.

It was hacked a while back and i was at work when on here it was awful i thought i was gonna get in real trouble as i logged on at work.... last night it went mental as the page came up i logged off just in time i hope and hope it has not affected my pc now.... we need it to be safe!!!

?

quote:Originally posted by Jo.1981
the page. I do also find it interesting that quite a few people have commented so far with no response from Hitched.

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It's not really noticeable because of the way it's been done, but Fran's OP has actually been edited by Dean whoever he is.

quote: UPDATE:

Sorry about the brief shut down this morning. Please be assured we take this matter very seriously.

The forum has been restored and we have identified a security hole that has now been closed. We are working with HackerSafe to ensure we have no other vulnerabilities in the forum software.

Dean

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If you have a PC (rather than a Mac) there is a good freeware program called Addaware that will scan your PC and remove trojans.
you can download it from www.download.com

Clwyd Probert, Wedding Photographer for Pixcellence Wedding Photography
http://www.pixcellence.co.uk

quote:Originally posted by PurrfectGems
Can someone help or point me in the direction of knowing if my laptop and/or pc has a virus? How do I check? They do both have anti virus software but since they are both work computers I don't have a clue how good they are. If I get a virus from being on a wedding forum I would be in big trouble.

I had to crash my laptop last night as I couldn't get the hackers message off my screen and music was being played.

id="quote">

No-one asked for your website, Clwyd.

Nice to see the sticky has been taken off. Oh, and HackerSafe is anything but a guarantee of being HackerSafe - a quick google can tell you that.

I'm really annoyed about this. I got a virus on my work laptop last night, which is really not on. I don't see how I can continue to use hitched on that laptop anymore, as it keeps happening. I've logged on tonight on the other PC to see what hitched had to say about it, and it's just not good enough.

It's a real shame, but I don't think I'll be able to post on here as much, I'll only be able to do it from my other PC which OH uses most of the time.

And as for "fingers crossed"...what a joke. Clearly it is only a matter of time before they hack the site again.

It had put a trojan on my computer as well. anti-virus had resolved it. bloody good job it was up to date though. not happy [V]

don't see why they are targetting hitched anyway. not exactly a political forum.

I just want to add to the 'pettition' to say that i hope the controllers of hitched are doing EVERYthing they can to sort their security out. We realise Hitched is free for its users but so are hundreds of forums but it doesn't mean they skimp on their security. I think you should make this a sticky on all pages too, it smacks of a PR cover up and it's all a bit of a poor show to be honest. [V] The thousands of loyal hitchers expect and deserve a bit better really.

I just want to assure you we are taking the security breach very seriously. I apologise for the wording of the original post which made light of this issue.

The software we use for the forum was provided by a 3rd party and we have been happily using it for the last 5 years with no problems up until a couple of weeks ago. At that point we found some security holes which with the help of some HackerSafe software (which specialises in this area) we fixed. It appears that the software did not identify a potential hole which was exploited last night. We believe we have now closed this and are at present doubling checking all forum code for anything else that can be locked down.

I know it is worrying and can only apologise to those that it has caused distress; we do value your contribution to hitched and would love for you to continue to support the site and forum.

Regards
Dean (Founder of hitched.co.uk)

I think you should put this on the other forums as well so everyone knows.

My H2B works in IT security, and as soon as he saw the error that came up when I logged on, he told me to go straight to my online banking and change my password, he also got me to delete password history as well.

His advice was not to go on hitched, but the thing is, the whole reason I am on here is to get advice, pick up good ideas, and get support from people who know exactly what you are are going through.

I think its bad that by doing that, not only are we risking our work laptops and getting in trouble at work, but more importantly our personal data.

As others have said this is the 3rd time its happened now and really think you need to get this sorted once and for all, and consult with professionals.

quote:Originally posted by London Photographer
If you have a PC (rather than a Mac) there is a good freeware program called Addaware that will scan your PC and remove trojans.

id="quote">
Its actually ad-aware that Clywyd is referring to.