WE'RE BACK!
Posted: Fri Jul 25, 2003 7:39 am
As you may have noticed, we were gone for nearly a week, and now that we're back the board seems to have gone back in time to February.
Well, the server was hacked. Someone broke into the computer where Nightscrawlers, BronzePig, CStuck, and X-Sprites (along with 93 others) are stored and did some playing around.
We have no idea who it was or why they did it, but we don't believe that Nightscrawlers was the true target of the hack, if there was a target at all.
Basically, the hacker went in and destroyed the SQL database for the entire server. What that means is they demolished the system that forms the foundation of the board, effectively destroying the board as it existed.
Our host quickly transferred all the non-corrupted files to a new, more secure server...but it took several days for the DNS to update (meaning that the downtime most people experienced was because their computers were looking for Scrawlers in the wrong place).
So, basically, we had everything but the board. Which really isn't a whole lot, considering. Luckily, everyone's favorite Bamfette had a backup copy of the boards...but the most recent backup was in February. Hence the huge number of missing posts and missing members. If you're wondering why you had to reregister or why certain threads are missing, that's why.
If it didn't happen before February 4, it's gone and we can't get it back...except for the FAQ section, which was graciously saved from certain doom by INTERNUTTER!
So I worked for a good while with our host, restoring access for us and trying to figure out if we could scavenge any of the old board. Much yelling and fanagling later, and we had no more board, but we were able to get in and rebuild.
Bamfette literally rebuilt Nightscrawlers today, reinstalling the boards and using the backup, as well as reinstalling the chat. She has single-handedly restored Nightscrawlers to working order and deserves all the credit.
She, MabusRex, and I are working hard to get Scrawlers back to working order and back to being the Scrawlers we know and love.
We are also taking this opportunity to tweak the rules, as well as do a bit of cosmetic redesign over the next week or so.
Coming Soon: NIGHTSCRAWLERS v2.0!
Well, the server was hacked. Someone broke into the computer where Nightscrawlers, BronzePig, CStuck, and X-Sprites (along with 93 others) are stored and did some playing around.
We have no idea who it was or why they did it, but we don't believe that Nightscrawlers was the true target of the hack, if there was a target at all.
Basically, the hacker went in and destroyed the SQL database for the entire server. What that means is they demolished the system that forms the foundation of the board, effectively destroying the board as it existed.
Our host quickly transferred all the non-corrupted files to a new, more secure server...but it took several days for the DNS to update (meaning that the downtime most people experienced was because their computers were looking for Scrawlers in the wrong place).
So, basically, we had everything but the board. Which really isn't a whole lot, considering. Luckily, everyone's favorite Bamfette had a backup copy of the boards...but the most recent backup was in February. Hence the huge number of missing posts and missing members. If you're wondering why you had to reregister or why certain threads are missing, that's why.
If it didn't happen before February 4, it's gone and we can't get it back...except for the FAQ section, which was graciously saved from certain doom by INTERNUTTER!
So I worked for a good while with our host, restoring access for us and trying to figure out if we could scavenge any of the old board. Much yelling and fanagling later, and we had no more board, but we were able to get in and rebuild.
Bamfette literally rebuilt Nightscrawlers today, reinstalling the boards and using the backup, as well as reinstalling the chat. She has single-handedly restored Nightscrawlers to working order and deserves all the credit.
She, MabusRex, and I are working hard to get Scrawlers back to working order and back to being the Scrawlers we know and love.
We are also taking this opportunity to tweak the rules, as well as do a bit of cosmetic redesign over the next week or so.
Coming Soon: NIGHTSCRAWLERS v2.0!