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Tue 8 Jun, 2010 12:42 pm
We have a medium-sized philosophy forum we had planned to merge into a2k within the next few weeks. We were going to try to do a lot of niceties to make it a smoother transition. Things like replicate more of the features of the software they currently use, give people the ability to filter tags (so if they don't like a lot of new philosophy topics they can filter them all) and proper hand-holding and all but due to unforeseen circumstances we are going to have to do this merge much more abruptly than we had intended. Here is the short version (all I have time for right now):
- The philosophy forum is running VB software that was hacked (it has a security hole) causing our server to be severely compromised.
- We have to close the hole one way or another ASAP. One way to do it is to try to patch up the old software at the philosophy forum, another is to merge it into a2k and kill the old software and the security hole for good (I believe this is the second time the philosophy forum software has been hacked this year).
We have extremely limited time these days, so we can't afford to fix the philosophy forum software in addition to the merge work we already had planned, so we are going to opt to do a more abrupt merge to kill the security hole. And by abrupt we mean it, we'd like the time we have a gaping security hole live on our server to be measured in hours, not days, and are going to try to get the merge done within the next 24 hours.
So yeah, I know. There's gonna be lots of angst and once again not as much advance notice as we'd like to have given. Sorry 'bout that (I mean it, but there are not a lot of great options for us right now) but please try to extend the philosophy forum folks a warm welcome as they aren't to blame for any of this.
@Robert Gentel,
I forgot: that also means we are likely to be closing the site for some time tonight (probably an hour or two).
@Robert Gentel,
GOD DAMNIT!!!!
Hahah, just kidding, thanks for looking after the place RG
Cheers
Cycloptichorn
@Robert Gentel,
Security first. Fix that hole already!
oh too cool, here comes months of threads/posts demanding the "old a2k-I'm quitting"
Do the philosophy folk know that they are about to be assimilated?
And that resistance is futile?
@George,
They are being given the same generous advance notification (yeah, this is gonna be messy).
Robert, I can't gripe when you are doing the right thing to protect the site.
BBB
Thanks for letting us know.
It's about time we got a better class of people around here.
@joefromchicago,
joefromchicago wrote:
It's about time we got a better class of people around here.
I agree. The current posters on the philosophy threads have been coming up with ridiculous hypotheticals.
@joefromchicago,
joefromchicago wrote:
It's about time we got a better class of people around here.
yeah maybe we can set up kiosks logged into a2k in Walmart stores.
@Robert Gentel,
People need more abrupt unannounced changes in their lives. We're becoming too set in our ways. So do your worst. We can take it. As a matter of fact, I think you should change something randomly at least once a week without any notice whatsoever. (as long as the system continues to work)
@rosborne979,
rosborne979 wrote:As a matter of fact, I think you should change something randomly at least once a week without any notice whatsoever. (as long as the system continues to work)
Must. Not. Edit. His. Username. Be. A. Highly. Evolved. Rabbit.
@Robert Gentel,
<Pulling out my white gloves, putting on my best hat>
<adjusting hem on skirt >
I am ready to meet and greet the best.
or is it, with the best?
"Why would someone hack a philosophy forum?", she posed philosophically,
@mags314772,
They just wanted to find the meaning of life..
I will be gracious. Just like always.
Do what you gotta do.
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