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Comment RSSGo Ahead and Back Up! Protect Your Precious WordPress Files…
27.11.08 # 20:17 # Blogs # 21 Comments
“Not long ago, when there were men on the bottling lines, this sort of thing didn’t happen!”
(The first lucky duck that can name the movie that line was quoted from gets a hats off and a virtual beer basket in their gmail )
Recently my friend JD from I Do Things had her blog hacked by some loser, possibly one sporting a mullet and with a serious brain worm infestation. Fortunately, JD was able to restore her site with relative ease. She warned us to make plenty of WordPress backups and upgrade our WordPress files. Some of her readers went so far as to make backups of their backups.
I took these prudent steps forthwith, and then I started thinking about that poor lost soul who maliciously hacks and stabs deep into the hearts of innocent files, corruptifying them and rendering them useless and unrecognizable. He (or she) obviously cares little for those files, viewing them as merely things to be manipulated. Does this modern mullet sporter have no shame? Are the brain worms in control now?
I think this dismisbegotten file crusher doesn’t play well with others. Probably not enough love as a child. Maybe Santa brought him a Brite Lite instead of the Operation Game. It could be his hampster’s upscale home was replaced with low income housing. Maybe he was chased about the house by an older sibling who was wearing Finger Forks, and yelling ” I’m Freddy Krueger, welcome to my nightmare!” This person obviously has little in common with a certified ethical hacker.
Whatever his problem is, I don’t understand the motivation for blog vandalization. He (or she) needs to chill out, crack open a Blue Beaver Beer and play some World of Warcraft or something. Or even better, get a life and for gosh darn sakes, get rid of the freakin’ mullet! An oh, yeah, if you need to borrow my ginormous tweezers to remove those brain worms, I have ‘em right here behind the bar.
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Seriously, that person needs to move out of his mother’s basement and get some sun. When I told people about JD’s blog hack, they asked why a person would do that. I know it’s for bragging rights, but that just means whoever they’re bragging to is a loser just like them. GRRRRR! I know JD was responsible for others backing up their blogs and upgrading to the latest platform. Hat’s off to JD! Her pain was everyone else’s gain.
Kathys last blog post..I’m Shaving My Head
I always thought my blog was a happy place. Apparently someone hates it. That makes me sad. But I will NEVER stop doing things. Just think of all the people who would have to have a colonoscopy if I didn’t? Or all the people who would have to drink bugs? No, I won’t stop. NEVER!
JD at I Do Thingss last blog post..I AM BACK! (almost) so you don’t have to be
And why isn’t my dang gravator showing up?!?!? HACKER!
Gravatar?
JD at I Do Thingss last blog post..I AM BACK! (almost) so you don’t have to be
Tim,
Your post as always is just too funny, though those f*ing hackers are not! Curses on all of them.
BTW, I believe the answer to your question would be Strange Brew. And how is the bottling line at Blue Beaver beer running? Any mice problems?
~ Steve, aka the hacker-hatin’ trade show guru
Trade Show Gurus last blog post..Happy Thanksgiving
Kathy: I don’t know if upgrading = more protection, but it makes me feel better
JD: Your blog is a happy place! But, without losers, you can’t tell who the winners are. Without hackers and such, we wouldn’t have virus protection programs. Aren’t you glad we have antivirus software? It is so fun and makes so many people happy! Maybe whistle for your Gravatar - it must be out there somewhere…
Steve: Right on with the answer. I figured you or Canucklehead would be answering it soon enough!
I need to figure out how to back up my blogger blogs.
Shit. I came by too late. Someone else already said Strange Brew. Damn. I could really use a beer (or 5) about now….
Anyhoo - luckily my webhost has a backup option for my blog otherwise I would have already been screwed (and not in a pretty way…)
Petras last blog post..2006: Edward Gorsuch’s “The Butcher”
People are freaking weirdos.
I once had a WP blog hacked. It was hacked because of a vulnerable plugin I was using. If you want to protect yourself from this, add
Options -Indexes
to your .htaccess file. This will stop people from being able to tell what plugins you have installed.
Dr. Greens last blog post..23 Naturally Great Pool Design Ideas
I have never understood the thought process behind hackers. The only reason you get into other peoples stuff is for educational purposes or to be malicious. Either way it seems to be alot of work for little reward.
Tammy: Hope there is an easy way for you to do that
Petra: I didn’t think Strange Brew would be your kinda movie
Florida Girl: I agree, darn !@#$ hackers!
DR. Green: thanks for the tip!
Jim: A lot of work for a small reward; sounds like most of the jobs I have had
It is actually wise to backup all your information once in a while so you never get caught by dumbs like this one.
Tim - Stupid comedies are #2 on my list of favorite genres. (horror of course, being #1.) And I watch some stuuuppiidd comedies (Step Brothers was HYSTERICAL!)
Petras last blog post..It’s Tanka Time!
Ok ok, Strange Brew, but I was beat to the punch as well! Hackers are annoying. I have had them try to get on my site before, but luckily secured everything before they got through. Being without backups is like up a creek without a paddle.
I had to come by and tell you - I totally screwed up JD’s blog - it was SO sweet. Man, you were right - this hacking thing rocks!
ps - Strange Brew.
CHEERS!
Canuckleheads last blog post..Welcome Butch!
I have a WordPress plug-in that e-mails me a backup of the database every week, so I was feeling secure. Until, that is, I read your line about stabbing deep into the heart of innocent files and corruptifying them! Horror!
I’ve only been keeping one week’s backup, and it’s quite possible that corruption deep within the files could be missed until my backups were all corrupt too.
Thanks for the warning!
Deannas last blog post..So there we were.. power lounging at White Bay
Did I mention that real men(tm) don’t make WordPress backups?
Also did I mention that real men(tm) write their own blogging software (shameless plug)
haris last blog post..Boxi and Panjo - Working Out
Ok after reading this post I went and checked my WP backup file and guess what - it’s corrupt.
Time to think of another way to backup.
I haven’t been hacked yet (fingers crossed, knock on wood!) but I have really screwed my blog up doing upgrades to wordpress or even upgrades to plugins. I like to do my backups directly from the cpanel and even do a full home backup every once in a while.
Ginnys last blog post..Noah’s Ark Bible Coloring Sheets
That sucks JD. Glad to see that a backup was available. Last time something like that happened to me, there was no backup available. Talk about a rough way to learn your lesson. Luckily, hosting has gotten much more robust over the years, and it’s now a pretty easy point & click affair to get automated backups happening.
aarons last blog post..Tivax STB-T8 Digital Converter Box Review