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Thread: WARNING - Our internet provider could suspend the site due to Russian hacking - please read thread for contingency plan

  1. #1
    Over the 10+ years of this site, I have had to deal with occasional hackings by Russian and Chinese groups. These hackings were never maliciously aimed at me or this site. They were part of large, organized hacking efforts to hijack sites and use them as either spam servers or zombies. (A "zombie" is a computer taken over by hackers, which is used then to attack or scan other sites.)

    This site runs on the same server as my other site, PokerFraudAlert (PFA). PFA is a loosely constructed structure of third party software, public domain freeware, and software/routines I wrote myself.

    There are lots of different pieces of software running on the server here -- some visible to you, some not.

    The bad part of this is the fact that each of these opens up vulnerabilities to hackers.

    A recent hack has been using my server as a zombie system, and our internet provider has gotten multiple complaints. There is no question that this is a result of a hacking, and they do not believe I am behind the zombie attacks. However, I have been given an ultimatum to fix this, or otherwise this site will be suspended. I already thought this was fixed a few days ago, but apparently not.

    If this happens, you will see a suspension message, and will not be able to access either PFA or Vegas Casino Talk.

    In addition, other sites I manage such as dandruffpoker.com and toddwitteles.com will also go down.

    Here is the plan if this occurs:

    1) I will be giving updates on https://twitter.com/PokerFraudAlert and https://twitter.com/VegasCasinoTalk

    2) I will move all of the sites I manage to a different provider -- first with a temporary page explaining what's going on, and then I'll put everything back as before

    3) Vegas Casino Talk might be taken down later tonight for purposes of doing backups, but this will only last for about 30 minutes.


    This might all take several days, so please be patient if it happens.

    I am hoping I can take care of this matter and a provider switch will not be necessary. Of course, even if I do switch providers, I'll need to kick the Russians off, because this problem will occur all over again once I restore from the backup.
    Check out my poker forum, and weekly internet radio show at http://pokerfraudalert.com

  2. #2
    Everything you wrote is basically beyond my understanding, but good luck with everything Dan Druff. Hope it all works out.

    Damn Russkies
    Dan Druff: "there's no question that MDawg has been an obnoxious braggart, and has rubbed a ton of people the wrong way. There's something missing from his stories. Either they're fabricated, grossly exaggerated, or largely incomplete".

  3. #3
    Spent hours on this today but I think I wiped it all off.

    My first attempt last week was a fail. I only got some of it. I did a deeper search today.

    It looks like the breach occurred on January 31, 2020. It is unknown when they started actually using the zombie software they installed.


    Later on tonight, I will back up the site, so there might be some downtime then.
    Check out my poker forum, and weekly internet radio show at http://pokerfraudalert.com

  4. #4
    I'm glad you are able to handle all this shit by yourself without freaking out, Dan.

    Thanks for the hard work and for keeping this board going.
    What, Me Worry?

  5. #5
    Great job Dan the Man.

  6. #6
    Yeah screw Russia.

    Did another check today and I don't see any weird activity, so I think the site is clean now. Nobody's personal info was obtained or in jeopardy, by the way. The hackers were only interested in using my server as a "zombie" to breach other sites.
    Check out my poker forum, and weekly internet radio show at http://pokerfraudalert.com

  7. #7
    Originally Posted by Dan Druff View Post
    Yeah screw Russia.

    Did another check today and I don't see any weird activity, so I think the site is clean now. Nobody's personal info was obtained or in jeopardy, by the way. The hackers were only interested in using my server as a "zombie" to breach other sites.
    Glad to hear no one was in jeopardy. Without taking up too much of your time, Dan can you briefly explain in layman's term, exactly what this Zombie stuff is? Would we or someone else be getting emails or messages that looked to be from VCT that really aren't?
    Dan Druff: "there's no question that MDawg has been an obnoxious braggart, and has rubbed a ton of people the wrong way. There's something missing from his stories. Either they're fabricated, grossly exaggerated, or largely incomplete".

  8. #8
    Originally Posted by kewlJ View Post
    Originally Posted by Dan Druff View Post
    Yeah screw Russia.

    Did another check today and I don't see any weird activity, so I think the site is clean now. Nobody's personal info was obtained or in jeopardy, by the way. The hackers were only interested in using my server as a "zombie" to breach other sites.
    Glad to hear no one was in jeopardy. Without taking up too much of your time, Dan can you briefly explain in layman's term, exactly what this Zombie stuff is? Would we or someone else be getting emails or messages that looked to be from VCT that really aren't?
    It's like someone breaking into your house and using your computer to hack other computers, then leaving before you get home.

    Then every time you leave, they sneak back in and do it again. They don't steal any of your personal info off your computer, but are simply using your computer as a physical device to hack others.

    That's basically what a zombie is, except it all happens electronically through malware (programs installed on your server without your knowledge).
    Check out my poker forum, and weekly internet radio show at http://pokerfraudalert.com

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