What a Week!
-It is finally starting to get green around here!-
It has been a heck of a week around here. Starting on Sunday afternoon, my websites were under attack. We experienced what is called a DDOS attack. If you want to know what that is, you can read here. DDOS Attack. It was a nasty, illegal attack that virtually shut down all of my websites, Rawmazing, Shooting the Kitchen and Susan Powers Photography. Apparently SusanPowersPhotography.com was the victim of the attack but since all of my sites are on the same server, the server was completely overwhelmed and all the sites went down.
What is so frustrating with these attacks is that it takes a while to figure out what is going on. The first 8 hours were spent trying different fixes. I went to bed thinking we had everything under contro, only to wake up early the next morning to find that all of my sites had been suspended. We located the problem, cleaned it up and it was off to business as usual, until the scrip regenerated. At that point, we realized that it was a very nasty attack and the only thing to do was to completely delete my photography site.
A lot of people think that there is a whole team here. A tech department, a shipping department, many people running around doing everything it takes to make Rawmazing what it is. The truth is that it is just me. So when stuff like this happens, it is extremely stressful. I do have to give some props to my friend, Mark the Geek, who selflessly takes pity on me in times like this and points me in the right direction.
After 2 days of fighting to keep all the sites up, Rawmazing and Shooting the Kitchen survived unscathed but SusanPowersPhotography was a total loss. At that point, I decided to completely rebuild and redo the entire site starting from scratch. I am thrilled with how it turned out but not thrilled at having spent the last 2 1/2 days working on it from sun-up to sun-down. If you want, you can check out the new site here: www.SusanPowersPhotography.com And before I get any comments…I shoot that food, I don’t eat it.
While all of this was happening, Facebook required that we upgrade the Rawmazing Facebook Page. What happened next has me completely baffled. Somehow our “like” page that was set up for followers of this website and other friends of Rawmazing, has become an open group and feels completely out of control to me. I am in the process of recreating a specific page for Rawmazing on FB but it is frustrating that all of the people that were following, and all of the posts that are there will be gone. On the other hand, I am not comfortable with the fact that the page has now become a free-for-all. It is difficult when you have worked to hard to create a common sense, friendly brand, only to see it used in a way you had never entended. I will keep you updated as to when the page is ready, if you are interested in following on FB.
This week has been a bit of a bust. I have some beautiful recipes for you that will be posted soon, so hang in there…we are finally back to normal and after I take a deep breath, I will be back in the kitchen!
Nadia wrote on May 26, 2011
I’m disgusted but not surprised. I noticed on one of your pages a post from a commenter looking for links to medical studies and knowing what I do of how certain organizations feel about that info coming from foodies, it just absolutely reeked of someone really fishing to get you on a hook.
Susan wrote on May 26, 2011
Honestly, the attack had nothing to do with content…it was the photography site that got hit. But since all of my sites are on the same dedicated server, it crashed the server. All of the sites have been hardened.
Gena wrote on May 16, 2011
So sorry you were attacked! How dreadful.
Rambling Heather wrote on May 14, 2011
What a bummer, I’m glad that you have kept an upbeat attitude. Your site is an inspiration to this raw newbie. I cant wait to check out your other site also!
Lisa wrote on May 13, 2011
Sorry to hear that this happened! Also the raw chef’s blog was compromised at the same time. Very interesting that it happened to both of you at the same time! Seems a bit fishy to me…
Your website and recipes have really helped me with going raw with my family. We are learning how to do it. And finding this place has been one of the biggest helps for me so far!!
Thank-you so much for all the hard work–It is appreciated!
Niv wrote on May 13, 2011
Sorry to hear about the attack.Your website is an inspiration.
Maha wrote on May 13, 2011
You truly are a one woman army. Thank you for all the work you put into this site and the generous gift of sharing beautiful and health recipes.
Razia wrote on May 13, 2011
Yes I agree thank you so so much for all your hard work, constantly sharing with the rest of us as to what is good for our beautiful bodies… ummm all those lovely Raw food recipes. The love you put into all this flows out on my PC, on your page, in your recipes etc.
Much Blessings, Love & Light
Desiree wrote on May 13, 2011
So sorry that this happened! You are my biggest inspiration and I look forward to your new recipes and pictures!! Keep up the AMAZING work!! Thank you for your hard work!