Recently, our main blog at www.avthespians.org was hacked by a web attack. The main web page was infected by a script which may have instructed browsers to download malicious code from a third-party website. Thanks to Google’s malware detection software, the site was flagged and most users should have received a warning page in lieu of our site while it was infected. Thank you to all of you who helped us by sending us information on what you were experiencing.

If you visited www.avthespians.org within the last few weeks, we strongly recommend that you run a full-system virus and malware scan.

We took the following actions upon noticing that we had been hacked:

1.       Site was taken down and domain-parked.

2.       All server passwords changed.

3.       Entire site and SQL database restored from backup.

4.       All web files searched using Google’s Webmaster Tools and StopBadware.org for malicious scripts, iframes, and redirects.

5.       Removed 1 malicious script found in the main webpage.

6.       Checked access logs and change history for all files.

7.       Reactivated the cleaned website and are now waiting for Google to finish reviewing the site and remove the warning flag. This may take up to a few days.

The server that was infected contains only our blog, forum, and associated files. The following information is NOT hosted by or stored on avthespians.org in any form:

• Financial transaction information, including ticketing and online donations (service provided through PayPal and WellsFargo)
• Records and personal information about members, auditioners, Patrons, or Subscribers (electronic document storage provided through Google)
• AVT Email (messaging service provided through Google)

There is no indication that any of these types of information have been compromised.

We will announce when our website is returned to operation. Thank you for your patience while we deal with one of the many curses of the modern world!

AVT.

Swear and talk about sex, politics, and religion if you want, but please do so tastefully and respectfully.

NO EDITING OR DELETING ANYONE ELSE’S POSTS, please just email whoever it was that offended you.

Each post should be an article or column, not a comment or conversation. Comment on a post as if it were a discussion board thread, just not on the main blog itself.

Host your own damn images.

HAVE FUN. No hard feelings or bitterness allowed, though sarcastic cynicism is fully legit. And when in doubt, just remember: What Would Den Hartog Do? Right now, this is a sudden idea, and I have no idea where it will end up; I hope this turns into something really cool we all can share.

Enjoy,
N.

Now we are more spread out, but the Den lives on… sort of. We are currently in the midst of a (second) revival after a (second) long dry spell. We encourage you to participate in our project… please add your comments and discussion to the blog.

Peruse, oh digital traveller, and revel in the many profound insights to be found in Hartog’s Den, (updated sometimes).

Nalin.

P.S. This thread is also our guest book, so please sign below with your comments!

Last update 3/26/09