Status Update Open Thread

Photo of Matthew Sheffield.
By Matthew Sheffield | March 6, 2007 - 12:31 ET

In case you tried to get in earlier today around 9:20 am Eastern or so, NewsBusters was hacked through a vulnerability in our web software. This is the first time it's happened. We'll be doing the upgrade this weekend however it is costing us several thousand dollars to do this. Please consider a donation to help us defray the costs.

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I will do what I can to help.

I will do what I can to help...

Btw...Verdict to be read in a few moments on Libby case....

Matthews has got to be panting with anticipation...drooling....

LOL!

Wow, I had a feeling it was

Wow, I had a feeling it was someone taking you down. I did some preliminary work and found out that you were initially facing a DDoS. My assumption was that it was only that to shut up Newsbusters, but it seems they had something more sinister in mind.

Oh, just so you know, I'm an IT consultant who specializes in Internet and Network security.

____________________________________________________

"The greatest remedy for anger is delay." ~ Thomas Paine

How much do you know about

How much do you know about PHP, MySQL, and Drupal?

Quite a bit... don't like Dru

Quite a bit... don't like Drupal, I'm more of a Joomla fan myself... if you like the automated kind of site.

Why?... oh, how often do you do backups of the database? You should try doing diff backups every 10 minuets or so... I had a really good regimen on my website which did backups every five minuets, then but kept those only for an hour, deleting the 65th minuets, then hourly per 24 hours, deleting the 25th hour and daily deleting the 8th day and finally, weekly deleting the 5th week. Once a year, I'd backup the whole database and transfer the info to my data warehouse for query only searches.

____________________________________________________

"These are the times that try men's souls." ~ Thomas Paine

Re: the hackingDid someone go

Re: the hacking

Did someone go in and actually delete some comments? I posted a comment last night that isn't there. And I notice some other posters comments are gone.

Just wondering.

Can these hackers get our pri

Can these hackers get our private information?

I am completely computer illiterate...except for what I have learned here from all of you...thank goodness!

I guess I do not completely understand what someone does when they hack into a site..what their purpose is...you say something more sinister...so that is why I am asking.

Thanks for any info...from anyone.

I think I'll tell NB public

I think I'll tell NB publicly what I've told you & others privately. Want to solve the problem up-front and simply while avoiding future "Vista" issues? Consider spending very-little-more up-front and buying an Apple, like Limbaugh uses.
JMR

sarc...That would be nice if

sarc...

That would be nice if I could afford it at the drop of a hat.

By the way, can these hackers get our individual private info. when they hack in?

What do you mean by private i

What do you mean by private info?  Can they hack your computer from NB?  No, but if they can hack in then they can see whatever you have given to NB. Oh and PCs are not less vulnerable from Macs...its just that hackers spend more time with hacking pcs because there are more pc users.

I disagree. I can remotely

I disagree. I can remotely instruct a "bigtimer" type of user on how to pretty-well secure a Mac (just go to Preferences|Sharing and you're basically done when you click one thing to turn on the built-in firewall) right out of the box. Can't say the same for Windoze even if I'm there in-person, and Apple's already making fun of Vista's new security feature, which is typically inconvenient, in their "I'm a Mac, I'm a PC" commercial series.
JMR

love the commercial, but you

love the commercial, but you don't know what you are talking about sarcasmo.  Ease of how to turn on your firewall is not proof that mac is more secure.  Its real easy to make your computer absolutely safe...don't plug it in the internet or insert disks that isn't from a manufacture.  Given any firewall, there are holes in it that hackers take advantage of.  The reason why there are less virus problems with macs is because the hackers don't take the time to make them for macs, as there are more pcs.  However, NB being a conservative site, it would be enough for a liberal hacker to take the time to find a way to hack it...even if NB used a mac.  Also note most professional servers aren't run on Windows or on Mac's system, its run on linux. 

Oh, I see the issues firsth

Oh, I see the issues firsthand every day, and the percentage of security-issues for Mac users is, like it or not, substantially-lower than one would expect if both platforms were equally easy to penetrate (which is far from saying 0 issues) even given the smaller number of targets in the Apple universe. Also, Apple's typical response-time to security issues is, or at least has been, a LOT faster than Microsoft's in my experience. Neither are anything near perfect, of course, but when one looks at time saved as money, sometimes a bit more $ up-front is worth the price. And I agree NB will/should probably run on linux, I'm just saying that recently OSX has become quite usable in that area, too, and might be an interesting option. Also, one other reason "hackers" (crackers) target Windows is that Bill Gates tends to wave red flags at them rhetorically, and these are young males with a LOT of time on their hands. As a business matter you DON'T want to deliberately give these people something to prove regarding the alleged security of your bloatware...A former 'boxer like Steve J. knows that without having to ask why.
JMR

We don't use Windows, sarc.

We don't use Windows, sarc. NB uses Linux, a form of Unix. The problem wasn't an operating system issue but one of the software that it runs on. It also runs on a Mac and would've had the same problem.

CV...Thanks.You answered what

CV...

Thanks.

You answered what I wanted to know.

I want 'em hunted down and ki

I want 'em hunted down and killed!  :-)

No, I'm not High.  :-)

When found, have them put in

When found, have them put in a room and make them listen to speeches by Her Thighness, algore, Chucky Shumer, Al the Sharpton, Jessie the Jackson, and others, 24/7.  Would probably be considered "cruel and unusual".

There is no sense in being stupid, if you can't prove it! - my dad V

Libby guilty.

Libby guilty.

The moral of the story, anyti

The moral of the story, anytime the FBI asks you something, don;t trust your memory. Say "I cannot remember", otherwise, they'll take the word of that paragon of virtue, Tim Russert.

FS,That only works if you a

FS,

That only works if you are a democrat.

No, I'm not High. :-)

Good point!

Good point!

It didn't for Martha Stuart D

It didn't for Martha Stuart Dave R... 

LOL!

bt,I guess I should have sa

bt,

I guess I should have said it mostly works for democrats. :-)

I also heard this morning one

I also heard this morning one of the jurors was a Washington Post reporter, or writer or some such...another a next door neighbor of Russert's I heard awhile back, if this is so, why would they okay these particular jurors?

This is sad, the glee from the leftists has to got to be never-ending, next up....they will go after Cheney with inferences...continually.

Oh well it is what it is... President Bush had better pardon him if his appeals go nowhere..

Just my opinion...

Joe Wilson/Armitage and others...Scot free. 

Bush pardon Libby??? Ha, the

Bush pardon Libby??? Ha, the Libs  & MSM will have a field day! Afterall, Clinton never pardoned anybody, at least according to the MSM <rolls eyes>.

"Reader, suppose you were an idiot. And suppose you were a member of Congress. But I repeat myself." Mark Twain

bt,I heard the same thing.

bt,

I heard the same thing. Funny, this guy is going away, but Sandy Burglar gets a pass (and his security clearance back).

I guess if you want to be in government or politics and rape, pillage and plunder your way through, you have to be a democrat.

No, I'm not High. :-)

Please post this comment on

Please post this comment on the Libby NB thread.

Everyone else, please move this discussion over to that posting.

Scooter was screwed.

Scooter was screwed.

Another successful political prosecution by the left.

Now we can just sit and wait for all the trolls to come in here and gloat.

The liberal MSM is probably having a collective orgasm by now.

No, I'm not High. :-)

Dave... Screwed Royally!I hea

Dave... Screwed Royally!

I heard the jury sent a note to the judge this morning asking just what exactly is Libby charged with?

HUH?

Ten days later and they still didn't know?

 Only D.C.!

 Past pathetic... I feel sorry for his family...let alone the cost...

It's worse than that. The l

It's worse than that. The liberal MSM is writing scandalous lying headlines to forward an agenda.

Here's an AP headline:

" Scooter Libby found guilty on 4 of 5 counts in CIA leak case."

How is this even close? It's not. Scooter Libby was not found guilty in CIA leak case. The leak case turned up nothing. Scooter Libby was found guilty in a process crime... there was no leak!!!!

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"An army of principles can penetrate where an army of soldiers cannot." ~ Thomas Paine

lbz...I have seen he same thi

lbz...

I have seen he same thing too...it is infuriating!

They were already saying Cheney is next on msnbc before the verdict was read...saying that we will now see if Libby will roll over for Cheney and such...

It is pathetic.

Just because this guy did not remember every single conversation he had at the exact day, week or month...with REPORTERS! Leftist reporters!

I hope the over-grown boy scout goes away...but afraid he may take this further! I detest him, Armitage is what he was charged to do...who leaked Plames name...that simple.

So they get Libby...

Unbelievable.

Our side better start fight

Our side better start fighting back or we'll lose all these battles.

____________________________________________________

" We have it in our power to begin the world over again." ~ Thomas Paine

lbz...I agree.Wanna bet they

lbz...

I agree.

Wanna bet they don't though?

I'm talking about republican politicians....they will not fight back, they never do.

If they do not...what the heck can we do...any suggestions?

two strong arms

The housing market suffers and I'm out both my jobs. I went from exhaustion to exhausted. I will help what I can because this is big time important. Keep the well full!

So Libby is found guilty? How

So Libby is found guilty? How can that happen when the jury doesn't even know what the charges actually mean? What a travesty! I hope Libby appeals. God help us all when people can be convicted for leaking something that wasn't a secret to begin with, and when the prosecution's witnesses can't remember anything specific and when all you have to do is disagree with the media and you can be ruined. This whole thing was started because of the LIES of Joe Wilson and the propagandizing of the MSM. Hey Libs, zeig heil!

I run a private site... and

I run a private site... and I'm pretty private about it...but I don't mind letting people know some about me... but I control what it is they know. For example, I know that your site is running CentOS with Apache-2.0.52, PHP-4.3.9 and if I'm guessing right, maybe, just maybe MySQL 5.*

Your site:

Linux Apache/2.0.52 (CentOS) DAV/2 PHP/4.3.9 2-Mar-2007 204.10.109.226
Media Research Center

I could tell all of that because your machine is announcing all that.. it's like a recipee for hackers.

Mine only says:

Linux Apache 6-Mar-2007 59.124.244.19
Chunghwa Telecom Data Communication Business Group

See the difference?

While both IPs are clear, I know the version of Apache you are using, so I know what vulnerabilities to look for. I also know what version of PHP you're using giving me the same ability to try all vulnerabilities out there... and if you haven't kept up on the latest hacks and patches every day...the vigilant hackers will get ya.

____________________________________________________

"These are the times that try men's souls." ~ Thomas Paine

Both Clinton's Found Guilty o

Both Clinton's Found Guilty of Impersonating Caring People!

There is no sense in being stupid, if you can't prove it! - my dad V

And now, today's Rosie-sized

And now, today's Rosie-sized, post-pro-First-amendment-Liberal-hacking Shrub Report®:

Happy 532nd birthday! And Happy 15th!

The Dow is up 100 points. BDS sufferers curse: How dare the Dow disrupt the celebration of the Libby verdict?

Here, Junior, your turn...

The world hates America and the Jooos. But love France, China, and the jury is still out on Venezuela. They hate us, but are the first with their hands out for our money. Meanwhile, Lady Pantsuit and Obama Osama are gearing up to "out-Joo" each other.

People are calling this show "revisionist history", but millions of Germans did flee the Soviets towards the end of WW2. It's not like the Holocaust is being denied. It was common knowledge what kind of revenge the Soviets were inflicting on these civilians.

San Fran Nan, in charge about as many days as her age, is in danger of having her fiefdom crumble already?

Guitar God David Gilmour turns 61 today.

Another epidemic that could have been avoided with DDT.

Who would you rather sit next to on your next flight: a sweaty, coughing fat guy, or this person?

Here's some perspective: the Social Engineers from the EU are coming over to NYC to learn how to put more restrictions on its people. Way to go, New York! You are out-Socialism-ing Europe! And, speaking of the EU….

It is good to see The Breck Girl can still channel.

Witchcraft on Exile Island? Jeff Probst is detained for questioning.

Beavis gets arrested.

More French tourists go missing. I wonder if the "Iraq Junket" leaving Paris next month is fully-booked yet.

This is a truly horrible story.

China takes one step closer to freedom. Freedom from burdening the peasant folk with all that inconvenient information, that is.

For Sarc: Pennsylvania takes another step away from free elections. This is pathetic.

A "Religion of Peace" update. And another. Allah Akbar!

A crackdown on fugitive illegals. Remember, they only come to our country to find work and send the money back to their families

Don't forget to get your St. Patrick's Day gear!

Today in Liberalism History: Marty DiBergi turns 60 today, and a happy 71st birthday, Mr. Crack Mayor! Nobody rewards failure like the Democrats…

Excellent link Roger

"People are calling this show "revisionist history", but millions of Germans did flee the Soviets towards the end of WW2"

Excellent link Roger. I have no idea why non biased people shouldn't be made aware of all types of atrocities. We should be learn about all types of atrocities to help to try to prevent them. I have no idea why Stalin gets such a free pass for all his atrocities. He demanded repatriation at the Yalta and Potsdam Conferences, and countless people died as a result. Most people think Stalin was the big winner at the Yalta Conference.

Here is a great link about 20th Century Atrocities and is very non biased.

http://users.erols.c...

"There's blood in the streets, it's up to my ankles" 'Peace Frog'

Carl, I thought of that link

Carl, I thought of that link when I saw the story this morning. I have it bookmarked, my friend. Atrocities are atrocities, regardless of who the victims are. As usual, we are on the same page.

Now I will have damn song in my head all night long.... Curse you, Carl Kolchak!!!!

Matthew, just sent what I cou

Matthew, just sent what I could..  good luck this weekend with the migration..  or what ever its' called..  Thanks for all you do.  Best Regards, r

Gee, sarc, why do you like this guy so much??

Well...
JMR
The Coming Entitlement Meltdown

By U.S. Rep. Ron Paul
Monday, March 5, 2007

http://www.house.gov/paul/tst/tst2007/tst030507.htm

David Walker, comptroller General at the U.S. Government Accountability Office, appeared on the television show "60 Minutes" last evening to discuss the federal budget outlook. If you saw the show, you know that he painted a very sobering picture regarding the federal government's ability to meet its future obligations.

If you didn't see the show, Mr. Walker's theme was simple: Government entitlement spending is like a runaway freight train headed straight at American taxpayers. He singled out the Medicare prescription drug bill, passed by Congress at the end of 2003, as "probably the most fiscally irresponsible piece of legislation since the 1960s."

When it comes to Social Security and Medicare, the federal government simply won't be able to keep its promises in the future. That is the reality every American should get used to, despite the grand promises of Washington reformers.

Our entitlement system can't be reformed -- it's too late. And the Medicare prescription drug bill is the final nail in the coffin.

The financial impact of the drug bill cannot be overstated. Government projections that the program would cost $400 billion over the next decade were a joke, as everyone in Congress knew even as they voted for the bill. The real cost will be at least $1 trillion in the first decade alone, and much more in following decades as the American population grows older.

The Medicare "trust fund" is already badly in the red, and the only solution will be a dramatic increase in payroll taxes for younger workers. The National Taxpayers Union reports that Medicare will consume nearly 40 percent of the nation's GDP after several decades because of the new drug benefit. That's not 40 percent of federal revenues or 40 percent of federal spending, but rather 40 percent of the nation's entire private sector output!

The politicians who get reelected by passing such incredibly shortsighted legislation will never have to answer to future generations saddled with huge federal deficits. Those generations are the real victims, as they cannot object to the debts being incurred today in their names.

The official national debt figure, now approaching $9 trillion, reflects only what the federal government owes in current debts on money already borrowed. It does not reflect what the federal government has promised to pay millions of Americans in entitlement benefits down the road. Those future obligations put our real debt figure at roughly $50 trillion -- a staggering sum that is about as large as the total household net worth of the entire United States. Your share of this $50 trillion amounts to about $175,000.

Don't believe for a second that we can grow our way out of the problem through a prosperous economy that yields higher future tax revenues. If present trends continue, by 2040 the entire federal budget will be consumed by Social Security and Medicare alone.

The only options for balancing the budget would be cutting total federal spending by about 60 percent or doubling federal taxes. To close the long-term entitlement gap, the U.S. economy would have to grow by double digits every year for the next 75 years.

The answer to these critical financial realities is simple, but not easy: We must rethink the very role of government in our society. Anything less, any tinkering or "reform," won't cut it. A good start would be for Congress to repeal the Medicare prescription drug bill.

Did RedState get hit, too? I

Did RedState get hit, too? I haven't been able to get RedState to come up for hours.

I think Redstate did get hit too

Same issue, no access. It's really despicable to limit public access to forums and those responsible should be hung by their thumbs until they can't type anymore. BTW, anyone following the Denver 3 civil rights thingy?