Hard Light Productions Forums

Off-Topic Discussion => General Discussion => Topic started by: IceFire on July 11, 2004, 06:47:29 pm

Title: VWBB Shutdown
Post by: IceFire on July 11, 2004, 06:47:29 pm
As everyone knows.  Volition Watch is shutting down and we've been transitioning things here as required.  Today an entirely different style of shutdown occured.

The VWBB has been shutdown.  This was done much further ahead of any of our projected schedules.  Someone decided that they would hack our forum and not only shut it down and plaster their name all over the place...but they also decided to delete everything as well.  The styles, the forums, all of the content that resided in.  

It makes me mad...very mad.  I'm sure I don't have to say it...but people like that make me sick.  We had enough things to do with shutting down our site and trying to make the transition as smooth as possible for everyone.

So I appologise if there was something lost...its likely gone completely.   Everyone had ample warning to backup stuff before we announced the closure but we were still thinking of moving a few last things and ultimately its the principle of the thing.  Such is fate.

Fortunally, a single pillar of light remains.  Hopefully for some time to come.
Title: VWBB Shutdown
Post by: Mr. Vega on July 11, 2004, 06:50:06 pm
Edit- Nevermind, just the VWBB
Title: VWBB Shutdown
Post by: vyper on July 11, 2004, 06:52:41 pm
Well that's bloody harsh that is.
Title: VWBB Shutdown
Post by: Jetmech Jr. on July 11, 2004, 06:57:27 pm
wtf was their problem? :wtf:
Title: VWBB Shutdown
Post by: aldo_14 on July 11, 2004, 07:09:38 pm
Quote
Originally posted by Jetmech Jr.
wtf was their problem? :wtf:


They were ******s.  Internet is like any large population in that it is, unfortunately, full of them.
Title: VWBB Shutdown
Post by: an0n on July 11, 2004, 07:10:51 pm
If you build it.......

And correct me if I'm wrong, but shouldn't the people you get hosting from have one of the 24-hour 'So you don't sue us' MySQL backups somewhere?
Title: VWBB Shutdown
Post by: Bobboau on July 11, 2004, 07:17:30 pm
I remember someone hacking the board a few days ago, posting with, I think remmy's account, and veryone kinda went "who gives a **** this thing's about to go down in flames anyway" I think they posted how they did it so it might not have been that person ,just someone who saw it
Title: VWBB Shutdown
Post by: jdjtcagle on July 11, 2004, 07:19:27 pm
They couldn't hack this.... pffft....

Right?
Title: VWBB Shutdown
Post by: Bobboau on July 11, 2004, 07:25:19 pm
when was the last time we backed up?
Title: VWBB Shutdown
Post by: jdjtcagle on July 11, 2004, 07:32:11 pm
You mean it's possible? I know practically nothing about hacking...
Title: VWBB Shutdown
Post by: an0n on July 11, 2004, 07:33:22 pm
The database should be about.......add 1, carry the 2.........700mb, plus attachments.
Title: VWBB Shutdown
Post by: jdjtcagle on July 11, 2004, 07:35:11 pm
I wouldn't want that on my computer...

Too much space
Title: VWBB Shutdown
Post by: ChronoReverse on July 11, 2004, 07:40:14 pm
I have 30GB sitting free... :P
Title: VWBB Shutdown
Post by: jdjtcagle on July 11, 2004, 07:43:18 pm
How good is gamespy's firewall? Should we contact them about this threat?
Title: VWBB Shutdown
Post by: InfernoGod on July 11, 2004, 08:01:10 pm
no, we should hunt down the little ****** who did it. burn him, no, use beam cannons on him! i mean... yes, we should.
EDIT: we should alert Gamespy. people who do that will most certainly do it again. Let's hope that it isn't HLP...
Title: VWBB Shutdown
Post by: Moonsword on July 11, 2004, 08:11:37 pm
Calm down a little.

And I'm with him.  I'll make sure Hunter over at Sectorgame's tipped off about this, too, assuming he hasn't already seen it.
Title: VWBB Shutdown
Post by: Rictor on July 11, 2004, 09:04:57 pm
I remember the first day that Volition Watch came online, so brand new and shiny. As a replacement for Freespace Chronicles, and with Summoner and Red Faction incoming.

...ah those were the days. I'm prone to bouts of nostalgia and sadness, but I think its just better if everyone is happy that VWatch existed, and not sad thats it gone. A great community was spawned, in large due to the efforts of VWatch and the staff, and I think that HLP would not exist in its current form, as popular as it is, without Volition Watch.

Just so longs as all the great people stick around on HLP, I'm happy.

Well, Freespace, Summoner and Red Faction 3 being released wouldn't hurt either :D:D
Title: VWBB Shutdown
Post by: IceFire on July 11, 2004, 10:16:52 pm
Quote
Originally posted by an0n
If you build it.......

And correct me if I'm wrong, but shouldn't the people you get hosting from have one of the 24-hour 'So you don't sue us' MySQL backups somewhere?

That may exist..and I wouldn't be surprised if it does but obviously the position is that we are shutting down or are shut down.  Unlikely that restoring that would be something to be done.   As I said...its not so much the data loss...but the fact that it was done.
Title: VWBB Shutdown
Post by: Knight Templar on July 11, 2004, 10:37:38 pm
Jesus, who the hell would want to hack VW anyway?
Title: VWBB Shutdown
Post by: Bobboau on July 11, 2004, 11:09:20 pm
it must be them damned WC guys at it again.
they are after all the source of all that is evil in this world
Title: VWBB Shutdown
Post by: Kamikaze on July 11, 2004, 11:42:00 pm
Quote
Originally posted by Knight Templar
Jesus, who the hell would want to hack VW anyway?


It's probably a script kiddie 1337 factor thing...
Title: VWBB Shutdown
Post by: Singh on July 11, 2004, 11:52:19 pm
Quote
Originally posted by ChronoReverse
I have 30GB sitting free... :P


I can set up space as well...running off 2 HDDs and I recently cleared my smaller one of FS2 :D :P
Title: VWBB Shutdown
Post by: Stealth on July 12, 2004, 12:52:38 am
the guy posted with Remora's screenname explaining how to fix the problem... no one saw it but me and Snipes i don't think.  it was posted in the announcement forum.

yeah that farking sucks, because there was some stuff i wanted to take care of on the forums, but oh well.  i still have most of the vital threads (in my opinion) saved...
Title: VWBB Shutdown
Post by: Sandwich on July 12, 2004, 02:15:17 am
Quote
Originally posted by an0n
The database should be about.......add 1, carry the 2.........700mb, plus attachments.


I recently looked at it... it's a bit over 1Gb, but IIRC attachments do comprise over 100MB. The question is how much all that would compress into a server-side phpMyAdmin-generated ZIP file. I wouldn't want to be downloading 1Gb worth of database backup every night, but ~200Mb is more reasonable.
Title: VWBB Shutdown
Post by: Sigma957 on July 12, 2004, 03:04:12 am
Well that sucks, and here I was going to do abit of spamming over there for one final hurrah :mad:
Title: VWBB Shutdown
Post by: kasperl on July 12, 2004, 03:54:03 am
Quote
Originally posted by Sandwich


I recently looked at it... it's a bit over 1Gb, but IIRC attachments do comprise over 100MB. The question is how much all that would compress into a server-side phpMyAdmin-generated ZIP file. I wouldn't want to be downloading 1Gb worth of database backup every night, but ~200Mb is more reasonable.


I'd take weekly shifts in downloading and saving too. I could only host about 2 downloads worth, but I could dl probably once each weekday, more or less. I'd prefer a weekly roster, though.
Title: VWBB Shutdown
Post by: Gloriano on July 12, 2004, 04:46:34 am
Freaking, Hackers I really hate them
Title: VWBB Shutdown
Post by: Singh on July 12, 2004, 06:32:00 am
Quote
Originally posted by Sandwich


I recently looked at it... it's a bit over 1Gb, but IIRC attachments do comprise over 100MB. The question is how much all that would compress into a server-side phpMyAdmin-generated ZIP file. I wouldn't want to be downloading 1Gb worth of database backup every night, but ~200Mb is more reasonable.


1GB is quite a bit, downloading would take a LOT of time o_O

But I have the disk space, so i'll take the wait :)
Title: VWBB Shutdown
Post by: vyper on July 12, 2004, 07:12:25 am
:lol: Oh you all don't get it - it'd be the poor admins having to download, not us.

Then again they could get Tiara to use her T3 for it...
Title: VWBB Shutdown
Post by: Taristin on July 12, 2004, 08:23:01 am
...Shame about the VWBB. This is why I hate humanity (In general). The incessant need to destroy is appaulling. :doubt:
Title: VWBB Shutdown
Post by: .::Tin Can::. on July 12, 2004, 08:30:47 am
As is their stupidity...

Volition Watch led me to HLP, where in turn I caused quite a ruccus... ;)
Title: VWBB Shutdown
Post by: Goober5000 on July 12, 2004, 08:45:44 am
Gah!

Well, it looks like he didn't get the Archives.  Are those still salvageable?
Title: VWBB Shutdown
Post by: an0n on July 12, 2004, 08:56:50 am
Quote
Originally posted by Sandwich


I recently looked at it... it's a bit over 1Gb, but IIRC attachments do comprise over 100MB. The question is how much all that would compress into a server-side phpMyAdmin-generated ZIP file. I wouldn't want to be downloading 1Gb worth of database backup every night, but ~200Mb is more reasonable.
Not likely.

IIRC the NW database drops by just under a half.
Title: VWBB Shutdown
Post by: Fineus on July 12, 2004, 09:11:52 am
500MB every now and then wouldn't be bad...not exactly fun mind you.
Title: VWBB Shutdown
Post by: an0n on July 12, 2004, 09:20:35 am
You could ask GS for some shell access to a directory deep within the bowels of the server and not linked to HLP through FTP accounts, then you could use the shell to back-up the database to the GS servers, but outside the reach of a hacked FTP account.
Title: VWBB Shutdown
Post by: vyper on July 12, 2004, 09:35:26 am
and watch them piss theirselves laughing at a shell access request...
Title: VWBB Shutdown
Post by: Setekh on July 12, 2004, 09:36:10 am
Quote
Originally posted by Goober5000
Gah!

Well, it looks like he didn't get the Archives.  Are those still salvageable?


We have plans for those. :)
Title: VWBB Shutdown
Post by: Stealth on July 12, 2004, 12:31:21 pm
Quote
Originally posted by kasperl


I'd take weekly shifts in downloading and saving too. I could only host about 2 downloads worth, but I could dl probably once each weekday, more or less. I'd prefer a weekly roster, though.


why?

when you take a backup, you don't need to keep all previous backups.
Title: VWBB Shutdown
Post by: kasperl on July 12, 2004, 01:11:26 pm
Generally, I've found it's a good idea to keep 2 backups, from dfferent dates. With things like virii, or big hacking, you might have to revert a bit further back.
Title: VWBB Shutdown
Post by: Stealth on July 12, 2004, 01:46:27 pm
i said it's not necessary to keep "all previous backups"... and you said you can "only" host 2 on your machine...  

i don't think more than 2 is ever necessary for this kind of thing.  it's not like a major corporation's backup of all its clients or something ;)

and i'm sure one of our admins has a few GB on his/her computer, i don't see that being a problem
Title: VWBB Shutdown
Post by: Sandwich on July 12, 2004, 03:54:01 pm
Quote
Originally posted by an0n
Not likely.

IIRC the NW database drops by just under a half.


Ok, just looked at it. It's 800mb, 150mb of which is the attachments table.

I tested compression with the "word" table, which is at 27.5mb. It downloaded as a 3.14mb gzipped file, at a constant 70kbps for me. So the compression is not too shabby (for that table, at leasst) at all, but it did take a while for the server to compress the file before sending it - around 90 secs or so.
Title: VWBB Shutdown
Post by: Cyker on July 12, 2004, 04:26:13 pm
DAAAMN!!!!!! :(

How much survived?!
I wanted to get every mission, every campaign, every mod that has ever been put on VW before it went under!

The thought of all that hard work just going BLAT hurts like hell!

I began slowly pulling down the archives, but most of the files I've pulled so far are so corrupted that I can barely salvage the zip file!
Title: VWBB Shutdown
Post by: jdjtcagle on July 12, 2004, 04:58:20 pm
I only got the first four top rated missions, and one campaign...:(
Title: VWBB Shutdown
Post by: an0n on July 12, 2004, 05:55:47 pm
Quote
Originally posted by Sandwich
Ok, just looked at it. It's 800mb, 150mb of which is the attachments table.

I tested compression with the "word" table, which is at 27.5mb. It downloaded as a 3.14mb gzipped file, at a constant 70kbps for me. So the compression is not too shabby (for that table, at leasst) at all, but it did take a while for the server to compress the file before sending it - around 90 secs or so.

That seems......odd.
Title: VWBB Shutdown
Post by: Stealth on July 12, 2004, 07:49:46 pm
yeah it doesn't seem right :-/

EDIT:
Quote
How much survived?!
I wanted to get every mission, every campaign, every mod that has ever been put on VW before it went under!


the archives are still working... well most of them ;) :D
only the forums got 'hacked'
Title: VWBB Shutdown
Post by: IceFire on July 12, 2004, 07:57:08 pm
Just the forums that were deleted...the Archives is intact although none of us have FTP access (been that way for a while).
Title: VWBB Shutdown
Post by: Taristin on July 12, 2004, 10:09:00 pm
Quote
Originally posted by Stealth
the guy posted with Remora's screenname explaining how to fix the problem... no one saw it but me and Snipes i don't think.  it was posted in the announcement forum.


I missed this before. But we were the only ones who saw it? Too bad there was nothing I could have done.

Does anyone know if it was the same person?
Title: VWBB Shutdown
Post by: Gloriano on July 12, 2004, 11:15:01 pm
Quote
Originally posted by Raa


I missed this before. But we were the only ones who saw it? Too bad there was nothing I could have done.

Does anyone know if it was the same person?


That who posted that thread in announcement forum
was not Remora someone was using his Screen name that I knew

when VWBB was hacked I was before that there then REmora or someone using Remora's Screen name did come there after few minutes there was pic and nothing else
Title: VWBB Shutdown
Post by: Sandwich on July 13, 2004, 12:26:30 am
I saw the "Remora" post as well... about the calendar being a vulnerability.

Oh, and I just unzipped the 3.1Mb gzip of the "words" table - it's a 16.6Mb file, as opposed to a 27Mb MySQL table.
Title: VWBB Shutdown
Post by: Setekh on July 13, 2004, 05:52:44 am
Quote
Originally posted by Stealth
yeah it doesn't seem right :-/


Out of curiosity, what about it doesn't seem right?
Title: VWBB Shutdown
Post by: Stealth on July 13, 2004, 09:24:21 pm
Quote
Originally posted by Setekh


Out of curiosity, what about it doesn't seem right?


i overestimated the file sizes.  no biggie ;)