Site HTML error or hacked?

JPears

Site HTML error or hacked? Bit dodgy looking forum site this morning!

quantic

Defo hacked, lots of spambot posts created earlier on and now seem to be deleted.

Former_MSE_Megan

We've not been hacked, just sorting out our filters after an issue we had earlier this morning. Will be back to normal shortly!

Imnoexpert_2

I think there may be some semantics involved here.

The site was bombarded by lots of spam messages which were rather rude this morning. This must have been some automated process because there were lots. I guess this isn't considered the same as hacking because the attacker was kept outside so presumably hasn't had access to site data.

Am I right in thinking that mse have now tried to weed out bad language and as a result users from S!!!!horpe will have their address replaced by !

Anyway as the name says I'm no expert. I do think mse could communicate better with us all and explain what has gone on. Bad that the IT department have red faces worse that the PR department come in late on Monday mornings.

Former_MSE_Megan

Imnoexpert wrote: »

I think there may be some semantics involved here.

The site was bombarded by lots of spam messages which were rather rude this morning. This must have been some automated process because there were lots. I guess this isn't considered the same as hacking because the attacker was kept outside so presumably hasn't had access to site data.

Am I right in thinking that mse have now tried to weed out bad language and as a result users from S!!!!horpe will have their address replaced by !

Anyway as the name says I'm no expert. I do think mse could communicate better with us all and explain what has gone on. Bad that the IT department have red faces worse that the PR department come in late on Monday mornings.

We don't have PR in the forums, just us MSE Staff and we all started at 9am today. We have always had a swearing filter in place to keep this forum friendly And yep, you're right. Just a spam attack and not a hack, no one's info was compromised.

We've all been trying to reply to your messages today on the forums, but as there were a huge number of spam messages, these took up a lot of our time. Now it's sorted we can get back to normal!

f4phixeruk

Is that why a lot of random stuff is appearing in the signature boxes for people ??