Recent server attack
Dear Members.On the 14th of April 2014 at approximately 7.00am, we were hit by a massive DDoS attack from an unknown source. The way this type of attack works is that a huge number of computers which are infected with a virus around the world start requesting multiple pages all at once from the target server until the machine can no longer cope with the load and the site is effectively rendered unusable. This type of attack is a huge problem for ISP's and hosting providers worldwide and similar attacks have bought down many corporate companies and large institutions, as it's extremely hard to tell the difference between legitimate traffic and the attack.
Once our site was down, the offenders then starting attacking the whole network within the Bytehouse hosting environment rendering many other sites unusable as well. At this point Bytehouse took our site offline. This attack has lasted for several days.
Following the attack, there has been a period of downtime while Bytehouse recovered their own systems and following that, analysing our servers to ensure that they are ready to put back online.
We will now be looking at getting our own dedicated DDoS protection systems in addition to the existing systems at Bytehouse to help prevent this happening in the future. Obviously we are very sorry for any inconvenience this may of caused and pleased be assured that we are doing everything we can to ensure this does not happen again.
We would just like to thank all of you for your sympathy and patience over the last few days. Thanks for sticking with us!
Best regards,
The FreeIndex Team
Posted : 17 Apr 2014
comment 123 Comments
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Great site and thanks for the up to date info
Unfortunately, downtime happens from time to time, but the fact it was down to malicious behaviour really does annoy me.
Keep up the GREAT WORK, it's appreciated, love this site ;0)
Well done sorting it out and letting us know. Many thanks. Coco blooms
I am a little bit late getting back to you on this but thanks for the info. As for stcking with you, I'm going no where, even recommended you to someone today.
Cheers.
Cheers.
only just read this, as have been offline due to computer crash!, but many thanks for informing us. from Duttz Muttz pet sitting/small holding management.
well done freeindex
Just seen this. Thanks for keeping us all up to date. You're a great site and I'd never abandon you. What do these people get out of doing stuff like that?! Karma, that's what I say! Well done to you all. Mfit Pilates And Personal Training :-)
Well done FreeIndex, I had absolutely no intention of abandoning you, even though at the time of the attack I was being emailed & called by a rival.
Thanks for informing us.
Freeindex is a marvellous and free resource of course I will support you - thank you for keeping we artists in work :D
Hi i have tried this myself hasn't been much of a success if you require many of our services please feel free to contact us or check out our website for more information www.sabreaccountantsltd.co.uk
Thanks for letting me know & fast action
8 Jul 2014
D. SmithThank you for taking the time and letting me know...
Just Seen this thanks for info
Thanks so much for this information
Having only just caught up with some recent emails on my freeindex site , i wasnt aware the problem had occured as i was busy on site working on jobs /orders aquired via my freeindex site !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
you all need a good builder to build you a wall, against these attacks :O)~
Although this is historical! Hate these syber criminals, they should be traced and the same done ro there systems, MORONS! To all the team @ The Freeindex Keep up the good work.Best Rgds CPL Transport.
I had several regular sights I use blocked by Google to saying the security was not valid .
Some sites were down for 3 weeks before I was able to open them! Took form of security window on screen about 4in square
Nig
Some sites were down for 3 weeks before I was able to open them! Took form of security window on screen about 4in square
Nig
I have had a lot of problem with my wesite last month. Google kept blocking and saying it wasn't save !!
Now it is working fine and hope it will continue to do so.
Thanks for letting us know
Now it is working fine and hope it will continue to do so.
Thanks for letting us know
our sympathy and support, good luck with the recovery, many thanks!!
Thanks for letting us know.
Keep up the good work!
Keep up the good work!
28 May 2014
Geoffrey John SmithWho ever posted this article should be arrested and charged with serious offence
Thanks for the update, nasty people about :/
Thank you for the heads up at least you let us now.
Thanks for let me know, I did try to log in but I can't those time so I know now thanks again.
need to update the security systems?
just read this...thanks for the update, though this is a bit historical now. What a nightmare for you. I can't get my head around the idiots out there that want to create such wanton mayhem.
Thanks for letting us know. Nearly friday ;)
Thank you to keeping us informed Martha Hickman
show them a picture of my mother in-law that will deter them, in fact it would frighten them to death. it does me :-)
Cruel people with nothing better to do in their lives but to destroy! Free-Index are a team of creators, all real people, so you have my sympathies. We too suffered an attack around then - a virulent rootkit virus - which wiped out the boot sector of my system drive, but my clever husband quickly installed my back up-cloned system drive, which is always ready in such an emergency. Fortunately none of our clients wedding photos were affected. xx Elaine Reel Life Photos
Excellent
I echo what everyone else seems to be saying - thanks for communicating with us and being transparent about the situation.
When it hits the fan, the only thing you can do is communicate, communicate, communicate. Well done, top marks.
Seems things are back i the right hands, I personally say thanks for all your efforts ( )
Sorry to hear about this. Did you find out if it was a malicious attack, or just rogue hardware or badly configured network?
Thanks for the update. I've experienced this kind of attack so I know how it goes.
Thank you
Thankyou and keep up the good work
Thank you for keeping us posted.
Thanks for keeping us informed. I was a little concerned at one point that all my testimonials would have got lost but thankfully their still there. I keep mentioning your site all the time as I think it is excellent.
Your welcome
Thank you for the up date, keep going
Thanks!good job!
Nice to see your on the ball...Keep up the good work
Thanks for letting us know! Good job :)
Good job FreeIndex..
Well done and keep the good work.
Appreciate all your up dates. (Stick a plaster on it kiss it better and it will be good to go :0)Well it works on kids lol.
Well done!!! Keep up the good work...
You're Great. No worries. A**** for keeping us updated.
Great work
I thank you for your resolve and hope you bounce back and gain more than you have lost
I thank you for your resolve and hope you bounce back and gain more than you have lost
You are doing a great job, thank you for keeping us updated
Thankyou and keep up the good work
thanks for that
You do a great job, thanks for keeping us updated :-)
24 Apr 2014
Jim McdonaldThanks for the update...
You guys do a great job I did wonder what happened when I couldnt log onto my freeindex page. But I am really glad you are now back up and running as Customers are always commenting on my reviews on your site. Well done for sorting it out as quickly as you could.
great work freeindex team. this is a brilliant site, not only does it help small buisness have a free website, but invests what it makes, fantastic!!!
I thought something must have happened as customers have been emailing me to say they can't put reviews on my site. I suppose 110 reviews aren't quite enough! Keep up the good work, lots of my customers read the reviews on my site. Ade Howe , dog whisperer
Thanks for the info, chin up drive on!!
Thanks for info and glad your up and running again!! keep up the good work guys.
Hi. Have you (freeindex) considered server backup systems in another location via a completely different and dedicated network this could be via ISDN or dedicated internet direct to other backup servers this way if your main systems get invested you will be able to switch over and continue your service, appreciated this cost money but if it is financially viable it may be worth considering Little bit out of my field due to be retired from IT the last 6 years and appreciate the IP addressing reconfiguration complications and all but if you have the technical expertise I'm sure it can be achieved. Just a thought.
well done boys n girls.
Hi Freeindex I had wondered what happened this is a great site and your hard work shows thank you (calendars permanent makeup)
Great news, good to have you back online index. :)
Good to see you are back, I did wonder what had happened. I on Freeindex most days.
Glad you are back up, I knew something was wrong as I look on Freeindex every day. Colin Smith
Glad to see that you are back online :-)
HI many thanks for letting us know great your back up and running
Not a problem. Thanks for letting us all know.
THANKYOU VERY MUCH for the explanation , That's good customer service which is more than I can say for my bank when it happened.....I did'nt hear a dicky bird.....Hence I am now at a different bank.
If this happens again then I am leaving FreeIndex. Simples.
Your an idiot!
Liar!
Thank you very much indeed , explains alot . Thanks again for the explanation , it didnt really cause me a problem but customers may have been left wondering why my freeindex web site was off line . (as i use freeindex as my main web address/ site) . Many thanks Michael M.B Roofing contracts ,Andover Hampshire .
Still cant access the reviews on my website, is there any updating i need to do ?
Thanks for the update, happy to see you back on your feet :)
No probs guys S***T happens ;)
thanks for the info, glad your back up and running as it do go missing from our main web site for a few days, i have recomended you to lock magic as well this week so they should be joining you asap .. very best and pasg hapus happy easter from us all in sun drenched wales xx
I'm very pleased to see my reviews back online now :) We had some tough time through these couple of days but hopefully it's all in the past now! - One thing to let you guys know, few of my customers told me this morning that even though they've left reviews and THEY CAN see it on their machines, I can't see anything submitted yet, not visible on my reviews page: www.ByteITLtd.co.uk - any ideas why?.. Many thanks in advance!
www.byteitltd.co.uk
www.byteitltd.co.uk
Can I suggest that you speak with the best security guy in the business Richard Hollis at Risk Factory http://www.riskfactory.com/
Have you heard of Cloudfare? I use it on my own website www.computerwormsliverpool.com and it stops hackers, spammers, etc.
Could be something to look into!
Could be something to look into!
cant agree more, your reviews are front and center on my webpage which also stopped working, but it didnt not concern me as the response from FreeIndex during this DDos attack was brilliant. Other companies would do good to learn how freeindex deals with critical situations like this! Have a good easter guys and good job on getting back online :)
Thanks for the updates !! glad to see it back online
excellent response from a great site provider
Best review site, good to see your back!!
Glad you have it sorted now, it must have been a headache!! Relax it's Easter, eat chocolate, watch a film & drink wine, maybe a bit of retail shopping :-) works for women xoxo Icthus Bio Oven Cleaning
Glad that you are back online however my customer reviews posted on freeindex are no longer showing on my web site www.freshlookkitchens.co.uk could you check the link.
Many thanks
Jim
Many thanks
Jim
This is working now. Thanks for letting us know.
Best Regards
Martin
Best Regards
Martin
Thanks for letting us know. We are still having a few problems, however this one is now fixed.
Best Regards
Martin
Best Regards
Martin
Sorry but it's not fixed for me. It shows that I have 1 new message but I do not... Tried from different places, getting the same. Also my customers said they have left reviews on my website and that they CAN see it in their machines, which is not visible on my FreeIndex profile or my website... Any ideas why?...
Good to have you back. Sorry you've had so much trouble.
I am glad you have it all sorted! Have pint and relax!
17 Apr 2014
Ant MarshWelcome back!
Techant
Techant
18 Apr 2014
Derek IngramPhew!!
Glad all is well now, and like a previous member said, you've handled the situation extremely well.
Now back to work............... tee hee..............
Glad all is well now, and like a previous member said, you've handled the situation extremely well.
Now back to work............... tee hee..............
UK Based & Owned