Studio8 - Uniting the Arts

Sorry if you visited the site during the past few hours and it was down. There was a 503 error message saying the site was unavailable and to try again later.

I don’t know how long it was down. I waited a bit and tried it again and since it didn’t work, I contacted the host to ask what was happening and to see if they could help.

They helped immediately! They reset a security feature and also found some malicious IP#s and blocked them.

So…. And here we are again, up and running fine! They’ve been hosting us from the beginning, for 24 years! I’ve always had the same host. Never had to change bc they’re so good.

I know there are only a few of us left posting, but if anyone wants to volunteer to be an admin to help, please let me know. Just in case I’m not available, it would be nice if someone else had the login to the hosting control panel in order to open a trouble ticket should the site go down again.

Also, if anyone knows phpbb software, we are multiple versions behind and I don’t know how to update the software. I’ve had tech help in the past but I no longer have that.

-Doreen

Thanks, Doreen!

The problem actually started a few days ago - "503 Error - server busy, try again later". I was able to get through, but only after multiple attempts. The activity log at the bottom of the introductory page showed THOUSANDS of users online - none registered, all "guests". I'm guessing it was some kind of robot attack. If you clicked often enough you might get through - or not. Thanks again for calling in the big guns! I've come to think of this place as home.

Wow! I thought I came here at least once a day. I really need to make sure I do! Thx for the info. I had no idea it was down for several days. Not good!

Yes, they said it looked like “a malicious attack”

I don’t understand all this tech stuff. It’s amazing I’m a site owner given my lack of knowledge. Obviously, they must have been bots. But why would anyone program bots to attack a site and make it inaccessible? I don’t get it. Kids maybe? They do it because they can?

Who knows. Thx for being here! Your writing and presence have helped keep the site alive! You started here during a time when my activity was starting to slow down to slim to none due to life interruptions. I keep thinking I’ll come back and start writing again. Maybe one day. At any rate, I’m glad you enjoy it here!

Please keep my email handy to alert me if the site goes down again …. doreenperi @ gmail .com

Thank you!

I don't get it either. Maybe they were data harvesting - usernames, emails, passwords, etc.? Dunno, the whole online hacker ethos is alien to me. I've become my parents: "Kids these days..." I can barely use my iPhone to make phone calls, much less scour the web, to my daughter's endless frustration. Still drive a standard, too - primarily because it's more fun. But these days it's a pretty good anti-theft device, too!

Yeah, life has a way of hijacking your priorities, doesn't it? I'm swamped in some unexpected probate issues of my own making, over my mom's estate - ., but the clouds do seem to be lifting finally. The phoebes are back, I heard the season's 1st ovenbird last week, and a newly-minted WMA just down the road beckons.

I don’t know how they could get passwords and emails. I don’t think there’s any way to hack into the system to get those.

Anyway I wish you all the best with the probate of your mom’s estate. I’m so sorry for your loss.

As for Studio8, I seriously don’t see much future in it. I guess I could email our old regulars and invite them back but most everyone does social media these days. Discussion forum software is out of date. I don’t know of any forums like this that are still up and running. Do you?

I’d love to revive it but honestly I’m disappointed. I didn’t invest the energy in it to make it work so I blame myself.

But I was also so hoping people would invite their friends. But as I said, forum software is outdated. It’s nowhere near as powerful as social media.

Sorry about my negative last post. I’m trying to stay positive. Everything is good. I love Studio8 and all of my creative friends here!