General And we start again...

They dont have access to your membership payments or details (just like the site doesnt). Thats all handled via API calls to paypal.

That said i will cancel all subscriptions and refund all active ones when i get a chance. The site will operate ad free for a while whilst i try to get higher priority stuff sorted out.
No need to cancel mine as I suspect you are going to need some cash to sort this out.
 
Sucks to lose 20 years of history here, feel bad for all of those that have put so much effort into it.

Lets hope this really is our year this year, and the new forum will be the start of the new Webster's Warriors dynasty in the NRL!

PS: slight name change for me, my old one was way old ('scree')
 
What just happened?
Earlier this week i reported that the server the site is on was hacked by a turkish group and files deleted. They requested a ransom via crypto to get it operational again. Restoring it back was pretty easy. It was my understanding that they had gotten through my server account, so password was changed.

On late thursday night, the came back in again and deleted the files and then trawled through configuration files and found the access to the website's database. The database essentially is everything that has ever been posted, contains all users account information etc. They deleted the database, and requested ransom again.

The site routinely contracts developers to help with development of new and existing functionality. An account was created specifically on the server to provide to these said developers who had enough previledges to do the work on the server if they needed. The person who we contract out to do security checked and found that they got in through that developer account. That account has now been deleted..

TLDR; The site was hacked.

What now?
In short, it pains me to say we will be starting from scratch. So users will need to create new accounts. All content that was on this site, may not be recoverable. And there is security issues if we just imported it all back in again if a suitable backup can be found. All content created by the community over the past 20 years is gone. A lot of work that has been put on the site visible and non visible has been wiped out.

How can we all help?
You can help by creating your accounts (as i see people doing right now) and creating the threads and discussing. I will work on creating structure again. So if you want to talk about Dean Bell or Mt Smart Stadium, please just create the thread for it for now. Theres a lot to still be setup but that can be managed.

Sorry guys.

If you don't like this situation either, then I suggest having some rowdy fun at a New Zealand casino that pays out fast. Maybe here: https://betpokies.co.nz/best-payout-casinos - give it a try, I like it here.
I registered not too long ago. I came to read the forum today, and here is such news. It's really awful.
Personally, I have a suspicion that the developer is involved in this scam. If the hack happened through the developer's account, then these thoughts are not unreasonable. It turns out that the developer hired to provide security didn't even secure his own account.
 
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Welcome back. You know, losing the last 20 years of work, whilst sad, should also be seen as a sign of a new dawn emerging. A cleansing of all the pain of the past and a welcoming on of happier times ahead.

The last 20 years was more negative with not a huge amount to cheer about. This year has been a turning point. It’s been a rush!

In a way, starting again signals a new era for the Warriors - now known affectionately as our Wahs.

Let this be the start of 20 years of dominance. Of multiple premierships and the commencement of a dynasty.

Sometimes you have to let go of what was to embrace what is to be.

Thanks to all the admins for your work to recover this platform - and as the Wahs put it, we go again!
 
I am finding refreshing the site gets a little glitchy but I just keep trying and get in....in the end.

Had one little scare with a Database error....whatever that is, are these expected teething issues?

Not complaining here or anything. Just reporting it.
 
Damn it. This would have been the perfect opportunity to change my user name… is GeePee or IronLion still available?
What a shitty thing to have happened. But shout outs to the folks who built & run the site, stellar crew! Hands down the best NRL forum going.
 
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