Bye bye SierraVault

[Andy Roark]

And with that SierraVault is gone.

Overnight it appears SierraVault was hacked and all traffic was being redirected to a site that was downloading a virus onto the reader's machines. I tried to get my hosting company to help by restoring an earlier version but that appeared to have the same issues. Rather than risk people getting infected by something I killed the files on the server and put redirects in place to SierraGamers.

If you have visited SierraVault in the last few weeks I'd strongly recommend running your anti-virus.

Now it's just a matter of getting this content back up at Sierra Gamers.

::Sigh:: Not my month.

Andy

[Tawmis]

I hate that. I swear if we could find hackers and cut off their fingers...

[Collector]

I'd say cut off more than that. We can wait for you to get it all back online. This just hastens the move. At least both the Vault and SierraGamers are being saved. SierraGamers was just languishing. Not only does it save the Vault content, moving it is breathing new life into SierraGamers. It also seems as if it might finally start being a part of the Sierra community, as well. Perhaps Ken will start posting more on it, again.

[Tawmis]

I'd say cut off more than that.

Well I figure if they have no fingers they can't program hacks.

[Collector]

Voice recognition?

[Rudy]

One day after i downloaded a motherload of data from the Vault on my hard drive...

Andy, you said SierraGamers would be part of the Gateway? Perhaps we should make some changes, update the latest events. Collector?

Whatever you guys need, i'm ready to help.

[Collector]

I can't do anything with the Gateway that would involve FTP access, but I have ACP access to the forums, so I could add a link to Sierra Gamers on the Gateway and make an announcement. Andy, what would you say to dumping your forum on the Gateway and pointing everything to Ken's site, like the other Sierra resource sites?

[dotkel50]

I just found a virus on my computer. Downloaded a file from the Vault last week. Don't know if it came from there though. So far I haven't noticed any problems with my PC.

[Andy Roark]

I just found a virus on my computer. Downloaded a file from the Vault last week. Don't know if it came from there though. So far I haven't noticed any problems with my PC.

God that's what I was afraid of. That validates the decision to kill it part and parcel. I am so sorry if it came from me. From best I can tell the time of exposure should really only have been about an hour and a half this morning before I nuked the files on the FTP but who the hell really knows? For what's it's worth, all of the Sierra content files were clean on my end.

Run a virus scan.

After my machine got infected I pulled my ethernet cable and ran Avira and AVG twice. First pass it caught two files. Second pass I was clean. After that I got back on and nuked SierraVault.

As for the transition - I think the best thing would just be to replace SierraVault with Sierra Gamers everywhere it shows up. All I'm really doing is stuffing SierraVault into a Sierra Gamers wrapper. Changing the pointers on the Forums would be great. I've got Gateway links up on the Sierra Gamers links page right now.

I can't do anything with the Gateway that would involve FTP access, but I have ACP access to the forums, so I could add a link to Sierra Gamers on the Gateway and make an announcement. Andy, what would you say to dumping your forum on the Gateway and pointing everything to Ken's site, like the other Sierra resource sites?

Sounds like a perfect plan to me.

Andy

[Akril]

Yikes. I'm really, really sorry to hear about this. I had pretty much the same thing happen to me, so I certainly can relate.

[Andy Roark]

It's going to be for the best. Moving the content of SierraVault over to Sierra Gamers and finally having the ability to retool what I had at SierraVault is a blessing. I think it will be a much, much better site.

The only downside will be having the material unavailable until I can get it up at Sierra Gamers. If there is anything anyone wants please feel free to let me know and I'll find a way to get a copy out.

Andy

[Collector]

Is it possible with Ken's software to add a link to the Gateway on the Sierra Gamers board as if it were another forum, like you can do with most other BB software? Every member board of the Gateway has a link to the Gateway Forum at the top their forums with the exception of Sierra Planet. I have been considering whether or not to drop Sierra Planet from the member sites, as they have remained isolated from the greater community. I don't mean to snub them, but they don't seem to be interested in interacting with the other sites. Perhaps just listing them as another Sierra resource site instead of as a member site. Again, not as slight, but just some house cleaning. They can easily be re-added if they change their mind.

[Andy Roark]

No such luck on the forum link. Talkspot is limited in some ways.

EDIT - But it will take normal links!

Andy

[Collector]

I see that you have added it. It will do. I have edited the forum links and info for the Gateway. I have also added an announcement on the Gateway. respond to it if you wish to add anything.

[BBP]

Sorry to hear about this, Andy... and thank you for the warning! I'll check for viruses straight away!