NewsFlash

06-27-08

As some of you might have noticed, someone has been spamming the websites reviews section. Apparently the bot  has 'highjacked' the reviews script, and is using a backup version of it. In other words. Just re-writing the script is of no use. Therefore I had no choice but to turn off the review feature for the time being.
Over the weekend I'm planning to fix the script and add some security feature that will hopefully prevent future misuse. As a result  some parts of the site might be down for a few hours at a time throughout the weekend.
Thank you for your patience.

I'll be working on this project in 4 phases...

• Phase 1: Remove spam messages and put reviews pages back up in read only mode

Completed! Removed 17256 spam messages, review pages can be accessed again. If I missed any spam please contact me, I had to skim over more than 25,000 messages so it is possible that 1 or 2 escaped me.

• Phase 2: Create a new script to allow members to log in and post reviews

Completed! Feedback can now be posted again by members who are logged in. I hope to have the form for everyone else up and running by tomorrow.

• Phase 3: Create a second script including image verification for people who don't want to sign up and/or log in before posting a review.

Completed! Everyone should be able to post feedback again. People who are logged in you will be able to use the old form without image verification, those who prefer not to log in will be taken to the new form. Hopefully this will keep spammers away.
Email notification for reviews is still turned off. I'll probably turn it on later tomorrow.

• Phase 4: Turn the email system that notifies authors when they receive a new review back on.

Completed! Everything should be up and running again.