Blogger Security Threat

Over the past few days we (AlexSuze.com) have been receiving an unusually high number of emails trying to get us to click a link claiming to be on YouTube.

Obviously we didn’t click as the link was unsolicited and actually to a web server identified only by an IP address. We just deleted the emails as we do with the hundreds of other spam emails we get through each day.

However it is becoming apparent that the emails are part of a spam campaign that now affects Blogger blogs too. The hackers seem to be able to use the email posting facility on Blogger to insert dubious content on blogs. Visitors following links in this content are taken to a site which attempts to load one or more (Windows) exploits in an attempt to hijack the PC and turn it into part of the criminal’s Botnet.

Blogger has yet to give an analysis of the threat or what to do about it.

Please ensure you do the following

• Check your PC is fully up-to-date with all Windows patches.
• Make sure you have up-to-date anti-virus software.
• Delete all spam mail immediately and never click on links in email unless you know the sender is trustworthy, no matter how much you are tempted to view a promised funny/interesting YouTube video.

And just to be on the safe side, if you don’t need “post by email”, turn it off for now. It’s only speculation that this is the infection route but it’s best to leave as few “doors” open as possible when there are security threats about.

As the exact attack vector is still unclear you would also do well to change your password, let’s face it changing your password from time to time is good practice anyway.

Lots of information can be found here http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/6970368.stm.

Absolutely sod all information can be found here http://www.blogger.com nice one Blogger!

Getting There

As you know I’m slowly getting round to the task of whipping this blog into a better shape, trying to brighten things up and rationalise where I can.

I want the sidebar to be a resource for bloggers in future so it’ll need regular maintenance. To that end I’ve tidied up the sidebar a bit. I’ve updated the link-back code button as the old one would only work with Blogger Blogs, it now works from anywhere. I’ve also removed any links that don’t work or lead to dead sites.

I’ve added a link to “The Eye of Venus”, if there are any more sites that act as worthwhile directories for adult blogger’s work please let me know and I’ll add them. Lately most of the ones I’ve come across are flooded with commercial porn sites and provide little of no traffic.

If you spot any bad links or erroneous posts please let me know alex@alexsuze.com.

Eye of Venus - sex blog directory

There is a brand new directory for Sex blogs that just went online! Eye of Venus.

"Born out of a desire to have a source for "quality" erotic blogs that truly lives up to its name, "Eye of Venus" was created as a repository of intelligent, entertaining, literate and photographic blogs dealing with the myriad facets of sex. Blogs submitted will be selected by merit, using our own rigorous and possibly quirky criteria. Our aim is to provide a service that highlights the best of erotic writing and visuals on the web, and to keep our standards consistently high.

Here is where we are forced to admit to a certain level of intellectual snobbery. This directory was created by sex bloggers, for sex bloggers tired of finding their work lost in a morass of "sex blogs" featuring badly-lit tits, asses and money shots (charming though they are, in their own way). We intend to keep this directory selective, and are approaching you as we feel you represent the quality we are looking for. We would very much appreciate your support in our quest to promote world domination of the superior sex blog."

The place looks interesting and has a directories of "Literate and Visual Blogs. I plan to explore some of the links that they have found!

Video Hosting

We’ve started quite a bit of video recently. At the moment it’s all on YouTube.com, which is OK, but we are having problems uploading from time to time. Plus there’s the upload size/duration limit.

We’ve tried Google video, which seems quicker on upload and more reliable. It even has an unlimited upload size if you use the desktop version of the uploader instead of the web based one. My only gripe so far with Google Video is that the stats seem broken at the moment. More often than not the only video we have uploaded shows several hundred views one day then nothing for days on end, then the numbers reappear again.

Anyone else got any suggestions/experience of about free video hosting sites?