When spammers attack…Email Marketing Reports
Latest posts | By Mark Brownlow | 9 Comments | Licence this content
In the early hours of the morning, malicious persons unknown hacked into the ad serving software at Email Marketing Reports in an attempt to turn the site into a source of spy/malware.
The problem was identified with the fast and efficient help of my host (pair.com) and the ad software disabled. Email Marketing Reports was back to normal very quickly. Needless to say, I’m now looking for new ad serving software.
Some people visiting the main site (but not the blog) during this brief period would have got malware security warnings from their browser and been unable to access the site’s content. My heartfelt apologies for this horrible user experience.
I don’t believe this was a targeted attack, but malicious automated software scouring the web for installed software vulnerabilities. Fortunately, it was only the ad software that was affected.
I’ve built this site word-by-word over a period of nine years. During that time, an overriding goal has been to help marketers send emails using ethical, permission-based practices that result in a win-win for both sender and receiver.
To find the site the subject of an attack attempting to spread software that represents the antithesis of what I preach has left me feeling numb.
Although the incident was not personal and not uncommon online, I feel like I came home to find a drug dealer had broken into the basement.
Once again, sorry for the problems earlier today. It may also take a while for me to regain my sense of humor, perspective and optimism.
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9 comments on “When spammers attack…Email Marketing Reports”
Hi Mark,
Really sorry to hear of your spammer attack.
But please try not to worry or take it too personally. Unfortunatly these things happen to the best of us, even the 'big boys' of the internet world. You sorted it out as soon as you were aware of it, and thats all anyone of us can do in this situation
Im sure all your users will not 'blame' you and that it will have no impact on your impeccable reputation on being THE man to turn to for email marketing advice.
Chin up and all the best Mark
Claire
Hi Mark,
Try to see it as a compliment… You musty be reaching high quality traffic
Keep up the good work!
Roger
Don't forget the goodwill you've built up here Mark, that's something they can't get hold of. Hopefully, as frustrating/annoying as this has been, it will soon be behind you.
And thanks for the great content, genuinely beneficial.
ATB, Jeremy
Mark,
Terribly sorry to hear about the attack, but relieved (as you must be) that your host was able to help you shut it down promptly.
Mark, have you tried Google Admanager to serve your ads? I'm using it for over a year now and am very happy with it… Tamara.
Mark, Sorry to hear about the SPAM attack. I took one of those a while back, and thankfully a good host can catch it before too much damage is done…
Keep up the good work
Thanks!
Sorry to hear about the malicious attack Mark. Good to learn that the situation was taken care off before any malicious activity.
Thanks Phil. Almost a blessing in disguise, as I've moved to better and faster ad serving software now!