Stopping Threats of Extortion - Stop Hackers too!
Having received 8 extortion type threats that were sent to my business email address (ordering me to pay $700 in Bitcoin) this morning from several different IP addresses, I contacted my local business website host’s tech support about them.
And yes, you can bet I blocked every one of those IP addresses from my server!
What I want to share with you here is the great advice I received from their tech support.
Never EVER keep your backup files on the hosting server! Download your backups and keep them on a hard drive that is protected from viruses and from hackers.
That way, if your site is ever hacked, you will have a CLEAN backup file to restore your website with... PLUS, your website will be quicker to load without all of those backup files burdening your website server.
Additional Information about Backup Plugins
The WP Clone by WP Academy plugin clearly offers users a means to download your backup files and offers all copies of your backup files on their page within your website. There you will be offered a means to download and/or delete each backup copy.
Whereas All In One WP Migration backup plugin forces their users to download their backups... BUT, this plugin literally hides all of the copies you create right on your website server.
When backing up a client’s rather large website (due to a page builder plugin... grrr!) using my FTP access, as I do every now and again... the site was STILL not backed up after 12 hours.
So, I stopped the downloading of files and folders then went inside to investigate and learn why this was happening. That is when I discover that EVERY backup file I had ever created for this website (since taking over management of the site this past April) was stored on the server.
The All In One WP Migration plugin had hidden the backup files in a folder that was created by the plugin, inside the wp-content folder. That folder is titled ai1wm-backups and contained soooooo many of the backup files that it is no wonder this site would not download quicker when using FTP access. Those files were humungous!
Once I deleted all those backup files (as I had already kept recent backup copies), POOF! The site then downloaded properly in a short period of time using the FTP access.
Google searching “Increase on Emailed Extortion for Bitcoin Payments” (without the quotation marks, of course) you will learn for yourself, these spammer extortion threats, though scary, they are a hoax.
Having learned of BOTH of these issues, I felt it only fair to share with you all here.
Recent Comments
72
Wow, that’s interesting Trish. Glad you got it worked out.
I back my site up to Dropbox and from there to an encrypted external hard drive. Hopefully I’m protected. At lead I don’t have clients to worry about.
All the best to you, thanks for sharing this information.
KyleAnn
Hey Trish,
Thanks for this information. Glad you got it all figured out.
Tried and True
Elaine
You're very welcome Glenys!
If you are referring to the page builder, it was a plugin that makes it painful to work with when I'm used to working with code.
As you know I've been using WP Clone for years to back up my websites. I download the files and save them on my computer and only keep one older backup and the one I've just downloaded on the server. My routine is to delete the top backup, then click on the Save button, wait a minute or so then click on Download.
Don't bother trying to save the URL of the backup because the plugin just doesn't copy it.
WP Clone hasn't been updated for a while but it still works for most websites. Full Backup With a Plugin
Not to worry Marion... I already offered a link to your training in my blog. Did that as a Thank YOU to your having introduced me to that plugin in the first place.
Thanks, Trish. The other thing I do is to copy my entire "Websites" folder to an external backup drive once a month, then unplug the drive from the computer. Just in case my computer gets messed up or the internal hard drive crashes, I'll always have a backup.
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HI Trish! Both aspects you share on this post are very useful! First of all I didn't know this modus operandi demanding Bitcoins. And all you have expressed concerning backups has great value!
It's great to read your posts! There is always a ton of important info that broadens our view. Thank you very much!
Keep well! All the best my friend! :)