What on earth is happening in the photograph and video section at the bottom of the RSPB Community homepage. Is it spam or has this forum been hacked. It’s just posts about diiferent types of recoding techniques etc. I’ve seen no comments about this. I’m concerned and worried about this. Has anyone else noticed this?
I’m away all this week staying at my cousins and haven’t had much time sadly to read these forums this week, and I just noticed this when reading these forums before I started this thread.
Your frustration is understandable, Ian, but this forum is a lifeline for some people. Cancelling it, especially at this time when more and more people, particularly older people who are more likely to be severely affected, are reluctant to go out and socialise with others due to the current virus concerns, would be a mistake in my view.
Unknown said:Your frustration is understandable, Ian, but this forum is a lifeline for some people. Cancelling it, especially at this time when more and more people, particularly older people who are more likely to be severely affected, are reluctant to go out and socialise with others due to the current virus concerns, would be a mistake in my view.
I concerned about the security about these problems more than anything else. I know this is a lifeline for some people and I’m 67 and have diabetes type 2, but I’m still getting out and about and I’m one of the so called high risk individuals. But it’s the security I’m more worried about than anything else and what might be happening or not happening with these spam post and the hacking by bots as has happened at certain times on these forums as well and I don’t know what security risks might be happening if any. And although these forums are a lifeline for many. The security of myself and others in this situation is far more important to me than for a lifeline for people and that does sadden me, but I’m afraid that is my biggest worry at what’s happening within the last 12 months and longer with these community forums.
Website hacking and spam issues are sadly the scourge of the modern world, I'm not making excuses, merely confirming what many already know, and it isn't going to go away.
Even in the natural world, all species have their rogues, nest stealing, food stealing and much more, just like the cuckoo!
When the big players of the internet like the major banking organisations and communication organisations (ie phone and media providers) fall prey, then the smaller organisations, will find it just as hard to stand firm. However, I do feel that the RSPB does require to increase its moderation of the forum not just from our perspective, but also for the organisation.
As for closing the forum, I don't think that is the answer.
For those justifiably concerned for their security, the one thing I would recommend is to use a password that is different to a password you use for other organisations, particularly the vital organisations/businesses. Another possibility, is to set a reminder in your diary to regularly change your passwords, at work I and my colleagues have to, and many of us have more than one login depending on what data we need to access!
I understand that everything online today requires a logon and password, and the potential to be using password protection to websites well into the tens, is here.
Many of the online security companies, those who provide antivirus programs, will also have password managers to help those who struggle to remember what password is for which logon, to utilise that and very importantly, ensure you keep your antivirus program up-to-date.
Most AV providers will issue automatic updates, so you don't have to worry.