Hacked!

[GloStik 0]

On Friday the Maxis Sims 2 BBS was hacked!  It was an automated register by a "robot". The BBS (including all forums) was spammed with hundreds of advertising and junk threads.This is obviously (that I know of) the worst hack event I've seen. The BBS is closed. It is expected to take a very long time (an estimate of at least 1-2 weeks or more) to get the place back up and running. Illegal Hackers, to me you are all losers.  I hope there hasn't been extensive damage to the BBS.

Also, I should note that the use of "LIPs" (Letter Identification Pictures) has been suggested. Here is an example:

 Made myself! :-P

(These are meant to prevent automated registries(sp?) since computers cannot read pictures - only humans can)

[Firebird 40]

Glad to see someone at maxis is even looking at the sites anymore.

[Micah 16]

Wow, I'm surprised Maxis even looks at that stuff. So I guess they still do exist. Ha!

[beebs 129]

That site is still up?

[Firebird 40]

Lol. All three first post are almost the same.

[hym 358]

(These are meant to prevent automated registries(sp?) since computers cannot read pictures - only humans can) quote>

 

Well, computers actually can read pictures (it's called Optical Character Recognition software).  The strength of LIP's is that most computers cannot read the font designs that the computer generates.  However, with the advent of more advance AI systems, computers will eventually be able to decode these pictures, extract the necessary letters and numbers, and register automatically.  That said, don't put your faith in those LIP's protecting you forever. 

[Micah 16]

Originally posted by: fire_bird Lol. All three first post are almost the same.quote>

 

 I think that we are just stunned that Maxis is still around doing stuff. Now it makes me wonder if they are secretly working on games.

[beebs 129]

Aren't they making Spore?

[Ma8thew 77]

Of course they are still doing stuff... The Sims 2 is like a golden-egg-laying goose. I'm thinking 10 more expansions...:-p

[EDIT]

Got the following message in my Sims 2 inbox

All,

The Sims 2 BBS was hacked on Friday night. We've taken the BBS down until we can fix the problem. A robot was written to spam our boards. At this time, if you click on any bbs links, you may see our "The BBS Is Temporarily Unavailable" message or you may get a blank screen.

When we bring the bbs back up, please do not post anything that is off topic. Those threads are making it harder for us to clean things up. Also, please do not post off-topic threads about this on The Sims 1 boards. As of right now, we do not have an estimated up time for the bbs.

We try very hard to keep our boards clean and useful. We obviously do not support this behavior and all accounts involved with this hack will be permanently banned.

We thank you for your help and cooperation and thank you for your patience during this downtime.

-Maxis Web Team

quote>

[toxicpiano 125]

Originally posted by: Ma8thew Of course they are still doing stuff... The Sims 2 is like a golden-egg-laying goose. I'm thinking 10 more expansions...:-p

[EDIT]

Got the following message in my Sims 2 inbox

All,

The Sims 2 BBS was hacked on Friday night. We've taken the BBS down until we can fix the problem. A robot was written to spam our boards. At this time, if you click on any bbs links, you may see our "The BBS Is Temporarily Unavailable" message or you may get a blank screen.

When we bring the bbs back up, please do not post anything that is off topic. Those threads are making it harder for us to clean things up. Also, please do not post off-topic threads about this on The Sims 1 boards. As of right now, we do not have an estimated up time for the bbs.

We try very hard to keep our boards clean and useful. We obviously do not support this behavior and all accounts involved with this hack will be permanently banned.

We thank you for your help and cooperation and thank you for your patience during this downtime.

-Maxis Web Team

quote>

quote>

Now imagine if they did that for the sc4 site...

[Ma8thew 77]

Originally posted by: toxicpiano

Originally posted by: Ma8thew Of course they are still doing stuff... The Sims 2 is like a golden-egg-laying goose. I'm thinking 10 more expansions...:-p

[EDIT]

Got the following message in my Sims 2 inbox

All,

The Sims 2 BBS was hacked on Friday night. We've taken the BBS down until we can fix the problem. A robot was written to spam our boards. At this time, if you click on any bbs links, you may see our "The BBS Is Temporarily Unavailable" message or you may get a blank screen.

When we bring the bbs back up, please do not post anything that is off topic. Those threads are making it harder for us to clean things up. Also, please do not post off-topic threads about this on The Sims 1 boards. As of right now, we do not have an estimated up time for the bbs.

We try very hard to keep our boards clean and useful. We obviously do not support this behavior and all accounts involved with this hack will be permanently banned.

We thank you for your help and cooperation and thank you for your patience during this downtime.

-Maxis Web Team

quote>

quote>

Now imagine if they did that for the sc4 site...quote>

They probably already have, but no one's noticed.

[ephorex_77 0]

Originally posted by: Ma8thew

Originally posted by: toxicpiano

Originally posted by: Ma8thew Of course they are still doing stuff... The Sims 2 is like a golden-egg-laying goose. I'm thinking 10 more expansions...:-p

[EDIT]

Got the following message in my Sims 2 inbox

All,

The Sims 2 BBS was hacked on Friday night. We've taken the BBS down until we can fix the problem. A robot was written to spam our boards. At this time, if you click on any bbs links, you may see our "The BBS Is Temporarily Unavailable" message or you may get a blank screen.

When we bring the bbs back up, please do not post anything that is off topic. Those threads are making it harder for us to clean things up. Also, please do not post off-topic threads about this on The Sims 1 boards. As of right now, we do not have an estimated up time for the bbs.

We try very hard to keep our boards clean and useful. We obviously do not support this behavior and all accounts involved with this hack will be permanently banned.

We thank you for your help and cooperation and thank you for your patience during this downtime.

-Maxis Web Team

quote>

quote>

Now imagine if they did that for the sc4 site...quote>

They probably already have, but no one's noticed.quote>

 

You think so??

It seems that when something's not as profitable, the unwritten attitude is to cut it loose.  Ah well...

[Ma8thew 77]

Don't worry, EA have bought simcity5.com through to simcity9.com

[Duke87 1,070]

Hehe.. pwn3d

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...sorry, it was begging to be said.

[Firebird 40]

Now imagine if they did that for the sc4 site...quote>

Not Simtropolis, NOOOOO. STOP giving them ideas!!!!!!

[HunterIrked 1]

Originally posted by: GloStikAlso, I should note that the use of "LIPs" (Letter Identification Pictures) has been suggested. (These are meant to prevent automated registries(sp?) since computers cannot read pictures - only humans can) quote>

 

Google uses that when you submit a URL i guess its so automated computers don't submit the same site 500 times...

Originally posted by: GloStikOn Friday the Maxis Sims 2 BBS was hacked!

 It was an automated register by a "robot". The BBS (including all forums) was spammed with hundreds of advertising and junk threads.This is obviously (that I know of) the worst hack event I've seen. The BBS is closed. It is expected to take a very long time (an estimate of at least 1-2 weeks or more) to get the place back up and running. Illegal Hackers, to me you are all losers.quote>

they wouldent do it here, they only did it there because they dont have an off topic section, like we do here. Personally i think the sims 2 site is hopeless without the BBS. 

[MayorTim 16]

Whats with the invisible picture to the left of the picture you posted?

[Cjah 15]

Hopefully they will never find ST....

[sloppet 3]

Well.. As I remember ST was hacked a couple of times..

[Duke87 1,070]

Originally posted by: MayorTim Whats with the invisible picture to the left of the picture you posted?quote>

There's no invisible picture there. It's a coding error that results in the link extending all the way to the right of the post box as opposed to stopping at the edge of the image. Specifically, i think it's from putting the /div tag before the /a tag.