Dear SWLing Post readers and contributors,
I wanted to provide a brief update following the recent security incident that required us to place the SWLing Post into maintenance mode.
The cybersecurity firm assisting us has now completed their investigation and cleanup. I’m happy to report that the SWLing Post has been given a clean bill of health. In addition to removing the malware, they also implemented additional security hardening measures to help protect the site moving forward.
Although everything appears to be fully resolved, it’s worth noting that malware can occasionally remain dormant or hidden before reactivating, so we’ll continue to keep a close eye on the site in the coming days.
Password Reset for Contributors
Out of an abundance of caution, I am forcing a password reset for all contributors, editors, and administrators.
Based on the forensic analysis, the most likely entry point for the malware was a compromised or weak password. Resetting all passwords ensures that any credentials potentially exposed during the incident can no longer be used.
If you have contributor access to the SWLing Post, you will be prompted to create a new password the next time you log in.
I strongly encourage using a long, unique password generated by a password manager if possible.
Please Report Any Suspicious Activity
Even though the site appears clean, I would greatly appreciate your help keeping an eye out for anything unusual.
If you notice any suspicious activity, such as:
- unexpected redirects
- strange pop-ups
- unusual content appearing on posts or pages
- login issues or other unexpected behavior
please contact me directly and describe exactly what you’re seeing. Screenshots are always helpful if you can capture them.
A Quick Note About Updates
One final note: I may not publish any new content on the SWLing Post until Monday. I already have plans throughout the weekend and will also be keeping a close eye on the site as an added precaution.
If any suspicious activity is reported or detected, I will temporarily place the site back into maintenance mode while the issue is investigated and resolved. Hopefully, this won’t be necessary, but I want to err on the side of caution while we continue monitoring the site.
Thank You
This is the first time in the SWLing Post’s 18-year history that we’ve experienced an incident like this, and I truly appreciate everyone’s patience while we worked to resolve it.
Thank you again for your support of the SWLing Post.
Best wishes,
Thomas Witherspoon
Editor, SWLing Post
