What?!? Another website update!!

[administrator]

Yes, another major update. Spent all day just getting code online and databases recreated. And of course, I get everything on the server and the star piece, the GS Map, wouldn't run. Sheez, that's why I don't have any hair!

So what did I do this time? Well, spent a few more weeks and 15+ hour days getting the code up to 2026 coding standards, fixed a ton of minor bugs. Redesigned all the databases. Also got around to some of the wacky email issues we were seeing. Improved the email messaging system. But the *@%^$*@%^$*@%^$*@%^$ de resistance is the new GS Map. Be sure to check that out. Works even better than I had hoped

I also enhanced the code that runs in the background to keep the hackers out. I bet you're thinking, why would someone want to hack a motorcycle website? I have battling this problem since the very beginning of this website. It used to be kiddy hackers. Now, it's international hackers. I now keep track of what countries they are coming from. Since 3PM this afternoon when I put the new code on the server the system has locked out 17 Chinese accounts and 8 Russia and 1 from California. How many GS owners do you think are in China and Russia? None, that I know of. The fight is real...

Finally there is a new way to let me know if you run into bugs. Look for the "bug". Have fun!

PS - I'll see about processing the contributions for this year, this weekend. And after that I'm an hiatus for a bit.

[administrator]

Just a little bit of information about the GS Map...

There are just a bit over 9000 names in the Owner's Registry, which is used populate the Map. I turned off names that were entered more than 10 years ago from showing in the Map because I figured that most people are no longer dealing with the website. If they are, they can always update their entry and put themselves on the map.

But in going though the Owner's Registry some interesting statistics come out of it.

Owner's Registry created on 7/21/2001

Number of entries created
In last 25 years (2001) = 8983
In last 10 years = 279
In last 5 years = 22

Number of different countries
In last 25 years = 67
In last 10 years = 22
In last 5 years = 13

[dpep]

Thanks again, Fank, for all of the time and effort that benefits us others more than yourself.

Very interesting numbers both on the owners and especially the foreign intrusions--25 Chinese and Russian hacking attempts in 11 hours, more than two per hour on average. Roughly 50 a day, 350 per week, or more than 18,000 in a year. Can I assume that things have gotten worse since the hackers have gotten AI to do the work for them? And as you say we are just a website for old motorcycles--no commerce, no trade secrets, no national security info, nothing that would make us a valuable target.

At some point (in your spare time ) you should pen an article on how the internet has changed over the last quarter century just from the angle of a guy doing what you do.