Urgent Update Regarding Midnight Whispers

[predec2.livejournal.com]

Mods, hope this is okay to post here.  I just received an important update regarding Midnight Whispers, and Bob, the senior administrator, asked me to pass the following message along to everyone.  He also wants everyone to know how much he appreciates your words of support.  Here it is:

============================

Midnight Whispers is offline and will probably be that way for at least several days due to a very sophisticated and complicated spambot invasion that also crippled Servage Hosting globally. They lost half of Germany about 2 weeks ago and I'd bet they are still barely hanging on.


Moving to Host Gator is already underway but first we must fix this infestation in our files for new back ups.


We not only have the expensive $ 50 hourly rate of our software engineer which has to clean up our files to avoid an old back up transfer to the new host, but our bandwidth today - 60+GB a week and growing - will be costly to maintain and this old man on a fixed income can't do it alone.


We spent a lot of budget working on the version upgrade to finally determine we're better off staying with the current version. The newer eFiction version of SQL is ancient. The girl modifying eFiction has pretty much abandoned the project and the eFiction geek blog is a graveyard. No help there to speak of.


My software man is concentrating on cleaning our files from one of the most maliciously determined malware programs we have seen with our over 30 years in computers. I have opened an account with Host Gator and I'm learning their way of doing things -  getting ready for the move and to manage it.


In the nearly 5 years I've been your admin, this is without question the greatest threat Whispers has ever faced. The Internet has become a very dangerous place for everyone. Add to that we have growing pains. We are simply getting too big to stay free anymore if we hope to stay online. With the number of hits and amount of bandwidth we use daily, hosting companies charge for that just like your electricity company charges for the amount of KWH you use. And lets not forget the additional expense coming up to obtain state of the art website security.


With these new web threats and how bad it is, I won't know the final cost of the cures, and the move to Host Gator until it's over. This attack has only one purpose - to shut us down forever.


Donations are truly needed. They go into a verified PayPal account. To give a Midnight Whispers donation with PayPal just login in, click Send Money, and type:


nocrashrc@yahoo.com


THIS IS WAR!


Bob, senior admin, Midnight Whispers

Comments

[moonshadow5140.livejournal.com]

you go boy - please remember your heart and take rest time when you need it.

Hugs the Mom

(Elsa Rose - retired owner Midnight Whispers)

[audrey2419.livejournal.com]

I have spent so many wonderful hours on Midnight Whispers... I just sent a donation. Thanks for all of the hard work.

[mandagrammy.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much for passing on this information for us. If there has to be a monthly fee to keep MW alive, I'm willing to pay it. I do the same for Rhapsody for my music and Netflix for my movies. To be a part of MW is just as important to me. I am out of this month's spare funds, but as soon as I get my Social Security check for next month, I'll happily give a donation. This is a war worth fighting. Hugs, Grammy

[carol1943.livejournal.com]

I won't have money until the 27th when my Social Security check comes, but I will be making a donation then. I get more hours of enjoyment from MW than from any other form of entertainmment. If you later have to go to subscription, count me in.

Carol

[talli-approved.livejournal.com]

Perhaps I'm missing something, and forgive me if I am, but is there an immense need for a separate site mostly for the B/J and QaF fandom? I'm sure there is as we're all aware of LJ (obviously) and Ao3, but I'm not seeing it. Obviously it's great to have a specified site, but if it's getting so difficult and expensive to keep up, is there a good enough reason to do so?

Please feel free to educate my relatively newer QaF-fan mind.

[debv3.livejournal.com]

Midnight Whispers has other categories within the site.

[predec2.livejournal.com]

On behalf of Bob and the site, I thank you, Audrey.;) Thanks for the support. Bob's working hard to get this back up, and we WILL get it reopened! More updates as he gives them to me. ~Kim

[predec2.livejournal.com]

Hi, my friend. You're very kind. I think a lot of us feel lost without our fan fic home.;) Bob's working hard with the tech to get it back up and running soon. On behalf of Bob, I thank you. ~Kim

[predec2.livejournal.com]

You're kind, Carol. Any amount would be greatly appreciated, as are your kind words of support. On behalf of Bob and the site, I thank you. More info soon! ~Kim

[predec2.livejournal.com]

I echo 'Mom's statement, Bob! ~Kim

[driadushka.livejournal.com]

I just made a donation, please bring MW back to life!

[predec2.livejournal.com]

Thank you on behalf of the site. And we will with all of your encouragement. :)

[kara1997.livejournal.com]

via paypal is it goods and servces or friends and family??

[mandagrammy.livejournal.com]

I'm one of those writers who posts other stories besides QAF on MW. There are many categories, including 'original stories' if a writer chooses to post them. And if you wish to add another category, they are more than willing to do that if it is an appropriate one. They did for me when I started writing 'Spartacus' stories.

But what makes MW special is the atmosphere created by its people... managers, writers, and especially readers. There is a lot of love and caring on the site. I post my work on all the other sites you mention too, but I go to MW first because I consider it home base and have for years. You don't throw out your oldest child just because new ones come into the fold. Many, many of us love MW. I guess you'd call that good enough reason to try very hard to keep it going.

[petulant2u.livejournal.com]

I'd like to send money, however I can't get on site at all to use the pay pal option. Is there another way?

Gina

[predec2.livejournal.com]

Thank you, Mandagrammy. You expressed exactly how I feel as well. :)

[hazeyfantazey.livejournal.com]

Have made a donation, happy to help. Just hope it works this time. I remember about five years ago sending money to help get BJ Fic back online and it was never seen again! :)

H

[kate-anders.livejournal.com]

MW is a very special place. It really feels like home, I smile every time I see this magic picture of midnight sky and Brian and Justin there, dancing. So beautiful... and so comfortable. I hope everything will be right soon!

[predec2.livejournal.com]

Hi, Kate - yes, it is.;) That's why it feels like a void right now! Rest assured Bob and the software tech are working very hard to get it back up. Thank you for the support. Will post updates as soon as I have some additional information. ~Kim

[predec2.livejournal.com]

Thank you on behalf of the site - and Bob - for your support. Rest assured he is working very hard with the tech to get this back up. And everyone is very dedicated in making that happen. I will post additional updates as new info is available. Thank you again. ~Kim

[vlredreign.livejournal.com]

Yeah, we don't mind, but a heads up to us would be nice. If you're not sure, please contact one of us, we're usually around.

[predec2.livejournal.com]

Sorry about that - will remember that. Thank you for allowing it to be posted. Maybe I need to create an LJ for the site once we get it back up. Thanks again.

[vlredreign.livejournal.com]

That actually might be a good idea. MW has had issues aplenty in the last year or so. It would be nice for people to have a place to check for updates and stuff. If you do that, we can link to it here.

[blossomlegs.livejournal.com]

I agree with subscription, and is debt card possible, don't have paypal, also have to wait for retirement next month?!

[predec2.livejournal.com]

Thank you for the support. I'm trying to find out from Bob if there is an alternative way to pay. I will let you know.;) Thanks for the support of the site! ~Kim

[predec2.livejournal.com]

Hello, there - Bob just told me that you can mark it for "goods and services." There is a small fee we incur as a result, but he says that's okay. We appreciate the support! He's making progress.;) ~Kim

[blossomlegs.livejournal.com]

Just started to read your fic over there.

[predec2.livejournal.com]

Thank you for doing that. Ack - what a time for it to go down - LOL! I have pretty much all of them on my LJ if you would like to read them over there. I have a master listing, but it's somewhat out of date. But it's a start.;)

http://predec2.livejournal.com/84046.html

I also post on Fanfiction.net under the same name.

BTW, just spoke with Bob. He advised me that you can still contribute on PayPal without creating an account if you use a credit or debit card. Not sure how that works, but hopefully it isn't too hard. Thank you again for the encouragement and interest in the site! He's working hard on it right now with the software tech. ~Kim

[predec2.livejournal.com]

Hi, Gina - from what Bob tells me, Paypal is the only option. He tells me that a credit or debit card can be used on there without having an actual account. Don't know if that will help or not, or if that answers the question, but he wanted me to pass that onto you. Your willingness to help is greatly appreciated. If you are unable to, that's still okay. We value the support, both monetary and emotional. Thanks again. ~Kim

[snow-white79.livejournal.com]

Just donated. Midnight Whispers has been around for so long and is such a fantastic, and still growing, site. It's the first site I visit (after Facebook) when I go online.

Hugs,
Snow

[sunandstars-1.livejournal.com]

Please tell me how I may contribute. I have a Paypal account. Where do I go & what site do I go into? I enjoy reading the stories & want to help. I need detailed instructions.
Thank you,
Ellen :)
BTW: Can Vampile's stories be saved so they're not lost. That would be a shame.

[gazeandglare.livejournal.com]

I just donated. Hope, MW will up and running soon. Good luck!

[predec2.livejournal.com]

Hi, Snow! Thank you from Bob and the site! Every little bit helps.;) I, too, made a donation myself yesterday to keep it going, and it WILL be back up. He and the tech are making good progress. And yes, we are proud of how many new members are still joining even now, readers AND writers. Thank you for the support; it is greatly appreciated. ~Kim

[predec2.livejournal.com]

Thank you for wanting to support the site! Even once it's up and running again, there will still be ongoing costs, so I'm sure Bob appreciates any amount.;) As for donating, if you go onto Paypal, you should be able to select 'send money' and use the address indicated on the announcement (nocrashrc@yahoo.com) to send a donation. You can select either 'goods or services,' or 'friends and family.' If you have a checking acct linked to your Paypal acct., 'friends and family' would be great, as there is no fee charged. But either way that works for you is fine, too.

Thank you again. All the encouragement and support are very much appreciated. ~Kim

[predec2.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much! It is greatly appreciated. Initial announcement for the new website is coming soon. ~Kim

[sunandstars-1.livejournal.com]

Just donated. Hope Midnight Whisperis up and running soon. I was,as a
a matter of fact, in the middle of reading a story there when it went down.
Good luck in it's return.
Ellen :)

Donation made

[shf1210.livejournal.com]

There were some stories I was majorly addicted to I hope this donation helps bring the site back.

Re: Donation made

[predec2.livejournal.com]

Hi, Audrey - thank you for your generosity! And yes, it's definitely coming back up. I just put a short update on my LJ. I will be placing regular posts on there about updates as I get them:

http://predec2.livejournal.com/

Current time frame according to Bob is 2 - 3 weeks. Thank again for the support. It is greatly appreciated. ~Kim

[sandraj60.livejournal.com]

I think I successfully sent a donation. I'm not used to using Paypal, but I will learn if it is to keep MW afloat. I would be lost with out it.

Sandra:)

[predec2.livejournal.com]

Hi, Sandra! Thank you for the kind words, and for your donation to the cause. Both are very much appreciated.;) Yes, I feel the same. There's just something about that site, and the sense of family there, that makes it special. I'm so glad that Bob is working behind the scenes to get it up and running again.

BTW, I posted another update over on my journal today if you want to read it. I will posting any further updates over there, as well as on my Twitter account and the site's Twitter account (WhispersFanFic). Tentative time frame to check for all infections, clean up the site, and get it back and running is 2 - 3 weeks.

Thanks again for your support! We will be back, better and stronger! *Hugs* ~Kim

[predec2.livejournal.com]

Thank you, Ellen! Your support is appreciated. And it WILL be back - tentative time frame is 2 - 3 weeks. Don't want to clog up this site after they were very kind to let me post on here, so further updates will be placed on my LJ and on the site's Twitter account (WhispersFanFic). Thank you again for your encouragement and support. *Hugs* ~Kim

[cori1950.livejournal.com]

The site is up! Maybe my donation helped. The only thing that will be annoying for awhile is that every story shows that it was updated on 2/18/2014.

[predec2.livejournal.com]

Thank you for supporting the site. Both the financial and emotional support is much appreciated. I hope you will bear with us. Several writers had to repost chapters from 1-23-14 to the present that were lost. There are a few new stories on there as well, however. Thank you again for your patience. ~Kim