Many of the blogosphere’s most active blogs were stricken by a denial-of-service attack yesterday on their web host, HostingMatters.
Here’s the statement from HostingMatters:
Today, 11:46 AM This morning at approximately 10:00 AM Eastern time, we noted a sudden abnormal surge in traffic to the network. Shortly thereafter, our upstreams confirmed that one of the servers within the network was the target of a massive DOS attack. We worked with the NOC and the upstreams to further identify the target and steps were taken to isolate that target from the rest of the network.
Recovery on all segments except that target segment is complete. The target of the attack will not be brought back online and will be removed from the main network in the event they are the target of future attacks, so as not to negatively impact other clients.
We are currently working to address clients who may be on that same segment of the network to bring them back online.
Stacy – Hosting Matters, Inc.
The attack is being discussed at this support forum.
Based on the information at hand there’s no way to tell how many people were involved in the attack, how many computers were involved in the attack, or the actual origin of the attack. The most that can be said is that it was not the work of friends.
Since there’s been some criticism of the blogs that were taken down for overreacting, I thought that a rundown of what their actual responses were might be in order:
| Site | Characterization |
| Instapundit | originates in Saudi Arabia with a clarification that because an address is registered to the KSA doesn’t mean the attack originates there |
| Powerlineblog | jihadists in Saudi Arabia |
| Captain’s Quarters | Saudis who have issues with free speech. |
| PunditGuy | DoS attack |
| IMAO | ask Saudi Arabia |
| Hugh Hewitt | DoS attack |
| Michelle Malkin | attack originated in Saudi Arabia |
| Aaron’s CC | still down |
| LGF | The attack reportedly originates in Saudi Arabia. |
The only site that referred specifically to jihadists was Powerlineblog. At this point that’s a bit of an assumption but, since Powerlineblog is a red-meat site, it’s not completely over-the-top. Besides, they’re lawyers. What do they know of the specifics?
I’m crushed you didn’t notice that my site went down as well. 😉
Denial, no doubt. I’m still emotionally bruised from having misspelled your name. 😉