A note for those who are worried about DU's security tomorrow
This discussion thread was locked by EarlG (a host of the Announcements group).
As many of you know, DU was vandalized on Election Day 2016 by a scripting hack that forced us to bring the site down for about a week before we could restore functionality. A recap of that situation can be found here.
I'm sure you can imagine that securing DU against a similar situation has been at the forefront of our minds for a long time, and to that end, Elad has spent a great deal of time working with our web host to make sure that DU is as well-protected as we can possibly be going into tomorrow's election.
There are two important things you need to know about DU's security:
1) Without going into any specific detail about what has been done, I can assure you that DU is significantly better protected against various types of attack than it was four years ago.
2) BUT... there is not a single site on the Internet that is invulnerable to attack by someone with enough skill and willpower. Even the giants can be brought down or hobbled by determined groups or individuals. So while I'm sure you would like to hear me guarantee that DU will stay up tomorrow, I cannot make that promise.
What I can promise you though, is that we have not been resting on our laurels -- we have taken every possible precaution that we can to prevent a repeat of 2016.
Should something beyond our control happen tomorrow, we will post updates on our Twitter and Facebook pages to keep you informed. Please bear in mind that these will be the only official sources of information should we need to get updates out that way, but we will likely not be monitoring or moderating any of the responses.
https://twitter.com/demunderground
https://www.facebook.com/democraticunderground
We remain optimistic, however, that it won't come to that.
Thank you for being with us on DU for what will no doubt be an historic day tomorrow.
-- EarlG and Elad
= new reply since forum marked as read
It was invaluable in keeping us in the loop! And it's still active posting EarlG's Pic of the Moment! 
DU for a week. 
I will say that I went to bed that night, long before the race was decided. My clock radio went off the next morning, a bit before 6am, tuned to a station that carries the BBC at that hour. What they announcers were saying made absolutely no sense to me, and I thought I'd somehow awakened in an alternate reality.
Best of Luck!
I know we on MIRT are doing our best to clear some of the problems ahead of time, but I know you guys are going to have some issues we just can't tackle.
Best of Luck!
GO BIDEN/HARRIS! Our next two presidents! 
Been with you for 18 years 
so I am fully confident that all is as ready as can be. Thanks for posting the other resources. I remember when we did not have those, this feels much better. 
Thanks!
if DU goes down I'll see you all when it comes back up. I'm not worried about it. If these hacker children have nothing better to do with their time, screw 'em. It's not like they're altering the outcome of the election or anything. 
My reasons for not being on Facebook or Twitter? I don't want to contribute to the downfall of civilization.
but since the DU accounts are "public" you can still use the links to "view" the info posted at them in a regular web browser (in fact, you can test that right now to see what you can see).
I've done it before for some stories posted here and continued on Twitter, but Facebook? I have a tangible "dislike" (I shy away from the "hate" word) for Zuckerberg and his laissez-faire attitude about his creation and it's most destructive properties. I won't go near his creation. Ever. That's just my opinion, and others certainly vary.
(he was my mother's baby brother) and he is a rampant FB user who sends all his nieces and nephews links from his and his buddies' Facebook pages. And inevitably, I'll click on a link he'll email and maybe 10% of the time I can actually get to the page. Otherwise it requires a login and it'll be a coooolllllld day in hell before I even consider an account dontcha know... 
DU is my sane space. I'm sure it is for most of us here.
We are all in this together. Good luck America!
Ans thank you..
It's a worrisome time and you've done all you can to reassure us.
I really appreciate your response.
You guys ROCK!!!
Were you able to trace who did that to us last year?
Just curious...
for all of your hard work and for this website.
CAN DO THIS! GO JOE & KAMALA! :
I've never understood a possible motive for hacking DU other than just pure meanness. It achieves nothing relative to the election and just annoys this wonderful bunch of relatively older patriotic Americans.
Fingers crossed, multiple wood things knocked on and rabbit's feet rubbed......
Hoping for fantastic results tomorrow....... .......
Heck, everybody else on this thread who's thanking and expressing appreciation to EarlG and Elad speaks for me!
After suffering multiple personal losses this past year or so, I would never have dreamed I could find solid repose and feel such close ties to a bunch of highly diverse and completely anonymous friends on the internet.
Plus, most DUers here are far smarter than I on so many subjects, so for this old guy of 73, it's a constant learning experience as well.
I somehow missed finding DU early on in the W years and hung around on other liberal sites but soooo glad I finally got here.
Today's my birthday as well (I'm very shy and never announce things like that). The only thing I want for my birthday is a huge Democratic Party win......
Here's to a very successful day today.....
........
I got a nice email from my daughter which included the graphic below. She's a school teacher and busy today doing catch-up work.
My son came in with good wishes too, so I'm happy. I discourage my kids from giving me gifts 'cause I have most everything I need but hoping my granddaughter draws me a nice picture. She's 13 now, cute as a button and doing good.
Fingers crossed, knock on wood and say a dozen good luck mantras tonight for Joe and Kamala and all other Democrats running today.
Stay safe!.........
Worse come to worst, I'll be hanging with DU on Facebook.
I was such a wreck in 2016, having DU gone that first week was unbearable.
I trust you have done all you can to avoid it this time.
Appreciate all you do! I'd be LOST without my DU. 
None of us will rest until or unless this hideous Trump nightmare is over -- least of all guys that have to keep Democratic websites running. So...get lots of rest tonight if you can. Tomorrow and beyond is gonna be one long damn day. Hopefully, with light at the end of that tunnel. Now let's go kick some Trump Cult ass, shall we? 
😺💕
Many many thanks to you and Elad!
to prevent another site hacking. Your efforts are very much appreciated no matter the outcome. We're all vulnerable when online. Good luck holding down the fort this next week. We support you.
Many thanks to all the DU crew and also to those who frequent this amazing site.
thanks for all your hard work. hopefuly to mrrow i can get rid of that upside down flag of mine and change my skype avatar to a more happy one . i was on du when it got hacked . firlst . links didnt work. then redirects and finaly links that wouldnt work at all. browser crashes and finaly 404 not found for a week. had to go to other sites for election news . hope this never happens .
This site has been a haven for me, as well. I remember back to the dark days of W, on here.
I have great confidence in your ability to protect this beloved community from malicious hackers!
Now we are fighting like never before.
I salute you sir.
Thank you!
hard to believe it's been 20 yrs .
I appreciate all that you do, and I am humbled that you have risked your fortunes and your futures to keep this site going.
Namaste.
-Laelth
do to make DU a powerful resource for discussion and community.
See you tomorrow night! Here's to America and democracy.
Democracy lives at DU.
EVERYONE VOTE!
Federal, State, Local.
Every opportunity.
Every time.
=============
Hope owning & running DU is everything you hoped it would be!
Felt like I was in the dark four years ago. All alone in a cold room. 
Thanks millions!
Thank you so much.
