Gootloader infection cleaned up

Dear blog owner and visitors,

This blog had been infected to serve up Gootloader malware to Google search victims, via a common tactic known as SEO (Search Engine Optimization) poisioning. Your blog was serving up 387 malicious pages. Your blogged served up malware to 0 visitors.

I tried my best to clean up the infection, but I would do the following:

  • Upgrade WordPress to the latest version (one way the attackers might have gained access to your server)
  • Upgrade all WordPress themes to the latest versions (another way the attackers might have gained access to your server)
  • Upgrade all WordPress plugins (another way the attackers might have gained access to your server), and remove any unnecessary plugins.
  • Verify all users are valid (in case the attackers left a backup account, to get back in)
  • Change all passwords (for WordPress accounts, FTP, SSH, database, etc.) and keys. This is probably how the attackers got in, as they are known to brute force weak passwords
  • Run antivirus scans on your server
  • Block these IPs (5.8.18.7 and 89.238.176.151), either in your firewall, .htaccess file, or in your /etc/hosts file, as these are the attackers command and control servers, which send malicious commands for your blog to execute
  • Check cronjobs (both server and WordPress), aka scheduled tasks. This is a common method that an attacker will use to get back in. If you are not sure, what this is, Google it
  • Consider wiping the server completly, as you do not know how deep the infection is. If you decide not to, I recommend installing some security plugins for WordPress, to try and scan for any remaining malicious files. Integrity Checker, WordPress Core Integrity Checker, Sucuri Security,
    and Wordfence Security, all do some level of detection, but not 100% guaranteed
  • Go through the process for Google to recrawl your site, to remove the malcious links (to see what malicious pages there were, Go to Google and search site:your_site.com agreement)
  • Check subdomains, to see if they were infected as well
  • Check file permissions

Gootloader (previously Gootkit) malware has been around since 2014, and is used to initally infect a system, and then sell that access off to other attackers, who then usually deploy additional malware, to include ransomware and banking trojans. By cleaning up your blog, it will make a dent in how they infect victims. PLEASE try to keep it up-to-date and secure, so this does not happen again.

Sincerly,

The Internet Janitor

Below are some links to research/further explaination on Gootloader:

https://news.sophos.com/en-us/2021/03/01/gootloader-expands-its-payload-delivery-options/

https://news.sophos.com/en-us/2021/08/12/gootloaders-mothership-controls-malicious-content/

https://www.richinfante.com/2020/04/12/reverse-engineering-dolly-wordpress-malware

https://blog.sucuri.net/2018/12/clever-seo-spam-injection.html

This message

Clearing Energy

Whenever you feel stagnant spiritually, emotionally drained, sluggish physically like you can’t get out of your own tracks, frequently financially strapped,  things don’t seem to go as smoothly and life does not move forward as you may wish or plan it to do, goals seem to be moving farther away instead of being attained, it may be time to clear your environment of negativity of all kinds–Spiritually, mentally, emotionally, physically and financially.

Here are a few clearing tips to change that dynamic in your personal and/or professional space.  Choose the one that speaks to you when the mood strikes.  You will feel refreshed, have better clarity of thought, be happier and more energetic–and be moving in the direction for which you are destined–your third act:

Open the windows:  Clear out the stale air, take a deep cleansing breath or two (expelling any negativity or tension within you), recharge the ions for clearer thinking, greater positivity of outlook.  This should take place all year long, even if only for a few minutes.  Breathing of this kind should happen frequently throughout the day.

Clean.  Oprah Winfrey has a saying that a cluttered house is a cluttered mind.  You will find that when you start clearing out clutter or things that no longer are of service–downsizing, and simplifying your life–the positive will start moving again.  You renew and revitalize that space to have new energy and flow.  Sometimes this can bring a physical and emotional release of tears to express letting go of that trapped energy.

Sweep:  Sweeping with a broom is both symbolic and carries an energy shift.  Vacuuming doesn’t have the same magic energetically. That is about maintaining cleanliness of an area.  If an area is carpeted, the gesture over the carpet is the important part.  Always sweep towards an open door or window to clear the old.

Burn incense:  While some would tell you that each fragrance has its own special, magical power, your personal intention is what determines the meaning and use of this way to shift negative energy to clear the air.  Try several with specific intent and see which feels right for you and your circumstances.

Smudging:   Like burning incense, a smudge stick–usually of the herb Sage–is lit and allowed to burn until there is a generous flow of smoke.  At that point, blow out the flame and the smoke will remain.  Smudging can aid with clearing stagnant energy.  Walk from the primary entrance point slowly walking around each room, allowing the smoke to disperse into every nook and cranny–even with a little help by fanning the smoke in that direction.   Don’t forget to smudge any willing occupants of the space by taking the smudge stick all around their auras, side to side, front to back, toe to head and back down again, sending any negativity into the earth.

Oils:  This is another fragrant way to release negative energy. Pick an essential oil for that works great with Sage for a powerful combination, if you choose to use both.   Again, the right oil is the one of your choosing.  It is a fragrant way to get rid of negative energy.  A spray bottle with purified water and a few drops of the oil could be used to lightly mist each room.  A continuous diffuser would work well for this, too, running several hours a day.  Young Living Palo Santo Essential Oil would be a good choice to use alone.

Vibration:  If you have Tibetan bowls or bells–maybe even a small djembe drum, start at the main entrance and go from room to room slowly as you set up a nice vibration with the instrument, allowing free flowing energy to fill the room.

Crystal placement:  This method can work for up to a month’s time before the crystals need to be cleaned and cleared of negative energy.  You could start with crystals of your choice–or if uncertain what to use, start with Clear Quartz and Black Obsidian, placing them in opposite corners of each room.  To dispel unwanted energies, Black Obsidian can be placed on the outside of the entry doorway.  In the room on the other side of the front door, place Black Tourmaline in each corner.

Use beautiful, positive words throughout the day:  Habits don’t change overnight.  Work on the Alcoholics Anonymous thought of “One Day at a Time.”  Make it a goal to use only positive words today.  Go throughout your home and business space using blessed and positive words whether said aloud or in your mind to bless those spaces and the people who inhabit them.  Like attracts like.

Take a sea salt bath:  Add 2-4 cups of sea salt (Himalyan recommended) and a few drops of your favorite essential oil (maybe lavender or orange to calm) to a tub of comfortable water and soak for about 20 minutes to revive your spirits and energetic fields.  To aid with physical detox and soften water, also add 1 cup of epsom salts.

Certainly, this is only a brief description and partial listing of ways to clear stagnant and negative energies.  Stay tuned to read about more in coming blogs.  Thanks for tuning in.

Hello world!

Have you ever wondered what you were going to do with the rest of your life?  How you were going to live out your days with a feeling of accomplishment?  With contentment?  Feeling fulfilled?  Giving back?  Giving WHAT back?

That was where I was just a year ago.  Through a chain of events, I found myself first taking a self development course that ended up dove-tailing into a sales course.  I was reluctant to go to the sales  course initially.  What could I do?  Where were my interests?  How could I join all my interests into one offering?  Why had I taken all those courses about this and about that that seemed to have no common bond?  Those were just a few of the questions I had.   Are they questions you have for yourself as well?

I took the self development course for obvious reasons.  I felt my life could be improved but had no idea how to get out of my rut and to move forward with my life in achieving that “something” that kept calling me…still unsure just what that was.  Through the exercises that I practiced in that class and another offered by the same mentor, I began to put the pieces together of what I wanted my life to be about–service to others to essentially become their mentor in unraveling the unpleasantness of their past lives to begin to rebuild a life that would make them excited to get out of bed every morning.

Won’t you join me on this journey into your “Third Act?