New Blogger: The Importance of Protecting your Blog and Rights from Invasion by Third Party

Blogging was certainly a total new thing for me. I'm a person with very little IT knowledge and for me, learning to build and develop a blog was certainly like a blind girl trying to cross the street. When a blind girl is trying to cross the street and suddenly someone with normal vision offers help to cross the street, it would certainly be welcomed as kindness. However, when this normal vision person who helped with intention to take advantage of this vision impaired girl, it is then a total new flip of story altogether. The similar situation happened to me in my blogging experience as a new blogger.

This is how the story begins...I had met a guy, Josh Lim, since my university days who operated business online, formerly known as Josh Lim and Associates. I was still a student and knew nothing about the corporate world yet, but he’s a businessman with much wits and attended many events related to media. For a student like me, especially just arrived to Kuala Lumpur (city) from Taiping (small village), I would easily illusionised and thought that he’s a celebrity with much talents. On and off, he had always offered to help me but always with ulterior motives and demanding something back. However, I always refused and never give in to him.

I had never met Josh Lim for more than 3 years and had recently returned KL...catched up with him again...with first meeting (I chose public places)...joining his current company, Advertlets (a blog advertising network that enables bloggers to earn money from their blogs and to participate in blogging community events), and a group of bloggers to watch the Preview Screening of The Legend of the Guardians : The Owls of Ga’Hoole in Pavilion recently. It was my first time participation with the bloggers community and I thought all bloggers were all great people. This certainly made me having better impression of the Advertlets and blogging community. Then, he invited me again to join in the Miss Universe 2010 Thank You Party at Rootz, Kuala Lumpur. I was initially hesitant to go...but after much persuasion from him, I then agreed. This would be my second time meeting him.

As a token of appreciation of his invitation to the two events, I decided to give Josh Lim a chocolate mooncake from Bisgood. After dinner with my friends in Damansara, I drove to his house to give him the mooncake. As I’d not be available to meet him again, I thought I could just make a quick one by passing him the mooncake since the mooncake was still fresh. After passing him the mooncake I decided to leave, then he persuaded me to go up to his house and offered to re-design my blog to make it more appealing. I was thinking that he’d give me good advice, so I agreed to go up for a quick one. Anyone would certainly be glad in my shoe, but to my then knowledge, he had an ultimate intention which is to be unveiled later.

http://www.advertlets.com/

I have added Nuffnang advertisement since my second week blogging and when he discovered the Nuffnang ads, he was very furious and demanded me to remove it on the spot. He said, because we are friend, seeing me supporting Nuffnang would be a betrayal (Nuffnang and Advertlets are competitors)...I was like, what????...I believe I should be given the freedom to choose which ads I like to put in my blog...Moreover, I think it’d be fair to me to try other brand first before trying Advertlets...

However, he insisted me to add his Advertlets ads in my blog...while, designing my blog in his computer, he removed the Nuffnang HTML code and replaced with his Advertlets HTML code. I was very angry and scolded him right away, that he could not remove Nuffnang ads from my blog just like that without my permission. He then apologised and added back Nuffnang ads together with his Advertlets ads in between. I told him that I have no issue supporting Advertlets, but please allow me to try Nuffnang first...I need to see how is Nuffnang services before trying Advertlets...I thought maybe it’s an exchange as he helped me put my header pictures, that I’d put his ads in my blog...

I then returned home...after reading the Nuffnang Glitterati status terms and conditions, I discovered that I couldn’t put competitors ads in my blog else I’d lose the Glitterati status...So, since I’ve registered to Nuffnang first, I removed Advertlets HTML codes from my blog...I thought that should Nuffnang isn’t good enough for me after some time of trial, then only I’d switch to Advertlets...I think this is fair for both company...and also to myself...as a consumer and blogger...

However, to my dismay, yesterday midnight, I discovered that I couldn’t gain access to my blog anymore...my email was removed from the Blogspot Authors...I automatically knew that it must be Josh Lim’s revenge because I had removed his ads from my blog...my mistake was I didn’t log out from my blog before I returned home...therefore, he might probably used the cookies to invade my blog, or other ways I don’t know...I called him straight away, asking him for explanation but he pretended and say it was not his doing. He said, it’s his consultant who did it because he complained to his consultant, and he didn’t expect that his consultant would go that far...I didn’t believe him (pure denial) and demanded him to return the blog to me, as I am the owner...not Josh Lim...After much checking, then I discovered that it was Josh Lim who invaded my blog, not whatever imaginary consultant he claimed...

He then threatened me and said, he’s the one holding the card (my blog) so if I wanted my blog back, I had to promise to accept his terms and condition. His terms and conditions are to remove Nuffnang and replaced with Advertlets. I answer, “Impossible”...”You have no right to bargain with me because the blog belongs to me...not u, Josh Lim....Now, U r stealing my blog...and, u dare to bargain with me? You have no basis and ground to even demand anything from me. If u want me to support Advertlets, u have to prove that u r better than Nuffnang...not forcing people to join your Advertlets..How could I ever respect u as a friend anymore? U do things behind me...Me as a consumer, I have the right to compare which service is better...I should be given a chance to try different brands before deciding to settle on which brand..”...he then replied that, he could only limit me 3/6 months trying Nuffnang then I have to switch to Advertlets...I was very angry and said, “I will lodge a police report regarding this matter...you invaded my intellectual property and threatened and forcing me”..He replied, “Just go ahead”...

I wonder how come his email address (joshua_lim@hotmail.com) was in my Blogspot Google account??

In my mind, I really feel very sad...that a so-called friend could do this to me, forcing and threatened me...As I don’t know where and who I can seek help from...I was thinking is it I should just obey his demand because my blog was in his hand and I wanted it back...In another thought, I felt victimised...I’m a new blogger but being bullied by experienced IT person...I wonder, is it we must have IT knowledge then only we can protect ourselves from IT Hooligan like Josh Lim?

So, I decided to stand for myself...I told him that, should you wanted my blog so much...just take it...I could just create a new blog...However, this is my first ever blog and I really love my blog and have put in much effort and dedication into it...I really feel this is so unfair that he could just invade into my blog and kicked me out from accessing my own blog...I’m really sad and what I could do was just cry..He said he would return the blog to me but under condition...In my heart, I was thinking, how dare a robber demands things from me...I was upset after hours of confrontation, he still insisted in his unreasonable demand...I hung up the phone by saying. “If u want my blog so much, take it!”

I don’t know what I could do else, I just cried...then, I posted on Facebook seeking for help...He was afraid this would spoil his reputation, he asked his staffs to negotiate with me by calling me and sms me...I told him what I want is my Blog and a public apology after much damages to me...Josh Lim then posted on my Facebook wall, “"Hi Jessy. Just want to say it's been nice knowing you for over 10 years though its been difficult at times. Sorry for how things turned out, and I hope everything goes well with you." Do you think he admits his mistake? Do u think this apology is sincere after much damages he has done? He could even send his staff to apologised to me rather than himself...

Then, he reposted, “"Hi Jessy. Just want to say it's been nice knowing you for over 10 years though its been difficult at times. Sorry for how things panned out with your blog, and I hope everything goes well with you." Do u think this is a good apology? These notes reflected his selfishness and ego and not wanting to admit mistakes...he then removed these apology post from my Facebook...I wonder why did he remove the post??

However, since he apologised (although not sincere) and willing to return my blog to me...I decided to just forgive and forget...nevertheless, it’s still possible that my blog will be invaded again, together with my personal details in my blog...don’t u think so?? If it’s invaded, what should I do? Create a new blog? How about after a year or two...after all the efforts, time, resources and dedication spent on my blog?? Would be possibly just gone in a wipe...And my privacy and personal details invaded too..

This whole incident makes me wonder, are there laws to protect bloggers when our blog is invaded by third party?? In Malaysia context and even International context??

Are there any organisations or bodies to protect bloggers??

Are there softwares to tighten our Internet security from being hacked?? And how far are the roles played by anti-virus software and IT expert from hacker and protecting our privacy??

Should you are in my shoe, what action will you take??

If a blog could be easily invaded by third party, how secure is your information and details online??

Rather than a blog (creating a blog is free), have you ever imagined, should you own a corporate or business website (you invested so much money into it), and somebody hacked into your website and system, ruined your information, would you just obey the hackers and compromise with their demands??

When your house is intruded by burglar, you will execute any forms of protection to ensure your property is burglar-proof...how about your blog?? How about your corporate or business website??

Would you give in to IT Hooligans?? All because you have minimal IT knowledge to protect yourself??

It is undeniable that Internet Communication and Technology (ICT) has grown its relevance in our daily life, would IT skill become an indispensable knowledge one day just like we need to learn how to drive our car?? For physical property, we set alarms, closed-circuit television (CCTV) and even guardhouse to add security other than gates and windows. For computing, we sets firewalls to block unauthorised access while permitting authorised communication by configuration though a set of rules and other criteria.

Collected from the internet, there are several types of firewall techniques :

i. Circuit-level Gateway : When UDP or TCP connection is established, security mechanisms will be applied where packets will flow between the hosts without further checking.

ii. Application Gateway : An effective firewall but could cause performance degradation. It applies security mechanisms to specific application, such FTP and Telnet servers.

iii. Packet Filter : Susceptible to IP spoofing. It inspects each packets passing through the network and accepts or rejects it based on user-defined rules. It is fairly effective and mostly transparent to its users although difficult to configure.

iv. Proxy Server : It effectively hides the true network addresses. It intercepts all messages entering and leaving the network.

I guess now I have to start learning about Internet Security...

This is such a mess, I decided to travel to Singapore for a peace of mind and rest...till my next blog~~~...cheers~~~

Lessons learnt :

1. Becareful and protect your internet password and never reveal to anyone.

2. Always remember to log out from your email, Facebook, Twitter, blog, etc before leaving your computer.

3. Always update your Internet Security software to ensure you are protected from new viruses.

4. Should needed, hire a team of experts to protect and maintain your websites from intrusion.