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Blog Control And URL Availability Hacking

Occasionally, in Blogger Help Forum: How Do I?, we see various queries about our blogs, and how to gain or regain control.
  • How do I get a blog, which is attacking me (impersonating me, insulting me, publishing my secrets), removed from Blogger?
  • How do I claim a dormant URL?
  • How do I recover control of my blog?
  • My blog is now under somebody else's control! How do I get my blog back?
Any of these queries may be simply one more attempt to gain control of someone else's blog, or URL.

As we gain experience in reading between the lines in Blogger Help Forum, and as Blogger Support gains experience in researching blog histories, we can start to see patterns, and signs of multiple attempts to assume control of the blog - or the URL - in question.

Many blog or URL hacking attempts start quite innocently.

The face of many problem reports may be very obvious - and simple.

Two of the more common tales are quite naive, and apparently separate.


Some people, denied recovery of the blog, because they can't prove ownership, will try another tactic.

I'll tell them that the blog was stolen from me. Surely if they think the blog was hacked, I can get it back, since I used to be the owner!

People trying to gain control of a dormant blog will likewise use their imagination.

If I get the blog deleted as spam, I can grab the URL. Surely a Dormant blog is just another type of Spam, in Blogger!

Unfortunately, these techniques have been used, already - and have resulted in still other tales of anguish.

Triaging the problems require compassion, and experience.

It requires the wisdom of Solomon - and the patient persistence of Gil Grissom - to sort through the problem reports. Claims

I just graduated from college, and I can't use my email address to recover the password!
and
I just woke up from a 7 year coma, to find my family blog under control of a hacker!
and let us not overlook
My friend just died. Can I please have control of the blog, so I can put a notice to all of his friends, on the blog?

and

I never updated my Blogger only account to a Blogger / Google account - and I never got any email, warning me of the impending change!

All of these tales have enormous human interest - and seem to justify mercy for the plaintive requests.

With Blogger problem reports, things are not always what they seem.

Unfortunately, these stories - and others like them - are not always what they seem. What we sometimes see are the other side of the story.

  • Attempts to steal control of an active blog.
  • Attempts to gain control of the URL which would be perfect for their new blog, if only the URL was available.
  • Attempts to probe and reveal the identity of a blog owner, who is guaranteed anonymous blog ownership, by Blogger policy.

So, if you beg and plead for attention

None of these tools help me, in the least. Can I please speak to a live human, so I can explain my special need?

Please, do not be surprised to be directed to read about why Blogger Help is the only contact, and why you absolutely must prove ownership of the blog, before being given control. And even the ultimate insult, you must provide a copy of the death certificate plus get a court order, as you grieve for the loss of your friend or loved one.

Your actions affect your chance for favourable treatment.

The bottom line here is that, if you intend to publish a Blogger blog, it is your responsibility - and only your responsibility - to maintain control of your blog. Your blog will be yours, forever - if you exercise common sense and courtesy. Your ability to recover from mistakes may be affected by how you maintain your blog, and how you allow access to your blog.

You are an adult (or are presumed to be one) - and you have responsibilities, as an adult. Even if your friends account is hacked, then used to attack yours, please don't expect unconditional assistance from Blogger / Google.

Comments

Unknown said…
Comedy control at your service.
Nitecruzr said…
Nicole,

An afternoon of sifting though BHF "I can't login to my blog!" problem reports is as much fun as watching an afternoon marathon of "House, MD" (and the "House" marathons are only found on the "value added" channels, which are 75% commercials, instead of the normal 60% commercials).

All this fun, for free. Hold me back! %-}
Unknown said…
Forum fun and the returns in laughter. Thanks
katie said…
If I really need help recovering a hijacked blog, what do I do? Google reply to my request that there is no violation. This doesn't make sense to me. I like your style, although you do not suffer fools. My security was lax I'll admit, yet my blogs have no value to anyone other than me and my family, and I really want the content back!
Please help,
Kate
Nitecruzr said…
Katie,

One of the problems with "restoring" a "hacked" / "hijacked" blog is that Blogger blogs are not subject to classical "hacking".

Blogger blogs are stolen, using the same Blogger features that are actually used to maintain blog ownership. There is no way for Blogger / Google Security to distinguish a voluntary ownership transfer, from a non voluntary ownership transfer.

I empathise with you (can't sympathise though) - but if your blog was stolen because of "lax security", that's something that Google Security can't evaluate. The blog thief used your "lax security" to misuse normal Blogger controls and features - not "hacking".

If Google replied to your request that there is no violation, then there is no violation. If no violation, then the current owner has to remain the current owner - regardless of that you "should" be the current owner.

If you can convince a judge of your rights, then Google Legal will happily accept your court order - and Blogger Support will happily restore control of your blog. Until then, you are fighting a losing battle.

http://blogging.nitecruzr.net/2015/04/ive-been-hacked-dreaded-cry-of-anguish.html

http://blogging.nitecruzr.net/2015/02/blogger-support-balances-recovery.html

http://blogging.nitecruzr.net/2013/01/if-you-cannot-prove-ownership-of-your.html
Miss Holly Tea said…
Hi Chuck,

I have actually contacted the person who had the URL I wanted and they deactivated their old account for me, yet I still cannot obtain the domain name. Why is this? How do I now assume this URL as it tells me it is unavailable?

Thanks very much!
Nitecruzr said…
Hi Holly,

Thanks for the question.

You need to have the person who had the URL. They need to recover the old account, and the blog. Then, they need to transfer control of the blog, to you.

http://blogging.nitecruzr.net/2015/08/using-one-browser-in-ownership-transfer.html

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