Automattic’s WP Engine Tracker web site was quickly blocked by Cloudflare over the weekend as a suspected phishing web site, sparking cheers from members of the WordPress subreddit. In the meantime, somebody registered the typosquatting area WPEngineTracker.com to protest towards Matt Mullenweg.
Automattic, presumably beneath the path of Matt Mullenweg, lately created an internet site referred to as WP Engine Tracker on the WordPressEngineTracker.com area title that lists what number of WordPress websites have moved away from managed net host WP Engine. It additionally recommends net hosts that present prospects can transfer to and presents a obtain of all domains which might be hosted on WP Engine.
An Automattic emailed Search Engine Journal provided background details about the WP Engine Tracker web site:
“The fantastic thing about open supply software program is that everybody is ready to entry knowledge on a granular stage, as a result of it’s all publicly out there data. That public knowledge has proven that ever since WP Engine filed its lawsuit – making it clear that they don’t have an official affiliation with WordPress and attracting larger consideration to the corporate’s poor service, modifications to the WordPress core software program, growing and convoluted pricing construction, and repeated down occasions – their prospects have left their platform for different internet hosting suppliers. WP Engine can and at all times has been capable of entry the WordPress software program and plugins out there on WordPress.org, as can anybody.”
Cloudflare Blocks WP Engine Tracker Web site
Someday on November ninth Cloudflare blocked entry to Automattic’s WP Engine Tracker web site with a message alerting Web customers that the web site has been reported for phishing makes an attempt.
The Cloudflare warning stated:
“Warning
Suspected Phishing
This web site has been reported for potential phishing.
Phishing is when a web site makes an attempt to steal delicate data by falsely presenting as a protected supply.”
WordPress Subreddit Cheers The Blocking
A Reddit dialogue appeared quickly after the positioning was blocked with the headline: Cloudflare is exhibiting a phishing warning on wordpressenginetracker.com
Typical feedback:
“Wow I’ve really by no means seen that display earlier than. That’s hilarious.”
“Because it ought to. Chrome ought to give it the pink display of loss of life”
“It’s an fascinating growth, which made me surprise: Are individuals reporting phishing to Cloudflare simply to mess with Mr. Mullenweg or is there one thing the positioning does that may really be thought-about phishing?
Cloudflare’s report type has one other kind of abuse to pick out, which, on this case, is as apparent because the solar on the sunniest day: Trademark infringement. Why are individuals reporting phishing?”
One commenter famous the web site was displaying a “403 Forbidden” error message if a web site customer ignored the warning and clicked by to the positioning. A 403 server response implies that the server acknowledges the browser request however is denying entry to the web site.
Screenshot Of Blocked Web site
Typosquatting Area Title Registered
Typosquatting is when somebody registers a website title that’s much like a model title and that customers could kind to go to. On this case, somebody registered the area title WPEngineTracker.com to make the most of the truth that Automattic had registered the area title WordPressEngineTracker.com however was calling it WP Engine Tracker. When individuals attempt to attain the Automattic web site by typing within the title of the positioning because the area they then arrive on the typosquat area.
Screenshot of Typosquat Area
The above area title was solely registered a couple of days in the past on November seventh. The Web being what it’s, it was inevitable that somebody would register the typosquat area title variant.
WordPressEngineTracker.com Is Again On-line
After a couple of hours of downtime Cloudflare eliminated the phishing block and the Automattic WordPress Engine Tracker web site was restored.
Featured Picture by Shutterstock/santypan