Automattic’s WP Engine Tracker web site was briefly 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 in opposition to Matt Mullenweg.
Automattic, presumably below the course of Matt Mullenweg, lately created an internet site referred to as WP Engine Tracker on the WordPressEngineTracker.com area identify that lists what number of WordPress websites have moved away from managed internet host WP Engine. It additionally recommends internet hosts that present prospects can transfer to and gives 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 great thing about open supply software program is that everybody is ready to entry information on a granular stage, as a result of it’s all publicly accessible info. That public information 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 all the time has been capable of entry the WordPress software program and plugins accessible 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 info by falsely presenting as a protected supply.”
WordPress Subreddit Cheers The Blocking
A Reddit discussion 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 purple display of loss of life”
“It’s an attention-grabbing improvement, 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 means of to the positioning. A 403 server response signifies that the server acknowledges the browser request however is denying entry to the web site.
Screenshot Of Blocked Web site
Typosquatting Area Identify Registered
Typosquatting is when somebody registers a website identify that’s much like a model identify and that customers could kind to go to. On this case, somebody registered the area identify WPEngineTracker.com to make the most of the truth that Automattic had registered the area identify WordPressEngineTracker.com however was calling it WP Engine Tracker. When individuals attempt to attain the Automattic web site by typing within the identify of the positioning because the area they then arrive on the typosquat area.
Screenshot of Typosquat Area
The above area identify 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 identify 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
