What I learned from being hacked!

As some of you know I had the unfortunate experience of being hacked a few weeks ago.  I thought I would share some "lessons learned"  after realizing my brand new wesite had been hacked. If I can save anyone out there from going through  the frustrations and the fear of possibly losing all my hard work, then that would be great! I hope this will help other illustrators/artists who created their own websites( and like me are not IT specialists or programmers by any stretch of the imagination) to protect your  lovely websites and give you  some things to consider, and steps to take to better protect your website.

I had only had my site up for about a month or so, when I logged on one day to find that it had been hacked. Well of course I freaked out, and quickly emailed my support techs at my hosting company.  While they tried to restore my website from a backup, the hacker had embedded some nasty code in my site, possibly through my own computer, so going through the repeated process of deleting, reinstalling WP files, then restoring my backup was not fixing the problem. I ended up having my account suspended twice over a 2 week period becuase the hacker had my site linked to some phishing schemes that caused it to be flagged by phishing patrol websites. Luckily my friend Jonathan Woodward at zero2illo suggested  his go-to guy for website and WordPress security issues Neil Matthews. He runs a website for WordPress coaching and technical support called WP DUDE. Great name too don't you think?

Neil quickly diagnosed the problem and offered a security service review to beef up my WordPress security. His rates are very reasonable, and believe me it was the best money I ever spent for the peace of mind of knowing my site is protected properly. (insert big sigh of relief here!)
Then about a week or so later I was hacked again! I know it's not personal but it sure feels that way! I've been joking that some one out in cyberspace must really have a thing against plasticine illustration and all things creative-honestly!
Neil was quick to relay the bad news and look into it for me. The hacker got in this time through my FTP, so he could circumvent all the security Neil had just put in place. Geesh. He is going to share with me some steps to ensure my FTP is more secure.

I honestly am so thankful to Neil, who runs the super amazing website WP DUDE. He was so prompt, patient, and helpful,  like an WordPress knight in shining armour, rescuing me from my hacker nightmare!  Neil, thank-you, thank-you ,thank-you!

I highly recommend Neil's services for any security issues you may have, or wonder about, to ensure your site is secure. I signed up for his WordPress troubleshooting methodology mini course, so that I can learn how to troubleshoot myself and further educate myself should I have WP issues in the future. Knowledge is power people!
Neil also offers a fantastic webinar series( yes my Mom even signed on for his webinar series!) and his WP DUDE blog is jam-packed full of other Wordpress goodness for anyone wanting to educate themselves and make their WP sites as great as they can be.  So go now, and check it out!! You will be glad you did.


So  to break it down here are the things I learned:

1. Always back up your website. and back it up often. You can do this via a plug-in or through your host provider, or both.

2. Aways update your site with the latest versions of your WP platform, theme and plug-ins. Any security holes will hopefully be taken care of in the most recent version.

3.Go to WP DUDE and educate yourself on how to protect your website

4. Make sure to set unique and difficult passwords with upper case, lower case, numbers and symbols for each password. Never use names or the same password for more than one account or email. And if you are hacked go and change every single password to ensure the hacker can't access any other personal info.

5. Scan your computer once a week or so with Malware to rid any nasty viruses you may have inadvertantly picked up.  My kids also have access to our computer, and you know how they can be click-happy, so I scan more often just in case.

6. If you fear you have been hacked or need technical assistance, contact Neil Matthews through his website WP DUDE . Save yourself some frustration and let a friendly, knowledgable professional fix your site right the first time!

I'm on zero2illo!

Ok, I'm bursting with excitement to tell you that Jonathan Woodward, of the fabulous zero2illo website, has just  posted a new article in his Process of Illustration series featuring moi!! This is so, so exciting!  I am so honoured to have been asked by Jonathan to share my process for zero2illo. Zero2illo has been a HUGE part in my journey toward "going for it" and becoming an illustrator. It is such  a great go-to resource, where I feel such support and encouragement  not only by Jonathan and Lea but by the other great illustrators I have met through the z2i forum.

 I documented my process for the "Snow Angel" illustration I did for an Illustration Friday topic. I was so happy with it I ended up using it as a promo piece.

I know how much I love reading how other artists work and seeing their process. I  find them very inspiring and I always take away a little something, either a technique or idea to push my art further.

 I hope you find it interesting and  enjoy the post!

Thanks again Jonathan for the feature!!! :) 

Still trying to fix my website...

HI Everyone,
Sorry I have been absent form my blog lately. As some of you already know, my website was hacked and the hackers linked it to some phishing sites- jerks! So I have been trying for the past 2 weeks to get it all corrected and sorted out. It's been a bit of a nightmare. I hope to have it back up ASAP.
In other news, I have been busy working on a 1st birthday cake for my adorable niece. After having 3 boys before my daughter, I still get giddy when designing anything girly. I will post a picture once it is complete.
Bye for now!

My Moo business cards are here!!

I'm so excited. My very first set of business cards from Moo just arrived in the mail!!! Lalalalaaa.! I should be folding laundry but instead I jumped online to share my fun news. I tried Moo's Printfinity option and chose 11 of my favorite images to use on my business cards. I love this idea because it allows you to carry around  a mini portfolio of your work in your purse, that you can take out and show as you offer someone your card: "pick a card any card". Too cool!

I am also waiting on my very first set of postcard mailers from Overnight Prints. I couldn't resist the 30% off winter sale their where offering, on their already amazing prices.  And I liked the selection of postcard sizes and edges (rounded or not)  from which to choose.  Many other illustrators I admire seem to be really happy with their quality. So I thought I'd give them a shot too.

This feels like Christmas! Yippeeee!

Let me know what you think of my shiny new business cards! I even got the cutest pink card holder for my purse.:)

Facebook- finally!

Hi Everyone,

I am pleased to announce that I am finally on Facebook. Hahahah, I know, what the heck took me so long, I've been bugged by family and friends for years now. I wanted to start up a page for my illustration business, so that is really what got the fire lit under me. I am really loving Twitter, so I thought I might as well get my FB page going too.

If you get a change please check out my page, and "like" me if you like ;)

I've got annual check-ups at the Dr.s office today for all 4 kiddos at the same time, .....wish me luck, and lots of patience!



Lunch Box Love-part 4 and 5

Here is the lunch box love note that I sent in my boys lunches yesterday. It's a photo of my little daughter in dress-up army gear. Of course, she has to be like the big brothers, no princess dresses here. My oldest, who is an avid history buff, has created his own army troop, were each sibling has their own special rank. It's too cute to see them marching around the house like ducks in a row, saluting as they march past. 

They adore there little sister, so I thought they'd get a kick out of having a lunch love note from her, to express her love for them as she misses them so much when they are off at school all day long.

Here is today's lunch box love note. I didn't have much time this morning as my oldest was getting organized to head out to his first out of town hockey tournament, so I cheated a bit and used some handy-dandy scrapbooking stickers to make a fishing themed note. The kids are already counting down the days until we will be going back up to the family cottage  in the spring.

This has been a fun week creating lunch box love notes for my kiddies, and now that the week is ending I am busy thinking up ideas for next week. I guess I have reset the precedent now and my usual quick napkin notes will no longer cut it??! ;)

Thanks so much Holli Conger for creating the Lunch Box Love Challenge- we had a lot of FUN!!!

IF "Sweater"

This week's theme for Illustration Friday is sweater. I immediately had this idea to do a little girl (OK it my darling daughter who posed ;)- too cute eh?!) in a cozy cable knit sweater making snow angels gleefully in the snow.
 I also wanted an opportunity to try making knitwear in plasticine. I was recently wowed by some polymer clay knit jewelery work featured on Polymer Clay Daily created by Claire Wallis. I know, amazing isn't it? So I thought it would be cool to try doing it in plasticine. I changed up the process a bit to suit the plasticine as it is much more malleable than polymer clay, but overall I am really happy with the result.
You know me, I love details and  textures, so this close-up illustration provided me with the perfect chance to play and create lots of authentic textures.
You will see it's process documented in another post that I will fill you all in on later on....exciting stuff.
I'd love your feedback as always!!