[LUG] Comments - and junk

[Neil Winchurst <barnaby@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Four years ago I set up my first web site. It is intended to be of 
interest only to family (we are well scattered both in the UK and 
abroad). Being new to using the web, though not new to computers, I set 
up a photo gallery, a blog and a photoblog.

I soon lost interest in the blog. I had thought it a way of keeping up 
to date with family news, but I decided that I would prefer to use phone 
and email, which I still do. So I just stopped using the blog program.

Near the end of last year I suddenly received a warning message telling 
me that my web site was nearly out of memory. Research showed me that it 
was the blog program causing the problem, specifically the comments. 
When I checked the database I found that the comments table was huge. It 
turned out that I had been receiving 'comments' for months, but because 
I didn't look at the blog program I had not realised it.

And, of course, they weren't really proper comments, just junk from 
people trying to sell me stuff. So I did what I should have done in the 
first place and deleted the blog program and its database. Suddenly I 
had plenty of room again.

Now I am much more careful to check the web site regularly. Recently I 
have started to have something similar on the photoblog, which I still 
use. I keep getting 'comments' which are again attempts to sell me 
stuff. Luckily I have found it in plenty of time. I have now renamed the 
main folder for the program (Pixelpost) which should stop the nonsense 
for a time at least. Interestingly, all the 'comments' were aimed at 
just one photo.

Anyone on the LUG had anything similar? If there are any comments, 
suggestions and advice I would be grateful. Meanwhile the moral of the 
story is - keep a careful eye on your website.

Regards

Neil Wincurst

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