We were ahead of the game, and we blocked what was almost certainly this same network using automated tools.
Some of you may have seen the recent news regarding Dutch authorities and their National Cyber Security Centre dismantling a massive global botnet comprising over 17 million compromised devices. When we were seeing hundreds of thousands of systems from all over the world hitting our servers to scrape public posts, it wasn't just random noise—it fit the exact pattern of these massive "residential proxy" botnets.
These attacks work by quietly infecting everyday devices—home routers, smart cameras, computers, and phones. The attackers then route their traffic through those hijacked connections to hide their true location, making malicious scraping look like it is originating from ordinary households.
I want to reassure everyone that your private information was never at risk. These automated systems could only access what any non-logged-in guest can see; your emails, passwords, and private messages remained completely secure. The custom defensive measures we deployed to block those specific networks worked exactly as intended to protect our community space.
Since these global networks rely on hijacking unsecured home tech, this serves as a gentle reminder to perform a quick check on your own devices. Ensuring your home Wi-Fi router is running the latest firmware and has a strong, unique password—rather than the default credentials—goes a long way in keeping your own digital home from being unknowingly recruited into these networks.
As I mentioned recently, we are now using real-time mitigation and shifting to rolling blocks for offending networks. This keeps our defenses agile and strong without causing unnecessary hiccups for legitimate members trying to connect. We are in a much better, quieter place now. Thank you all for your incredible patience and for sticking with me while I worked to clear this noise and reclaim our space. It truly means the world to me to keep this community safe and running smoothly for everyone.
—— Susan💜
PS: For those who would like to read the full reports from the security journalists who covered this story, here are the original sources:
