Go Daddy is experiencing an outage today (September 10, 2012) on numerous sites, including their own. HostGator is giving 50% off on hosting and domain registrations.
UPDATE SEPTEMBER 11, 2012: Go Daddy Site Outage Investigation Completed – Not a DDoS Attack!
Previous Article and Updates below
There is an unconfirmed report that a malicious hacker known as “I REMOVED IT SO HE DOESN'T GET ANY MORE ATTENTION” has claimed to be responsible for this attack.
The exact number of account holders affected by this outage or how deep it goes is unknown at this time. We have contact GoDaddy's security team via telephone and email and we are waiting for a response. We'll update this post as soon as we know more.
Here's a couple of Godaddy's latest tweets about the outage:
[tweet https://twitter.com/GoDaddy/status/245213898683318272]
FYI: Currently, they are having phone trouble too because I just tried calling and got a fast busy.
[tweet https://twitter.com/GoDaddy/status/245236925311635456]
Then while I'm investigating what's going on with Godaddy, I was shocked to find out that Hostgator has jumped in on this outage.
They are offering a 50% off discount on new hosting accounts and domain registrations until September 12, 2012 at Midnight. I called HostGator and confirmed it.
Here's how you can save 50% at HostGator
Go to https://wpsecuritylock.com/hostgator < Thanks for using my affiliate link 🙂
Pick a new hosting plan and/or register a domain.
When you add it to your cart, you will see the coupon code “SPRING” already filled in.
To save 50%, change the current coupon code of SPRING or SUMMER to one of the following coupon codes, GODADDYISDOWN or RELIABLEHOST.
Expires September 12, 2012 at Midnight
You get 50% off on the following HostGator products:
- Any domain registration
- Any shared hosting plan (even up to 3 years)
- Any reseller hosting plan (even up to 24 months)
- Any dedicated hosting plan (1st monthl only then regular price)
Check out this video on GoDaddy's Outage:
Update 9/10/12 at 5:05pm: I just got off the phone with customer relations over at Godaddy. The security team is still working on the issue and has restored some services. Follow Godaddy on Twitter for updates. Their voice auto message says they are aware of an issue affecting email, our website and some customer websites. I am able to load Godaddy, but when clicking on some of their links they won't load. When I find out more, I'll update this post.
Here's the latest from Godaddy:
[tweet https://twitter.com/GoDaddy/status/245267376734605312]
[tweet https://twitter.com/GoDaddy/status/245267376734605312]
[tweet https://twitter.com/GoDaddy/status/245251422910836739]
Update 9/10/12 at 5:39pm: Good news! Just got a message from the head of security at Godaddy.
We have actually found the root cause, and will be releasing a statement soon.
Update 9/10/12 at 7:45pm: Looks like Godaddy has this under control. Here's their latest tweet.
[tweet https://twitter.com/GoDaddy/status/245315292119584769]
Update 9/11/12 at 7:15am: New notice at the top of Godaddy.com (click image to enlarge).
There are numerous reports from news sources that Godaddy could have experienced a DDoS. This is still unconfirmed. I'm still waiting on an update from Go Daddy.
“Things are restored,” Go Daddy spokeswoman Elizabeth Driscoll told CNET just before 5 p.m. PT today. She said she did not have many details and was hoping to be able to give an update with more information in the next 24 hours.
In an interview this afternoon, Driscoll reiterated that she could not say what the cause of the outage was, and that she could neither confirm nor deny claims made by the owner of a Twitter account affiliated with the Anonymous online activist collective who has boasted of causing the outage with a distributed denial-of-service (DDoS). She also said she could not say how many sites were affected, whether it was thousands or millions, or whether the outage had affected just sites hosted by Go Daddy or those who use its DNS services as well. She did say the outage started just after 10 a.m. PT today.
“The problem is I just don't have a lot of information for you right now,” Driscoll said.
Source: Article @ cnet.com – Go Daddy-serviced Web sites go down; hacker takes credit
The latest from Go Daddy System Alerts:
Recently Resolved Issues
Network September 10, 2012 at 10:28 AM
We are aware of an issue affecting several services, including email, our website and some customer websites. We understand your frustration. We want you to know that our team is investigating the source of the issue and is working to resolve it as quickly as possible. For updates, you can follow us on Twitter @GoDaddy.
Resolved September 10, 2012 at 6:41 PM
UPDATE 09/11/12 at 12:00pm: Go Daddy Site Outage Investigation Completed – Not a DDoS Attack!
I just updated this post with more news from Godaddy. Hopefully they’ll get it fixed soon.
Unfortunately, the so-called hacker is boasting on Twitter about hacking Godaddy. He also says he’ll hack the root DNS soon too. Maybe he should build shuttles for NASA instead and take a ride to Mars.
Another update. Just got a message from the security team at Godaddy. They are making progress. They have found the cause and will be releasing a statement soon. (Post updated above)
Wow, who could possibly have a motive to hack GoDaddy?
Hi Jon,
Good question. The motives that some hackers have astonishes me. For example, the so-called hacker tweeted the following this afternoon:
I’m taking godaddy down bacause well i’d like to test how the cyber security is safe and for more reasons that i can not talk now
Wow! You seem absolutely giddy about this.
I’m not giddy at all. I feel for any victim of a malicious attack. I’ve been reading tweets from the so-called hacker claiming to have done this and he/she is the one that sounds giddy. I hope Godaddy can recover quickly and get everyone’s domains working again. Some of my friends have domains that are down right now and no clue when they’re going to be fixed.
It’s a way for them to pimp their HostGator affiliate link, so of course they are giddy!
Dear Mr. Elf,
If seems that you don’t know me very well. I’m no pimp and I don’t wear a hat with a feather. I care about everyone’s website and internet security. However, if I’m going to promote another company of course I’m going to post my affiliate link. If I’m nice enough to investigate the issue, reach out to the hosting company to find out what’s going on, and verify that a coupon actually works you can be kind enough to use my affiliate link.
I don’t understand how you perceived Regina’s response as “giddy”. You should be thankful to have someone that takes the time to check into these things for us! If you aren’t interested in the info, why are you reading it anyway? Also, sharing an affiliate link is not making Regina rich, it probably covers her costs–and so what if she does make something extra, she’s putting the extra effort to bring us the info.
Credible commentors–ha, ha, ha–a golfing monkey and an elf!!
As for Jon, sounds like he needed someone to pick on today…
Keep up the great work, Regina–it is professional and very much appreciated! 🙂
Thank you Sheri, I appreciate that. Hopefully, GD’s security team will send me a statement to post tomorrow so we can find out exactly what happened. I don’t know if I believe the hacker claiming to have taken GD down. No proof has been shown yet. I’ll post as soon as I find out something.
I have several domains registered there and so far I haven’t found any that don’t work.
Honestly, your report, integrated first with the 30%, and now the 50% HostGator discount, is at the least, cheap and sleazy, and at the most, predatory and suspicious.
While I’ve had good reason to appreciate you in the past, this really hurts your credibility as an industry watchdog.
Jon
Hey Jon,
While I understand your perspective; I have to ask, when did it become a bad idea to promote reliable services? Especially when a service so promoted and popular as GoDaddy is proven to be unreliable. Massive amounts of people will want to move away from them to protect themselves.
Best,
-Michael
Jon,
I appreciate you being one of my readers. But I’ve spent over 3 hours investigating if Godaddy was hacked so I could send out a warning to people, tried their main number over 20 times to get some answers, called my contact at their security department and left voice mails, emailed them my findings about what is going on. And I’m not even hosted there and no one paid me to do it.
Then as more news develops I will update this post over the next couple of days as to what happened with Godaddy, which is on my own dime.
And I found it shocking that Hostgator jumped on this to offer a coupon code and called them three times to verify that they are offering the discount.
Should I have put that in my post too?
P.S. Thanks Cindy for your comment. I appreciate that.
I disagree Jon. GoDaddy is known to many of us in the industry to be a less than reputable host. They are excellent as a domain registrar, but far too many times I’ve run into clients who host with GoDaddy and receive little to no support, excessive site downtime, out-of-date software, and a general “pass the buck” attitude from GoDaddy’s staff.
Is Hostgator taking advantage of a competitor’s bad day? Perhaps. But I’m hoping this coupon code will nudge people away from a poor hosting choice and towards a much more responsive company. For Regina to fail to mention it here would be negligent on her part when it may in fact be helpful to some.
Let me clarify. I have nothing good to say about GoDaddy as a host. At best, they’re amateurs, and should stick with what they’re good at. I host nothing at GoDaddy, and frankly think no one else should do so. I do think they are outstanding as a registrar, especially after the job they did in cleaning up after the RegisterFly disaster. And in fact, their hosting services have had past issues with security. (Although the same could be said about a few of the so-called elite services)
I have my favorite, longtime host, who I consider the best for me and my clients. Not going to get into a your-host/my-host match.
My comments are specifically pointed to the ramifications for this site’s credibility. I understand I should not hold them to the same standards as I would one of the reporters beneath me in my journalism career. However, I continue to hold out hope that this type of media will at least take up some of the slack of journalism from the collapsing old media.
Credibility is critical, and the mixing of the “hard news” with a money-making hook is rather like a New Orleans reporter selling ice and clean water out of the back of the van while covering Hurricane Katrina.
Hi Jon,
Thanks for your comment. Sorry that you took my post differently that what I intended. We are all entitled to our opinions.
Jon, your remark is really unkind. Why would you post something like that and then try to get a backlink out of it? Regina’s reputation is intact. GoDaddy’s is not. As Cindy said, this is not the first time GoDaddy has had problems. I find their leadership at times questionable.
Thanks Dawn. I appreciate your input.
I only use Host Gator complete up time, reliable, and online customer service chat 24/7.
Hi Joe,
I have several sites hosted at Hostgator and have had no problems with them. I agree with you on up-time, reliability, and I haven’t used their “chat,” but I love how fast they answer the phone and my questions.
@ Jon It’s my experience that other sites would link to Hostgator and not mention that it is an affiliate link. It is very unusual for someone to say ‘hey — this is my link if you want to use it’. A reader could just go to hostgator.com and use the code that Regina provided and she wouldn’t get a dime.
Regina — keep up the good work keeping us safe out there in the Wild Wild West. 🙂
Thanks Christine,
I appreciate your kind words.
For those of us that already have a Hostgator hosting plan is there some way we can get the savings? Doesn’t seem fair that we have to continue to pay 100% when others can save 50%. Any idea and how to get it done?
Thanks!
Marge,
It’s kind like DirecTV. You get Sunday NFL ticket if you get a new account while I have to pay for it each year? Guess if I bought a new house and “moved” my service then I could get it free. The only way to save is to get new account.
nice.
I actually have put a support ticket in asking them the same question.
Doesn’t seem very fair that I have paid full price for years while someone just starting with them gets it 1/2 off. I understand your logic, but it doesn’t keep their existing customers very happy.
You have a good point. As far as new accounts, you only get the discount off your first bill. So if you buy 1 month or 3 years of hosting you get the discount at 50% now. When you renew it’s back to full price.
Yeah their support team basically said tough luck.
Not very current customer friendly.
I would have committed to 3 years but they aren’t concerned
about keeping long-standing customers happy, only getting new ones.
Maybe when long-standing ones jump ship to other hosting companies
that are willing to give us good discounts they’ll realize their folly.
Oh well.
Thanks Regina for keeping all of us updated on the mess at GoDaddy and thanks to for letting us know about the 50% off at HostGator. So sorry that some folks are suspicious of your motives. Shame on them!
You’re welcome MaryJo.
I just updated this post with another announcement from Godaddy. Looks like they are making great headway in restoring all services. Most sites are now fixed.
Godaddy also stated that NO customer data was compromised.
Just updated my post above. Looks like Go Daddy has restored all services and will release an update soon. Still no confirmation as to what caused the outage. Glad they got it fixed so quickly.
UPDATE SEPTEMBER 11, 2012: Go Daddy Site Outage Investigation Completed – Not a DDoS Attack! Click the link below to see GoDaddy’s findings.
Hi Regina,
I was one of the many, many customers who were directly affected by this outtage a few months ago. I had several sites – including that for my main, offline business – affected and to say it through a spanner into the works would be an understatement. You’ve done really well here in this post to cover this incident in an unbiased way and you’ve been really comprehensive with Twitter screen shots and so on.
I did want to just quickly not something about the whole outage from my end – as a customer – as that is I believe GoDaddy’s customer service was first-rate during and after the whole thing. I’m not affiliated with them and I know a lot of people that use and adore HostGator too but, I just feel that a lot of people are getting on GoDaddy’s back but sometimes things happen – the fact they kept us informed on an ongoing basis (another benefit of social media, huh) could have actually proved the difference between retaining customers and having them go to competitive providers whilst frustrated. What do you think?
Hi Darcy,
Godaddy has been quick in informing customers via social media of issues. Unfortunately, some don’t know where to go and check. Then they call the phone lines and are on hold for long periods of time. It would be good if Godaddy would email all their customers and let them know where to check if there is an outage or issue that may affect them so they have it readily available.
I was a loyal customer of GoDaddy for almost 5 years, despite having problem after problem with their service. I didn’t think their customer service was especially up to scratch so I ended up switching to HostGator about 18 months ago now. This Outage just reminded me of why I’m glad I’m no longer one of the unfortunate ones that have to endure these hiccups that GoDaddy are always seeming to have.