URL Rewrite Attack - Traffic Drop - 301 redirect help

Since i was hit by the url-rewrite-attack i had a massive traffic drop from over 50%! I've noticed the problem 6 days after the attack. So there are many new and wrong urls in google index. That's a problem. But the bigger problem ist that my serp rankings went down - extremely down.

And i am not the only one...

So what can/should we do next/best to get back our old rankings/traffic as soon as possible?

Hello Christian,

Should I assume you are referring to your config.xml settings being changed to a random setting? (the base64 issue is not related to vBSEO)

If that is the case, and your config settings have been randomly changed, I would suggest you establish 301-redirects from your changed URLs to your correctly formatted URLs. In time, traffic should normalize. If you need help setting the 301's, please provide us the following 4 URL formats (via this thread or ticket ok):

Thread URL (changed value)
Thread URL Pagination (changed value)
Forum URL (true value)
Forum URL Pagination (true value)

Hello Juan,

the changed thread-url-format is only a little bit different from the original.

You can see the changed format here: Google

--> First Place "Cris des Jahres"

Changed:

Code:

www.fanlager.de/fussball-stammtisch/39407-der-cris-des-jahres-2010-2011-a.html

Original:

Code:

http://www.fanlager.de/fussball-stammtisch/der-cris-des-jahres-2010-2011-a-39407.html

Seems like only the position of the thread-id was changed.

What does "Pagination" mean? And where can i controll this?

You can try to teach me what to do exactly (301 Redirect). If that does not work you will get a support ticket.

Please change the Threadtitle to "URL Rewrite Attack - Traffic Drop - What to do best?". Thx.

Originally Posted by Silmarillion

What does "Pagination" mean? And where can i controll this?

It means the 2nd, 3rd (etc.) page on a thread. For the 'original' version, that is:
http://www.fanlager.de/fussball-stammtisch/der-cris-des-jahres-2010-2011-a-2-39407.html

What was this for the 'changed' version?

I don't know, Juan. Is there any option to controll this? Google Serps/Cache?

Ok, I've found your other format from Google's cache. I've flagged the thread for Oleg to provide you the 301's.

Hello,

please try to add this in Custom Redirect section in vBSEO CP:

Code:

'^.+/(\d+)-.+\D\.html' => 'showthread.php?t=$1'

Thx, Oleg. Seems to work.

How long should i use this custom redirect?

You can leave it in forever if you want. It won't do anything unless something matches the old urls.

I found some serp listed threads (attacked, rewritten url format) that doesn't work with the 301 redirect.

E.g.: http://www.fanlager.de/fussball-wm-2...-2010-a-2.html

Google: http://www.google.de/#hl=de&q=neue+d...f5cad4bce74aeb

Position 1; try to click the side-pages listed below the thread. They don't match with the thread-pages.

Any ideas/reasons?

That's a thread pagination link it seems, please try to add another rewrite rule:

Code:

'^.+/(\d+)-.+-a-(\d+)\.html' => 'showthread.php?t=$1&page=$2'

Works! You're the man, Oleg. Thx.

You are welcome!