Ocean Shores radio board seeks webmaster after repeated website outages and security attacks
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Summary
The advisory board discussed recurring website outages, suspected administrator-panel attacks, and the need to hire a qualified webmaster to implement security fixes and modernization. The nonprofit arm paid $827 for higher bandwidth; members warned about vendor lockout risks from past contractors.
KOSW volunteers told the Ocean Shores Radio Advisory Board they are searching for a qualified webmaster to fix recurring outages, implement security protections and modernize the station’s site for mobile devices.
Why it matters: The station relies on its website for streaming, program information and archive access. Repeated outages and administrator-panel attacks have disrupted streaming, volunteer communications and the ability to process public inquiries.
What the board heard Trey (station operations) reported, “currently, we are in search for a good webmaster,” and described repeated incidents in which automated attempts to access the administrative panel required resets. Trey said the station’s nonprofit arm, North Beach Independent Media, paid an extra $827 to their host (HostPapa) for larger bandwidth but problems persisted and staff suspects targeted attacks rather than pure bandwidth limits.
Board members described a history of unstable webmaster relationships. One participant said a previous volunteer web contractor left with administrative credentials, leaving the station locked out of its site and unable to read several years of volunteer emails. Members urged caution about vendor agreements and recommended a written contract and city oversight or a local vendor with in-person support.
Technical and UX needs Board members and new DJ Larry Hansen emphasized mobile usability. Larry said text and links “blend in with the black background” on phones and that the site should be modernized with a mobile-first approach. Trey and others discussed the need for a webmaster who can implement code-level security hardening (suggested by HostPapa), maintain patches, and reconcile streaming title metadata so on-air song titles match the website displays.
Next steps The board discussed soliciting quotes from local web companies and bringing cost estimates to the next meeting’s quarterly budget review. Members also proposed asking the city to consider contractual safeguards to avoid another lockout by a single volunteer contractor.
