The website www.cartasdesdecuba.com is being attacked by hackers from the last several weeks, especially in the days before the release of my main post on Thursdays, with the evident intention of preventing its spread.
The blocking technique is to enter our site, plant viruses in their content for Google to detect and rate the website as dangerous, generating logical fear of Internet users, most of who then refuse to open it.
The attacks come from twenty different IP addresses, although we have no absolute certainty, but for some of its features, we believe that may be located outside of Cuba. Obviously we need to improve our security.
The problem is that it is not always within our economic reach. The page is financed entirely with the money I make writing for other media and almost volunteer work by IT people, web masters and photographers.
Some friends of Letters from Cuba recommend us even to move to a hosting with better protection. We made the first steps with those that were recommended to us but they were from the USA and when we mention Cuba they turned us down.
It is evident they are trying to silence our voice, mine and that of all those journalists, intellectuals and bloggers to which Letters from Cuba gives a space to disseminate their information, analyzes and opinions on the reality of the island.
We are between two visions of Cuba, one in which it is portrayed as a paradise and one where it is presented as the worst hell. We have tried to show that it is not one thing nor the other, but a country full of shades and colors.
The credibility among our readers we have won it as well, always informing, honoring what deserves to be honored and criticizing what should be criticized. Writing with the utmost respect for the Cuban people and taking into account the interests of the nation.
We know this has a cost and in recent weeks we have been paying it. However, in the same period we have received the solidarity of our readers from all over the world, many giving ideas to prevent attacks.
To all of them our commitment of not giving out in our efforts to help inform on Cuba in a objective and balanced manner. The people who follow us are our reason for being and the battle we fight is yours too.
To the media and blogs that have supported us by spreading our post, our gratitude, we will not forget you.
Regardless of how each of us thinks, the freedom of expression must be our common flag.
To our enemies we assure that we will get back on our feet a thousand times and we give you an idea of José Martí adapted to the situation, rest assured that a blog from the back of a cave is more powerful than an army of hackers.
