Our forums, other forums, and ability to read PM's

[jimnyc]

It's been brought to my attention that another board that will remain nameless, where a bunch of us used to gather, has been involved in reading PM's of their members.

I completely disagree with this utter lack of discretion and want to reassure every member here that no pm's will ever be read by staff at this board.

We run things properly here and completely respect our members, and will not lower ourselves to sneaking in the back door of your personal data.

That's all, carry on!

[KitchenKitten99]

i don't go over there much anymore anyway. i like it here better. now that i know about the above mentioned issue, not likely to go at all anymore.

[jimnyc]

Well, a few members from here were supposedly banned there for sending PM's to their friends. The reason given for their banishment was that they sent links to this board to said users to keep in contact...

How would one know that unless the PM itself was read by someone? Is it possible a user forwarded the PM to staff there? Doubtful, since the recipient of said PM hasn't even been online in ages and hasn't read the PM yet. So how else could staff have known the contents of said PM's?

[Dilloduck]

Well, a few members from here were supposedly banned there for sending PM's to their friends. The reason given for their banishment was that they sent links to this board to said users to keep in contact...

How would one know that unless the PM itself was read by someone? Is it possible a user forwarded the PM to staff there? Doubtful, since the recipient of said PM hasn't even been online in ages and hasn't read the PM yet. So how else could staff have known the contents of said PM's?

Honest question
Is it even possible for the admin or mods to read PMs ?

[CockySOB]

Honest question
Is it even possible for the admin or mods to read PMs ?

Should be. There are modifications and supplemental programs out there for most community-based software solutions which give the person with the right password access to everything. Remember, forums are simply relational databases in a hosted environment. Anyone with even minimal skill could pull data from the database that they want to see.

[darin]

Honest question
Is it even possible for the admin or mods to read PMs ?

The short answer is 'No - Not here'.

The long answer is 'I bet anyone sufficicently motivated could access the data base and read what they want. On the internet, few things are REALLY private.'

[Mr. P]

The short answer is 'No - Not here'.

The long answer is 'I bet anyone sufficicently motivated could access the data base and read what they want. On the internet, few things are REALLY private.'

Not 'anyone' you'd have to be in the admin loop, a hacker wouldn't waste their time or give a shit about a PMs on a board. Really.

[darin]

Not 'anyone' you'd have to be in the admin loop, a hacker wouldn't waste their time or give a shit about a PMs on a board. Really.

But if they did give a shit, they probably 'could'.

[CockySOB]

Not 'anyone' you'd have to be in the admin loop, a hacker wouldn't waste their time or give a shit about a PMs on a board. Really.

True enough. Most web hosting companies prefer to restrict access to the database server software either to specific known-good addresses, or to restrict all addresses and require the software to use local access via the network loopback address. The chances that a random hacker could directly access the database is minimal as long as basic security procedures are enacted. It's far more probable that a hacker would find an exploit in the application software which could bypass planned security measures.

[5stringJeff]

Jim does not have this feature installed here, nor is he interested in doing so.

[Dilloduck]

Jim does not have this feature installed here, nor is he interested in doing so.

but personal reputation comments are available for all mods and admins to see ?

[darin]

but personal reputation comments are available for all mods and admins to see ?

Yup. But's it not 'made available' - Admins/Mods can research the comments thru the control panel. We explained that on the other board. It serves a valid purpose. Rep points and comments aren't PERSONAL. Reputation is designed to comment on a PUBLICLY - VIEWABLE comment. The commentary to public comments are not personal. If a member wants to have sex-talk, make drug deals, or hit lists w/ other members thru the REP system, they may wanna think about getting a room.

[jimnyc]

Honest question
Is it even possible for the admin or mods to read PMs ?

Yes, but not without installing addition modifications to your server. This would be viewable eith via FTP for straight files, or in the AdminCP if it was installed directly. Staff here has been offered master login/password for both to verify if necessary.

There are 'hacks' as they call them available on vbulletin.org that will grant access to reading PM's, and has NEVER been installed on my servers and never will be.

I can't verify for the other site, but the reasoning for so many bannings for sending stuff in PM makes it apparent...

[Dilloduck]

Yup. But's it not 'made available' - Admins/Mods can research the comments thru the control panel. We explained that on the other board. It serves a valid purpose.

Which is ?

[darin]

Which is ?

So we can keep-tabs on you.

Rep points and comments aren't PERSONAL. Reputation is designed to comment on a PUBLICLY - VIEWABLE comment. The commentary to public comments are not personal. If a member wants to have sex-talk, make drug deals, or hit lists w/ other members thru the REP system, they may wanna think about getting a room.