Read Your Members Private Messages (v1.2)

[Trigunflame]

First of all, I take no credit for this hack as its original coding and design is product of Scott And Xiphoid as shown in:

https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?t=59617

This hack is merely a bug fix and feature fix, as when I originally used the script I noticed a lot of small visual problems as well as misc other things.

Lots of the linking was a bit messed up, when you read peoples PM's you couldnt tell who they were from, it only shown who they were to etc.. Just a lot of stuff, I added who they were sent from, and sent to and clicking on the names take your to Their inbox instead of their userinfo section in the Admin Panel etc..

So yes, they get all the credit, I just thought people would want the bug fixed version. If scott or xiphoids wants to take this thread down, and stick the script in their original thread - fine by me.

Enjoy, and thanks you for making it first, lol.

[Dean C]

Did you get permission off floris/scott? Also if this is his code just touched up it shouldn't really be a new release :)

[Trigunflame]

Nah I didnt get his permission, but his release was quite buggy and personally I dont think you should release something if its got obvious bugs in it, im just doing a service for people that want something thats clean.

All I did was clean up what was there and add a few more features, all of the code in that script is generic functions used by Vbulletin to handle PM's anyway so no worries. :)

[nexialys]

Trigunflame... the point is not the work you've done on the script, but the rules...

if you want to play on the OpenSource playground, you have to follow the rules.
1- ask the originate coder to have the right to release a new version of his work
2- wait for the answer, not just ask.
3- release if you have the right, or make your own version not based on the originate work...

[Trigunflame]

Well

1. I didnt ask because this is not an altogether new thing, its just a bug fix
2. If he doesnt like it, he can get it removed.
3. Most of the code is based solely on vbulletins built in queries that it uses to handle fetching pm's so the only real code modification is that of allowing you to view a particular list of them via an id variable. Technically "making" my own version, would not be feasible as there is really only 1 way as to which to get pm's from a db in the manner in which is needed..
4. Seeing as your a relatively new member, I really dont need to be getting rules from you, thanks.

[nexialys]

i will not argue anymore, as it's not my role here, but ...

if it's just a bugfix, why didn't you released it in the originate thread instead ?!.. this is the usual thing we all do here... anyway, good luck with the rules you don't want to follow!

[drumsy]

Well

1. I didnt ask because this is not an altogether new thing, its just a bug fix
2. If he doesnt like it, he can get it removed.
3. Most of the code is based solely on vbulletins built in queries that it uses to handle fetching pm's so the only real code modification is that of allowing you to view a particular list of them via an id variable. Technically "making" my own version, would not be feasible as there is really only 1 way as to which to get pm's from a db in the manner in which is needed..
4. Seeing as your a relatively new member, I really dont need to be getting rules from you, thanks.


1. The moment you modified one character in the original code, it becomes updated or new.
2. Do the honorable thing, remove it yourself until you obtain permission.
3. Regardless of your incorporation of built-in vBulletin queries, you are doing it on a hack that you did not create. End of story.

Thumbsdown for this hack. I will not be installing it.

[pjdaley]

lol, jezuz. lol.... i think... if you ask they wouldn't mind... but you should ask... mod please take it off or something, then put it back... :ermm:

[Trigunflame]

1. The moment you modified one character in the original code, it becomes updated or new.
2. Do the honorable thing, remove it yourself until you obtain permission.
3. Regardless of your incorporation of built-in vBulletin queries, you are doing it on a hack that you did not create. End of story.

Thumbsdown for this hack. I will not be installing it.

I frankly dont care if you install it or not, the release of this was not to present something new, it was to fix something released. So w/e.

[drumsy]

I frankly dont care if you install it or not, the release of this was not to present something new, it was to fix something released. So w/e.

Sorry, that doesn't matter. Your thread and others like it are not appreciated. Members who take the time to create a hack are being undermined by people such as yourself who have no respect for another person's work.

I strongly urge you, remove your content and attachment in the first place. If you wait until a moderator or administrator does it, you might come out a little worse off than if you do it now.

[Silverdawn222]

Yep, thumbs down. :ermm:

[Dean C]

Ok guys calm down :) This guy is sharing his work so lets thank him for that. The point is you need to ask permission for things like this and installers install mods at their own risk :) I'll get back to you...

[58sniper]

Here's an addon:

In admincp/user.php

find:

"user.php?$session[sessionurl]do=remove&userid=$userid"
=> $vbphrase['delete_user'],


and put this underneath that:

"pm.php?userid=$userid"
=> $vbphrase['view_user_pm'],


and then add a new phrase, 'view_user_pm' that says "View Private Messages".

This will add the VIEW PRIVATE MESSAGES option to the pulldown at the top when viewing a user in the admincp.

[Trigunflame]

Good addition :)

Sorry if I caused any of you some sort of mental breakdown, lol.. I hardly think Scott or Xiphoid cares as this category is....very bare with not many hacks, so I didnt think it would be that big of a deal to populate it with a new thread of a bugfix and feature addition.

Generally I would certainly do that before modifying a popular and well used hack, IF i was using the code to make something of my own. In this case Im not doing this as crediting the script to me, Im just making a bugfix to their current script because they havent done them, and as I stated before it can be taken down if it offends either of the two.

Thats all I have to say about this, no hard feelings anyone.

[ImportPassion]

i am getting a couple of errors at the top


Warning: array_keys(): The first argument should be an array in /home/public_html/forums/admin/pm.php on line 156

Fatal error: Cannot create references to/from string offsets nor overloaded objects in /home/public_html/forums/admin/pm.php on line 158

[lordofgun]

You guys are a bunch of retards. Calm down.

[Sirius Black]

Great additions Trigunflame !! Definately needed an update . . .

/me clicks install.

[Lionel]

Jesus, the guy did say in his post he is not taking credits for that. He is merely contributing to the community.

There is nothing wrong if someone wants to improve.

[zetetic]

No offense to the original coders or to the bug fixer here (all of whom I'm sure did a fine job), but I have to give this hack thumbs down just on principle. Why would anyone be reading their member's private messages? :paranoid:

[JTMON]

No offense to the original coders or to the bug fixer here (all of whom I'm sure did a fine job), but I have to give this hack thumbs down just on principle. Why would anyone be reading their member's private messages? :paranoid:


You may want to read the 10+ pages discussing it on the original release in the 2.2 section or the 3.0 release in this section....I originally requested it a long time ago and many people find it useful for MANY different reasons.

[zetetic]

You may want to read the 10+ pages discussing it on the original release in the 2.2 section or the 3.0 release in this section....I originally requested it a long time ago and many people find it useful for MANY different reasons.
Okay I just read the 17 page thread in the 2.2 section and the 7 page thread in this section. I'm disappointed by what I saw, but not at all surprised. It is sadly typical in such situations that only a small handful of people will take a stand against undermining civil liberties such as protection of personal privacy while many others will eagerly trample others rights in favor of maximizing their personal power and control.

Ethical arguments aside, there was no reasonable challenge to Bira's legal points, either. And no, I don't consider your "phpMyAdmin does the same thing" argument effective. As Bira pointed out, you install this hack to read PM's, period. The odds are slim that you install phpMyAdmin for that sole purpose. I strongly encourage anyone who reads this to heed Bira's advice and forewarn their users that their PM's are not private if this hack is installed.

And lastly, the only somewhat reasonable arguments I read in either of those threads (i.e. prevention of spam, porn, warez, and threats) can now be easily handled by simply requesting that your users forward any such PM's to the administration, given the fact that "forward" is now a built in feature that wasn't available when these points were first made.

So with all this in mind, do you have any other justification for enabling easy access to your user's PM's?

[ixian]

Okay I just read the 17 page thread in the 2.2 section and the 7 page thread in this section. I'm disappointed by what I saw, but not at all surprised. It is sadly typical....


The only thing sadly typical is that you read through all that and still decided your opinion was special enough to make another post about it in another thread AGAIN.

The major point all of you guys are missing is that NO ONE CARES. All this hypothetical debate does is demonstrate the absolute height of internet nerdism. Jesus but this stuff gets old.

In short, please take your arguments to one of the other threads. Thanks.

[Lionel]

I don't think it is a good idea to criticize any hack and question its morality as everyone has his own needs.

Someone ought to be crazy to sit and go to its members PM. But there will be situations sometimes where you need to access records (that's how I view those PM), not necessarily to snoop around. Then what do you do? Go to mysql? I'll be silly to deny yourselves with fast access to those records.

Someone who is sick enough to snoop on people can do so by accessing the database. He'll be compelled to do it with or without this hack.

As administrators, you have some responsibilities. The same way that you will not be snooping your mysql, I don't see why you will have to do so because of a hack.

I think that if the author renames this hack to "quick access to all pm" instead of "read your members pm" it would have caused less roar.

[Dean C]

What you are saying is correct tmhall :) However, as long as you let you users know then it's perfectly legal

[Lionel]

shouldn't users also know that you can easily access them thru mysql?

[Dean C]

It's not a case of what the user should know. I hardly think that a 10 year old new to the internet who just found a UnrealTournemant forum via a search would know anything about MySQL :)

It's your legal responsibility as site owner to have a privacy policy to cover yourself and explain the usage of data on your site :)

[Odysseus]

This is a despicable hack and I cannot understand why vb.org administrators can allow it.

There is a reason why "private messages" are called "private". And it's NOT valid to say that the admin can read them easily with phpMyAdmin - this is so because it cannot be avoided. But the hack even encourages an admin to read PNs!

I doubt that this is even legal in most countries ...

[???`S?LV?R???`]

awesome, this hack will be good for security measures :)

[kall]

This is a despicable hack and I cannot understand why vb.org administrators can allow it.

There is a reason why "private messages" are called "private". And it's NOT valid to say that the admin can read them easily with phpMyAdmin - this is so because it cannot be avoided. But the hack even encourages an admin to read PNs!

I doubt that this is even legal in most countries ...
Personally, I couldn't ethically justify ever installing or using this hack, however there have already been pages and pages of debate on this subject.

It is the individual admin's choice to install it or not, and the debate just circles and circles.

[Floris]

Well

1. I didnt ask because this is not an altogether new thing, its just a bug fix
2. If he doesnt like it, he can get it removed.
3. Most of the code is based solely on vbulletins built in queries that it uses to handle fetching pm's so the only real code modification is that of allowing you to view a particular list of them via an id variable. Technically "making" my own version, would not be feasible as there is really only 1 way as to which to get pm's from a db in the manner in which is needed..
4. Seeing as your a relatively new member, I really dont need to be getting rules from you, thanks.
If this is a bug fix, why didn't you contact me or scott about it so we can release an update and credit you for the bug fix? Now we have 2 threads, nothing but confusion.

If you'd have asked me, I would have said 'yeah sure, go ahead', now I just shrug and leave it to the site staff to process.

[JTMON]

This is a despicable hack and I cannot understand why vb.org administrators can allow it.

There is a reason why "private messages" are called "private". And it's NOT valid to say that the admin can read them easily with phpMyAdmin - this is so because it cannot be avoided. But the hack even encourages an admin to read PNs!

I doubt that this is even legal in most countries ...


Ya, they are called private because they are private from OTHER members and not PUBLICLY posted. Most privacy policies say what you will use the info for...not that you don't have access or won't access the info at all. People who think this encourages admins to read their user pms need help. Most of us have enough of a life to not just have some desire to read user pms unless a need or problem occurs. We don't have the time or the will to just go crazy and read pms, especially if you run a busy site. I currently don't have this installed on my new board simply because there is NO problem currently and its still very small so no need. I WOULD NOT count on other users, nor place the burden of them having to forward me certain pms that should not be floating around. The legal aspect was covered in the other thread too and as the wording of the law goes it wouldn't even seem to apply to this....

[zetetic]

The only thing sadly typical is that you read through all that and still decided your opinion was special enough to make another post about it in another thread AGAIN.

The major point all of you guys are missing is that NO ONE CARES. All this hypothetical debate does is demonstrate the absolute height of internet nerdism. Jesus but this stuff gets old.

In short, please take your arguments to one of the other threads. Thanks.
I guess the "absolute height of internet nerdism" is a relative speculation. To me, that label is more appropriately applied to someone who takes time out of their day to post on a thread they have no interest in only to whine about the fact that other people are discussing something he disapproves of, while contributing nothing of actual substance to it.

So you don't care about respecting the privacy of your board users. So what? That doesn't make you special, it makes you ordinary. That's why organizations like the ACLU exist. To protect us all from the erosion of our civil liberties that results from ordinary people making ordinary decisions. And yes, we're only talking about an Internet discussion board here. You're right. That's the worst part of this. If you can't be bothered to stand up for the rights of your discussion board users, what are the odds you'll stand up for anyone's rights in real life? Slim to none, I'd guess.

All that aside, as I said and as Dean and others have pointed out repeatedly, the ethical argument isn't even relevant to whether you should warn your board users that this hack is installed and that private messages are not private to protect yourself from litigation. Bira said it best here (https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showpost.php?p=203840&postcount=79). Even if you don't have the slightest respect for your users privacy, you should at least have the sense to protect yourself.

[JTMON]

Yes but Bira also said this:

"However, once you take measures that actively violate the privacy of a user -- for example, install software that will allow you to read their personal communication - you are no longer within the bounds of "reasonable violation".

Guess nobody is allowed to install PHPMyAdmin because that would allow them to read your personal info...I also used Bira post OF the law and believe I referenced the points on how this hack does NOT even fall under that law....

BTW..you may be interested to know that it would seem a privacy policy does NOT constitute a contract between your users and yourself. Northwestern airlines outright VIOLATED their stated policy and the judge threw the case against them out...and those people SHARED their data with OTHER COMPANIES.....read more here:

http://news.com.com/Judge+tosses+online+privacy+case/2100-1023_3-5234971.html?tag=nefd.top

[zetetic]

Yes but Bira also said this:

"However, once you take measures that actively violate the privacy of a user -- for example, install software that will allow you to read their personal communication - you are no longer within the bounds of "reasonable violation".

Guess nobody is allowed to install PHPMyAdmin because that would allow them to read your personal info...I also used Bira post OF the law and believe I referenced the points on how this hack does NOT even fall under that law....
And as Bira explained to you then (which is the reason I already told you on the last page that I don't think your phpMyAdmin argument is effective):

The law distinguishes between passive and active privacy violation.

Storing information on your server is passive. It is reasonable that a service provider will have the information stored on its server, and therefore it is reasonable to assume that someone with access could view that information.

However, once you take measures that actively violate the privacy of a user -- for example, install software that will allow you to read their personal communication - you are no longer within the bounds of "reasonable violation".

BTW..you may be interested to know that it would seem a privacy policy does NOT constitute a contract between your users and yourself. Northwestern airlines outright VIOLATED their stated policy and the judge threw the case against them out...and those people SHARED their data with OTHER COMPANIES.....read more here:

http://news.com.com/Judge+tosses+online+privacy+case/2100-1023_3-5234971.html?tag=nefd.top
That is interesting, thanks. It illuminates a pretty serious failing of American privacy law IMO. However, where in that article does it say "a privacy policy does NOT constitute a contract between your users and yourself"? All I found is that the judge deemed the case had no merit "in part because the privacy policy posted on the airline's Web site was unenforceable unless plaintiffs claimed to have read it. " Obviously that doesn't apply to vBulletin, since in order to register people have to click a box that indicates that they have read the policies.

[JTMON]

And as Bira explained to you then (which is the reason I already told you on the last page that I don't think your phpMyAdmin argument is effective):




That is interesting, thanks. It illuminates a pretty serious failing of American privacy law IMO. However, where in that article does it say "a privacy policy does NOT constitute a contract between your users and yourself"? All I found is that the judge deemed the case had no merit "in part because the privacy policy posted on the airline's Web site was unenforceable unless plaintiffs claimed to have read it. " Obviously that doesn't apply to vBulletin, since in order to register people have to click a box that indicates that they have read the policies.

Bira didn't explain anything then, you are not referencing the post I am talking about...I don't even think you looked in the right thread actually. He posted the law...I quoted his post and showed which parts of the law seem to render this moot. Maybe find that post and check again...

It also still applies to vbulletin because you are making the assumption that ever vb owner leaves that checkbox and message working the default way which is not a good thing to assume...still applies here. Whether you think my argument is effective really isn't the point...it's up to whatever judge looks at it and with the wording you guys have used it would still stand...not every host has PHPMyAdmin installed...installing it would still be an active motion to get into the database....at any rate.

Its funny how half or more of these arguements don't even apply when you are on private property or attending say a school....where'd the privacy go there? It's private property, both the software/forums and the server they are on. I didn't get any notice when I went to school that my freedom of speech rights were limited but they were, and are legally limited. I'll wait for the first court case to test this as I'd love to see some personal user try and sue a non commercial personal website owner over this.....I would LOVE it!

[zetetic]

Bira didn't explain anything then, you are not referencing the post I am talking about...I don't even think you looked in the right thread actually. He posted the law...I quoted his post and showed which parts of the law seem to render this moot. Maybe find that post and check again...
I referenced the post you quoted her from. If you want to discuss something else she said you should've quoted it.

It also still applies to vbulletin because you are making the assumption that ever vb owner leaves that checkbox and message working the default way which is not a good thing to assume...still applies here.
I never made that assumption, but that is the default configuration of the software. The possible outcome of a case against a hypothetical board with a hypothetical non-default configuration is a little too ambiguous of a discussion for me. Why don't we stick to the subject.

Whether you think my argument is effective really isn't the point...it's up to whatever judge looks at it and with the wording you guys have used it would still stand...not every host has PHPMyAdmin installed...installing it would still be an active motion to get into the database....at any rate.
Whether your argument is effective is exactly the point. You keep comparing a piece of software that's used for database administration and happens to allow admins to read PM's with a piece of software designed for reading people's PM's. How do you not see the difference there?

Its funny how half or more of these arguements don't even apply when you are on private property or attending say a school....where'd the privacy go there? It's private property, both the software/forums and the server they are on. I didn't get any notice when I went to school that my freedom of speech rights were limited but they were, and are legally limited. I'll wait for the first court case to test this as I'd love to see some personal user try and sue a non commercial personal website owner over this.....I would LOVE it!
And of course bira destroyed that argument too, when she said (https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?p=203870&postcount=87):
For example, if a girl visits your home - your private home, which you own - and she goes to the bathroom, and later discovered that you secretly filmed her while she was taking a bath, she can sue you for violation of privacy, and she will win. The fact that the violation happened on your premises isn't relevant, and if anything makes you in the eyes of the law even more guilty, because you are abusing your rights as a host/service provider.
This isn't rocket science, JTMON. As you pointed out yourself, it all depends on how the specific laws are interpreted by the judge if someone decides to sue you for violating their privacy. It's up to you whether you want to err on the side of caution or stand firm by your "right" to do whatever you want with your board. I'm just pointing out that the smart thing to do is the former.

[JTMON]

I referenced the post you quoted her from. If you want to discuss something else she said you should've quoted it.


I never made that assumption, but that is the default configuration of the software. The possible outcome of a case against a hypothetical board with a hypothetical non-default configuration is a little too ambiguous of a discussion for me. Why don't we stick to the subject.


Whether your argument is effective is exactly the point. You keep comparing a piece of software that's used for database administration and happens to allow admins to read PM's with a piece of software designed for reading people's PM's. How do you not see the difference there?


And of course bira destroyed that argument too, when she said (https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?p=203870&postcount=87):

This isn't rocket science, JTMON. As you pointed out yourself, it all depends on how the specific laws are interpreted by the judge if someone decides to sue you for violating their privacy. It's up to you whether you want to err on the side of caution or stand firm by your "right" to do whatever you want with your board. I'm just pointing out that the smart thing to do is the former.

You did NOT reference the post I made or am talking about. For your info she never even responded to the post I am talking about. You are the one rehashing an old old old argument and making the EXACT same points as others so you should go digging I think. I replied to the actual law, which she posted, you are replying to replies..

Since this whole forum is about changing the default configuration of your board I wouldn't think that coversation would be that far fetched. As for the differences in the software...the software is not illegal by iteself..it may or may not be depending on how you use it. The same should/would go for PhPMyAdmin....if the sole reason someone installed PHPMA was to read user PMs then I believe it would fall under that same law....You can't tell me you wouldn't still be arguing your point if this hack was just part of some bigger hack with more features which would then make it more like PHPMA soley because it also has OTHER uses.....at any rate I'm done arguing the same arguement for the third time I think it is during the life of this hack...As for the checkbox saying you read the privacy agreement, it's about as binding as software EULAs....

[zetetic]

You did NOT reference the post I made or am talking about. For your info she never even responded to the post I am talking about.
What are you talking about? You said:

Yes but Bira also said this:

"However, once you take measures that actively violate the privacy of a user -- for example, install software that will allow you to read their personal communication - you are no longer within the bounds of "reasonable violation".
This (https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showpost.php?p=203840&postcount=79) is the post where she said that, the same post I referenced where she defeated your argument 3 years ago. If you are now talking about some other post or thread find it and quote it, and I'll respond to that.

You are the one rehashing an old old old argument and making the EXACT same points as others so you should go digging I think.
I already went digging at your suggestion, and yes I am making the EXACT same points you didn't get three years ago, with the hope that you will get it now. I am commenting in this thread in case anyone comes across this hack in this thread and isn't aware of the serious liability it incurs and/or thinks you have made anything resembling a valid point that there is nothing to worry about.

Since this whole forum is about changing the default configuration of your board I wouldn't think that coversation would be that far fetched. As for the differences in the software...the software is not illegal by iteself..it may or may not be depending on how you use it. The same should/would go for PhPMyAdmin....if the sole reason someone installed PHPMA was to read user PMs then I believe it would fall under that same law....You can't tell me you wouldn't still be arguing your point if this hack was just part of some bigger hack with more features which would then make it more like PHPMA soley because it also has OTHER uses.....at any rate I'm done arguing the same arguement for the third time I think it is during the life of this hack...As for the checkbox saying you read the privacy agreement, it's about as binding as software EULAs....
And you have been arguing for what all this time? That people shouldn't take a simple precaution against the possibility of litigation? What do you hope to gain? What is the benefit of convincing a single person that they shouldn't worry about the possibility of losing a lawsuit compared to the benefit of convincing people to be cautious?

I don't know if you're just being stubborn or if you really don't get it, but rest assured that you are wrong. It's a matter of logic, not opinion. You have made arguments and they have been defeated. The fact is that installing this hack increases your liability as a forum administrator and anyone who intends to install it would be wise to forewarn their forum users that their "private" messages aren't private.

[dethfire]

this doesn't work for me, just times out

[SaN-DeeP]

Ok guys calm down :) This guy is sharing his work so lets thank him for that. The point is you need to ask permission for things like this and installers install mods at their own risk :) I'll get back to you...
i agree with Dean,
and i am thankful for the bug fixes
as already it was requested from a couple of people, abt the bugs in the earlier release.

thnx for sharing.

Regards,

[SaN-DeeP]

alrite i tested the hack. but still 1 bug lies there

i have created multiple folders for storing my PRIVATE messages.

and while having a look @ other users PMs those folders are visible for those users.


this needs to be fixed :)

[007]

What most people do when they fix bugs in somebody's hack is post it in the original hack thread. At least that way you won't get flamed. That's the most honorable way to do it.

[idwf]

Well

4. Seeing as your a relatively new member, I really dont need to be getting rules from you, thanks.what a bell. He's read the rules...you havn't. He has EVERY right to tell you.

[Dean C]

Guys please be nice to each other ;) Any discussion on the ethics of this modification don't go within this thread. If you want to talk about it further please make a new thread in General Modificiation :) Thanks

[xQuEeNzNaZcHox]

Does anyone but me find this a little invasive?

[zetetic]

Does anyone but me find this a little invasive?
No, it's not just you. Ya may wanna read the thread. :)

[???`S?LV?R???`]

I think this is an awesome hack for security type reasons.. theres no need to complain about this hack, no one is forcing you to install it.

[350Chevy]

Much like your e-mail that you send and receive from WORK is readable by your employer because the server this mail resides on belongs to the company, PMs can also be read by the owner of the server.

And yes, this is a great security tool.

[Trigunflame]

I use the PM read system for snooping bad people that Ive had to ban, to see if they were planning spam wars with their friends prior etc...

This script is used mainly for defensive purposes, not to just blatantly read peoples PM's for no reasons...

[9mmPrincess]

can someone explain how to install this hack? ive downloaded the file but i dont know what to do next :/

[9mmPrincess]

nevermind, i figured it out :)

[Dark_Wizard]

Here's an addon:

In admincp/user.php

find:

"user.php?$session[sessionurl]do=remove&userid=$userid"
=> $vbphrase['delete_user'],


and put this underneath that:

"pm.php?userid=$userid"
=> $vbphrase['view_user_pm'],


and then add a new phrase, 'view_user_pm' that says "View Private Messages".

This will add the VIEW PRIVATE MESSAGES option to the pulldown at the top when viewing a user in the admincp.

Hmmm.... => https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showpost.php?p=510441&postcount=94

[neverrain]

Will this hack work with 3.0.3?

[nexialys]

3.0.3 is not a major change for the core files, so yes... maybe you'll have to find the proper lines, because some were modified for debugs...

[luiseman]

Works nice in 3.0.3

Thanks for all.

[Bro_Joey_Gowdy]

clicks install

[ambrosious]

This works great for me! Thanks.

[BamaStangGuy]

Warning: array_keys(): The first argument should be an array in /home/httpd/vhosts/mustang-forums.com/httpdocs/forums/admincp/pm.php on line 156

Anyone care to stop arguing and actually help fix this error? Someone has already asked about this one earlier

[GatorLCA]

I personally like it because I might have to deal with people wanting to sell Software to other users with PM's. I dont care if they do it on AIM or E-mail just I dont want criminal activity done on my board. going to install now

[jp2]

Nice hack, im going to install this a bit later tonight.

[Seawolf]

I install this hack with no reservations.

[Battle_Ring]

Warning: array_keys(): The first argument should be an array in /home/httpd/vhosts/mustang-forums.com/httpdocs/forums/admincp/pm.php on line 156

Anyone care to stop arguing and actually help fix this error? Someone has already asked about this one earlier


Do You Have the pm.php in the admincp folder?

[Bison]

Nice fix ... works grrrrr-ate! :D

[Keyser S?ze]

i dont agree with the use of this hack theres no reason u should read someones PM

but regaurdless on the nature of revising a hack, from what i see the hack he revised was dead anyway so i dont see anything wrong with it, he stated at the beginning that he takes no credit, and if the author has a problem he can ask for it to be deleted

i think some ppl here need to mind their own business and not try to police the forums, let the mods and admins do their jobs

thanks, (psst now revise the PM attachments hack!) ;p

[]|fre$h-LoRd|[]

Great work, i install it.

[Roms]

Works great, any responsible owner shouldn't have a problem with this. Your ISP can read your e-mails if needed, police and Gov can read them... if needed why should we have a way.. ;)

58sniper; awesome addon!

THX!
Roms

[blueuniverse]

Thanks for this hack as it will be useful. I understand all the arguments you guys are trying to make, but they are only really effective, if the person is installing this mod to snoop on members, which none of these administrators will.

PMs can be very useful in legal debates. All privacy policies do say that exceptions may be made to their policies in the case of protecting somebody or in the case of a legal debate. This is where this is very useful, as reading PMs easily could be very important in the case of a legal abnormality.

Also, reading PMs on your board is totally legal in all countries, you own the board, you own the content.

[budlite74]

for some reason my other admins can not use this ... i put them in as super admins through config.php and gave them full powers in admincp .. am i missing anything ..
im running vb3.0.1 and they are getting "you have to be a superadmin to view this"

[kall]

for some reason my other admins can not use this ... i put them in as super admins through config.php and gave them full powers in admincp .. am i missing anything ..
im running vb3.0.1 and they are getting "you have to be a superadmin to view this"
Have you added them as super administrators in your includes/config.php file?

[budlite74]

yes.

[eleventh]

First of all, I take no credit for this hack as its original coding and design is product of Scott And Xiphoid as shown in:

https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?t=59617

This hack is merely a bug fix and feature fix, as when I originally used the script I noticed a lot of small visual problems as well as misc other things.

Lots of the linking was a bit messed up, when you read peoples PM's you couldnt tell who they were from, it only shown who they were to etc.. Just a lot of stuff, I added who they were sent from, and sent to and clicking on the names take your to Their inbox instead of their userinfo section in the Admin Panel etc..

So yes, they get all the credit, I just thought people would want the bug fixed version. If scott or xiphoids wants to take this thread down, and stick the script in their original thread - fine by me.

Enjoy, and thanks you for making it first, lol.
Is this the most efficient hack for reading PM's?

[eytan]

Is there a hack to moderate Private Messages?

[robert_2004]

How can i get this working for my admins, not just my superadmins?
i changes the line in pm.php (line 41)

from $superadministrators
to $administrators

but that didn't work.

[pip_9]

Hi,
I have this error:
Warning: Cannot use a scalar value as an array in /home/pip/public_html/site/admincp/pm.php on line 61
‹¨•¬Y�Càn�ëu;êó‹«VéB4�KfmL4jÚ ÆÈ(QÌà‹ûDÖîûâ>ô" ��a4ŸeËùÃY:…›t8N—A�N¢ëdVCç§ôà šÃŠjž‹àED¯±gÄèdX‰äc‰ ¸\Å�«êmûy·œFÆ’>8ßWÃœp¥ƒ LAz
I dont get how I can have an error all I did was upload it to the admincp.
Does anyone have any idea on how to fix it?
Thanks a lot
Phil

[Mechanical Mind]

Does this hack work with version 3.0.3 ?

[budlite74]

Does this hack work with version 3.0.3 ?


^ . . . .

[Bulent Tekcan]

I see in 1 PM in user box.But when I login that username 65 PM in inbox....What is the problem ??

VB3.0.3

[TruckMuddr]

Is there a way to make it so an superadmin can't read certain members PM's??

Like if the site owner doesn't want their super-admins to read his but to be able read the rest of the members???

[alkatraz]

Installed on vb303 working fine

Hack's instructions need some work tho,
- pm.php must be in admincp
- and you need to do user.php fix (above) for it to be useful)

[Imperial Fritz]

The PM system is so often abused I can't comprehend how people can bash this very helpful hack.

It seems to me that whoever cries about broken privacy issues has never run a board with more than 20 members.

[patriotcow]

i am getting a couple of errors at the top


Warning: array_keys(): The first argument should be an array in /home/public_html/forums/admin/pm.php on line 156

Fatal error: Cannot create references to/from string offsets nor overloaded objects in /home/public_html/forums/admin/pm.php on line 158

Are mods also allowed to read them?

I mean super modz

[MotoUp]

This won't make the PM show as unread for the user will it?

[Viks]

>>You have to be a super administrator to read private messages, this can be set within config.php

how can one do this... coz vB does not show up Super Administrators in usermanager!!

:ermm:

sorry for my ignorance.

[Viks]

:) its ok i figured it out!

however - This won't make the PM show as unread for the user will it?
will it???

i guess i can test it! and post the reply here

[Viks]

This won't make the PM show as unread for the user will it?

if admin reads the message... i PM still shows as unred to user.

[bold]

i am getting a couple of errors at the top


Warning: array_keys(): The first argument should be an array in /home/public_html/forums/admin/pm.php on line 156

Fatal error: Cannot create references to/from string offsets nor overloaded objects in /home/public_html/forums/admin/pm.php on line 158


anyone find a fix for this yet?

[trevelyn1015]

i think it is unethical to read "private messages" of other people... landlords don't read their renter's mail...

[bold]

google does :P

[StevenTN]

My employer reads my email, and employers do have the legal right to read their employee's mail.

Plus, postal mail is legally protected in a way that e-mail is not, and PMs are there as a convenience, not a secure way for communication.

[trevelyn1015]

i see your point...

[StevenTN]

I just finally added the hack... and so my admins don't have to mess around with typing in URLs, I added a crude search form to the Admin CP home...

I've also hacked my config.php and pm.php so there's now a $canviewpms variable and it will regard that instead of the $superadministrators variable.

Find this...

if (can_administer('canadminusers'))
{
print_label_row($vbphrase['quick_user_finder'], '
<form action="user.php" method="post" style="display:inline">
<input type="hidden" name="s" value="' . $session['sessionhash'] . '" />
<input type="hidden" name="do" value="find" />
<input type="text" class="bginput" name="user[username]" size="30" tabindex="1" />
<input type="submit" value=" ' . $vbphrase['find'] . ' " class="button" tabindex="1" />
<input type="submit" class="button" value="' . $vbphrase['exact_match'] . '" tabindex="1" name="user[exact]" />
</form>
', '', 'top', NULL, false
);
}


And before the closing curly brace, add this...

print_label_row('Lookup PM (by userid)', '
<form action="/boards/admincp/pm.php" method="get" style="display:inline">
<input type="text" class="bginput" name="userid" size="30" tabindex="1" />
<input type="submit" value=" ' . $vbphrase['find'] . ' " class="button" tabindex="1" />
</form>
', '', 'top', NULL, false
);


The reason why I added it is a) we're covered in our ToS when it comes to these, b) I had a rather crude PM system when we had vB2.3.x, and c) We get complaints at least once or twice a month about abusive PMs, which is covered in point a.

If you want me to make this more viable (like have the vbphrase variable), let me know.

[Mechanical Mind]

* clicks install *

Not working for me.

Am I confused, all I did was upload it to admincp folder and try to reach the link via my web browser.

I got this message: the requested document is not found on this server.

Help!!!

[StevenTN]

What was the URL you tried? I'm willing to bet it might've been mistyped or put in the wrong area.

[Mechanical Mind]

What was the URL you tried? I'm willing to bet it might've been mistyped or put in the wrong area.

Well, I have renamed my adminCP folder. Could this have something to do with it? But I tried modifying the URL to include that. And I tried modifying the one instance of "admincp" to "my secret name".

I guess the real question is:
- What do I need to add/delete/modify since I have a renamed adminCP folder?

[Samira]

Is anyone else having problems reading messages with the Quote tags? I had a mod installed that altered the look of the quotes and I uninstalled that, but am having the same problem. Suggestions?

[JD210]

Installed it, but I get the following error at the top, plus it is showing that no PMs have been sent. I use 3.0.3.

Warning: Call-time pass-by-reference has been deprecated - argument passed by value; If you would like to pass it by reference, modify the declaration of array_keys(). If you would like to enable call-time pass-by-reference, you can set allow_call_time_pass_reference to true in your INI file. However, future versions may not support this any longer. in /home2/www/******/forum/admincp/pm.php on line 156

[Paul M]

Installed it, but I get the following error at the top, plus it is showing that no PMs have been sent. I use 3.0.3.Are you using php5 ?

[JD210]

No, PHP 4

[TMAC]

So does this work with version 3.03?

Thanks You

[pco]

Is anyone else having problems reading messages with the Quote tags? I had a mod installed that altered the look of the quotes and I uninstalled that, but am having the same problem. Suggestions?

in pm.php in function parse_pm_bbcode($bbcode) change at the end of the return line from this:


,$vboptions['privallowbbcode']));


to this:


,$vboptions['privallowbbcode'],1));


:)

[Bison]

Warning: array_keys(): The first argument should be an array in /home/httpd/vhosts/mustang-forums.com/httpdocs/forums/admincp/pm.php on line 156

Anyone care to stop arguing and actually help fix this error? Someone has already asked about this one earlier

On Line 156:

Find:
$pm['receiver_key'] = array_keys(&$pm['receiver_raw']);

Change to this:
$pm['receiver_key'] = //array_keys(&$pm['receiver_raw']);

[sim tech]

I tried both mods on version 3.0.6 and they both work. The pm.php insert, where you have to enter the user number in the address line (takes about 5 seconds to install) and also the user.php mod described at:

https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showpost.php?p=510441&postcount=94

The use.php mod is a bit more admin friendly, but it would be better if a mod like this could be be displayed on the control panel's "Private Message Statistics" drop down menu... rather then the edit users menu.

Is this possible??

[T3MEDIA]

this doesn't work for me, just times out
EXACTLY IS THERE ANYFIX PEOPLE
if you got it working what did you do.
CAN YOU AT LEAST SHOW THE OTHER USERS PLEASE?

Please and thank you.

[T3MEDIA]

I just finally added the hack... and so my admins don't have to mess around with typing in URLs, I added a crude search form to the Admin CP home...

I've also hacked my config.php and pm.php so there's now a $canviewpms variable and it will regard that instead of the $superadministrators variable.

Find this....Would be nice if the search went thru notes for a specific word.

[Battle_Ring]

This dont work with 3.0.6???????

[MAK-upl]

Works on 3,0,6 - clicks instal

very good job

[T3MEDIA]

EXACTLY IS THERE ANYFIX PEOPLE
if you got it working what did you do.
CAN YOU AT LEAST SHOW THE OTHER USERS PLEASE?

Please and thank you.bump

[TCM]

Nice hack, or revision, or whatever. I'm talking it over with my other admin, we may chose to install this hack. I have, in the past, read messages through PHPMyAdmin for harassment reasons, and this would make it easier. Maybe renaming it to Personal Messages instead, though.bump
POSTING IN CAPS MAKES ME FEEL IMPORTANT

[Trigunflame]

I may completely rewrite this, and turn it into a full fledged hack, I believe there are quite a few more features that could be added.

[clearchannel]

Maybe renaming it to Personal Messages instead, though.
POSTING IN CAPS MAKES ME FEEL IMPORTANT

I am also giving this hack serious consideration. I would however, like to change the name from "private messages" to "Network Messages" the only draw back so far is there are many many templates to change.

Anyone have advice to offer as to a quick and easy method to change the private message reference to network message?

[Trigunflame]

I am also giving this hack serious consideration. I would however, like to change the name from "private messages" to "Network Messages" the only draw back so far is there are many many templates to change.

Anyone have advice to offer as to a quick and easy method to change the private message reference to network message?

You have a place in your control panel to modify Phrases for a reason :)

[Antivirus]

On Line 156:

Find:
$pm['receiver_key'] = array_keys(&$pm['receiver_raw']);

Change to this:
$pm['receiver_key'] = //array_keys(&$pm['receiver_raw']);

That does get rid of all "line 156 errors", but actually creates a new problem... now when viewing member's "sent items" mailbox for instance, the "sent to" column no longer shows the member name the PM was sent to. This is also the case when viewing the members "inbox" although in that case, it's rather obvious who's name the PM was sent to, as you're viewing all their PMs.

:(

[GSX-Racing]

Testing it.

Can you choose to view all rather than per/user.

[topten]

bloody great hack! Love it!

[beansbaxter]

doesnt work on 3.0.7

due for an update it looks like

[ayhanaydogdu]

Does not it work on vb 3,07? :(

[COBRAws]

I may completely rewrite this, and turn it into a full fledged hack, I believe there are quite a few more features that could be added.
3.5 final =D

[TruckMuddr]

Works fine on my 3.0.7

[xtreme-mobile]

i get not authorized message edit the config etc

i put my user id in the supermoderator bit but it still says not authorized?

any ideas?

im using vb 3.0.7

[TruckMuddr]

If your not worried about other admins reading PM's just Find and remove this code.
Lines 41 -47

// User Is Not SuperAdmin
if (!in_array($bbuserinfo['userid'], preg_split('#\s*,\s*#s', $superadministrators, -1, PREG_SPLIT_NO_EMPTY)))
{
// Output Header/Message
print_cp_header('Your Not Authorized');
print_cp_message('You have to be a super administrator to read private messages, this can be set within config.php');
}



I'M ONLY SUGGESTING THE FOLLOWING CAUSE THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE WAY YOURS INSTALLED, THIS IS PRETTY MUCH THE SAME THING AS BEFORE JUST NOT READING FROM CONFIG.PHP AND FOR ONLY ONE USER.


step 1:
Find code above and replace it with:

if ($bbuserinfo['userid'] == XX)
{

< REPLACE XX WITH YOUR USERID --- If you want more then one user then it should look like this if (($bbuserinfo['userid'] == XX) OR ($bbuserinfo['userid'] == XX)) >




step 2:
Find this:

/*================================================= =====================*\
|| This file is distributed through http://www.vbulletin.nl/
\*================================================ ======================*/


Above ADD:

}
else
{
// Output Header/Message
print_cp_header('Your Not Authorized');
print_cp_message('ENTER YOUR ERROR MESSAGE HERE');
}


Again as this may work, I would suggest finding what is wrong. Maybe Your Config.php is wrong someone. I've done it before.

Config.php should look something like this

// ****** SUPER ADMINISTRATORS ******
// The users specified below will have permission to access the administrator permissions
// page, which controls the permissions of other administrators
$superadministrators = 'X, X, X';


IF THIS VIOLATES SOMETHING THEN PLEASE DELETE THIS POST. JUST TRYIN TO HELP OUT.

[TruckMuddr]

Ohh, You didn't say that. ha ha

Post 13 has what you need.

Here's an addon:

In admincp/user.php

find:

Code:
"user.php?$session[sessionurl]do=remove&userid=$userid"
=> $vbphrase['delete_user'],

and put this underneath that:

Code:
"pm.php?userid=$userid"
=> $vbphrase['view_user_pm'],

and then add a new phrase, 'view_user_pm' that says "View Private Messages".

This will add the VIEW PRIVATE MESSAGES option to the pulldown at the top when viewing a user in the admincp.


I have a feeling that the phrase will be there allready.

[Selene]

does it work with 3.07 / anyone tested on 3.07?

[plubius]

Okay I just read the 17 page thread in the 2.2 section and the 7 page thread in this section. I'm disappointed by what I saw, but not at all surprised. It is sadly typical in such situations that only a small handful of people will take a stand against undermining civil liberties such as protection of personal privacy while many others will eagerly trample others rights in favor of maximizing their personal power and control.

Ethical arguments aside, there was no reasonable challenge to Bira's legal points, either. And no, I don't consider your "phpMyAdmin does the same thing" argument effective. As Bira pointed out, you install this hack to read PM's, period. The odds are slim that you install phpMyAdmin for that sole purpose. I strongly encourage anyone who reads this to heed Bira's advice and forewarn their users that their PM's are not private if this hack is installed.

And lastly, the only somewhat reasonable arguments I read in either of those threads (i.e. prevention of spam, porn, warez, and threats) can now be easily handled by simply requesting that your users forward any such PM's to the administration, given the fact that "forward" is now a built in feature that wasn't available when these points were first made.

So with all this in mind, do you have any other justification for enabling easy access to your user's PM's?


Blah blah blah!!! What complete and utter crap.

I am sorry I did not see this when it was posted, but I was probably too busy snooping on my members. :ermm:

I normally do not directly criticise a poster, preferring instead to just attack the stupid points one by one without any direct quotes, but this post ticked me off.

People who talk about privacy and freedom of speech rights for an internet site are begging the question.

You have no such rights at an website. The owner of the website provides a service not a country. If the service you provide is geared toward youth and you have pervs and freaks who come to your site, register, never post but send out a few PMs to the kids, you have an obligation to read those PMs to see whether you should contact the FBI and other law enforcement agencies. You do not have any obligation to inform your members that you access their PMs just like you are have no obligation to tell that you can edit their posts, see thier ips or ban them if you need to. If they cannot assume you have these "powers" then they probably are a bit daft or need to learn to learn pretty damn quick. Whenever, I hear about some child being lured away from home and killed, or whenever, I read a PM that was sent to a child asking them what the colour of the under clothes are, I want to grab these self righteous over libel morons and make them dig the grave and console these slain children's families.

You do not run a youth based website? Well, bear in mind that the website is yours. Not TMHall's. Not the ACLU's. It is yours and you have every right to implement any tool you feel is necessary to rid it of the vermin who have no life and no right come to your site to cause trouble.

This is not to say that you can read every PM your site generates. If you demand money from members who want unread PM status, then of course you have to honour that or you could risk assuming breech of contract liability. Another instance is more ethical and indeed the only ethical violation I can see and that is reading the PMs of established members. Those should indeed remain personal. Only you can decide what makes a member "established" or not.

[Selene]

lets say i want an admin user ID`s PM not to be showed in this hack then what shall i modify in the code?

like lets say the admin ID is 2 and 3 now what do i edit in the code so that the script wont show pms for ID "X" set to 2 and 3.

[FightRice.com]

does it work with 3.07 / anyone tested on 3.07?


Yea i tested it out, it works but then i deleted, really no use for it

[Gutspiller]

Was this hack made by microsoft? It seems like it's something they would do. Shame on all of you who installed it.

[Biker_GA]

Oh please.. This is a dead horse issue and has been discussed to death. If you don't want to use it, fine. But don't come +++++ing about those that do have a need for it.

[JTMON]

Was this hack made by microsoft? It seems like it's something they would do. Shame on all of you who installed it.


nah, Shame on you for acting as if you can't already do this without the hack...

[Paul_d_g]

I am sorry but I think this is a total invasion of privacy.

Whoever installed this really do not deserved to have a forum!!

[Boofo]

Paul_d_g, please do not post the same message in all the read pms forums.

[Gutspiller]

nah, Shame on you for acting as if you can't already do this without the hack...
Even if I knew how I wouldn't I'm not like Microsoft, as appearantly other VB owners are. Don't get your panties in a bunch people. I am just stating facts, don't get mad at me because I pointed out that you are similar and use the same tactics that MS uses.

[JTMON]

Even if I knew how I wouldn't I'm not like Microsoft, as appearantly other VB owners are. Don't get your panties in a bunch people. I am just stating facts, don't get mad at me because I pointed out that you are similar and use the same tactics that MS uses.


ahh but you automatically assume WE use it if we install it...or it could be an easier way of doing that which we already can..IF NEED BE...

don't get mad at us just because you don't know enough about software you are running...

as for the MS comments.....thanks...I need a laugh..for future reference, know that you can replace Microsoft with your employer or just about every major goverment in the world.

[CodeRed]

i switched over from phpbb and they have a PM hack that listed all of the PMs from newest to oldest regardless of who sent it etc. it also gave an option to delete individual PMs etc which came in very handy when i had a few people login in and send porn spam to a lot of our members..

im over on VB now and i am looking for a similar hack.

is there such an option or a tweak for this particualr code to make it so that all PMs are listed and not just the ones for the userid that u enter in.

just curious thank!

[CodeRed]

or maybe theres a different wording in the string in order to display all of the PMS in descending order

instead of only listing PMs for a particular user:
http://www.websitehere.com/forum/admincp/pm.php?userid=1

lemme know.

[blackdream1971]

will this hack work on vbulletin version 3.0.6?

[Julio]

Any chance this hack can be ported to 3.5.0?

[Marco van Herwaarden]

There are at least 3 vB3.5 hacks available for reading your members PM's.

[eytan]

There are at least 3 vB3.5 hacks available for reading your members PM's.

Can you point me in the reight direction. I've only found one and it was nothing like the type we had for V2

[Marco van Herwaarden]

One you can find in my profile, Floris made one, the third i don't remember the coders name.

[nnjj.net]

I hope to have this working soon for 3.5

[DataAve]

Why would someone do this?

Read Your Members Private Messages

[Boofo]

Why would someone do this?

There have been many debates on this from both sides and there are reasons for and against. In the end, it is up to each individual Admin as to whether they want to have this option or not.

[StevenTN]

As an admin overseeing a site with almost 12,000 members, this is exactly how I see it...

PMs are not email... and while they are a form of 1-to-1 communication like email, they are contained entirely within the site and are subject to the same terms of use as the rest of the site.

I also look at it this way... past employers do have full right to snoop through their email and police it against personal use/abuse. I have always felt that PMs should be the same way, in that there should be a tool that allows us to police against abuses (spam via PM, flaming, illegal activity, etc.). In fact, the prevention of illegal activity on the site alone justifies my having this addon, as it introduces a level of liability to me as the operator of the site should any occur. While it may not prevent the illegal activity itself (they will likely take it elsewhere), it will at least allow us to keep our site clean, and to have documentation that we did not turn a blind eye to it and that we stopped it where we did should authorities get involved and question us.

At the same time though, I do not abuse it where I deliberately spy on members private conversations. I only use it when it is justified (member complaint, suspicious behavior, etc.).

[DataAve]

Seems like some sort of perversion. Are you so kind as to post this ability/activity in your terms of agreement?

[StevenTN]

It's in our TOS and has been since 2003 (because most of our members do follow it literally)...

http://www.thrillnetwork.com/tos.php/messageboards#privmessage

We had to implement the solution, which included this hack, when we started getting complaints of spam and flaming via PM. Since we could not necessarily rely on having them forward the PM (they can be altered), and we actually record all evidence related to a suspension of an account in case it escalates, we needed to be able to go to the original source on our own. With two people who are comfortable with SQL (myself and my assistant techie), this tool is necessary.

Plus, when you think about it, a private message isn't necessarily private, especially when admins can just go into the necessary table, and we have never made any bones about it not being private, especially since members can (and have) taken content from PMs and pasted them in public, even against the sender's will.

Lastly, if you are a busy like we are, you do not have time to even think about snooping on PMs, and I'm too focused on other parts of the site to where my contact is email only, and when I am in the admin CP, it's mostly in the members (for bans and account fixes) as well as the templates to make a minor change to the look of our site or to prepare for an upgrade.

[DataAve]

Spam and flaming via PM? The solution seems worse than the offense. But, to each his/her own.

[Boofo]

Seems like some sort of perversion. Are you so kind as to post this ability/activity in your terms of agreement?

I think perversion is a little strong and derogatory. Please use something else next time.

[DataAve]

No problem, but there are many meanings to the word perversion. Here is the way I meant it: "incorrect or improper use." That was from the dictionary. I appologize if I offended, it was not my intention.

[DataAve]

I do agree somewhat, StevenTN, it is clearly in there and people can make the choice not to join. I like your home page too.

[Boofo]

No problem, but there are many meanings to the word perversion. Here is the way I meant it: "incorrect or improper use." That was from the dictionary. I appologize if I offended, it was not my intention.

No problem. I understand how it was meant, but there are those here who wouldn't. ;)

[Noiz Pollution]

I've followed this thread for a long time and I laugh every time I read some bleeding heart going on about privacy. Forums are OWNED by their administrators (although in some cases admins are merely employees of companies who OWN the forums).

This means they also OWN the entire contents of the database, because they OWN the website. This means they can look at it as much as they like without anybody being able to do a single solitary thing about it :)

IF on the other hand, they were taking the information contained within the database and selling it to a third party and it wasn't stipulated within the privacy policy that they'd be doing this, then you've got a right to complain as this has been made illegal in many countries (particularly the US and UK which I'd imagine is where a majority of you are operating from).

If you're going to cry about people reading the messages of their members to ensure their safety then you're no better than the people causing the need for this kind of functionality. I bet if some kid on your board is raped because some sick bastard groomed them via PM on your message board you'll feel really intelligent because YOU didn't take steps to allow you to police your own website properly.

I feel so much better having said that now :)


Cheers,
Robert

[DataAve]

Vbulletin owns the intellectual property, shall you let them monitor your 'movements'? Can Vbulletin monitor all you do, as the Administrator, with their software and what is attached to it? I understand security and safety, it is how I make a living.

[Noiz Pollution]

Vbulletin owns the intellectual property, shall you let them monitor your 'movements'? Can Vbulletin monitor all you do, as the Administrator, with their software and what is attached to it? I understand security and safety, it is how I make a living.

Jelsoft sold me software called vBulletin, which they can track using a web bot in the admin panel to make sure my license is on the right domain.

Jelsoft do not own the contents of the database on my website, they purely own the intellectual rights to the code which they authored which in turn allowed me to create said database :)

I can look at my database as much as I like :)

[Smiry Kin's]

any newer version of this?

i also remember a pm reader having the option to view PM's via the admin user edit.. cud this be done again please?

[DataAve]

...and I can rob a home when no one is home. :tired:

[Marco van Herwaarden]

any newer version of this?

i also remember a pm reader having the option to view PM's via the admin user edit.. cud this be done again please?I suggest you have a look at 1 of the 3 vB3.5 hacks available for this.

[Noiz Pollution]

...and I can rob a home when no one is home. :tired:

Of course you can, with enough determination you can get past any security system*

The difference is it is not illegal for me to browse the contents of my own database :) I can look at it all I want because at the end of the day there isn't a thing anyone can do about it without removing my access and thus breaking the law themselves (theft) or having the law changed (unlikely).

So nyah-nyah-nyah-nyah :p At the end of the day you can try to impose your "reading their messages is bad" morallity on me all you like but it will change absolutely nothing and I'll still be able to make sure my users are safe quickly and easilly if and when the time calls for it :) Plus like has been said before, anyone who assumes a website's administrator can't access "private" messages they've sent or have received really needs to go to college and take a long course in common sense.


* Disclaimer: I in no way advocate or encourage anyone to break the law, whether it be breaking into houses or anything else.

[Smiry Kin's]

I suggest you have a look at 1 of the 3 vB3.5 hacks available for this.

could you link me? i havee searched only 2 i found.. this one, and the pm.php in the admincp.

[]|fre$h-LoRd|[]

Great idea, great hack. THX

[mgurain]

Hello,,

any one links me to the newly 3.5 version of this hack please ?

thanks in advance,,

[RaceJunkie]

Hello,,

any one links me to the newly 3.5 version of this hack please ?

thanks in advance,,

https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?t=91369

Works with 3.5.3 too

Also the web templates has a nicer template included that allows this too.

https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?t=103076

[Raydar]

Anyone know if this hack can work on VB 3.6 please?

Thanks

Reggie

[jerseyda6]

Warning: main(./includes/functions_bbcodeparse.php): failed to open stream: No such file or directory in /admincp/pm.php on line 39

Fatal error: main(): Failed opening required './includes/functions_bbcodeparse.php' (include_path='.:/usr/local/lib/php') in /home/content/j/e/r/jerseyda6/html/forums/admincp/pm.php on line 39

what does this mean??

[Shazz]

theres another mod for this called "read pm"