AnonymHack v2.0 - allow users to post/reply anonymous

[MrZeropage]

Anonym Hack v2.0
Copyright 2004-2005 by MrZeropage



What does this hack offer ?

Users can do anonymous posts, of course even via quickreply. It can be selected for each posting with a checkbox to be anonymous or not.


Screenshots (german vB-installation, sorry):

http://www.vbhacks-germany.org/upload/mrzeropage/anonymhack_images/newthread.png


http://www.vbhacks-germany.org/upload/mrzeropage/anonymhack_images/newreply.png


http://www.vbhacks-germany.org/upload/mrzeropage/anonymhack_images/quickreply.png
Settings via AdminCP for each forum to allow anonymous posts or not

http://www.vbhacks-germany.org/upload/mrzeropage/anonymhack_images/admincp.png

Administrators can "recover" who originally wrote an anonymous posting.
The author automatically gets a message telling him who recovered which posting.

http://www.vbhacks-germany.org/upload/mrzeropage/anonymhack_images/adminrecover.png

Anonymous authors get an individual number per thread.

This means the first anonymous author within a thread always gets #1, the next anonymous author #2 ect. So everyone can really discuss even with alot of anonymous postings within a thread - of course an author keeps his assigned number/id within this thread, without any reference to his real identity.

http://www.vbhacks-germany.org/upload/mrzeropage/anonymhack_images/anonymthread1.png


http://www.vbhacks-germany.org/upload/mrzeropage/anonymhack_images/anonymthread2.pngWhere to use it, what is its intention ?

It is originally done to discuss intimate things, problems, critics ect. - but I think you will find your personal way to make use of it ;)




How about vBulletin-performance when using this hack ?

This hack is done so that there is absolutely no additional query while viewing the forum, a thread, a posting ect.

It all is done while saving a new post to the database, then it needs one additional query (if it's the first anonymous post from this user in this thread) or two queries (if this is an anonymous posting and there is already one anonymous post from this user in this thread).




What has to be changed during installation of the hack ?

PHP-Files to modify.............6
Templates to modify............5

new PHP-Files....................1
new Templates...................2 (automatically added by installscript)
new Phrases......................7 (automatically added by installscript)

The installscript also does perform 9 database-queries.




Which vBulletin-version is compatible to this hack ?

The hack was developed for vBulletin 3.0.7 and should be compatible to other versions.

Please report any working installations on other versions to me to fill this in here, thx !



How to install ?

Just upload the files within the attached archive and call the installscript.
Additional information can be found in info_english.txt




Can it be uninstalled ?

Yes, the installscript can perform uninstallation, but there is yet no implementation to rollback anonymous postings to their real authors before removing the hack. This means all anonymous postings will remain anonymous and even can't be recovered by any Administrator after removing the hack !
This is planned for the vB 3.5.x - version of this hack :cool:



FAQ

"Why is that v2.0 ?"
The first version was finished on 3rd july 2004 - it is still working properly, but it was coded lously with too much modifications all over vBulletin, and there was no possibility to answer anonymously.
This is why development on (this) v2.0 startet right after finishing v1.0, which is and will never be released...




Thanks to ...

... doron666 for his fantastic support on some problems during development
... Mystics (vbulletin-germany.com) for permission to use his installscript-concept






A german version of this hack can be found here (http://www.vbhacks-germany.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1058).




Enjoy this hack and remind to click *INSTALL* thanks



HISTORY:
v2.00 - initial release

v2.01 - 29th august 2005 (manual update (https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showpost.php?p=764997&postcount=9)):
fixed a small bug in templates postbit and postbit_legacy for existing forums who install the anonymous-hack and then all "old" postings showed up as "user #0" and "threadstarter"

[Marco van Herwaarden]

Looks very nice. Thanks for sharing.

[Allan]

Very good hack, it will be adapt for vB3.5 ?

[sketch42]

very nice hack... does this get added to the entire board automatically or only the forums which i specify?

[MrZeropage]

Yes, I am planning a migration to vB 3.5.0 in the future (waiting for at least GOLD release).


@sketch42:
The function is available in the entire board, but can be switched on/off per forum in AdminCP - you even can specify the "anonymous user" per forum so that different "anonymous avatars" per forum are possible :)

[tokenyank]

Just to verify before I install...

I've seen hacks like this previously and whilst they work in the showthread, if anyone quotes or edits the thread, the real author is displayed.

Same if someone looks in the archive or uses the search feature....

Basically, I'm asking if this will ensure the anynomitiy of my users to all except admin, no matter how they try to find out the author?

[Stangsta]

Ecxellent hack!! Members love it! Is there a way to only allow access to anonymous posting per usergroup?

[MrZeropage]

@tokenyank:
Anonymitiy is given all over the forum, as vBulletin stores all data with the ID, NAME ect. of the anonymous user of that specific forum. All data of the real author is stored in new database-tables no original vBulletin-script uses, so there is absolutely no way to find out who wrote this posting/thread !
The only code/template that really displays the real data is that new recover-function of the hack :)


@Stangsta:
Yes, you just need to add some check for usergroup in the three templates to show the checkbox for anonymous posting...

Look at the templates newreply, newthread and showthread_quickreply and surround the lines from the hack which display the checkbox with:

<if condition="in_array($bbuserinfo[usergroupid],array(6,7))"> and at the end </if>
The green numbers are the usergroupid's the checkbox is shown to - they can post anonymously... Of course you can add more numbers there ;)

I think this is a nice feature for my next version, thx :)

[MrZeropage]

UPDATED to Version 2.01


Everybody who already installed this may have noticed that in existing forums with threads/posts in it after installation of this hack those old postings showed up with information like "user #0" and "threadstarter".

The archive is already fixed right now, existing installations may update the following templates:

postbit

Search for:
<if condition="$forum['anonym']==1"><if condition="$post['userid'] != $post['realuserid']"><if condition="$thread['realpostuserid'] != $thread['postuserid']"><if condition="$thread['realpostuserid'] == $post['realuserid']"><div class="smallfont"><strong>$vbphrase[threadnotstarter]$anonymusercount<br />$vbphrase[threadstarter]</strong></div><else /><div class="smallfont"><strong>$vbphrase[threadnotstarter]$anonymusercount</strong></div></if><else /><div class="smallfont"><strong>$vbphrase[threadnotstarter] $anonymusercount</strong></div></if></if></if>

Replace with:
<if condition="$forum['anonym']==1"><if condition="$post['userid'] != $post['realuserid']"><if condition="$post['realuserid'] > 0"><if condition="$thread['realpostuserid'] != $thread['postuserid']"><if condition="$thread['realpostuserid'] == $post['realuserid']"><div class="smallfont"><strong>$vbphrase[threadnotstarter]$anonymusercount<br />$vbphrase[threadstarter]</strong></div><else /><div class="smallfont"><strong>$vbphrase[threadnotstarter]$anonymusercount</strong></div></if><else /><div class="smallfont"><strong>$vbphrase[threadnotstarter] $anonymusercount</strong></div></if></if></if></if>


postbit_legacy

Search for:
<if condition="$forum['anonym']==1"><if condition="$post['userid'] != $post['realuserid']"><if condition="$thread['realpostuserid'] != $thread['postuserid']"><if condition="$thread['realpostuserid'] == $post['realuserid']"><div class="smallfont"><strong>$vbphrase[threadnotstarter]$anonymusercount<br />$vbphrase[threadstarter]</strong></div><else /><div class="smallfont"><strong>$vbphrase[threadnotstarter]$anonymusercount</strong></div></if><else /><div class="smallfont"><strong>$vbphrase[threadnotstarter] $anonymusercount</strong></div></if></if></if>

Replace with:
<if condition="$forum['anonym']==1"><if condition="$post['userid'] != $post['realuserid']"><if condition="$post['realuserid'] > 0"><if condition="$thread['realpostuserid'] != $thread['postuserid']"><if condition="$thread['realpostuserid'] == $post['realuserid']"><div class="smallfont"><strong>$vbphrase[threadnotstarter]$anonymusercount<br />$vbphrase[threadstarter]</strong></div><else /><div class="smallfont"><strong>$vbphrase[threadnotstarter]$anonymusercount</strong></div></if><else /><div class="smallfont"><strong>$vbphrase[threadnotstarter] $anonymusercount</strong></div></if></if></if></if>

[digitalSite]

Please help:

When I try to save my forum, I get this databse problem:

Database error in vBulletin 3.0.9:

Invalid SQL: UPDATE forum SET

### UPDATE QUERY GENERATED BY fetch_query_sql() ###
title = 'The Room',
description = 'blah blah',
forumhomeicon = '',
link = '',
displayorder = '1',
daysprune = '-1',
parentid = '3',
newpostemail = '',
newthreademail = '',
styleid = '0',
password = '',
anonym = '0', <-------------------------------------- ???
anonuserid = '',
uttpoints_perthread = '1',
uttpoints_perreply = '1',
uttpoints_perview = '1',
options = '89799',
parentlist = '47,3,-1'
WHERE forumid=47
mysql error: Unknown column 'anonym' in 'field list'

mysql error number: 1054

What do I do to fix this please? Thanks!

[digitalSite]

Nevermind, I fixed it by rerunning the install file - but only ran the altering database part.

[gsm4arab1]

very nice Thanks for sharing

[Crapaddict]

looks like a cool hack, allthough i would prefer a possibility to be able to make this a -per topic- setting, so that users can't take disadvantage of it.
My goal here is to have the possibility to let my users post anonymously, but only for a good reason, or for very private/discrete stuff.
Let's say only at request, for example.

Maybe i would make a subforum for this purpose, but what happens if i deceide to move the topic to a regular forum where no anonymous posting is possible?

[MrZeropage]

Yes, it is meant to have a separate forum for specific "private" topics ect.

[Allan]

an upgrade to 3.5 ?

[MrZeropage]

I will adapt this to 3.5.0 after finishing the ibProArcade ...

[jellybaby]

Thank you, Im waiting for both of those before upgrading :up:

[Leah]

This one would be great for 3.5.0!

[cbiweb]

Installed this hack but I'm having one problem that I can't figure out:

All anonymous posts are now shown as being authored by a generic admin username, including the post count and number of points earned by that name. How do I get it to say Anonymous instead of using an admin name?

[Daniel]

Any news for 3.5?

[MrZeropage]

as said before, I will finish the new Arcade-Hack first, which should be done within the next 2 weeks I think. After that I will start converting this to 3.5.x

[rnmcd]

Installed this hack but I'm having one problem that I can't figure out:

All anonymous posts are now shown as being authored by a generic admin username, including the post count and number of points earned by that name. How do I get it to say Anonymous instead of using an admin name?

cbiweb, did you ever get it to display Anonymous?

[rnmcd]

as said before, I will finish the new Arcade-Hack first, which should be done within the next 2 weeks I think. After that I will start converting this to 3.5.x
Hi. Just wondering if you still had this hack in the works for 3.5.x?


Thanks.

[rnmcd]

What happened to the other folks that were interested in this being updated to 3.5.x?

[Stangsta]

What happened to the other folks that were interested in this being updated to 3.5.x?Right here!

I want This!!!

[MrZeropage]

Please let me first finish the update on ibProArcade to get this started ... thx

[jellybaby]

Any ideas when you will be doing this one, let me know if you need a tester

[cbiweb]

cbiweb, did you ever get it to display Anonymous?
Yes, it was a setting in Admin CP that I misunderstood. Brain fart, y'know. :laugh:

[rnmcd]

I ended up paying to have this done for 3.5.2.

After all was said and done, the coder said, "It has also come to my attention that this hack doesn't put all destructive actions behind POST requests, which is a potential security issue."

What the heck does that mean?

[jellybaby]

MrZeropage are you planning on doing this for latest version? Great mod and Im willing to test on my board for you :)

[amykhar]

I'm not sure he's going to want a beta tester that doesn't read. He has said in post 21 and 26 that he's upgrading it when he has time.

[jellybaby]

I'm not sure he's going to want a beta tester that doesn't read. He has said in post 21 and 26 that he's upgrading it when he has time.

Is it really necessary to be so rude!! It was said tongue in cheek to him as I helped test a change that he made on the last one. Ever heard the saying if you havent got something nice to say!!!

[rnmcd]

Please let me first finish the update on ibProArcade to get this started ... thx

That must be one mega update for th ibProArcade!

[JenniferK]

eagerly awaiting this one :)

[ktaylor]

me too!!

[dinodonk]

me too...
also just wondering if you could make one without any db changes.....

[MikaK]

####EDIT - PROBLEM SOLVED####
Well so much for thorough checking. I?ll leave my original msg untouched so you can see what missing some code in file edits can cause.
In my case it was a matter of overlooking some at functions_newpost.php. Kool hack - so installed.
####END OF EDIT ####

I am trying to install this hack and everything seems to go sooth except for one fairly major problem...

If I try to

open a new thread,
reply without quoting
reply with quoting or
quickreply or
report a posting (by clicking on the triangle opening report.php) OR
send a new pm or
reply to a previously received pm
I get only a totally blank page shown.

Another thing (not been able to test this with a anonym post yet, but only with a post by an already known poster): If I check the author as an admin all other details show up as set in "anonymous_showauthor" template except the name of the poster. I mean the link<a href="member.php?$session[sessionurl]u=$postinfo[realuserid]" target="_blank"><b>$postinfo[realusername]</b></a>

Nor does the script send the email to the investigated member. (Not such a big thing.)

I have tried to chec my newly coded files and templates, phrases and the database mods. All seem in place. I have numerous hacks installed, but all changes are made to code that was found at places you suggest to look into based on finding the exact codes as you suggest to be repalced or added above/below (i think meaning no hacked code was changed). My vB is still v 3.0.3 and the php runs by cgi.

I would surely appreciate any ideas regarding correcting the above as this would be a kool hack to use.

Regs,
-Mika

[Angelus]

an upgrade to 3.6???

[sunnycher]

So this hack will make a user anonymous in that certain forum? correct.
What about when someone replies to that post and they are subscribed to the thread, will it then show them who the anonymous poster is in the email notice?

[MrZeropage]

No, the Name and ID ect. is commpletely replaced in the DB and stored in a seperate place no standard-vB-script knows... so no way the real data gets sent/displayed anywhere :)

[JenniferK]

Anyone know if this works with 3.6?

[amykhar]

No. It won't.

[JenniferK]

Bummer :(

[johnstires]

Just want to cast my vote for another user who is eagerly awaiting an update to vb 3.6.

There's another anon hack floating out in the ether, but it doesn't seem as stable as this one. If users are going to trust me to keep thier identity hidden, the hack needs to be solid.

[StarBuG]

I would be realy interested in a port to 3.6 as well.

StarBuG

[Merriweather]

Joining the thread so I can get notification if a version for 3.6.3 becomes available. :)

[Merriweather]

Now I'm up to 3.6.4 and tried my luck with this, but it won't even install. :(

[Merriweather]

Has anyone had luck with this in 3.6.4, or know a similar mod that works?

[lostgirl815]

Nope, but I'm posting in this thread for the same reason you are. :)

[MrZeropage]

I started development of AnonymHack v3.0 f?r vBulletin 3.6.x some days ago, please be patient :)

[lostgirl815]

Ah, good to know - thanks for the update. :)

[Niber]

I started development of AnonymHack v3.0 f?r vBulletin 3.6.x some days ago, please be patient :)

Awesome news, thanks MrZ.

[sunnycher]

Thanks Mr Z!! Will it have where the anonymous poster can post images also?

[Nikke]

Anything new here?

[Niber]

Anything new here?

Nope :(

[MrZeropage]

really working on it

[andrewy3k]

cant wait for this either..

[ThomasJ]

Just wondering if you'd had a chance to make any progress on this? Even if you have something only half completed send it over to me and I'll see if I can make it work.

[ru55ian]

looking for this as well... any estimated date on the release?

[Zebra]

A version for 3.7 would be nice..

[mark350]

Is there a way for the site owner to track the IP address of "anonymous poster"??

[students_forum]

cant wait for this either..
me too - thanks dude

[AusPhotography]

I'm waiting for the 3.6 version as well :)

[PGAmerica]

A version for 3.7 would be nice..
I would love to see a 3.7 version too.

Please!!!???