vb.org my dear is not a US based site, but a UK one, liable to UK's and European Communities laws. But I've just a question. When you're buying something on the net, or when you're just register in a site and you're giving your details (eg name, email etc) is not the same? That's actually I did. And please keep in mind that US laws dosen't means international laws.. ok? European Community has it's own laws sometimes same, sometimes different from US.

Have you read the privacy policy, here in vb.org? Seems no, otherwise how you didn't seen:
------------------------------------
By using this site, you consent to the collection and use of this information by VBULLETIN.ORG. If we decide to change our privacy policy, we will post those changes on this page so that you are always aware of what information we collect, how we use it, and under what circumstances we disclose it.
We collect the following information:

1. Click-stream data
2. HTTP protocol elements
3. Search terms
4. User's Name
5. Computer information

At the user's option, we may also collect the following data:

1. Birth Date
2. Email Address
3. Telephone
4. Business Address

This data will be used for the following purposes:

1. Completion and support of the current activity.
2. Web site and system administration.
3. Research and development.

This data will be used by ourselves and our agents.
-------------------------
Imagine that I collect only URL and email

Please provide a link/quote to the chapters you are refering to.

All i could find is: http://www.fda.gov/opacom/laws/ftca.htm
? 57a. Unfair or deceptive acts or practices rulemaking proceedings


This is clearly talking about "unfair" or "deceptive". I don't see either applying to this modification.

I am not a lawyer, and if you know more about this, then please provide both a quote of the text you mean and an explanation.

People complain like old ladies just for the sake of nagging. The most popular hack on vb.org, vbarcade, after you install it in order to get the games you need to go to their site, enter your url address of your admincp and the automated process does the games install.

The lady has contributed many hacks to the community and is straight forward about it. If you don't like it, just don't install it.

What have you contributed here at vb.org that gives you the right to try to scare talented coders away?

By my experience the one who screams the louder is the one who intended to do some kind of piratage.

Get the European's Community Law Regulation (EC) N? 45/2001 valid since 18 Dec 2000. Read careful Article 4 & 5 and then please let me in peace.

Thanks

I'm also don't live in US, so on the same meaning US laws, even respectable as must be the laws of any country, are meaningless and for sure not over the EU laws.

Great mod, but as some have said, monitored installation and auto-emailing information just goes against the spirit of vbulletin.org, nevermind all the legal mumbo jumbo.

/me does not click install.

Ok Guys, if you don't respect the facts:

• That I was totally honest with you while it was so easy to keep everything secret
• That I had another 4 mods without this restriction
• That I clearly stated that I'll remove it on 100th installation
• That I delivered you a totally free bug mod. Have you seen any comment above for any bug??

then you don't deserve anything from me. I'm getting of all my free mods so I'll have more free time for all those who trusted me and gave me their money for the commercial mods. And especially you my dear Bubble #5, you're the last one that can have as signature "If we don't help each other when we can, then we're not making this world a better place", because you became the reason to deprive from all the others something that you can't give them. Very nice way to "help each other". And someday you must understand that in the net there is no "here". For me "here" is Greece, for someone else at the same time "here" is Africa etc etc.

Im still thinking about paying for it.
Question. For those lucky enough to download before you removed it.
How do you change the pic of the man in a pot of boling water?
Even if you upload a pic, "be the first for rating" pic still stays there.

Have you approved the photo? Just one reported problem like this but finally she found that it was problem on her server when she tried it to another site.

As I Want To Say To Bubble that many members in vb.org want to use this mod but because of you, they cant use it just because of your words and maria have the full right to do anything with here mod she is the coder of it and she made it for members here who like to use it and she have the right to make it as a trial version just like vision's scripts and atleast you must appreciate there work because they are doing some updates to let your forum looks better and they did give u a free version but if you do like the mod much then u have to buy and i think that this is not a problem at all for me and you and for any member here but i am not sure if its not a problem for u i dont know that but i think its a problem for u anyway for me if i find a mod like this one i will buy it in a seconds And Thanks To Maria

PUNCTUATION!

Good lord. Mod Reported. :down:

Edit: Nevermind. This should just be deleted.

Since when has spyware ever been 'honest'? You would also have been in violation of this sites rules if you keep it a secret, so you were really only doing yourself a favor there.

By then the damage would have been done. We also wonder if it was 'so important' for you to have this spyware in your hack to 'protect' your copyright (as you so claimed) then why would you suddenly not be worried about your copyrights after the '100th' install? Weird.

That is a mute point. Many software programs containing spyware is 'bug free', but it still contains spyware... remove that spyware and everyone will be happy.


That's right, I can't, don't and won't give anyone spyware. I deprive them of nothing. I care only about what's in peoples best interest. You Microhellas are the only one here who is depriving them of this hack, as you can easily offer it to us without the spyware - but you won't.

I am proud of my signature and it is there because I love this site, and the fact that most of the members here help and look after one another. I also love the fact that there are many really good hackers here, and I'm not just talking about their wonderful coding abilities either. Coders like Abe1, DChapman, PaulM, Billspaintball and Kerry-Anne (to mention just a few) these are coders that we all respect because, aside from their great coding abilities, you can tell by their posts that they are REALLY good people on the inside, and you can see it in the way that they graciously treat people here. I am sure that I'm not the only one here who has yet to see that kind heartedness displayed here by you Microhellas. Most of your threads contain people upset at you. Why is that? One has to wonder if you're not really removing your hack for other reasons.

That is true, but it is also true that the FCC will not allow you to make available to the people in the U.S. software which contains spyware. You can offer it for download in your country if you wish, but not here. The first offense can be as much as 3 million dollars. Whether or not they will be able to collect it from you is another issue, but they can still block any website that offers your spyware. That is what I am mostly worried about. As I mentioned above, there's a lot of really good people here, and they shouldn't be denied access to these sites because of spyware in one hack. That is not my definition of spyware, that is the definition as put forth by United States Congress. Please also note that I will not stoop to your bad form, shown by your posting my username in such an immature manner. Other than that I really have nothing against you, and I wish you well in all that you do. God bless.

Hi Marco. I googled "laws about spyware" and found several good links for you. This link contains a lot of information regarding legislation regarding spyware. When you click here and go to the Library of Congress, Section 2-9c clearly states that no spyware can collect a persons e-mail address.


Section 3(1) states that no software, or any component thereof,

? (1) collects personal information about an owner or operator of that protected computer and transfers such information to any person other than such owner or operator;

? (2) monitors or analyzes the content of the Internet web pages accessed by an owner or operator of such computer and transfers information regarding the accessing of such web pages to any person other than such owner or operator

Furthermore; all spyware needs to contain either a removal utility for that spyware, or a on/off function so that the users of that software can, at their discretion, turn said spyware off. This hack contains no such feature/function.

This hack may also be in violation of Title III of the ECPA which prohibits the use of trace devices to record any addressing, and/or signalling information used in the process of transmitting electronic communications. This hack is also in violation of The Computer Fraud and Abuse Act which states that personal Information from any protected computer cannot be used in this matter when it involves an interstate or foreign communication. It also states that they cannot knowingly cause the transmission of a program, information, code, or command that intentionally accessing computer information such as their personal e-mail address. In Theofel v. Farey Jones it was upheld by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit that it is unlawful to gain access to any e-mail information which is a breach of this act. Several of the above laws also show that this hack does not comply with the authorization section of those laws.

It's important that you understand that my concern is not about this hack per se. If someone is foolish enough to install it then that is their business. My concern is more in line with what Chris-777 and Lizard King were talking about earlier. For years we have all been loyal members of this site. We have done so because we have always felt that vb.org has always acted with the members best interest in mind. Now that comes into question if vb.org is going to allow hacks such as this with spyware to be available for download from this site. As mentioned before, it is not in the spirit of what we have come to expect from this great site. There used to be an unwritten standard here that even 'questionable' hacks were not allowed on this site. We have come to trust this site in that regard. Now, seeing a hack like this here is very disappointing to say the least. Hidden or not, spyware should not be allowed in hacks. As always I respect your decision regarding how your site is run, but at the same time I am also really sad to see a hack like this on a site with such high standards that I've always respected :(

When you'll realize that this site in NOT a US based site BUT a UK based site and is liable to European communities laws, and not to US laws. If you access this site from US dosen't means that at the same time this site becoming US site.

I understand that this is not a U.S. based site. They will still however need to comply with it's laws for those who use it in the US, just like they do the COPPA law. Sites that do not comply with these laws can, and have in the past been blocked for lesser offenses. Is that what you want to see happen? There is also no European law that promotes spyware. Even the law that you listed earlier does not do this. Articles 4 and 5 do not apply. Contact an attorney there and they will explain it to you :)

I'm the owner my dear. You're just the operator... the user of the sofwate. Where you've teached that from the time that even buying a softare you're becoming owner of the software? You're just getting the authority to use the sofware.

Removal utility means that something must be already installed. I've place the warning before even install it.

As for all other articles.. just read the European Community law that I attached before. This is our law. This is this site's law as long as it's based or belong to a European's community country like is UK and Greece.

Bubble, if you do think this mod was in violation of any laws you should have contacted the author privately and reported the mod to the admins. This is disrespect to the author, and to those that want to use this modification. If you don't like it, then don't use it. This has drawn on too long, we've all lost many good mods that Mary has provided for free.

btw, I don't mind her having the url and email address to my site, if she is using it for legit purposes. If you dont like it - don't install... simple as that.

Spyware is something let's say (I'm not perfect in English) "third party" in the code which has nothing to do with the code. Have you seen any "third party" code. I used normal vb function to inform me about successful installation. Here is the code:
As you can see I didn't care to get headers or username or anything. As for the email address if you had read carefully my early posts here, I said "Email if there is posted one in admincp" which means .."Remove it before installation".

I think that is enought for today. I'm going to sleep....