Vb.org and there attitude to Lockdown hack
 

I noticed ages ago that the lockdown hack was`nt allowed to be discussed on vb.org cause of one reason or another.
Now ive just seen this post and the same reply has come back.

https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?t=61992

Now i dont think its up to vb.org to make rules like this on what hack can be posted here and what cant.The way i see it if people need a hack for one purpose or another then most people jump at the chance to help them so why the attitude to the Lockdown hack.

Let me guess is its cause its used by Boards to hide details until someone replies to a post to reveal the details.Or maybe thats its a hack thats usually used on pirated Boards ???

I honestly dont see why vb.org has this sort of stance on this hack and i thought this board was here for the MEMBERS not the views of the staff running it.

As a hack it has its usefulness and can be used for a multitude of things but for vb.org to claim it is not even allowed to be discussed is beyond a joke as end of day this is a hackers board and all hacks can be requested here so why are we being told what we can in effect ask for ???

End of day its US who pay our license fee to access hacks on this board so i feel that we as members should have that choice in what we do and dont want.

Aint bothered if post is closed but its a point worth noting.

<a href="https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?t=23500" target="_blank">https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?t=23500</a>

Jelsoft is very sensitive about their software not to be used in illegal sites. So they are also sensitive about hacks that can make things easier for an illegal site and as you can see the comments in the mentioned thread comes from directly a vb team member, not vb.org staff.

Frankly speaking I partially agree you and I believe that lock down hack can have some legitimate benefits for legitimate forums as well. But I also believe that if Jelsoft feels the other way, then we have to respect their opinion.

i have to agree, as access to the hacks on this site are for licensed members only..sooo, i know theres a few of us who arent v.honest but there not just interested in the lock down hack either......

i'd go with that right there! :)

Good reply Logician.

I aint made this post for the sake of causing arguments but cause theres a prinicple involved here.Jelsoft say we cant discuss such a hack cause they dont like to make hacks that benefit or make it easier for an illegal site but does`nt that include every hack on vb.org as every hack is a benefit to a board whether it is legit or illegal.

Also lockdown hack is just an updated version to the Hide hide which is available for most over board formats such as invision and Phbb so why not Vbull and why is vbull stance on it so hard?

I can't speak for them. But I believe that this hack might have been abused by some wares site in the past so it should have been damned. (When I read the referred thread, I get some hints on this). I also know that Jelsoft's stance on illegal sites are much harsher than other forum software developers so this might be one reason too.

*shrug* It's officially Jelsoft's site. We're just enforcing their rules for the most part. If you have questions about a Jelsoft-made rule, I would e-mail contact@vbulletin.com instead of asking here because we don't know much more about it than you.

phpBB and Invision do not have to worry about piracy given that their products are free (except now in the case of Invision).

This rule was in fact not created by any of the current staff but a Jelsoft representative. It could have it's uses but that's a sacrifice to take :)

just for the sake of discussion and the fact I'm stuck on a coding problem, what's the difference between the lockdown hack and the hack that allows admins or others to read members pms? Both could be used for the wrong reasons.

The lockdown hack forces you to reply to a thread, once you do this they get your IP and such, which if the file your downloadin has a virus or somthing gives the programmer very easy access and narrows down the list, amung a whole list of other things

imo, making it so only registered, mods/ super mods and admins can view forums gives almost the same exact deal as this, which is good enough for me.. besides, all i have to do is view the admin CP for IP's, or who's online.. of course being admin makes this possible.. and the person has to be registered for the adminCP bit..

i like the idea of a lockdown tool, don't necessariy agree with the idea of making it out to be almost illegal in nature, but also understand the premise behind it's being regarded as a no go on here and from jelsoft itself..

yep i read the other thread a while back - and even with it i still come to the conclusion that its is up to members what hacks they put on their board.If its a paid for board then the choice is theirs.Jelsoft regards to vbull boards should be only against piracy and the illegal use of pirated boards or eve legal ones distributing warezs etc.

Lockdown hack has been blown out of all propotions.Its tru what logician says about its use on pirated boards but if that is the case then im pretty sure there is a lot of other hacks on here that pirated boards use so should`nt we not discuss them either ???

Lockdown hack aint nothing special to be honest but its annoying when posts get closed cause someone wants to discuss it or cause their views dont correspond to staff of Jelsoft.
I aint bothered if this hack never comes on here to be honest but my only argument is that regardless of Jelsoft view in the past this is a hack board and as such they should not be allowed to dictate to us what hacks we can have cause they thing they may be used for pirated boards.

If someone wants a hack for a specific purpose and someone is willing to make it then should`nt that person be allowed that hack ?

Filbert i do agree with what is being said and that other boards dont bother cause they are free anyway but why is one that is paid for stopping people from freedom of choice while free ones have it.

Lets say i wanted a section on puzzles

i post the puzzle but in the lockdown box i write the answer - so people read the puzzle decide if they can guess it and reply with their answer.
Now once they replied they see the correct answer - so this way they have already given their answer and can compare while anyone else readin this same puzzle cant see the answer until they reply.

The above is only a small example of the possibilites of the hack - so how does it not have any use.I can honestly say regardless of the votes against my poll in this post if it was released (which it is) on vbull that most of the people would add it to their boards.
Anyway im straying now as the post aint about letting it come on here but about our rights to what we as the end user may want.

Frankly its not your choice, VB decides what they Allow and Dont allow, end of story

Im pretty sure mods or admins are quite aware of this post by now and they could easy of closed it but upto now they aint as end of day its only a discussion.

frankly, it is our choice.. in what we, the end user of the vbulletin software, choose to use on our boards as far as hacks go.. so to exclusively lock it completely down to what jelsoft says is king, is not entirely true.. once you have paid for it, installed it.. you are free to do with it what you wish as long as you don't redistribute the software or the hacks to unlicensed people..

there is quite a bit more to it than to just completely narrow it down to what jelsoft says.. not to mention, the internet is a very vast place.. finding everything, everywhere is almost impossible.. if anyone person is able to do that, then bottle it and sell it.. you will make a fortune..

There's not much point in debating it here. As several of us have said in this thread, it is a Jelsoft decision and should be discussed with them.

First off, this is not your board. It is owned and operated by private individuals and supported by Jelsoft Enterprises Limited. When this discussion originally took place over 2 years ago, there were no legitimate reasons for this hack. In fact, vBulletin already has built-in facilities to prevent members of specific groups from downloading files which is what this hacks stated purpose was to be. If that is the legitimate reason you want this then it is superfluous and unneeded. The only other reason would be to gather IP addresses and email addresses as people registered to track who downloaded it. This is also built into vBulletin.

The only reason to require someone to post in a thread before downloading would be to keep links to warez hidden from prying eyes. This is the reason this hack is banned from Jelsoft's sites. Its only purpose is to violate the vBulletin License Agreement which specifically states you cannot use the software to distribute warez or pirated software..