[tinkerbell]

I have a staff forum which is completely invisible to all members and is only accessible to staff using my settings in my post above.

1. display order set to 0
2. forum is active set to no
3. forum permissions set to only allow moderators, super moderators and admin.

I have forums only accessible to subscribed members, these show on the forum index page as private and if anyone tries to enter they get the message that they do not have permission to enter.

I also have my forum split completely into two parts so that adults mix only with adults and school children or members under 17 can only access there areas which are completely geared to them. The adult members can not see or enter the under 17s area however guests can see the forums as this is needed for the under 17's out there (before they join us) to realise there is an area for them. This area is set so that entry can only happen once every one of them has come through me first.

The only unauthorised way into my areas is through a computer hacker and I cant protect against that.

Until I installed the quiz there was no direct contact between members except through contact centers in both adults and minors sections and the private messaging option was only enabled for staff, this is a problem i am working on at present.

My forum has to be secure for children, if a child can type I want them and there parents to feel secure that the nasties of the internet can not get to them. My daughter is 6 years old and once I sort the problem out that the quiz has brought me I will have no worries about letting her use the forum either for games or homework help or making friends.

Call me paranoid but the safety of the smaller children is the most important thing to me its why we chose a v bulletin forum, you can lock out areas securely. In these times smaller children should have the opportunity to use the internet safely.

Sorry I didnt intend this to sound like a lecture its just one part let to another. lol


Mouse_cats
As the_phantom says for your staff areas alter the forum permissions so that your members cant get in to read what you are saying.

Karen

PS my daughter has been using a computer since she was 12 months old when I sat her infront of it and let her do her worst, she now installs her programs from disc and this last year learnt how to read. Now I guess there is no stopping her. LOL