vB Ghost - Complete invisible user

This is an old hack that i had laying around, and i posted it as a response to a Service Request recently. I see that it has 7 downloads, so i guess more people are interested in it.

What does it do?
It will make a user really invisible to everyone, including Administrators in all online functions.

Installer included? It was a job that i had to make very quickly once, so you must be kidding about an installer. Be glad that i included the hard to read instructions.

File change: A lot!!!

Database changes: No

Fancy Admin Page? No ofcourse not, then the other Admin's would quickly spot you got this turned on.

Support? I doubt it

Supported vB versions: was written for 3.0.3, but will probably work until 3.0.7
Make sure that you backup all your files and use a decent text editor.

Quote of the year: 0 installs

If you really like this (which i can't imagine) and you don't know what to do with your money, a paypal donation at marcoh64@gmail.com is always appreciated.

[Biker_GA]

Marco, ran into a little problem on a 3.06 install.

Trying to find in memberlist.php

if (!$userinfo['invisible'] OR $permissions['genericpermissions'] & CANSEEHIDDEN OR $userinfo['userid'] == $bbuserinfo['userid'])

Can not find that line anywhere. Did a search on CANSEEHIDDEN, and no luck that way either. Now I know there's no "support", but I REALLY want to mess with some folks until we upgrade. LOL

[Marco van Herwaarden]

Please read the instructions again.

The line you are quoting needs to be found in member.php, not in memberlist.php (yeah i know, the instuctions are hard to read)

[Biker_GA]

Is there an issue with the instructions then. It is in the section for memberlist.php..

In file memberlist.php
Find:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
		" . iif($usergroupid, "LEFT JOIN " . TABLE_PREFIX . "usergroupleader AS usergroupleader ON (user.userid = usergroupleader.userid AND usergroupleader.usergroupid=$usergroupid) ") . "
		WHERE $condition
			AND user.usergroupid IN ($ids)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Add BELOW
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
			AND (user.options & $_USEROPTIONS[isghost]) = 0
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Find:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
		if (!$userinfo['invisible'] OR $permissions['genericpermissions'] & CANSEEHIDDEN OR $userinfo['userid'] == $bbuserinfo['userid'])
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
REPLACE by:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
		if (!$userinfo['invisible'] OR ($permissions['genericpermissions']  & CANSEEHIDDEN AND !$userinfo['isghost']) OR $userinfo['userid'] == $bbuserinfo['userid'])
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Marco van Herwaarden]

Sorry missed the second line, since it is (almost?) the same as the line to change in member.php, just above that.

Now this is interesting, i checked it in a 3.0.7 version and that whole if statement is gone. In the memberlist the 'Last Visit' date is always shown.

3.0.3:

PHP Code:

        if (!$userinfo['invisible'] OR $permissions['genericpermissions'] & CANSEEHIDDEN OR $userinfo['userid'] == $bbuserinfo['userid'])
        {
            $userinfo['lastvisit'] = vbdate($vboptions['dateformat'], $userinfo['lastactivity'], true);
        }
        else
        {
            $userinfo['lastvisit'] = ' ';
        } 


In 3.0.7:

PHP Code:

        $userinfo['lastvisit'] = vbdate($vboptions['dateformat'], $userinfo['lastvisittime'], true); 


This means that the last visit date is always shown, even if a member hsa choosen to stay invisible. Not sure if this is a bug in 3.0.7 or not. Looks like it is done on purpose.

If you want, you can replace the 3.0.6 code with the 3.0.3.

[Biker_GA]

Thanks! I'll monkey with it after the coffee kicks in. LOL

[JohnBee]

I totally love this hack! I have moved to 3.5 and so I wondered if there was a chance this could work on 3.5?

I rely on this, on my forums to hide a "system account" to post news and submit other forms of data via automated form. I really miss it, is there any way you could make it work under 3.5?

[Marco van Herwaarden]

I will try to have a look, but i don't have much time for the next 2 weeks.

[JohnBee]

Yes please do bring this to 3.5 - I have a script that uses an account to post news and this is exacly what I need to clean things up.

[ubblite]

I'm another user wanting this badly for v3.5.4, Marco... we need this! Thank you.

[TwinsForMe]

Another user wanting this for 3.5, please.