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Miserable Users for vB3 · **Released**: 01-04-2004

Miserable Users for vB3
Version: 1.01
vB-version: 3.0.0
Developer: KuraFire (original for vB2: Zzed)
Install-difficulty: Easiest
File edits: 0
Template edits: 1 (phpinclude_start)

Description of the Hack:
The Miserable Users Hack for vB3 is an upgrade from Zzed's hack for vB2. The vB3 version is streamlined and works without any file edits. It is purely template based.

Templates modified for this Hack:
phpinclude_start

(the above was generated via the Hack Tracking Log, soon to come)

1.01 update: January 5th, 3:10 pm CET
Instead of a custom check for the usergroup data to see whether the user is a Miserable User, vB3's function is_member_of() is being used now, cleaning up the code even more.

Here's what the Hack does: (original Hack thread)
This Hack will allow you to drive away people from your board without banning them. As explained by Zzed, the author of the original (vB2) hack:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zzed

So here is what really happens to a miserable user:

- There is a random 60-120 second delay each time they click on a link.
- 90% of times they have no search engine acccess.
- 75% of the times they get the server too busy error.

If they don't get the server too busy error:
- 50% of the times they may get a blank page
- 30% of the times they may get forwarded to the forum main page
- 20% of the time they may be able to see the page they asked for.

This vB3 hack uses NO FILE EDITS. Instead, it's all template based and Usergroup-based, making it even easier for you to manage your Miserable Users.

TO INSTALL:

1)
Create a new membergroup, and name it Miserable Users. Give them no particular permissions if you want, as you can use it as a secondary group (so you can effectively give them 0 permissions whatsoever).
Note: make sure to note down the Membergroup id !

2)
Put this code at the top of your phpinclude_start template:
Note: fill in the membergroup id from step 1 where it says "$miserableid = 8;" (replace the 8 with your id number).

PHP Code:


			
// Miserable Hack for vB3
    // Ported by KuraFire to vB3, original vB2 version by Zzed
    // #######################################################
    // Put the id of your Miserable Usergroup here:
    $miserableid = 8;
   
 // Check to see if the user is a Miserable User
 if (is_member_of(array('userid'=>$bbuserinfo['userid'], 'usergroupid'=>$bbuserinfo['usergroupid'], 'membergroupids'=>$bbuserinfo['membergroupids']), $miserableid))
    {
        $glitch = rand(60, 120);
        for($x=0; $x<$glitch; $x++)
        {
            echo ' ';
            sleep(1);
        }
    
        $vboptions['floodchecktime'] *= 10;
        $glitch = rand(0, 100);
        if($glitch < 90)
        {
            $vboptions['enablesearches'] = 0;
        }
    
        $glitch = rand(0, 100);
       if ($glitch < 75)
       {
           eval('$headinclude = "' . fetch_template('headinclude') . '";');
           eval('$header = "' . fetch_template('header') . '";');
           eval('$footer = "' . fetch_template('footer') . '";');
           eval('$timezone = "' . fetch_template('timezone') . '";');
           eval('$gobutton = "' . fetch_template('gobutton') . '";');
           $vboptions['useforumjump'] = 0;
           eval(print_standard_error('error_toobusy'));
       }
   
        $glitch = rand(0, 100);
       if ($glitch < 80)
        {
            if ($glitch < 50)
            {
                exit;
            }
         $templatecache['headinclude'] = '<META HTTP-EQUIV=\"refresh\" CONTENT=\"5; URL=$vboptions[forumhome].php\" />' . $templatecache['headinclude'];
        }
    }
    unset($ids, $glitch, $miserableid, $x);

Done!

Note: this Hack will come in an HTL* package once the HTL is finished.

Toning Down The Pain:

You'll find that this hack is a bit rough on people, and may be getting too obvious. If you want to tone it down, here's what you can do:

Toning down the page load delay:
This line:

PHP Code:


			
     $glitch = rand(60, 120);

specifies the random delay, in actual seconds. You can see that Miserable users will have at least 60 and at most 120 seconds loading delay for pages. If you want to dial that down, you could change it to 30, 60 for instance. The first number is the minimum amount of seconds they'll wait, the second is the maximum. A random number in-between the two will be used for each page load.

Toning down the % chance disabling of the Search engine:
This line:

PHP Code:


			
     if($glitch < 90)

specifies the chance of the search engine being disabled. Currently it will be a 90% chance. Change the number to (for instance) 50 for a 50% chance.

Toning down the chance of a Server Too Busy error:
This line:

PHP Code:


			
    if ($glitch < 75)

specifies the chance of getting a Server Too Busy error. Lower the number for a smaller chance.

Toning down the chance of a blank page:
This line:

PHP Code:


			
        if ($glitch < 50)

specifies the chance of getting a blank page. Lower the number for a smaller chance.

Increasing the chance of getting a normal page:
This line:

PHP Code:


			
    if ($glitch < 80)

specifies the chance of not getting a normal page. So, if you want to increase the chance of getting a normal page, decrease this number!

Toning down the chance of a refresh to Forum home:
This section:

PHP Code:


			
    $glitch = rand(0, 100);
       if ($glitch < 80)
       {
           if ($glitch < 50)

specifies the chance of getting a refresh. If the 20% chance of getting a normal page is not the case, there will be a 50% chance of a white page, and if that doesn't happen, there will be a refresh. If you want to change it, meddle with those two options to find a balance you like.

Hope you guys enjoy this update of the excellent hack by Zzed, with the improvements I've made to it for higher maintainability (and, no file edits

).

Bryan Ex · #72 04-22-2004, 05:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IceMalee

well, couldnt there be some php files to edit so we can have a button in there profile that sets them to miserable, like in vb2? i cant use it with user groups since i use that for something else and would be too much of a pain in the ass

Not sure about a profile link but it does work very well by just by adding them to Miserable Users as a secondary user group. A single check box and you don't change any of their other settings. Maybe I'm warped but this has got to be one of my three favourite hacks.

Bryan Ex · #73 04-22-2004, 03:07 PM

Here ya go Boofo... I tested this out with a few users and they found these settings to be pretty realistic. Note: these are only the glitch settings and not the complete hack code.

PHP Code:


			
 {

        $glitch = rand(5, 10);

        for($x=0; $x<$glitch; $x++)

        {

            echo ' ';

            sleep(1);

        }

    

        $vboptions['floodchecktime'] *= 10;

        $glitch = rand(0, 100);

        if($glitch < 35)

        {

            $vboptions['enablesearches'] = 0;

        }

    

        $glitch = rand(0, 100);

       if ($glitch < 65)

       {

           eval('$headinclude = "' . fetch_template('headinclude') . '";');

           eval('$header = "' . fetch_template('header') . '";');

           eval('$footer = "' . fetch_template('footer') . '";');

           eval('$timezone = "' . fetch_template('timezone') . '";');

           eval('$gobutton = "' . fetch_template('gobutton') . '";');

           $vboptions['useforumjump'] = 0;

           eval(print_standard_error('error_toobusy'));

       }

   

        $glitch = rand(0, 100);

       if ($glitch < 70)

        {

            if ($glitch < 70)

            {

                exit;

            }

switchstance · #74 04-22-2004, 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bryan Ex

Here ya go Boofo... I tested this out with a few users and they found these settings to be pretty realistic. Note: these are only the glitch settings and not the complete hack code.

PHP Code:


			
 {

        $glitch = rand(5, 10);

        for($x=0; $x<$glitch; $x++)

        {

            echo ' ';

            sleep(1);

        }

    

        $vboptions['floodchecktime'] *= 10;

        $glitch = rand(0, 100);

        if($glitch < 35)

        {

            $vboptions['enablesearches'] = 0;

        }

    

        $glitch = rand(0, 100);

       if ($glitch < 65)

       {

           eval('$headinclude = "' . fetch_template('headinclude') . '";');

           eval('$header = "' . fetch_template('header') . '";');

           eval('$footer = "' . fetch_template('footer') . '";');

           eval('$timezone = "' . fetch_template('timezone') . '";');

           eval('$gobutton = "' . fetch_template('gobutton') . '";');

           $vboptions['useforumjump'] = 0;

           eval(print_standard_error('error_toobusy'));

       }

   

        $glitch = rand(0, 100);

       if ($glitch < 70)

        {

            if ($glitch < 70)

            {

                exit;

            }

Thanks, your numbers are much better. My testing was showing that it's way too slow to be believable.

This hack rocks quite hard tho. Loving it.

Boofo · #75 04-22-2004, 05:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bryan Ex

Here ya go Boofo... I tested this out with a few users and they found these settings to be pretty realistic. Note: these are only the glitch settings and not the complete hack code.

Thank you, sir.

Bryan Ex · #76 04-22-2004, 07:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boofo

Thank you, sir.

Thanks go to the original author of this hack... now go forth and make users miserable. LMAO

Stu · #77 04-24-2004, 03:45 PM

Would it be a big deal to somehow adapt this to work on an IP address.
I've had members made miserable who after talking to other members realise that it is only their account that is affected.
They clear their cookies and re-register!!
If this could be linked to any user with a certain IP or email it would give added protection.

Jujimufu · #78 05-14-2004, 04:01 PM

I've always loved this hack. It's great to see it back on VB3 // It's even better now it's user group set and mods can apply it. + You can even lift it after X amount of days! This does come useful you know.

>

Bryan Ex · #79 06-08-2004, 05:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jujimufu

You can even lift it after X amount of days!

Is there a way to automate the process... after 3 days it expires for example?

Cold Steel · #80 06-08-2004, 06:25 PM

/me installs.

Lee Davies · #81 06-08-2004, 09:22 PM

Is there anyway to make this work for Guest users but it stops slowing down when they click register?

For example, if a banned member is viewing the forum as a guest, i'd like that slowed down... but if it is a true member, and they click register, the registration process isn't affected?

X vBulletin 3.8.12 by vBS Debug Information
Page Generation 0.09056 seconds Memory Usage 2,376KB Queries Executed 25 (?)
More Information
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