[3.0.0 beta 5] Read your members Private Messages

* Users tested this on beta 5,6,7,gamma,rc1 and didn't complain about errors *

/*================================================= =====================*\
|| This IS the First vB3 Hack (PM.PHP)
|| Description: Allow Super Administrators to read Private Messages
||
|| Author : Scott (scott@vbulletin.com) (version 1.0 for beta 3)
|| SideKick : Xiphoid (info@vBulletin.nl) (version 1.1 for beta 5)
||
|| Install : Upload to admincp/ folder and in browser run as
|| http://www.yoursite.com/forum/admincp/pm.php?userid=x
\*================================================ ======================*/

ENJOY
(and thank you Scott)

[Link14716]

Oh the chaos this hack will cause. Not only will people scream about the privacy bull++++, but now you're releasing a beta 5 hack at vB.org? Oh the humanity...

[MGM]

agreed, i saw this at vb.nl but didnt install it

nice hack though

MGM out

[DuffMan]

Originally Posted by Link14716

but now you're releasing a beta 5 hack at vB.org? Oh the humanity...

He does say it's compatible with Betas 5, 6, 7, Gamma, and RC1...

Nice hack, but unless my members are secretly organizing a rebellion through PMs I don't really have a need for it right now.

[The Quibbler]

Oh, my. I find that almost too powerful to the administrator, for the privacy issues. Nevertheless, I installed it, just to try it out. Don't know if I'll keep it; I may consider un-installing... but either way, nice hacking.

[Chris Gwynne]

Well nobody will know you have it installed, but you could have it there just incase.

Great hack floris.

[wolfman]

Well truth be known, you can just view the PMs in the database, but this just makes it much easier to do. Also some people say you should/need to include this fact in the signup so that they can not say they have not been warned.

Though personally people should never ever think that once they type something out on the net in any way should be thought of as "private" in any way. I would suggest changing the name from "Private Message" to "Message" or something else that does not lead people to think "Private"

I have had need of this before on my forum, a user was sending requests for warez and other less than desirable things. I was able to see messages and was able to take actions needed.

[Serge]

Just a side note to remind everyone that you have to be Super Administrators to get this hack working which means that any old administrator will not be able to view the PMs only the ones defined inside the config.php file will be able to view.

[Koutaru]

I will never use this hack for evil

[Floris]

Hi there everybody:

Beta hack:
Because it works with rc1, I think I can post it. Also, who cares for which version I release a hack.

Privacy:
This has been discussed, if you don't need it: Don't use it!
I personally think none of the messages on a forum are private, because they are stored plain text in the database. I really like it how IPB calls them Personal Messages.

Having said that, it is up to the administrator of each individual forum to process the data from their members as they see fit. I don't think it requires a warning prior to registration. If a user decides to abuse the services / priveledges of a site by using the PM system to spam. The admin can use all means (tools) through the admin control panel to avoid this. They can prune pm's too, why not check up first to see if the user is really spamming and then removing the msgs. It becomes a privacy issue when the admin starts to use it to read all the msgs for personal enlightment. But either way, doing through by pulling them manually from the database in a less clear overview, or through a handy tool. I'd like to save time and use a handy tool (when I check up on spammers).

Regardless;
Thank you for the feedback and enjoy the hack.