Miscellaneous Hacks - Hide Online Status of Usergroups/Users

Overview:

This product will give you complete control over who knows who is online. You can select usergroups and users whose online status is hidden from everyone, except members of usergroups and individual users from whom you decide no one will be hidden. When a user's online status is hidden, those from whom it is hidden will never see them shown as online in the "Currently Active Users" section of "What's Going On?" (WGO) or on the "Who's Online" page, or on their profile page or in their postbits.

A hidden user will show up in the list of recent visitors in the WGO section, however, their cited time of last activity will be either their last visit time, or time of last post/PM/VM...whichever is the most recent, so as to arouse the least suspicion. This same time of last activity will be shown on their profile page as well.

You can also define "Troublesome Users" which are dual sets of users, the first set which is hidden from the second, and if you enable the reciprocity for this setting, the second set will also be hidden from the first. You may define as many dual sets of troublesome users as you want.

Also, you can set whether hidden users are hidden from themselves. If you wish to make it less obvious to users that their online status is being hidden then set this to "No" and if you want hidden users to see that they are hidden, set this to "Yes."

The users you set as those from whom no online status is hidden will see everyone's true online status, regardless of the other settings.

Updates:

Version 1.1:

• Added option to show hidden users as guests.

Version 1.2:

• Hidden users shown as guests now moved to the end of the guest list on Who's Online.

Version 1.3:

• Fixed reported issue of memberaction dropdown giving away online status.

Version 1.3.1:

• Added option to turn off online status tooltip from all memberaction dropdown links.

Version 1.3.2:

• Amended option to turn off online status tooltip from all memberaction dropdown links to include online status indicators in postbits.

Version 1.3.3:

• Added option to set whether the active usercounts will be adjusted to account for hidden users or not.

Compatibility:

Tested and working on VB 4.2.x and may work on all 4.x versions of vBulletin.

Backup/Warning:

This product does not alter your database, however it is always good practice to make regular backups and you should make a backup before installing ANY new mod.

As always, products are USE AT YOUR OWN RISK. I will provide support and do my best to help but no absolute guarantee is offered.

To Install:

1. Download and extract the attached .zip file.
2. Follow AdminCP -> Plugins & Products -> Manage Products -> Add/Import Product.
3. Click on "Choose File" and browse to the product .xml file that was packaged in the .zip file.
4. Click "Import."
5. You MUST enable the product in the settings before it will function.
6. Configure the remaining settings to your liking. Each setting has a detailed explanation of its use.

Support for this product can be found here:

• MHB - Hide Online Status of Usergroups/Users
• TAZ - Hide Online Status of Usergroups/Users

[MarkFL]

Yeah, I'm certain we're talking about the same thing...with version 1.3.2, you should find when you disable them, that little green/gray indicator is gone.

[chloe101]

That's it exactly! Thank you! Every trace of a member's online status is totally gone even on the CMS homepage where the tooltip was showing up in the articles. You just saved me huge headaches because I couldn't find what was controlling that tooltip in the templates. I wish I could send you a box of chocolates!

[MarkFL]

Originally Posted by chloe101

That's it exactly! Thank you! Every trace of a member's online status is totally gone even on the CMS homepage where the tooltip was showing up in the articles. You just saved me huge headaches because I couldn't find what was controlling that tooltip in the templates. I wish I could send you a box of chocolates!

Just knowing you have achieved your goal is treat enough for me.

[chloe101]

Originally Posted by MarkFL

Just knowing you have achieved your goal is treat enough for me.

You really rock! Here's a virtual box of the finest Belgian chocolates for you

[MarkFL]

Originally Posted by chloe101

You really rock! Here's a virtual box of the finest Belgian chocolates for you

Mmmm...yummy!

[chloe101]

Hi Mark, It's me again sigh.... (or rather lol). When the mod is activated to hide all users except from admin, it also hides the total number in the What's Going On box under "Currently Active Users". Is there a way to get that number back but still keep the status hidden? I made a template change that already removes the usernames for privacy but I'd dearly love to have the total number showing . Is this possible?

[MarkFL]

Hidden users will be counted among guests in that case I believe.

[chloe101]

Originally Posted by MarkFL

Hidden users will be counted among guests in that case I believe.

They're not counting as guests because I set "Show Hidden Users As Guests?" to no. And compared the results the Admin gets with my registered user test account- they're totally removed. It would be great if "Show Hidden Users As Guests" is set to no, that the number appear in "currently active users".

I'm asking a lot I know. Chocolates by Fedex?

[MarkFL]

Try setting "Show Hidden Users As Guests?" to Yes...otherwise it sounds like the product is behaving as intended.

Another option would be to try disabling the plugin titled "Remove Selected Users From Currently Active Users (WGO)" since you have edited your template to hide the usernames.

[chloe101]

Originally Posted by MarkFL

Try setting "Show Hidden Users As Guests?" to Yes...otherwise it sounds like the product is behaving as intended.

Another option would be to try disabling the plugin titled "Remove Selected Users From Currently Active Users (WGO)" since you have edited your template to hide the usernames.

Thank you!! Option 2, deactivating the plugin, did the trick. Fedex or DHL?