vBStealth 2.0

vBStealth 2.0
(by Martin64, martin64@vbhackers.com)

[about]

vBStealth is a hack that prevents trouble makers from spreading their stupidity at your board and it does that by hiding their threads, making their posts magically disappear and helping the world by ignoring their pityful private messages. These users are unaware that they are ignored; their threads and posts show up normally when they're viewing them - only admins, mods, stealth banned users and guests are able to see these. Mhuahahah!

vBStealth was initially based on Frank's "Secretly ban a user" hack (https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthrea...threadid=36205) but is much more advanced and is is taking the idea of putting users on ignore further. This hack makes the secretly banned users even more secret - they have been stealth banned! *LOL*, please forgive me for naming the hack that.

[what it does]

- Threads and posts before the user was banned will show up, but threads and posts after the user was banned will be hidden to everyone but admins, mods, stealth banned users and guests.
- Hides threads in forumdisplay started by stealth users to everyone but admins, mods, stealth banned users and guests.
- Hides posts in showthread by stealth users to everyone but admins, mods, stealth banned users and guests.
- Ignores private messages sent by stealth users.
- Gives the option for moderators to either set a regular ban or a stealth ban in the Mod CP.
- Moderators are able to unban stealth banned users in the Mod CP.
- Skips updating the count post, last poster name and date for stealth banned users in forumdisplay and forumhome.
- Hides stealth users threads and posts when searching to everyone but admins, mods, stealth banned users and guests.

[note]

Make sure to backup your files! I don't want to be held responsible if you lose your two hundred hacks installed.

[important!]

You MUST stealth ban your users from the Mod CP, just changing usergroup in the Admin CP won't add the neccessary timestamp. The same goes for unbanning stealth banned users, you MUST do that from the Mod CP as well for the same reason.
If you have upgraded, you MUST put the users back to the registered group and then stealth ban them, or it won't add the neccessary timestamp.

[credits]

SJR and Xenon, for helping with some code fixes
Frank for creating "Secretly ban a user" which inspired me to work on vBStealth.

[upgrading from 1.X]

Be sure to do what's listed under [important!] above! Also, although not needed, I recommend completely uninstalling 1.X versions before installing vBStealth 2.0, as the file changes have changed for many of the files. If you are to upgrade, be sure to run the query, and go through the file changes very carefully.

[change log]

2.0: Hack now uses timestamps: Threads and posts before the user was banned will show up, but threads and posts after the user was banned will be hidden to everyone but stealth banned users, admins and mods.
1.3: Undid the changes to showthread.php, as it could lead to suspicion among stealth banned users if they communicate (thanks WetWired for the heads up). Also, I changed the code changes to newreply.php, so that it'll work if you have the Store Hack by Lesane installed.
1.2: Small fixes to search.php and newreply.php. New file modified: newthread.php.
1.1: Added changes to search.php as suggested by TECK (thanks ), which hides stealth users threads and posts when searching.
1.0: First release, no changes dummy. :P

[Martin64]

That shouldn't be hard. You just need to include that new mod group to some of the files you have made changes to.

Search for "6" in the vBStealth 1.3 instructions and you'll find which files to modify.

[Erwin]

Nice hack. Good job in incorporating all the features of "Secret Ban" and adding the new ones.

[Martin64]

Thanks Erwin.

[GunsNetwork]

This works absolutely fantastic!

thank You all for great job done.

[Merjawy]

Thanks Martin.. I will try that

[AussieSat]

Have installed due to one very annoying user and works well except:
Threads started by the Stealth Banned (SB) user are listed in forumdisplay with both "Thread Starter" and (if not replied to) "Last Post" credited to them.
I have had a number of members asking why they can see the thread links for posts that the SB user has started (and never been replied to) but there is nothing there when they click on them.
In the case of a thread started by the SB user before the ban was introduced, members are asking why the thread starters name is listed but apparently hasn't posted in the thread.

Is the way I describe the same as what others have found or have I missed a step in the install?

[Martin64]

Originally posted by AussieSat
Have installed due to one very annoying user and works well except:
Threads started by the Stealth Banned (SB) user are listed in forumdisplay with both "Thread Starter" and (if not replied to) "Last Post" credited to them.
I have had a number of members asking why they can see the thread links for posts that the SB user has started (and never been replied to) but there is nothing there when they click on them.
In the case of a thread started by the SB user before the ban was introduced, members are asking why the thread starters name is listed but apparently hasn't posted in the thread.

Is the way I describe the same as what others have found or have I missed a step in the install?

Go through the instructions once again, threads started by stealth banned users will not show up in forumdisplay except to admins, mods and the stealth banned user who posted it.

[AussieSat]

Thats what I thought - thanks Martin64, will do.

[Tony DiMera]

Sounds really good.

[Martin64]

Just to let you know, I'm working on a new version that changes how things are working quite a bit. I have tested it locally and will now run it on my real board to see how it's working out.

What's new?

- Stealth banned users will see eachother's posts, but noone else except admins and mods will.
- Threads and posts before the user was banned will show up, but threads and posts after the user was banned will be hidden to everyone but stealth banned users, admins and mods.