Urgent forum admin question for Spie

Berserker · 27 Oct 2007 at 20:29

seek said:
certainly not by default.

I run 2 phpBB boards and four SMF boards. In the past I've used XMB MyBB invision and YaBBse, and NONE of those let you read PM's (except an early version of XMB, but they fixed this).

OK - I thought it was possible but it's been so long since I looked at an Admin CP that I hope I can be forgiven for getting it wrong.

Last time I checked I'm sure PMs weren't encrypted in the DB for both vBulletin and phpBB, but I could be wrong with that too.

Kreeeee · 27 Oct 2007 at 20:30

Kell_ee001 said:
Poll results can be fiddled but they don't on here as a general rule unless it's just a bit of fun

Don't know if PM's can be read although I would assume they probably can, doubt the admins / Spie actually would though

Have flagged this thread for you so someone with more answers can help though.

I can't remember the last poll that wasn't fiddled with, bar the new avatar one.

[TR]SweetSpotOz · 27 Oct 2007 at 20:31

phpBB definitely has a mod with which you can read PMs - I just read it on their discussion boards!

Kreeeee · 27 Oct 2007 at 20:31

Spie said:
Read PM's - no.

Edit poll results - no, but poll details can be edited.

How do the mods edit the poll numbers then?

Dolph · 27 Oct 2007 at 20:35

Most forum software will not let the admin read PM's (VB certainly won't)

However most admin would also have access to the database itself, and so reading them that way wouldn't be too much of a problem if you have either some knowledge of SQL or a program that read the info from the DB seperately.

Cybermyk · 27 Oct 2007 at 20:43

Installation:

Upload "read_pms.php" to your admincp folder and "cpnav_rpm.xml" to your includes/xml folder.

Usage:

On your admin control panel, under the "User" menu theres a link to the Read PMs mod. Only Super Administrators can use it

Superadmins can use an addon to read PM's

Berserker · 27 Oct 2007 at 20:45

And of course, the owner is a Superadmin. Job done then.

Nick1881 · 27 Oct 2007 at 20:46

please delete, something went crazy, proper post below.

Van Hellseek · 27 Oct 2007 at 20:48

Berserker said:
And of course, the owner is a Superadmin. Job done then.

And as far as I'm aware poll 'manipulating' isn't possible on phpBB (without modding).

roboffer · 27 Oct 2007 at 20:48

Dolph said:
Most forum software will not let the admin read PM's (VB certainly won't)

However most admin would also have access to the database itself, and so reading them that way wouldn't be too much of a problem if you have either some knowledge of SQL or a program that read the info from the DB seperately.

Yup, no knowledge of any forum software but Id be suprised if the data was encrypted for messages and such like in the database. Dont even need to know any SQL with a handy GUI.

Nick1881 · 27 Oct 2007 at 20:50

I used to be admin on a small site (1500 members) and me and the other admin could read pm's.

Also the other admin had data base access as the site was hosted on his own server and he could do pretty much anything he wanted, including making a post and then doing an edit and it could look like another person had made the post. we could also read emails sent to the sites email addresses.

Very naughty really but fun all the same, the best part was we had a girls chat room, that did make for interesting reading

Daniel · 27 Oct 2007 at 20:54

Yes the poll results can be fiddled and yes admin can read PM's although not in it's standard VB state.

I know this because I have VB that has a mod so that we can monitor PM's. The mod is easy to install and needs no configuration so can be done in 2 minutes. My forum has a lot of young children on it so it is there for their protection.

If a mod to monitor PM's is being used then the fact should not be hidden from the sites members. All our members know this is in place and are aware of it because we explain it in our disclaimer and rules which they must agree to at registration.

We don't go off and read everyones PM's though. We only check things if we have had reports of something.

knip · 27 Oct 2007 at 20:55

Forum I go and another I mod on, you can read PMs very easily yes.
They only usually get read though if someone has complained, but techincally you could read anybodies.

Von Smallhausen · 27 Oct 2007 at 21:04

Totally o/t but I am seriously tempted to steal roboffer's sig.

I spent many a 10p playing KFM in the 80s. Great game.

jackthezipper · 27 Oct 2007 at 21:22

If it's phpbb you can read PM's by accessing the database directly and querying.

Kell_ee001 · 27 Oct 2007 at 21:37

Werewolf said:
*I can almost garuntee the result wouldn't show it as Kell_ee001

LOL

knip · 27 Oct 2007 at 21:38

The forum I mod on (which is an invision one) just has an option in the admin CP to view the PM log.

Slackworth · 27 Oct 2007 at 22:00

Dolph said:
Most forum software will not let the admin read PM's (VB certainly won't).

At default yes but a vBulletin modification file is available that lets admins read PMs.

Deluxe1 · 27 Oct 2007 at 22:09

There was a VB hack which allowed Mods to read pm`s not sure if there is one still around for the current version of VB tho.

dr. sarf · 27 Oct 2007 at 22:13

jackthezipper said:
If it's phpbb you can read PM's by accessing the database directly and querying.

You can on VB too, but you need to have root access to the database. No need to install a hack/mod. As an administrator/owner, you basically do have an "all seeing eye". For example, you can also see everyone whos online even if they have chosen invisible as well as see exactly what thread they're reading at any given time, you can resolve a user's I.P. address in full at the click of a button,edit polls, see who voted on private ones, to name but a few. lol
It's important not to abuse such power though!

(Im a Vb board Administrator)