Reading private messages

[ccd1]

I know this is technically possible by opening the mySQL database but it's hard to find the proper post and I don't want to be opening the database like that.

There should be a way to read a users private messages. I've had several instances of people signing up to my boards just to spam people via PM and that going unnoticed because some users think they're the only one that got it, etc. Another problem is people are also breaking other forum rules via PM and I have no way to actually confirm it.

I can moderate "private" forums, and since I'm responsible for the content on my site, I should know what's on my site. What if users are breaking the law via PM? Is there any way to incorporate access to reading PM's (from the Admin CP, maybe?)

[Semperfidelis]

There is a hack over at vbulletin.org that will let you do exactly what you ar after.
Ill post its link here if I get a chance

[ccd1]

I'd rather see it integrated, since I like to rely on official support rather than unofficial hackers and hacks that may potentially harm me with upgrades and may cause database changes.

[tubedogg]

We will not be integrating any type of "read user PMs from the ACP" into vB. We believe it is a violation of privacy. If you want to do it, you'll have to do it on your own.

The best approach to this type of thing is to educate your users to forward problem PMs to you. This won't catch everything but it will go a long way towards it.

[Scott MacVicar]

http://www.vbulletin.org/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=32625 by moi

Though I'll have to make some changes so that images are passed through an annonymous proxy, just in case they see the logs and the referrer is /admin/pm.php

[CeleronXT]

There was one over at vB.org that I use that was a hack, but you don't edit any files for it so it wouldn't hurt you upgrading or anything.

[ccd1]

Originally posted by tubedogg
We will not be integrating any type of "read user PMs from the ACP" into vB. We believe it is a violation of privacy. If you want to do it, you'll have to do it on your own.

The best approach to this type of thing is to educate your users to forward problem PMs to you. This won't catch everything but it will go a long way towards it.

How easy is it to forge one, though?

What if illegal activity is going on? I am responsible for everything on my server--I don't want to be held legally responsable.

If users really want privacy, they can use Yahoo, ICQ, MSN, AIM, etc. Private messaging should probably just be renamed to Instant Messaging.

[Pilot]

Personal messaging would be a good name for it.

[tubedogg]

Originally posted by baragon0
What if illegal activity is going on? I am responsible for everything on my server--I don't want to be held legally responsable.It is highly unlikely you would be held responsible for a conversation that went on outside of your normal view. Just as Microsoft isn't held responsible every time someone uses Hotmail to trade warez (even though they own the servers, process the mail, store the mail, etc.) you wouldn't be held responsible if someone used your PM system to talk about something illegal.

[Takara]

Originally posted by tubedogg
We will not be integrating any type of "read user PMs from the ACP" into vB. We believe it is a violation of privacy. If you want to do it, you'll have to do it on your own.

The best approach to this type of thing is to educate your users to forward problem PMs to you. This won't catch everything but it will go a long way towards it.

Why not include a "Report PM to Administrator" option in future versions of vBulletin. It would forward the entire message (readonly), and have an additional textarea for the user to add thier comments.

[ccd1]

It's just disturbing that I can't know what's going on on my very own forum and my very own server.

Oh well.

[Erwin]

On the other hand, it is called private messages for a reason. I wouldn't want the admin of a forum site I use to be able to read my private messages. I know they can if they really want to, but I prefer that they respect my privacy. :)

[ccd1]

Originally posted by Erwin
On the other hand, it is called private messages for a reason. I wouldn't want the admin of a forum site I use to be able to read my private messages. I know they can if they really want to, but I prefer that they respect my privacy. :)

It's private from the rest of the users on the board, it's personal messanging, it's "instant messanging". If two people want to communicate "privately" let them use ICQ, but it really just kills me that I can't know what information I'm storing.

You can let your users know that PM's can be monitored. Most users assume this as it is anyway.