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Forum serial number, and does it "call home" ?
OK, after reading some more articles I have another question.
I have read that the board software serial number, or some unique value that each customer gets - call it what you will, is actually embedded in the forum software itself as it is running. I can understand why - when a piracy report is made, the first thing Jelsoft checks (I guess) is for that number. Is this a secret kind of process or can anyone search and find this value - assuming they know what to look for ? I already assume, since reading that each download is unique and has this serial in the zip file, that this number is in one or more of the php files. Then once a forum is up and running, even an empty one for arguement's sake, that someone can look at the source of the files and see that serial. Is this so ?
Something else I wondered about before, was if vbulletin contains any code or means that enables the forum software to send information back to Jelsoft or any of it's partners automatically and without the specific consent of the board owner. Does for example, vbulletin send any kind of notification each time a vbulletin forum is installed ?
Also after reading the following statement I wonder the following.
Emphasis mine.
What does "visible in use" mean, exactly ?
I, take it to mean that the forum must be publicly accessible, i.e. without needing passwords to get to it. And i don't mean passwords that the vbulletin software itself requires - rather that the site itself (via .htaccess or such) requires it. So for all intensive purposes, anyone not authorized, would not even see what forum software is used. Am I right ?
As for that 2nd statement it has me worried. It's vague - no doubt by choice. I take it to mean that you have code (active or dormant) or the capability in vbulletin that can extract information from a user's database and send this to an entity of your choice. Am I wrong ?
I have read that the board software serial number, or some unique value that each customer gets - call it what you will, is actually embedded in the forum software itself as it is running. I can understand why - when a piracy report is made, the first thing Jelsoft checks (I guess) is for that number. Is this a secret kind of process or can anyone search and find this value - assuming they know what to look for ? I already assume, since reading that each download is unique and has this serial in the zip file, that this number is in one or more of the php files. Then once a forum is up and running, even an empty one for arguement's sake, that someone can look at the source of the files and see that serial. Is this so ?
Something else I wondered about before, was if vbulletin contains any code or means that enables the forum software to send information back to Jelsoft or any of it's partners automatically and without the specific consent of the board owner. Does for example, vbulletin send any kind of notification each time a vbulletin forum is installed ?
Also after reading the following statement I wonder the following.
Pirate Reports is currently ONLY focussing on the expanding requirements of vBulletin and is not actively seeking new clients’ but if you feel you have a software that needs protection, is visible in use, and your customer database can properly support anti piracy action (often under penalty of perjury if incorrect) we will be happy to discuss your problem and a resolution.
What does "visible in use" mean, exactly ?
I, take it to mean that the forum must be publicly accessible, i.e. without needing passwords to get to it. And i don't mean passwords that the vbulletin software itself requires - rather that the site itself (via .htaccess or such) requires it. So for all intensive purposes, anyone not authorized, would not even see what forum software is used. Am I right ?
As for that 2nd statement it has me worried. It's vague - no doubt by choice. I take it to mean that you have code (active or dormant) or the capability in vbulletin that can extract information from a user's database and send this to an entity of your choice. Am I wrong ?
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