| Author |
 Topic Search  Topic Options
|
iSec 
Senior Member
Joined: 13 February 2005
Status: Offline
Points: 1140
|
 Post Options
 Thanks(0)
 Quote  Reply
 Topic: Private Messages
Posted: 17 February 2006 at 5:10pm |
One of my forum members was spreading a rumor that I, as the forum administrator, can see their PMs! Could you please give an answer to this so that other members are not fooled by such lie?
|
|
"When it gets dark enough, you can see the stars"
-Charles A. Beard
|
 |
WebWiz-Bruce
Admin Group
Web Wiz Developer
Joined: 03 September 2001
Location: Bournemouth
Status: Offline
Points: 9844
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 20 February 2006 at 9:20am |
|
There are no tools built into Web Wiz Forums to allow others, including the forum admin to view private messages.
|
|
|
|
cubex
Newbie
Joined: 25 January 2006
Location: Malaysia
Status: Offline
Points: 14
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 20 February 2006 at 11:55am |
|
is there any mod for adding a Carbon copy (CC) when we want to send a private message?
|
|
Real
Newbie
Joined: 21 February 2006
Location: United Kingdom
Status: Offline
Points: 3
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 21 February 2006 at 12:21am |
 -boRg- wrote:
There are no tools built into Web Wiz Forums to allow others, including the forum admin to view private messages. |
this is true, admins can not. boRg what about the admins have the access to database file 
i've downloaded DB from the server and i opened it, all PM's stored there.
that means web space owner or anyone has the access to the files and read it ? 
Edited by Real - 21 February 2006 at 9:53am
|
|
WebWiz-Bruce
Admin Group
Web Wiz Developer
Joined: 03 September 2001
Location: Bournemouth
Status: Offline
Points: 9844
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 21 February 2006 at 12:15pm |
|
This is correct, but there are no tools built into the software to read PM's.
The only way possible is to have access to the database and only on some database types. For example in SQL server you would just see <long text> in the PM message column and not the actual PM message.
|
|
|
|
Real
Newbie
Joined: 21 February 2006
Location: United Kingdom
Status: Offline
Points: 3
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 21 February 2006 at 3:15pm |
-boRg- wrote:
For example in SQL server you would just see <long text> in the PM message column and not the actual PM message.
|
Thanks for being patient, i have one last Q please:" not the actual PM message." it's not encrypted .. i mean, i could read and understand what's written.
|
|
WebWiz-Bruce
Admin Group
Web Wiz Developer
Joined: 03 September 2001
Location: Bournemouth
Status: Offline
Points: 9844
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 21 February 2006 at 4:32pm |
|
Access is different to SQL Server (Access being a rather crappy flat file desktop attempt at a DBMS)
The original question was asking if the admin can read PM's within the forum, which they can not.
But if you pull apart the database, or write your own ASP file to get PM's from the database, then in that way PM's can be read by others.
For this reason you should always make sure that your database is secure, and trust the server admin that they will not read the PM's.
But then looking at it from that point of view nothing is private on the Internet whether it be PM's or emails, and you just have to trust that the server/forum admin doesn't take advantage of his power, as a forum admin could read your PM's if he really tried, just like the admin of the SMTP server you use could read any of your emails.
|
|
|
|
WebWiz-Bruce
Admin Group
Web Wiz Developer
Joined: 03 September 2001
Location: Bournemouth
Status: Offline
Points: 9844
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 21 February 2006 at 4:37pm |
|
Also, you just mentioned that you downloaded the Access database.
If you downloaded a Web Wiz Forums Access database, that is not your own, using a web browser, you need to get onto the forum admin immeditaly as they have not followed the install instructions to secure the Access database.
If the database is not secured anyone, including hackers, can get sensitive data (and not just the PM's), to enable them to take control of the forum and deface and delete the forum.
|
|
|
|
