Are private messages

[paigevz]

On a thread about this some time back, WMAlex said that yes some have the ability, but it isn't easy to wade through all the pms to read them IF they had the inclination. He also said there are some techies somewhere that could too, but again, wading through them all to make any sense of them at all is apparently not an easy thing.

 

[WebmasterAlex]

I don't think this is any mystery, I have been asked this question several times over the years and the answer has been consistent.
Vbulletin does not have any system to allow anyone to read PM's. As several posters have pointed out there is an aftermarket hack that can be installed to allow it but we have not installed it.
As several other posters have pointed out anyone with database server access could run a query on the database to pull up PM's. It would be kind of a pain but it's certainly possible. I have acccess as I run the server but no other webmaster, super moderator or moderator has access to those servers.
The other people that would have access would be the technicians at our host Verio and some behind the scenes technicians.
Someone else said that ANYTHING you send on the internet can be read by someone and that is pretty much true. If you send an email somebody runs that email server and that means they can read it. The techs at AOL certaily can read instant messages etc etc.

 

[paigevz]

I don't think this is any mystery, I have been asked this question several times over the years and the answer has been consistent.
Vbulletin does not have any system to allow anyone to read PM's. As several posters have pointed out there is an aftermarket hack that can be installed to allow it but we have not installed it.
As several other posters have pointed out anyone with database server access could run a query on the database to pull up PM's. It would be kind of a pain but it's certainly possible. I have acccess as I run the server but no other webmaster, super moderator or moderator has access to those servers.
The other people that would have access would be the technicians at our host Verio and some behind the scenes technicians.
Someone else said that ANYTHING you send on the internet can be read by someone and that is pretty much true. If you send an email somebody runs that email server and that means they can read it. The techs at AOL certaily can read instant messages etc etc.

See? Told you!

 

[Chipmunk89]

I don't think this is any mystery, I have been asked this question several times over the years and the answer has been consistent.
Vbulletin does not have any system to allow anyone to read PM's. As several posters have pointed out there is an aftermarket hack that can be installed to allow it but we have not installed it.
As several other posters have pointed out anyone with database server access could run a query on the database to pull up PM's. It would be kind of a pain but it's certainly possible. I have acccess as I run the server but no other webmaster, super moderator or moderator has access to those servers.
The other people that would have access would be the technicians at our host Verio and some behind the scenes technicians.
Someone else said that ANYTHING you send on the internet can be read by someone and that is pretty much true. If you send an email somebody runs that email server and that means they can read it. The techs at AOL certaily can read instant messages etc etc.

I know what a WM is and what a mod is, but what is a super moderator?

Is it like a super delegate?

 

[paigevz]

I know what a WM is and what a mod is, but what is a super moderator?

Is it like a super delegate?

Perhaps they moderate the moderators.

 

[SplshMtn99]

Of course its readable. DH has had the lovely job of having to read thru certain peoples emails at work when suspected of something they shouldn't be doing. He hates doing it because it leads to their termination. If he's told from above to do it, he has to do it.

 

[paigevz]

Of course its readable. DH has had the lovely job of having to read thru certain peoples emails at work when suspected of something they shouldn't be doing. He hates doing it because it leads to their termination. If he's told from above to do it, he has to do it.

Our emails at work are all legal documents. We know they are monitored and we could be called in to court on anything in them. I think most people expect work emails to be monitored. It's their private site private messages they are thinking are completely private. Like another poster said, there is no privacy in the written word anywhere.

 

[KathyTX]

PMs go into the database along with everything else. Anyone with access rights can read them.

That's correct. We've addressed this question a number of times on the boards.

Everything posted on the DISboards or in your PMs resides on a big database. Anyone with access to the database would be able to read those.

Those people with access to the database would be: 1 webmaster (Alex), and a group of people at our hosting site who have probably never heard of the DISboards or have any idea what we're posting about.

Moderators do not have access to PMs, and I don't have access to them. Alex could technically delve through them if he wanted to spend the time required to do that, but I can't imagine any scenario where he would want to.

There are tools that we could install to make it possible for certain admins to more easily read private messages, but we have not done this and do not see any reason to.

So the answer is that it is technically possible for a very limited group of people to access PMs, but I am not aware of any instances where this has happened.

The thing I'd point out here is that anything you're saving to someone else's server (your emails, instant messages and files at work, on any forums you participate in, through any email service you use like AOL, Hotmail, Yahoo, etc.) is information that is available to the people who maintain that system.

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

My emails (most) are privileged legal communication and aren't generally subject to disclosure. While they reside on a company-owned server and technically could be read, emails are not read as a matter of policy until it is suspected that someone is habitually violating policy.

Know your employer's policy.

Our emails at work are all legal documents. We know they are monitored and we could be called in to court on anything in them. I think most people expect work emails to be monitored. It's their private site private messages they are thinking are completely private. Like another poster said, there is no privacy in the written word anywhere.

 

[bicker]

There are very few products out there where private communications are truly private. Email, for example, is not private. AOL, Yahoo and MSN instant messages; not private. IRQ; not private.

In order for something to be private it needs to be encrypted. There are commercial communications products out there that support encrypted communications. Microsoft Groove and Lotus Notes are the first two that come to mind.

 

[Snowy-girls]

I also believe pm's are not private.I pm'ed my friend and when she received it there were asterisks(***) in places of my letters+i know i never done it.x.

 

[KathyTX]

I also believe pm's are not private.I pm'ed my friend and when she received it there were asterisks(***) in places of my letters+i know i never done it.x.

That just means that you used words that are in our word filter. Anything that would result in *** in a post (profanity, mostly) would also be automatically filtered in your PMs. We don't do that manually, it's automated.

 

[Mkrop]

That's correct. We've addressed this question a number of times on the boards.

Everything posted on the DISboards or in your PMs resides on a big database. Anyone with access to the database would be able to read those.

Those people with access to the database would be: 1 webmaster (Alex), and a group of people at our hosting site who have probably never heard of the DISboards or have any idea what we're posting about.

Moderators do not have access to PMs, and I don't have access to them. Alex could technically delve through them if he wanted to spend the time required to do that, but I can't imagine any scenario where he would want to.

There are tools that we could install to make it possible for certain admins to more easily read private messages, but we have not done this and do not see any reason to.

So the answer is that it is technically possible for a very limited group of people to access PMs, but I am not aware of any instances where this has happened.

The thing I'd point out here is that anything you're saving to someone else's server (your emails, instant messages and files at work, on any forums you participate in, through any email service you use like AOL, Hotmail, Yahoo, etc.) is information that is available to the people who maintain that system.

Really? I find that hard to believe. I am sure certain siutations have made it necessary.

 

[KathyTX]

Really? I find that hard to believe. I am sure certain siutations have made it necessary.

None that I am aware of.

 

[Chipmunk89]

3,2,1....

 

[Snowy-girls]

That just means that you used words that are in our word filter. Anything that would result in *** in a post (profanity, mostly) would also be automatically filtered in your PMs. We don't do that manually, it's automated.

Thank you for explaining that.I never used profanity,but i know i used a word that in the UK is fine to say(it is another word for a cigarette) but in the US i believe it is a slang word for something else.Thanks again.x.

 

[Mkrop]

None that I am aware of.

Kathy, with all due respect I think with the events of the last couple of weeks, lots of editing and poofing etc and other strange things have been going on, and people have claimed that their PMs have been read and that they have been banned bc of it. I would think that might be cause for some concern. And I just have a hard time now buying the story that no one reads them or that NO situation would make it necessary in the DIS's mind to read them. I know I have been afraid to send them even if they have nothing to do with anything that might be deemed bannable.

Sorry JMHO! Maybe I have just become paranoid in the last couple of weeks

 

[Chipmunk89]

"Private Eyes,
they're watching you,
they see your every move.
Private Eyes,
they're watching you.
Private Eyes,
they're watching, you watching, you watching, you watching you."

-Hall & Oates

 

[goofy4tink]

Really? I find that hard to believe. I am sure certain siutations have made it necessary.

Let me relate a story then. I had an issue with a PM I received. I wanted WMKathy to see it and then let me know what to do about it...just didn't want to overreact. But, I had to cut and paste the stupid thing because she couldn't get in there to read it. Now, I guess she could have been lying in order to keep me in th dark about her superhuman powers, but I don't think so.
I just think that you give our mods/wm's too much 'credit'. I don't think they have to time on their hands to sit around checking into certain people's PMs.
But, that's just me....I tend to be Pollyanna'ish at times.
Besides....do you really think any of us have anything all that exciting to say?? I know I don't.

 

[Mkrop]

Let me relate a story then. I had an issue with a PM I received. I wanted WMKathy to see it and then let me know what to do about it...just didn't want to overreact. But, I had to cut and paste the stupid thing because she couldn't get in there to read it. Now, I guess she could have been lying in order to keep me in th dark about her superhuman powers, but I don't think so.
I just think that you give our mods/wm's too much 'credit'. I don't think they have to time on their hands to sit around checking into certain people's PMs.
But, that's just me....I tend to be Pollyanna'ish at times.
Besides....do you really think any of us have anything all that exciting to say?? I know I don't.

Let me clarify. I dont think all of you have these "powers", most of you probably dont, heck maybe even WMK does not. But I am sure someone has to, and given the events that have taken place, I would think reading certain PMs might have made its way up the priority list. I dont think that anyone has that kind of time to read all PMs but I do think the DIS probably can and does it if the situation in their mind warrants it.