PM's...can they be read by moderators

[bluesand]

What is the policy on VB boards in regard private Pm's can they be read by moderators

Personally I don't think they are , but is it technically possible

[Lentil Burger]

Look, you can never be 100% certain that your PMs aren't being read. It's extremely unlikely, but it's always gonna be technically possible for someone to read them. If it's private, don't put it in PMs. That way, you won't have to worry. Simple.

[Michael]

As far as I know it's not possible on any board for someone with moderator privileges to read pm's. It is possible for someone with admin privileges it just takes some work. I think you have to find it in the database, I don't know much about it but it doesn't sound like it'd be worth the trouble to me.

I try to remember pm's are no different than e-mail or IM conversations, once I send them I have no control over who sees them.

[Lentil Burger]

As far as I know it's not possible on any board for someone with moderator privileges to read pm's.It's possible, but it would require third-party hacks and custom usergroups. I really can't imagine any forum administrator going to all that effort - especially when it would mean mods could read admin's PMs as well. ;)


It is possible for someone with admin privileges it just takes some work. I think you have to find it in the database, I don't know much about it but it doesn't sound like it'd be worth the trouble to me.I hate to encourage paranoia, but it's really extremely simple to access PMs from a vbulletin database. All you need to do is execute an SQL query from the very user-friendly and idiot-proof cpanel front end (assuming you're using cpanel - but even without it, it's not exactly rocket science). Having said that, there's no reason why a forum administrator would necessarily know that this is possible. It's not something they'd need to look at in the normal course of events.


I try to remember pm's are no different than e-mail or IM conversations, once I send them I have no control over who sees them.Exactly. And guys.... really..... reading people's PMs must run a close second to watching paint dry in the entertainment league table. Don't sweat it. Your lives almost certainly aren't that interesting. :naughty:

[Brandon]

What is the policy on VB boards in regard private Pm's can they be read by moderators

Personally I don't think they are , but is it technically possible

Simple answer: No. We can't.

[Lentil Burger]

Simple answer: No. We can't. Unless you have a relative that works for the NSA. ;)

[Diana]

This depends on the type of message board. This is a VBulletin board, and administrators can read PMs if they want to. On other message boards, such as In-Vision, they cannot.

[Shantih]

Speaking from experience, admin and co-admin can on Invision boards, but they have to change the accounts password to get in, so you would know someone had been in there when you tried to sign in.

[SyrLinus]

Unless you have a relative that works for the NSA. ;)

You don't need the NSA. Unless a forum has instituted the use of SSL encryption for PMs, anyone can read it if they have a network packet sniffer. (same can be said of your email and instant messaging).

In reality, most forum admins cannot be bothered to read PMs as there are far more important things to deal with (e.g., spammers, troublemakers, forum upgrades, etc.).

The only time that a forum admin SHOULD read a PM is if there is a court issue warrant.

[Lentil Burger]

You don't need the NSA.I know. I was joking. Read my earlier posts. ;)

[Sevenseas]

On other message boards, such as In-Vision, they cannot.InVision Power Board? I know for a fact that they can.

[froggythefrog]

Moderators? No, I can't read PMs unless they are forwarded to me.

[Skylark]

Well, just in the past few days, I've discovered that Sevenseas makes his mattresses out of dirty socks, Karenlovessnow is moving to a warmer climate, Gaya is working on becoming a massage therapist, and bluesand is teaching an English-as-a-second-language class.

;)

[Sevenseas]

Well, just in the past few days, I've discovered that Sevenseas makes his mattresses out of dirty socks, But I don't use those mattresses all the time or anything, I only use them when a pool of my own vomit doesn't feel soft enough.

[Diana]

InVision Power Board? I know for a fact that they can.

On the InVision board I run, I definitely can't read PMs. However, ALL emails that are sent by members through the board are logged and can be read. I asked if this could be removed, but its inherent in the system and it cannot. So I warned all the members about it in a sticky, and regularly me and the other administrators delete all the emails that are logged without reading them. But as people know we COULD read them, they rarely send emails.

[Sevenseas]

On the InVision board I run, I definitely can't read PMs. However, ALL emails that are sent by members through the board are logged and can be read. I asked if this could be removed, but its inherent in the system and it cannot. So I warned all the members about it in a sticky, and regularly me and the other administrators delete all the emails that are logged without reading them. But as people know we COULD read them, they rarely send emails.Well then either 1) we have been on boards that use different versions/forms of the IPB 2) you just don't know how to access the forum database.

[Diana]

Yes, I think there are probably different versions.

[Skylark]

But I don't use those mattresses all the time or anything, I only use them when a pool of my own vomit doesn't feel soft enough.

So you finally found a use for the byproduct of your bulemia, eh?

[bluesand]

and bluesand is teaching an English-as-a-second-language class.

;)

:pWell that will teach you for peaking at so many Pm's . It must have been blue/someone else ...English is my first language and I cant even speck spiel or writ or :book:dat very well .

[Bof]

Michael is so ethical that, in my experience, he doesn't even read PMs that are addressed to him! ;)

[Michael]

Michael is so ethical that, in my experience, he doesn't even read PMs that are addressed to him! ;)

Gee, thanks, sad but true. :p

[gaya]

Gaya is working on becoming a massage therapist,

;)

:lol:


Michael is so ethical that, in my experience, he doesn't even read PMs that are addressed to him!

lol

[grandmavenus]

As far as I know it's not possible on any board for someone with moderator privileges to read pm's. It is possible for someone with admin privileges it just takes some work. I think you have to find it in the database, I don't know much about it but it doesn't sound like it'd be worth the trouble to me.

I try to remember pm's are no different than e-mail or IM conversations, once I send them I have no control over who sees them.

I am the administrator of several proboards and it is absolutely impossible to read a member's PM's.

If you feel uncomfortable, simply delete them after they are read.

[Cissy]

I was going to say, I didn't know I could read other people's PMs :p

[FafaFrappy]

This thread makes me curious as to what the OP has been PMing! :p