It seems for some reason someone doesnt like our forums and is wanting to do bad things to it... This means I have to be incredibly on my toes to make sure that the updates are applied in a timely manner...

I'm not always on the internet, and sometimes I'll spend a whole day away from the computer... However... I NEVER take my cell phone off me...

So how about this... An update alert system that will send a text message to people's phones when a new IPB update is avaiable... Could set it to alert you on main updates, security updates, or both. It's actually quite simple to do too... Most cell phone companies do something like 0000000000@myphonecompany.com, and the alert could be sent as a simple email. However, the email being sent needs to be in text format for it to mean anything...

In the client center you could have a big list of cell phone companies (that coorispond to @company.com) and type in the number. Then have an "Advanced Manual" option incase the phone provider isnt in the list, and have them put in the suffix themselves....

I know with the severe nature of the exploits lately, this would help a lot of people be informed about the updates.

Another idea I have is to have an optional feature in IPB that will tell the client center the version each license has installed. When you update your board, it updates the version number on the IPS site. When an update becomes avaiable and you're still out of date, display an alert box on top of the forum, under member bar, on both IPS Beyond and the IPS forums (since accounts are linked to client center, right?) (and in client center as well). It would only update the client center with the version info when (a) the board is installed and (b) the board is updated.

I'm really not one that logs into my AdminCP all the time... So the first option would be VERY handy for me, and other people. The second option is good because it rases awareness of your own board... I missed the last security update by a few days because it had practically the same title in the news form as the last one, and I forgot the date of the last update I applied. I didnt notice until I had finnally logged into ACP. If there was a feature that alerted you about your own board being out of date on both community forums, and client center, that would definetly improve things. Especially since when I'm on the computer, I visit the IPS forums daily.

EDIT

After talking with Brandon, the first idea might not be so good at the moment because of the current updating procedure. So I've provded an alternative "IPB Feature" that could be used on the IPS forums effectively. The idea:

Change the forum subscription thing to allow members to send certain subscriptions to another email address, other than the current email address. The member would have to verify the email address by providing a code for that subscription. Under each subscription, have the ability to format the email how you please. Have the tags {title} and {body} and be able to place them anywhere in the email you want (title or body). Then have a filter option where the email is sent ONLY if filter(s) return true.

So you could subscribe to the news form and have an email sent to your phone, and have the title of the topic in the body (only) and send the email IF the topic contains "security" or "update". That way, those that choose to, can alert themselves when an update comes out, using a handy form feature.

Not to sure how well it would work for topic subscriptions, but this would work very well for forum subscriptions where a new topic is added.

And a guide could be made to use this feature to send update alerts to you phone ;)

I can see the usefulness in something like this, but I honestly don't think a lot of people would use this. I think this is something that might be better left as a mod, or if it is added, something that should be turned off by default.

I can see the usefulness in something like this, but I honestly don't think a lot of people would use this. I think this is something that might be better left as a mod, or if it is added, something that should be turned off by default.

First idea would require an email from IPS, by client center.... Second idea may seem a bit rash as some people might see it as IPS keeping tabs on the boards, people complain, etc. But if it only does it at board installation and board update (and no other time) this shouldnt be a problem at all. The idea behind both is to raise awareness to security updates, on or off the internet.

Would hate to go on vacation for a week, an update come out, and come back and find my board devistated :ermm:. And seriosly, those security update titles look the same. I didnt notice it until 3+ days later when I logged into my AdminCP. A nice reminder "One of your boards is out of date" would be VERY handy as well. Especially when you administrate several communities.

After having one of my less frequently used boards hacked and a virus put on it, I dont care if IPS keeps track of what version my board is running. It's worth it to me because I dont want someone getting into my board and devestating my members. Thank god it wasnt my big one, or it would have been game over for me.

I think it would be a better idea for IPS to be able to automatically patch your board if you supply your ftp details and request it. It is perfectly possible to write a little program that ftps to your board, downloads the files that need patching patches them and uploads them again.

That would also screw (some) people up that have modications installed, the update may rid some of the mod code and make the board display PHP, or SQL errors. I don't think some customers would like that.

I think it would be a better idea for IPS to be able to automatically patch your board if you supply your ftp details and request it. It is perfectly possible to write a little program that ftps to your board, downloads the files that need patching patches them and uploads them again.

That would also screw (some) people up that have modications installed, the update may rid some of the mod code and make the board display PHP, or SQL errors. I don't think some customers would like that.

Yeah agreed. This would have to be something that the customer chooses to do if they dont have any modifications. Although I see a lot of bandwidth use, so I dont know if it's practical. I think keeping track of the version number to provide a sufficient alert on ips sites "You are out of date!" would be pretty good.

The problem of that though is the number of countries IPS customers are in, and sending that many International text messages wouldn't be cheap.

The problem of that though is the number of countries IPS customers are in, and sending that many International text messages wouldn't be cheap.

Well I'm not sure about other contries, but in the USA cell phone companies accept text messages via email, like 0000000000@myphonecompany.com. It wouldnt cost anything to ips, just the person recieving it, which is gennerally 10 cents per message (I'll spend 10 cents to know about an update. for sure).

Others... Not quite to sure. They have their own methods of doing it... Like I think another country accepts it via email, but the number is included in the body of the email. But for right now, I would atleast like to see it done with the number@myphonecompany.com companies. It's better than having nothing at all.

Changed first post:

[b]EDIT[/b]

After talking with Brandon, the first idea might not be so good at the moment because of the current updating procedure. So I've provded an alternative "IPB Feature" that could be used on the IPS forums effectively. The idea:

Change the forum subscription thing to allow members to send certain subscriptions to another email address, other than the current email address. The member would have to verify the email address by providing a code for that subscription. Under each subscription, have the ability to format the email how you please. Have the tags {title} and {body} and be able to place them anywhere in the email you want (title or body). Then have a filter option where the email is sent ONLY if filter(s) return true.

So you could subscribe to the news form and have an email sent to your phone, and have the title of the topic in the body (only) and send the email IF the topic contains "security" or "update". That way, those that choose to, can alert themselves when an update comes out, using a handy form feature.

Not to sure how well it would work for topic subscriptions, but this would work very well for forum subscriptions where a new topic is added.

And a guide could be made to use this feature to send update alerts to you phone ;)

That would also screw (some) people up that have modications installed, the update may rid some of the mod code and make the board display PHP, or SQL errors. I don't think some customers would like that.

It's really not difficult to patch a file for a security fix, it's really not difficult to then check a board is functioning properly :)

It's really not difficult to patch a file for a security fix, it's really not difficult to then check a board is functioning properly :)

It is if that section of code has been completly changed by a modification. Like, for example, for my Dynamic BBCode modification (that I have on my forum) I have completly rewritten a function.

It's a nice idea and work for many people who dont use modifications, but isnt for everyone. Plus, it would take a lot of bandwidth for IPS to upload the files and update forums automatically.

That's kind of why the cell phone alert thing would be useful... I dont know about any of you, but if you run multiple forums you arnt constantly on them all. It might be a week or more before you get into each AdminCP. And it only takes a brief amount of time for a hacker to hack you if they know you're vulnrable. So it's important to eliminate the time, as much as possible, where a forum is vulnrable. The best way to do that is alert the administrator responsible for updates ASAP. Currently, the admin is required to login to AdminCP to find out about it. The email sent is only sent 50% of the time, so it's pretty much worthless (as I've heard it's sent manually).

If a security update comes out, or any update comes out, I want to know about it as soon as it becomes avaiable. The longer im vulnrable, the more chance I have of getting hacked. I would like to be alerted whether im on a computer or not. The phone is perfect for me, as it is a lot of people. Those that do have a cell phone, when do you NOT have your phone? Do you have your phone on you more than you use the computer :D? And it's not like im asking for a phone call... I'm asking for a text message sent via email :D... And if it's a security update, a high priority email at that. Not quite sure if my phone recognizes priority or not, but im sure some do. If so, would be like an alarm going off :whistle: