Review: hackforums.net

[labrocca]

http://www.hackforums.net/

Any comments on the design, layout, or structure?

Thank you.


btw...obviously new site looking for posts and members...site requires no email activation and we do not log IPs.

[NullPointer]

Your design and layout is fine, but I think there might be some legal issues associated with giving people a haven to discuss things of that nature while also advertising that you do not log IPs. Its my understanding that PHPbb/Mybb/vB forums will record the IP of someone who posts by default. Did you disable this feature? If so you might be inviting spam, considering that your forum will not have to become very popular before someone will decide they want to register a new name everyday and post about some male enhancement drug. My newest site is a forum, it has been up for two weeks and has generated an average of 50 unique visitors a day since then, and already I've IP banned two people that have registered, posted some useless advertsement that I deleted immediatly and left.

I've strayed away from the topic at hand so I'll stop now Your design is fine. You might want to consider filling in some of the empty forums. My advice and my personal practice is to delete and forums that arn't of immediate use and add them when the site becomes popular. Having an empty forum just looks bad. Also, a great resource for getting your forum some content early on is http://postexchangers.com

[labrocca]

I already started to fill in the forums with some posts.

As for getting forums started..not a problem for me. I have about 2 dozens existing forums some with as many as 20,000 members.

The legalities I will worry about later. Most of the problems arise with files. America is liberal when it comes to information. The hardcore stuff on the site won't be accessable unless you are registered. I won't host files that are illegal...links have yet to be scrutinized by American courts.

For the spam...I ain't too worried about it. Mybb is pretty kick ass when it comes to bot protection and I can always add akismet which would stop that stuff cold.

Mybb does record IPs by default. I turned it off. If I don't have any personal information then I can't be subpeona'd (spelling?) for it.

[Misafir]

Finally this hack sites..I don't Like hack sites ((

[dexter]

Some people may be of the opinion that as responsible web masters we should be DISCOURAGING hackers.

The design is okay, not overly keen on the colour scheme though.

[Costin Trifan]

Some people may be of the opinion that as responsible web masters we should be DISCOURAGING hackers.

We all have to have a life after all, don't we ?
If you're a hacker or not, what's the difference?
Inevitable we're all going to an undecided end, though

[labrocca]

Originally Posted by dexter

Some people may be of the opinion that as responsible web masters we should be DISCOURAGING hackers.

The design is okay, not overly keen on the colour scheme though.

Have you bothered to view the site and it's content? It highlights security and coding.

[dexter]

On the front page there is a forum titled Hacking 101, the first thread in that forum is titled Guidelines for Hackers/crackers and gives information on how to cover your tracks when hacking, one of the contibuters is actually critisised for using his real name. There is also a forum Bragging Rights the description of the forum says,

"If you have something you want to show off..this is the place to post. Claim your bragging rights in this area. Remember we do not log IP addresses on this site at all."

If the site is aimed at discussing security and not how to hack perhaps the name "Hack Forums" could have been better chosen, if it is not your aim to disseminate info on how to hack, tighter moderation of threads as described above might also be good idea. If you are not willing to moderate then you will always run the risk of being accused of facilitating hacking.

I am all for free speech, but part of the idea is you cant be upset if people dont like what you say.

As I said in my original post the design, layout, navigation etc is very good, I am just not convinced by the content.

[labrocca]

And in any book store you can get books on hacking. Also have you considered that any malicious hacking that people brag about may simply help the site that was hacked? I would have no problem contacting them to help them fix a maliciously hacked site.

Hacking is not only malicious electronic B&E. It's also rewriting code.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hacker

You might want to verse yourself with the overall definition of hacker and not just the small negative part of it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hacker_...on_controversy

Since I been a hacker since the 80s I don't view the word negatively as a teenager might that gets their kicks off breaking into systems. However the information of HOW these kids break in is extremely valuable. I would rather be in the loop and know what they are doing that wait around for my systems to be compromised.

Obviously my forums is meant to be open-ended. It's meant to attract a wider audience of hackers not just single definition ones.

Here is a good example.

Hacking Hardware
If you are all about the overclocking, bios editing, and forcing your computer to be the ultimate machine this is the forums for you.

While I can understand your viewpoint I would hope you have an open mind about sites such as this. There are certainly benefits.

[dexter]

I appreciate that "hacking" as a word has many meanings however I would contend that the general public understand the word with its negative context.

While I am certain that sites like yours have a positive side, and if you can help only one person/site owner with what you do then that is great!!

BUT!! there is the very real danger that perception of your site as facillitating "malicious hacking" could outway the benfits, and I think that some of the things I mentioned in my previous post could only add to any negative perceptions.

I am concerned that you may be reinforcing the negative conotations that seem to irritate you so much, I, and Iam sure everybody else in this forum knows what the "proper" meaning of hack is, MOST people dont.

Perhaps you could add an info page that highlights the definitions you quoted in your previous post, it might go some way to dispell the negative use of the word and true "hackers" can reclaim the word.

[lloyd]

MyBB........ never used it... Whats the admin backend like????

It looks nice, but abit dark on the eyes. I would prefer for a site that that something a bit easier to read, as code hurts my eyes enough as it is...

[futurex]

the title is very dark and difficult to read, add some more categories and link hover color is very dark