Forum showing 'Private'

**Hywyn** · 23-02-2014, 16:42

I haven't always logged on to view the Forum.

Up to recently I was able to browse the Forum* as a guest.

I see that this is not now possible. Is it a new thing or something wrong with my PC? It might be the latter as at this moment "There are currently 43 users online. 7 members and 36 guests"

I can't imagine what it would be though.

* I mainly confine myself to the WW1 Research subforum

**dcdl12976** · 23-02-2014, 16:45

I noticed this the other day at work in lunchtime, something to do with the permissions if im correct

**ivor43** · 23-02-2014, 17:39

hi guys.

you could be right Dave , my posts have disappeared from the shout box

ivor.

**dcdl12976** · 23-02-2014, 17:50

On my own forum can set the permissions so that anyone can view them even if not logged in or no one can view them without being logged on (and a few other options as well) also every section can be set differently.

Noticed as well that our account information has disappeared from the right side of the shout box.

**Bob Bacon** · 23-02-2014, 18:32

Previously, in order to have various posts automatically send across to Facebook, the option was set to allow guests and members not logged in to view threads.

As there is no longer a need to migrate posts to Facebook and because we needed to tighten security on the forum due to previous virus attacks, the option for guests and members not logged in to read threads was withdrawn.

**Hywyn** · 23-02-2014, 19:54

Thanks Bob

I have no problems with logging in etc especially if it helps re virus attacks.

Who are the 'guests' currently viewing. Facebook people?

There are currently 43 users online. 6 members and 37 guests

**Baconwallah** · 23-02-2014, 20:45

Bob, is this also the reason that the nice box with "you have xxx posts"and "you owe 3.45% of the Forum's posts" has now suddenly and inexplicably disappeared? I rather liked that.

John

**Bob Bacon** · 23-02-2014, 22:25

Originally Posted by Gwilwil

Thanks Bob

I have no problems with logging in etc especially if it helps re virus attacks.

Who are the 'guests' currently viewing. Facebook people?

There are currently 43 users online. 6 members and 37 guests

They are probably 'bots'. Bots are automated scripts (usually referred to as spiders) which crawl the web and index content, sites, and forums for various search engines such as Google, Bing, Yahoo, etc. They do not represent any harm to our forum, and should generally be left alone as they can help bring in users to the forum who may be searching for information that is on our forum.

**Bob Bacon** · 23-02-2014, 22:41

Originally Posted by Baconwallah

Bob, is this also the reason that the nice box with "you have xxx posts"and "you owe 3.45% of the Forum's posts" has now suddenly and inexplicably disappeared? I rather liked that.

John

John,

The Welcome Panel has been temporarily turned off as I am testing ways of displaying The Great War Casualty List as part of our World War Centenary Commemorations on the Front Page

**John Turner** · 23-02-2014, 23:17

I think the majority of 'guests' are just non-members - (or members not logged in) they can view the forum itself but not the content, which, previous to this change, they could.