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 vanderaj
A.k.a.: Andrew van der Stock
Super Administrator
a suffusion of yellow
Posts: 3121
Threads: 436
Registered: August 26th, 2002
Member Is Offline
Location: Colorado Springs, CO, USA
Theme: UltimaBB Pro Yellow
Mood: In the family again
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| posted on February 18th, 2004 at 01:11 PM |
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Privacy
Executive Summary
This place is a public forum, and everything is out in the open or else you wouldn't be here. You control what you post publicly, and control the
amount of data you make available to the public. The software hides your e-mail address, but not your chat client details.
Administratively, we record some additional stuff in various logs, but are too lazy to use it except for when we run out of disk space or bandwidth.
(Except for me), we can't access your U2U's but that doesn't mean they're private - security bugs might exist, and members can forward your
messages to others. I don't have time or the inclination or the lack of ethics to read your U2U's as I have a hard enough time reading my own let
alone yours.
Information the forum software collects about you
Any personal information we have about you is up in your profile (Click on "UserCP -> Edit Profile and Options). You can enter as little or as much
as you like. We like to see your location particularly if you buy and sell a lot, but beyond that, the rest is up to you.
The forum collects usage information in various logs when you use the system. This ranges from your IP address when you post (see the IP button on
each post), to web access logs when you do anything with our site, which also collects things like your browser type and referrer information if you
have any set. Some privacy software strips these last two out, but that's okay, I don't bother with it much.
When you post to the forum, your posts are public. Google and all the other search engines can index them, so don't say something you'd prefer your
Mum not to know. However, there are two private forums (Bad Attitude and Moderator's Paradise), and these are not generally reachable.
U2U's, a close cousin to e-mail but contained solely within this forum, is considered private by many, but it's not really that private. So be
careful of what you say to others, and only keep in your inbox / outbox stuff you wouldn't mind seeing on the front page of the Age.
How we use this information
* Forum posts - everyone can see.
* Your e-mail address is protected by this software unless you write it into a post
* Your chat addresses and blog details may expose your e-mail address (eg MSN)
* U2U's - generally only the sender and receiver can see
What the staff can do
There are three categories of staff on this forum:
* (super) moderators
* super administrators
* me. I'm special.
Moderators (of all types) are just normal members, and can only:
* moderators can edit, move, delete any post only in "their" forums
* super moderators can do this to any post or thread in all forums
Most moderators are super moderators.
Super administrators (Jim, Brad, Me, a few others) can do pretty much everything, except read people's u2u's. That function was removed back in
2004. It has never been used.
Me. I am a special case as I'm the system administrator. It's my job here to look after the place from a technical point of view. My duties are
behind the scenes and include:
keeping security up to date with patches and so on
writing the software
keeping the data integrity high (ie no data loss)
keeping the site availability high where possible (most of my upgrades occur when most of you are asleep, for instance) and
ensuring that the little bugs are worked out between the ISP and the software.
The ISP also has full access like me, but they have thousands of customers and probably have far better things to do than drop in one one of their
customers.
Web logs
There are two ways to see the web logs - statistically via a log analysis web program, and in raw format. I use the analysis program to determine if
anything is a space or bandwidth hog. I don't care about the rest and it's not that useful. From your privacy point of view, your info doesn't make
it into the logs as no one makes it into the Top 50 pages on this site.
No one has ever bothered with the raw logs. I've never looked at them this way, as it's a waste of my time and it's too unrefined to be useful.
Database
All of this site is stored in a big ol' database, which is simply a structured file, upon which the software (and me) can make queries, inserts,
updates and deletes. When we were having data corruption issues, I've dealt with the data that represents this site in that very raw form as it is
necessary from time to time.
I also use that very raw form when it's time to do backups. Without backups, we would be stuffed if our hoster really screwed up.
Theoretically, it's possible to view U2U's (and all data!) through this method, but it's really very painful to do so. It really is quite
arcane.
Code of Ethics
My personal set of ethics prevents me from accessing your data improperly, and when I do have to access it, I keep it confidential. I used to be the
President of SAGE-AU, the System Administrator's Guild of Australia, and even though I'm not a current member (it's not what I do professionally
any longer), I still abide by their code of ethics, which is available here:
http://www.sage-au.org.au/ethics.html
Any of you who use e-mail or Messenger products have system administrators looking after your interests and protecting your privacy, even though, they
too can read all your e-mail or read your most "private" of communications. There is no difference here, and no conspiracy or secret cabal.
Encryption
This site does not use SSL (like your bank does with Internet Banking) as the value of the data is *different* - it's a public discussion forum. not
a transactional system worth billions of dollars.
Therefore, do not use a logon or password you use elsewhere that you actually care about. This is not to say that we don't take care with them - the
passwords in the database are transformed using MD5, so no one can see them, but still please don't use a really sensitive password as it travels
across the Internet in the clear. The Internet is not a private medium, never has been, never will be. That's why SSL is in place for things that
should be protected.
Legislation
We don't earn any money from this site. I make every effort to comply with all applicable laws, such as the Privacy Act and the National Privacy
Principles as I believe in them.
thanks,
Andrew
[ Edited on 5-7-2006 by vanderaj ]
[ Edited on 5-7-2006 by vanderaj ]
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 Cam
Custom Title Time!
Posts: 1535
Threads: 187
Registered: August 27th, 2002
Member Is Offline
Location: Melbourne
Theme: UltimaBB Pro Blue ( Default )
Mood: addicted
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| posted on February 18th, 2004 at 01:30 PM |
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You're doing a top job Andrew :thumb
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splitbusaustralia
Wolfsburg Wizard
Posts: 487
Threads: 65
Registered: August 27th, 2002
Member Is Offline
Theme: UltimaBB Pro Blue ( Default )
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| posted on February 18th, 2004 at 02:02 PM |
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Oh, I dunno. I reckon I could do all that
stuff after a few years training...
I probably would have a problem picking up the karmic philosophical outlook though - so I still wouldn't be any good at the job!
RobK
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lugnuts
A.k.a.: Mike
Custom Title Time!
Posts: 1070
Threads: 88
Registered: August 28th, 2002
Member Is Offline
Location: Sydney,Castle Hill
Theme: UltimaBB Pro Blue ( Default )
Mood: semi-retiring
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| posted on February 18th, 2004 at 02:29 PM |
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I dunno what your doin Andrew but keep it up,we're all countin on you  :thumb:P |
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fatboy
Wolfsburg Wizard
Disciple of Kol
Posts: 603
Threads: 48
Registered: November 1st, 2002
Member Is Offline
Location: Belgrave Victoria
Theme: UltimaBB Pro Blue ( Default )
Mood: Hungry!
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| posted on February 18th, 2004 at 02:35 PM |
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"me - I am a sort of special case"
Andrew - you cant feed me lines like that :P
IMHO your doing a top job
Thanks
" Captain Picard, why are there no Indians on the Enterprise ? Don't you need IT Support ? "
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fatboy
Wolfsburg Wizard
Disciple of Kol
Posts: 603
Threads: 48
Registered: November 1st, 2002
Member Is Offline
Location: Belgrave Victoria
Theme: UltimaBB Pro Blue ( Default )
Mood: Hungry!
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| posted on February 18th, 2004 at 02:39 PM |
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Just a thought - is it wise having that first pic with the ip's in ?
(even though you show an internal one ?).
It may be a risk to the others if they have static
" Captain Picard, why are there no Indians on the Enterprise ? Don't you need IT Support ? "
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Brad
Wolfsburg Elder
Posts: 3764
Threads: 332
Registered: August 24th, 2002
Member Is Offline
Location: SE QLD, Mt Nebo
Theme: UltimaBB Pro Blue ( Default )
Mood: Manx Buggy Building
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| posted on February 18th, 2004 at 02:47 PM |
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mmm
Yep I agree you do the niggly stuff cause I think that sucks
I have access to a heap of other stuff not listed above but who really cares as it doesn't affect anything.
I also think you are doing a Top Job ....
Now what did you do with our banners ??
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vw54
Super Administrator
Always Waiting 4 Friday
Posts: 16723
Threads: 378
Registered: August 26th, 2002
Member Is Offline
Location: Sunny Sydney
Theme: UltimaBB Pro Blue ( Default )
Mood: Oval resto ongoing
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| posted on February 18th, 2004 at 04:57 PM |
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Andrew Well said
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bugboymatt
A.k.a.: Matt
Custom Title Time!
Posts: 1405
Threads: 75
Registered: August 25th, 2002
Member Is Offline
Location: North Lakes / Goldie
Theme: UltimaBB Pro Blue ( Default )
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| posted on February 18th, 2004 at 06:40 PM |
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Thankyou to you and all the others that run and keep this place going.
Da Time For The Aircooled Revolution Is Upon US.
Brothers & Sisters Lets Hit The Streets, Roll As One. And Feel The Power Of The Aircooled Storm.
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vanderaj
A.k.a.: Andrew van der Stock
Super Administrator
a suffusion of yellow
Posts: 3121
Threads: 436
Registered: August 26th, 2002
Member Is Offline
Location: Colorado Springs, CO, USA
Theme: UltimaBB Pro Yellow
Mood: In the family again
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| posted on February 18th, 2004 at 08:22 PM |
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| Quote: | Originally
posted by fatboy
Just a thought - is it wise having that first pic with the ip's in ?
(even though you show an internal one ?).
It may be a risk to the others if they have static
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It's a risk to be on the Internet. Advertising the IP addresses is no more risky than not. If you have static IP addresses, this shows up in the
IP button anyway for every post you do.
In fact, looking at the logs, it's actually getting my proxy server's internal IP address (127.0.0.1) or my pre-natted address
(192.168.0.54) for REMOTE_HOST rather than looking at the correct PROXY_VIA header.
Oh well. Still keeps details of the administrative functions used by whom and when, which is the important thing.
Andrew
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VWFOOL
Bishop of Volkswagenism
King for a day, Fool for a lifetime.
Posts: 3436
Threads: 572
Registered: September 3rd, 2002
Member Is Offline
Location: Newcastle - Sydney
Theme: UltimaBB Pro Blue ( Default )
Mood: inspired yet?
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| posted on February 19th, 2004 at 05:47 PM |
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andrew, u hav always made the time to hav a quik msn chat late at night and answer my questions and i thank u for that, ur doing a great job and we
all appreicate it im sure...:thumb
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
One man's junk...
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Midlife crisis
Veteran Volks Folk
Nartispuddlejumper, Bureau of Toxicity
Posts: 2282
Threads: 160
Registered: May 17th, 2003
Member Is Offline
Location: Logan city south of Brisbane
Theme: UltimaBB Pro Blue ( Default )
Mood: Wornout and Toxic
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| posted on February 27th, 2004 at 07:01 PM |
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I think you all are doing a great job
Thanks
Marc & Kathy
If you can't laugh at yourself you can't laugh at anyone else! Because life is to short not to LAUGH
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68AutoBug
A.k.a.: Lee Noonan
Aircooled Master
Beetle Restorer - Experience over 138% - YIKES --
Posts: 11654
Threads: 449
Registered: August 31st, 2002
Member Is Offline
Location: SCONE in UPPER HUNTER VALLEY NSW
Theme: UltimaBB Pro Yellow
Mood: Really Mentally Ill - all of the time -
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| posted on March 10th, 2004 at 10:44 AM |
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Andrew
You are doing a great Job, something I couldn't do... or understand.... ever...
regards
Lee
- [size=4]Helping keep Air Cooled VWs on the road - location: SCONE in the Upper Hunter Valley - Northern NSW 320 kms NNW of SYDNEY--- [/size]
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ootimoo
Learner Dubber
Posts: 5
Threads: 1
Registered: March 7th, 2006
Member Is Offline
Theme: UltimaBB Pro Blue ( Default )
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| posted on March 8th, 2006 at 02:33 PM |
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wow |
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vanderaj
A.k.a.: Andrew van der Stock
Super Administrator
a suffusion of yellow
Posts: 3121
Threads: 436
Registered: August 26th, 2002
Member Is Offline
Location: Colorado Springs, CO, USA
Theme: UltimaBB Pro Yellow
Mood: In the family again
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| posted on July 6th, 2006 at 02:29 AM |
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Updated the privacy details to reflect UltimaBB and recent changes.
thanks,
Andrew
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MickH
A.k.a.: Michael Hutchinson
Bishop of Volkswagenism
Hairy Gutted Sloth
Posts: 3389
Threads: 29
Registered: September 6th, 2003
Member Is Offline
Location: TownsvilleTropical North QLD
Theme: UltimaBB Pro Blue ( Default )
Mood: Grow a brain...walls don't hit back...
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| posted on March 14th, 2009 at 10:24 PM |
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Cool....when are you going to update your location???? LOL
tssnq.com.au
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ExitBit
Learner Dubber
Posts: 6
Threads: 1
Registered: September 11th, 2010
Member Is Offline
Theme: UltimaBB Pro Blue ( Default )
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| posted on September 18th, 2010 at 08:54 PM |
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Fair play! Great sight, good info, and quality members. And based on the first post - awsome Admin!
Andrew, really appreciate your efforts.
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