Additional Security and Board Restructuring

[RegisFan]

Greetings everyone,

In an effort to prevent non-registered users from accessing the Fan Games password input area, the Fan Games board has been restructured. Previously, non-members had complete freedom to access the Fan Games section, provided that they had somehow obtained the password. This potential hole in our security was pointed out to me by GSK. Why is this a big deal you ask? How would a non-member have the password? Well, if a password-holding Millionaire Fans member was banned, he or she could still access the Fan Games board simply because that user still had the password. Not to mention the possibility of a banned or non-registered users obtaining the password through unscrupulous means and gaining access to everyone's hard work without ever having a successful audition or even becoming a member of the community.

Therefore, the Fan Games board has been restructured to patch up the hole in our security. Now, the "Fan Games" board on the forum index leads to a freely accessible board that can be used for discussion about the technical side of fan game creation. No distribution of fan games is to take place here. Within this board is a sub-board called the "Password-Protected Fan Games Sharing Center" that is completely invisible to non-registered users. This sub-board functions the same way as the previous "Fan Games" board that used to be on the forum index. A password is required to access the contents of this sub-board, and the only way to obtain the password to pass a successful peer-reviewed audition in the "Auditions" board.

This is not a huge change and it should not impact anyone's site experience too dramatically. It may not be much, but making the password-protected sub-board invisible to non-registered users adds a sorely needed new level of security to Millionaire Fans.

-Regisfan

EDIT: The Fan Games Sharing Center can now only be accessed by members in the "Fan Games Board All-Access Pass" member group.  A password is no longer necessary to gain admission to the Fan Games Sharing Center, although the auditioning procedure remains the same as before.

[millionairefan28]

Alright thanks! I'll let you know I've went in without logging into the forum a few times, I assume we've all done that once or twice.

[RyanZ]

This is definitely for the better. I frequently went in as a guest, but making me log in isn't anything life-changing.

[Randydorney]

This is a good change to protect the hard work of those who created awesome work.

[debit13]

Very intelligent change, and it certainly blocks any loopholes. Good thinking there, GSK.

[millionairefan64]

Way to go GSK. I seem to love the idea to protect the section with a sub board. Sure stops guests from getting in there that's for sure. I think I almost did that once when I was signed out, oops.

[GSK]

^_^

[FrankT]

It seems tight enough.