I’m pleased today to introduce a new enhancement to our forum system – private messaging! This user-to-user in-house mail option will be accessible from a new “RC Mail” link in the main forum toolbar at the top of all forum screens. To send a private message you can either type in the member’s name from RC Mail home page, or look for the “send private message” link on user profile pages. The account properties screen features two new settings, the first to disable RC Mail if desired, while the second enables optional emailed notification of new private messages.

Note: if you’re already logged in to the forum you will not yet be able to see any “RC Mail” options. In order to activate RC Mail you must log out (using the link on the far right side of the toolbar) and then log back in again with your username and password.

Another change to the forums is that members must now always be logged in to post new messages or responses. Previously, users not logged in were still able to enter their user name and password directly at the time of posting. This change is in response to a growing number of “form spamming bots” which attempt to post comments to unsecured blogs and the like using networks of exploited PCs. Activity from these bots has grown to epidemic proportions, and have recently been responsible for millions of hits each month on the forum system. None of these attempts succeeded in an actual posting, but that wasn’t stopping them from continuously trying.

Significant other changes and improvements to the forum software have also been incorporated with this update, which will allow us to bring you special new types of forums in the near future.

If you spot any bugs or other issues please contact me.

Visit the forums!