Barry
08-23-2010, 01:45 PM
https://www.waccobb.net/forums/waccobb/ImagesforMembers/wacco-web_logo.gif
Hi $username,
I recently installed a major upgrade to to the WaccoBB.net website! This happened before it was completely ready and was prompted by a malware attack on the old site (https://www.waccobb.net/forums/content.php?4-Welcome-to-the-new-WaccoBB.net-website%21).
Things are beginning to settle down now. Here's a roundup of some important information about the new site:
Login Required
This new system can't read your login credentials from the old system in order to automatically log you back in . So everybody needs to log back in one time and then we'll remember you again.
If you have forgotten your Username or Password, you can have that information sent to you, which includes resetting your password to something random. Use the link below the login prompt on the website ("Click here if you have forgotten your Username or Password (https://www.waccobb.net/forums/login.php?do=lostpw)") . Please read the directions carefully. If you need help with this, please contact my assistant, Alexia. ([email protected])
Please don't create a new username/registration
Some of you have created new Usernames instead of resetting your password. If you receive more than 1 copy of this note (or more than one copy of the Digest), please forward them back to [email protected] and we'll help you consolidate them so you don't receive further duplicates and your membership information is properly maintained.
New Interface(s) coming!
You'll notice that the interface design has changed, though it still works more or less like it did. It's fairly plain at the moment. However, I am delighted to say that I have contracted Zack Darling Creative Associates (https://www.zackdarling.com/) to develop a new interface for the system that will both return the site to a warmer feel, and take it a big step forward in both attractiveness and functionality. The Digest and the upcoming Business Directory (https://www.waccobb.net/directory/) are also going to get a facelift!
Zack is the Art Director for both the Harmony Festival and Earthdance, a co-producer of the Tecno-Tribal Dance, as well as the son of Diane Darling, a long time Wacco. I'm hoping that we'll be able to show you the designs as the process progresses, and perhaps even let those of you who wish use the new design as it is being developed (at your own risk!). As always, your feedback it appreciated!
The first step in this process is to implement an interim design in the next few weeks which will be an improvement over the current look and feel. You'll be able to choose whether you want to switch to that one or keep this one. The final design will be implemented this fall.
Malware Update
We have now located the source of the malware problem. It turns out it was our banner ad system that was attacked rather than the bulletin board system. So the premature upgrade really wasn't necessary, but it's just as well.
We have completely purged the malware from the system, upgraded the website and have taken other steps to prevent this from happening again. According to my understanding of the problem, before your system would have been infected, you would have had to click on one of the banners and you then would have been prompted to install something on your computer. I hope you realize that we would never have a banner from one of our valued sponsors require you to install software.
Again, if you are using a Windows-based PC, you should always be running some sort of virus protection software. And if you have any concerns, now would be a good time to do a full system scan. And again, I have received no reports of any user being effected by this problem.
New Features!
The new site has lots of new features! The first thing you'll notice is that there is now a home page and several sections for articles and other featured content. I'll be refining how we use this as we go along.
User profiles are now more fully developed. You can have a photo album there and receive public visitor messages there too. You can identify other users on the system as either contacts (a one-way connection that does not require an acceptance, or a friend (a two-way connection that requires approval). You can request to be notified whenever your contacts/friends post something. You can also use these lists to control various permissions in the system. You can see your profile by clicking on the "My Profile" link at the top of the website, and you can see other folks' profiles by clicking on their Username on one of their posts on the website or digest.
Threads can now have Tags which are just a user-definable keyword that can link threads with similar topics. I plan to refine the system a bit more in the future to make them more useful for things like finding all posts within a certain town, free events, etc.
There are several other important features that are already implemented but which have not been turned on just yet, including Facebook integration, blogs and user-created groups. Once the system has stabilized, we'll be introducing these features along with video demos.
Technical Issues Update
There are still several issues with this new system, particularly with posting images and having them show up in emails and the digest. We will be working on that very shortly to both fix some bugs and simplify the process and we will post a video to help you with this.
The Gratitude system now works, but the history has not been restored yet.
Click here for a roundup of the most significant issues. (https://www.waccobb.net/forums/content.php?17-Technical-Issues-Update)
I hope you all enjoy the remaining days of summer including a wonderful holiday weekend!
(And welcome back to all you Burners!)
Barry
Hi $username,
I recently installed a major upgrade to to the WaccoBB.net website! This happened before it was completely ready and was prompted by a malware attack on the old site (https://www.waccobb.net/forums/content.php?4-Welcome-to-the-new-WaccoBB.net-website%21).
Things are beginning to settle down now. Here's a roundup of some important information about the new site:
Login Required
This new system can't read your login credentials from the old system in order to automatically log you back in . So everybody needs to log back in one time and then we'll remember you again.
If you have forgotten your Username or Password, you can have that information sent to you, which includes resetting your password to something random. Use the link below the login prompt on the website ("Click here if you have forgotten your Username or Password (https://www.waccobb.net/forums/login.php?do=lostpw)") . Please read the directions carefully. If you need help with this, please contact my assistant, Alexia. ([email protected])
Please don't create a new username/registration
Some of you have created new Usernames instead of resetting your password. If you receive more than 1 copy of this note (or more than one copy of the Digest), please forward them back to [email protected] and we'll help you consolidate them so you don't receive further duplicates and your membership information is properly maintained.
New Interface(s) coming!
You'll notice that the interface design has changed, though it still works more or less like it did. It's fairly plain at the moment. However, I am delighted to say that I have contracted Zack Darling Creative Associates (https://www.zackdarling.com/) to develop a new interface for the system that will both return the site to a warmer feel, and take it a big step forward in both attractiveness and functionality. The Digest and the upcoming Business Directory (https://www.waccobb.net/directory/) are also going to get a facelift!
Zack is the Art Director for both the Harmony Festival and Earthdance, a co-producer of the Tecno-Tribal Dance, as well as the son of Diane Darling, a long time Wacco. I'm hoping that we'll be able to show you the designs as the process progresses, and perhaps even let those of you who wish use the new design as it is being developed (at your own risk!). As always, your feedback it appreciated!
The first step in this process is to implement an interim design in the next few weeks which will be an improvement over the current look and feel. You'll be able to choose whether you want to switch to that one or keep this one. The final design will be implemented this fall.
Malware Update
We have now located the source of the malware problem. It turns out it was our banner ad system that was attacked rather than the bulletin board system. So the premature upgrade really wasn't necessary, but it's just as well.
We have completely purged the malware from the system, upgraded the website and have taken other steps to prevent this from happening again. According to my understanding of the problem, before your system would have been infected, you would have had to click on one of the banners and you then would have been prompted to install something on your computer. I hope you realize that we would never have a banner from one of our valued sponsors require you to install software.
Again, if you are using a Windows-based PC, you should always be running some sort of virus protection software. And if you have any concerns, now would be a good time to do a full system scan. And again, I have received no reports of any user being effected by this problem.
New Features!
The new site has lots of new features! The first thing you'll notice is that there is now a home page and several sections for articles and other featured content. I'll be refining how we use this as we go along.
User profiles are now more fully developed. You can have a photo album there and receive public visitor messages there too. You can identify other users on the system as either contacts (a one-way connection that does not require an acceptance, or a friend (a two-way connection that requires approval). You can request to be notified whenever your contacts/friends post something. You can also use these lists to control various permissions in the system. You can see your profile by clicking on the "My Profile" link at the top of the website, and you can see other folks' profiles by clicking on their Username on one of their posts on the website or digest.
Threads can now have Tags which are just a user-definable keyword that can link threads with similar topics. I plan to refine the system a bit more in the future to make them more useful for things like finding all posts within a certain town, free events, etc.
There are several other important features that are already implemented but which have not been turned on just yet, including Facebook integration, blogs and user-created groups. Once the system has stabilized, we'll be introducing these features along with video demos.
Technical Issues Update
There are still several issues with this new system, particularly with posting images and having them show up in emails and the digest. We will be working on that very shortly to both fix some bugs and simplify the process and we will post a video to help you with this.
The Gratitude system now works, but the history has not been restored yet.
Click here for a roundup of the most significant issues. (https://www.waccobb.net/forums/content.php?17-Technical-Issues-Update)
I hope you all enjoy the remaining days of summer including a wonderful holiday weekend!
(And welcome back to all you Burners!)
Barry