Recommended Bulletin Board?

[n2access]

I've used PHP Bulletin Board on several web sites and every one has been hacked or spammed to death.

 

I started out by letting PHPBB Guests post. Oops! Then I allowed only Registered Users to post. Over the last 4 months, I've had 150 new registered users sign up, all from foreign countries and none of them legitimate. The posts are for casinos, drugs and other Internet scams.

 

1) How do I remove PHPBB from a web site?

 

2) Which Fantastico application should I use in its place?

 

3) Is it possible to create an access list that denies access from any IP outside the U.S.?

 

I need a forum application that requires little supervision.

 

Thanks,

 

Jerry

[TCH-Bruce]

1. To remove phpBB delete the database and then remove the folder the forum in installed in.

 

2. I would recommend SMF (Simple Machine Forums)

 

3. There are ways to block access using the .htaccess file.

[DWD]

Depending on what you use the forums for, one option for phpBB is to install the Invitation Only mod or the Invitation Only U2U mod. I have the first one installed and only people I givn an invitation to can join. The U2U mod allows every member to give out invitations. In the year I've had my board up, I've not had a single illigitimate member or spam post. But, obviously, this mod is not for everyone.

 

Alternatively, phpBB version 3.0 should be out later this year, now in Beta5, but soon to be RC1 (Release Candidate 1). It is supposed to be much more secure.

 

My Forum: http://www.danzfamily.com/forum/

[carbonize]

You will find most people recommend SMF as it's free yet very powerful. I personally use it along with one of the captcha mods available. These mods mean guests have to pass a captcha test when posting. It also means you don't have the default captcha image for registrations which should help foil the programs that can read forum captcha.

 

MyBB seems quite nice and powerful as well but I don't have any experience with it except posting in a forum that uses it.

 

UNB is very pretty and a good forum but not as powerful as either of the above two and seems to be written by just one person.