Forum Security

[Oggy]

Bearing in mind the recent unfortunate events. It is time for MBNW to consider some security precautions. The Forum threads are currently open for all to view, we have found this has enticed new members and generated interest in the past. But we have also seen that we could be a target for undesirable attention, this is why ‘The Show Room’ has always been locked for viewing by members only. Therefore I would like your opinions on the future of the forum threads.

It seems like we have 3 options

1.Leave the forum how it is
2.Lock the whole forum so only members can view post’s
3.Lock Just key sections eg. Plan your rides


Please let us know your thoughts on these issues and have your vote in the poll. The MBNW admin team will take all of your thoughts in to consideration when making the final decision. Its a real shame that we have to discuss such issues but member safety is the most important thing to consider.

[thistle]

Yes 100% agrees with me (for now)

I think it's a good suggestion. I don't think the whole thing needs locking (General Chat isn't too bad, and maybe not the mechanics bits which will help get the forum found) but I can see why other bits are a bit more sensitive.

I'm a registered member though so if it all gets locked it won't affect me anyway ;D

[mtbman]

Ha Now the vote is split ;D

Seriously though, in light of the amount of recent bike related theft, the more restricted the access the better. I know its no real safe guard but it might put the odd chav off, if he's got to register some details.

[Arnie]

It might be an idea for members with photos of their bikes in the Show Room to delete their location which appears beneath the avatar, especially those who live in smaller towns and villages where expensive bikes would be easier to find and target.

Its feasible that an account on here (probably dormant) could or is being used for surveillance by some bike thieving scum. A sobering thought...

Would locking threads to non-forum members really offer any more security when it's so quick and easy to start an account?

[campbell]

I'd just lock anything with photo's in, ie show room, rides and gallery. And then advise everyone that any pic's need to go in these sections only?

[Russ]

As an Admin on Chestermtb we had to make the same choice about 4 years ago. It's a challenge balancing security against attracting new blood. A full lock down will (maybe) enhance security but it will put off new members. A limited lockdown requires some careful thought and regular management.

Changing/removing locations is a start. Putting members only sections for anything that might mention locations for example meet points for rides where a pile of cars will be left in a remote out of the way location will help, as will making sure any pics that might give away a persons location & car reg might need altering.

Also never mention your own storage location and security arrangements. It's OK to give tips to people asking, but never say I do this... etc..

After all of that a local crime spate in Chester was tracked down to a scrote that lived within a few hundred metres of a huge number of thefts. So remove your bike rack off your car when its not in use, make sure no-one follows you home or walks past when you are washing your bike outside the front of your house.

It's best to consider the most likely causes before going onto the more remote ones, after all the scrotes most likely only ever use a PC to setup an account on eBay to try and get rid of their ill gotten gains.

[al]

Sept 14, 2009 19:58:32 GMT Oggy said:

Bearing in mind the recent unfortunate events. It is time for MBNW to consider some security precautions. The Forum threads are currently open for all to view, we have found this has enticed new members and generated interest in the past. But we have also seen that we could be a target for undesirable attention, this is why ‘The Show Room’ has always been locked for viewing by members only. Therefore I would like your opinions on the future of the forum threads.

It seems like we have 3 options

1.Leave the forum how it is
2.Lock the whole forum so only members can view post’s
3.Lock Just key sections eg. Plan your rides


Please let us know your thoughts on these issues and have your vote in the poll. The MBNW admin team will take all of your thoughts in to consideration when making the final decision. Its a real shame that we have to discuss such issues but member safety is the most important thing to consider.


Dear all

Do not under estimate our common criminal, this addiction we have feeds their addiction also and they wil not stop. The forum should be locked unless you are a member, there should not be any members unless they have registered. There is no section on the forum for security and sadly we need to concentrate on this area. Although most Police Forces will not endorse any products as nothing is 100% safe there is a great deal that can be done to unsure that we make it as hard as possible for them to steal our hard earned toys. I am happy to discuss with the administrators some of the more covert ways that people should register and the reasons why. I can also post up some security firms based in North Wales that offer some sound advice. I have just bought an alarmed padlock so that if any thief touches it, it wil give off a very loud 110 decibel alarm which is in the padlock. It wont stop them but it should wake up the owners of the bike and also your neighbours!

There is lots that can be done which is not expensive in comparison to what we spend on our bikes and kit. Happy to discuss with anybody.

[SiMoult]

I know anyone can become a member within a few clicks but I think it may just put a few scrotes off by having to do this to view any of the forum content.

Therefore for me it's a total lockdown unless you are a member or at the very least a part lockdown (i.e plan your rides section).

[Russ]

Full lock down and registration needs a manual verification of new members a good way is to ask some pastime specific questions for them to answer, this well help weed out the spammers/scammers and hopefully some of the scum. Happy to discuss a pro-forma offline/out of band with the admins that might help.

[ftasb]

Sept 14, 2009 20:16:38 GMT Arnie said:

Would locking threads to non-forum members really offer any more security when it's so quick and easy to start an account?

My thoughts exactly mate. It's so easy to register, you don't even need a proper email address because nothing checks it's a proper one.

I'm sure the local chav will bother his ass to go through a few clicks on a PC when he's got his eye on a £1000+ ride.

Some have already been mentioned but here's my view -

• Remove all forum members with 0 posts immediately (there are 137 )
  
• Make your profile location a little more non-specific, i.e. not the town / village where you live but perhaps the county?
  
• Don't advertise where you store your bike(s) at home
  
• I don't see how we can remove specific details from the 'Plan Your Rides' and 'Forum Rides' boards, that is the only reason why they are there!
  
• It's been said a thousand times but make sure you lock your car properly at the trail head and remove all valuables from view
  
• If any member starts asking fishy questions either on a thread or by PM then report him / her to an admin ASAP
  
• Insure your bike!
  

I know there's a few coppers on here, any more advice from them (please)?

I suppose the main thing is to look out for each other

Stay safe kids, and don't have nightmares... ;D

[ftasb]

Also, just found these forum 'features' in the admin tools -

• Disable Signups: Selecting yes will disable registration on this forum. Only those members who are given to the power to register members may create new accounts.
  
• Disable Account Activations: Selecting yes will disable the forced activation process. Users will still need to activate their accounts in order to receive mass emails, and thread notifications. Note: If you (the admin) have not yet activated your account this will also force you too.
  
• Limited Registration: Enabling this option will make it so all new accounts must be approved by a staff member before their account becomes active.
  

[campbell]

I tend to try to avoid telling people too much about home security as I have learnt that some people will become obsessed with making their property like Fort Knox - it starts with CCTV, you hear a noise in the back, you flick over to the CCTV channel, you think you hear a noise, you flick over, eventually some people (this is 100% true) stop watching TV and sit watching their CCTV channel and staring out of the windows.

To put people's minds at rest I would say that clearly if you leave a bike outside it's getting stolen, I'm sure no one on here does that with their bikes. The next thing up is to keep bikes in a wooden shed, a more likely target than a brick shed/garage. A garage is good, but if you're garage is integral to your house it is so much better as it is part of the house, therefore a break into that is classed as a dwelling burg, whereas a detached garage is a non-dwelling burg, which has an impact on sentencing. Any billy who's been through the system will know that and would tend not to break into a house if there is a shed next door. Unfortunately, a lot of home security involves making next door look as better/easier option.

That said, don't all rush out and get a builder to build you a garage attached to your houses! Decent security lights and perhaps some CCTV is a good deterrant, as are shed/garage alarms which you can get for about £20. I would also say that Si's place looks like one of the better protected houses and he can count himself quite unlucky that he has been targeted, its likely that the people knew what was in the shed.

Some people advise replacing the driveway with loose stone, as anyone walking on it will make a noise which will attract attention. I'm not convinced, as this may also incite little sh1ts to pick up bits of your drive and throw it around! Is it a risk to take? Trellis is good, not only does it increase the height of any fence, but to get over it involves a risk of it breaking and causing injury and waking people up (once found a would be burg lying in a garden with a broken ankle ;D).

Personally, I try not to worry about it. I'm not going to lose sleep over a bike, no matter how much I paid for it, or how much it means to me. Its insured, I'll get another one. Maybe that sounds a bit callous, but I've seen how some people get effected by this crime, and really don't want me to become like that. My bikes are locked away. I have security features. If someone is that determined to get at them, I'd prefer it if they didn't rip my garage to bits to get in, cos that really would be a tw@t.

Its a balance of how much you are prepared to spend vs how the crime will impact on your life.

Disclaimer - the views above are mine, and not necessarily to be taken as great advice and are most certainly not the views endorsed by Cheshire Constabulary ;D ;D

If anyone is really concerned, contact your local nick, they'll gladly send out someone to do a crime prevention survey of your property.

[SiMoult]

I agree that people should not get too hung up over this.

Yes I have been recently targeted and it is 99% likely that it was for my bike. If they would have got in there (and that the bike had been in there - not one of the many random locations that I do store it!) and stolen yes I would have been well pi@@ed but I am insured and ultimately no one would have been hurt which is my main concern.

I think if at least some restrictions are put on the forum and it results in just one scumbag being deterred against a possible crime (whether that be a bike theft/attempted break in to a car) then this will be a worthwhile exercise.

What we have to remember is there will be a lot of www.mbnw.co.uk advertisement on show soon with the new closthing range - this will no doubt attract more visits to the site.

As already noted above - even if this thread results in just people taking a step back to look over there security, insurance policy wording and having more of a think about what they post on the forum then the discussion is well worthwhile and good to share comments.

The forum and website is great and has personally led me into a new circle of friends which has been invaluable to my riding over the past year or some. The work the admin team do on the site in maintaining it is great and I would not want this to cause to much additional work for them!

[thistle]

Sept 15, 2009 7:30:45 GMT @ftasb said:

My thoughts exactly mate. It's so easy to register, you don't even need a proper email address because nothing checks it's a proper one.

I think the activation sorts that out doesn't it?

[embear2]

This is something Nicky & I were discussing on sat afternoon at LDG. I've been aware of the risks of theft every since Nicky had her bike nicked. The forum is definitely open to scallys learning who has what bikes, and finding out where people live by seeing their location whereabouts, or following them from pre-arranged rides. I think the site security needs reviewing, especially in light of an earlier comment about how easy it is to become a member, but if these same members dont ride with any1, or contribute to any discussions, what are they on here for ??