Top 5 Security Mods for phpBB

No forum software is fully secure from the onslaught of hackers and spammers, and needs to keep being updated by new modifications and plugins to safeguard against such attacks. The open source nature of phpBB makes it more vulnerable to attacks. phpBB developers are constantly working towards identifying security gaps and trying to fix them.

Some of the main features added to provide protection to your forum from being attacked by hackers are:

• Providing a sophisticated authorization system;
• Effective encryption which basically helps by ensuring the safety of the passwords in the data base;
• Proper running of the URL and cookie sessions.

5 Security Mods for phpBB

Some helpful security mods for phpBB are:

1. RAC Mod: In this Mod, the administrator defines an auth code which you need to enter while registering. After this, the administrator may ask you a question, the answer to which is the code. The advancements made to this mod are:
• Language variable being used properly;
• phpBB templates being used properly;
• Unnecessary steps have been removed;
• Instructions are made more detailed.
2. Peoplesign CAPTCHA Plugin: This is a unique and new picture based CAPTCHA which gives its owners millions of different ways to customize and use it as per their liking. It is easy to install. People visiting the forum are given a picture-based text to enter the forum and by this means automated bots can be kept away.
3. Show Password Strength: This mod reflects the strength of the password to its users. It displays a color code to show the password strength which is green for strong and red for weak. Along with this, there is a text indicator such as ‘Very Strong’, ‘Strong’, ‘Good’, ‘Weak’ and ‘Very Weak’ for passwords. The basis on which the password strength is graded are:
• Mixed case alphabets;
• Numbers;
• Special characters;
• More than 12 characters in the password.
4. Breizh Ajax Checks: This mod is fast and the language can be changed in the ajax on the registration page. Through this mod, checks can be performed in real time in the registration page as well as edit account setting page for email address, password and username.
5. Key CAPTCHA: It is an innovative anti-spam service which is provided free. It provides protection to your website from spam and also works as an instrument for income acquisition. Contrasting other captchas, there is no requirement to type any text here.

phpBB is not fully protected from all attacks by hackers and spammers present on the net. While there are people working towards mods to improve the scenario, one should take precautions and be vigilant to ensure that the forum is not attacked. phpBB security does not merely involve protecting your forum from being hacked, but it also involves the security of personal information and data of visitors and the integrity of the member list as well as the community. Some issues that may take up a lot of admin and moderator time may be automated signups, member list abuses, email address harvesting and dropping links.