Notice to all Photobucket Users

[Paul-R]

I've never used PB so have nothing to check.

So, you're saying that previous PB images that were inserted and showing thumbnails are now full size?

Never having used PB, as I said, I wasn't sure how the images were displaying previously. Using a forum powered by Xenforo, when you insert an image, you have the option of it displaying as a thumbnail or as full width (not full size) in the post and clicking on it would then take you to the full size image.

[elma]

Thanks for sorting that out. You were impressively rapid too.

[Stonehopper]

Paul-R, it was much the same with PB. You could post a thumbnail in IMG brackets and it would go full size when clicked on, or post full size to begin with.

[myglaren]

Just had an email from PhotoBucket saying my account has been disabled due to excessive use and third party hosting.

[Mandrake]

Uh, now they're disabling accounts due to third party hosting rather than just replacing the image ?

That is sinking really low indeed, especially when the terms and conditions change that banned 3rd party hosting was only added less than a month ago and NO notification email was sent to users. (I certainly didn't get one)

Screw them is what I have to say...

[bobins]

If it's the same email I received, then what they actually say is "SOME features on your account have been disabled." They then go on to say you've been using third party hosting and that you can restore your hosted images by subscribing to their plan and sending them lots and lots of money.
I received their email on 3/7/17 but all my images are still accessible on their website, it's just that I can't link to them.

I'm currently wondering whether just to delete my account now - as I only used it for images on here, or to fill up my album to the max (it's only at 4% at the moment) and just leave it there using up a tiny fraction of their storage

[white exec]

I wouldn't waste any more time with them. By leaving your albums there, you remain a user-statistic for their advertising revenue, and the sooner that begins to collapse, the better.
It is no way to treat customers......or maybe they see their advertisers as their customers, and us as something else.
Enough.

[Zelandeth]

Well done to everyone involved in sorting this mess out. I for one really appreciate not having to go back through 100+ pages in my blog fixing things just as a starting point!

I'll shortly be deleting my account on PB as I refuse to remain there as a statistic for their advertisers. Voting with my feet and showing that we won't stand for being messed about!

[GiveMeABreak]

I never received the email either. Now all the PB Forum images have been saved, I've taken great delight in zapping all the content and deleting all my PB accounts this afternoon. I also made full use of the mandatory requirement to complete a 'reason for deleting your account' section

[CitroJim]

Well done to everyone involved in sorting this mess out. I for one really appreciate not having to go back through 100+ pages in my blog fixing things just as a starting point!

I very much second this Zel The admins on here have done a remarkable job in a very very short time and very effectively too...

I'm just crossing fingers flickr don't get similar ideas....

[elma]

I'm closing my account too.
I actually want to see PB fall flat on its face for trying to take advantage of people so wantonly.
Mike have you shared your fix with other Admins on php forums. I'm sure there's a lot out there without the skills to do what you have that would appreciate the help.
Maybe you could only charge them half the pb fee

On a side note I don't think it will be very long before one of the hacking forums locks pb and asks them for money to give back the website.

[white exec]

Don't give you-know-who any ideas . . .

[xantia_v6]

Mike have you shared your fix with other Admins on php forums. I'm sure there's a lot out there without the skills to do what you have that would appreciate the help.
Maybe you could only charge them half the pb fee

I have shared the scripts on the phpbb.com forum, but have not had a lot of response. I don't think that most forum admins read it regularly.

I currently only have the image backup scripts in a state ready to share, the forum code that calls up the backup file when a post includes an image is currently a hack which only works easily on our forums (I intend to do a proper extension later).

Doing a web search for phpbb and photobucket with a date range of one week shows that the issue is being discussed on many forums, but I don't really have the energy to contact them all (and in many cases that would require joining the forums to get a contact address).

If anyone wants to take on that task, I am happy to share the technical details.

[elma]

Personally I think putting it on php forum is enough. Its the obvious place for admins to look for solutions to problems. If they choose not to then its their loss.

[white exec]

Mike, are you talking to Ciaran about this?