Feedback Seven Years | 4,000 Posts | Charger's Feedback

My Seven Years on HackForums
You probably do not know me but I’ve been here for seven years, well, I am just a few months away from being here for seven years but I feel that now is a good time to post my feedback. This is something that I have been working on off and on since early January of 2017. With over four-and-a-half months of online time and this being my 4,000th post, I believe I am qualified to let you know what I’ve seen. This is my honest feedback on various aspects of the site so take it as you will.

I have been lurking since the fall of 2009. I probably have 3 accounts under fake emails because I was scared to use my real email (I was like 10 or 11 at the time). This was about the time I first started programing in Visual Basic (.NET). Before I signed up, I would just use HF to browse the .NET section. I would look for sources and leech as much as I could. Then I decided to sign up one day and it’s been a blast ever since.

Even after I joined, I still stuck to the Visual Basic section primarily (considering it was the only language I knew). I then reached out to the hacking sections and became interested in malware (key loggers mostly). That lasted for several months and then I eventually started branching out of the coding forum to sections like gaming and the lounge. I would say it took at least two years for me to contribute and get involved with HF and of course, being young caused me to make a lot of careless mistakes.

About five years ago, I was rep fucked for reporting a user (that’s a nice way to put it) to Omni (very stupid to do in hindsight). I think I was at 200 rep (maybe?) but that’s not the point. I was mad like anyone would be but I didn’t let that change my experience here. I learned from it. Fast forward a few years to bout a year after Ub3r Upgrade application became an actual page, I applied and was denied ub3r. I waited my time and then reapplied. Bam. Perm denied. This was very hard for me to accept at first. Uber is something that I had wanted since I first became active on HF (early 2011) and to be denied, not just for the time being, but forever, was a horrible feeling. I still hope that one day I get another opportunity to apply (although I know this will probably not happen).

Changes

A few years ago, trolls were not tolerated. I can’t recall a specific time frame where this shift began but it was within the past 4 years. I am not going to call out any members because that is not what this thread is for. Instead, I suggest holding members, especially Ub3r, to a higher standard in the lounge and in other sections of the forum as well.

There have been a lot of policy changes in the last few years such as disallowing social engineering, Apple Products, and disallowing SST. I wouldn’t say these changes were completely good nor bad. I think the generation that was joining and active in the 2010-2012 timeframe were more involved with blackhat hacking (part of the reason why the MRT was so popular). There also weren’t as many policies limiting what you could do. I believe the shift began in 2013 to early 2014 time. I think the changes occurred, not because of Omni, but because of increased cyber security and cyber awareness. These policy implementations and changes have allowed HF to continue to operate and grow over the past 5 or so years.

I also believe that the focus (of members) on the forum has/is shifting from hacking and technology to get rich. It is less about learning and more about the exchange of money for a good, service, or another currency. Has this shift harmed HF? Well, I wouldn’t say harmed but I think the contributions to the forum (meaning information) has gone downhill.

Groups

When you were first able to purchase groups, there were only a few. I was in maybe 3 different groups (this is probably 4 years ago) and they all ended the same; sold. Groups change what seems to be weekly. They get a new name, new leader, and new logo. They vouch for each other in the marketplace and then slowly fade away until a sales thread is made for the group. It’s sad to see. I don’t want to come across as an ass but why would anyone spend that much on a group? I never understood it. Anyway, I think that group leaders don’t do much of any leading. They simply pay to get their spot and go from there. It would be nice to see groups (specifically their leaders) holding members accountable for their behavior on the forum.

Section Feedback

Hacking

Maybe times have changed but the hacking parts are more begging. There are still some cool things that get posted but very rarely are they posted here first (or discovered by an HF member). There are still posts for botnets and programs like that but I think the section pulls mostly leechers. I was never really involved in this section but I feel it is necessary to add it.

Coding

This is pretty much my home now. HF is full of creative and unique programmers that come up with amazing things. I mainly hang out in the Java and PHP section but still browse through the others. I believe that this section has increased in not only activity but in quality too in the past five years but more in the last three or so.

Marketplace

The marketplace is a complete mess. People often use it to just harass members (at least in the marketplace discussion). I also hate the Community Alert tag. It is a cancer to the section. People use it just to get attention to their deal dispute or post some a thread that has 100% nothing to do with the marketplace. If anything, the discussion forum is used as a lounge or as I said before; a second deal dispute.

Unfortunately, there are less actual products and services in the market now. The market (mainly premium) consists of mostly two things; an eBook (including methods and guides) or a screen name. I have nothing against either as I have bought and sold both but HF has sections for those products yet they don’t always get used. Additionally, I bought my fair share of books back in the day and they were of actual quality (well, kinda). This had nothing to do with the reviewers (official? Usergroup), however, I think people cared about their name and reputation (not actual pixel rep) on the forum whereas now it is more of making a quick buck. Aside from that, it has been interesting to see the shift in demand over the past several years. I remember when “hostbooters” were the big thing and then that passed. Shell booters followed next and then passed. Then keyloggers became really big and then passed.

There are tons of products that have came, sold, and left the market. Take OG names for example. Back 3-5 years ago, Twitter names were not of any value. You pretty much had AIM names and a few emails. Now look at it; people sell simple twitter handles for hundreds of dollars. Like I said, it has been interesting to see and reflect on.

It wouldn’t be HF without talking about how every member is a scammer, right? I don’t think there is a big scamming problem here. Omni has given us the tools to make educated and informed discussions when dealing such as the trust scan, dispute db, and deal disputes section. I think people forget to always be cautious when dealing online. I would never do a large deal with any person on the internet. Some people on here just give members so much temptation and then wonder why they run off. People on here, for lack of a better word, are idiots when they deal.

I believe HF is the only forum that has a diverse marketplace like ours. Members are constantly trying to find the next get-rich-quick scheme thus things are always changing. There are members who appear to make a very large income just from the market. It’s crazy when you think about it.

Staff Feedback

HF Staff (and mentors) do a great job here. They have a lot on their plate but they balance it well. I have seen several come and go (I remember as far back as Dredd). I have not had any issues with any staff member in the seven years I have been here. There isn’t really a time when the site is unmonitored. Whether this is from the always-changing security Omni is working on or actual staff coverage, HF really doesn’t have interruptions. I do, however, wish that Mentor’s played a more active role in helping newer members. I understand that they are renamed moderators but with the title of Mentor, it would fit nicely if they helped members become accustomed to how HF works.

Feedback on Omni

Omni works very hard even though he has constant uphill battles. I couldn’t count the number of incidents that have happened to HF in the past seven years where I would have given up. Omni, on the other hand, pushes through each time. It doesn’t matter if it’s at 2AM or normal time, he always seems to respond quickly to major incidents. Just this past Valentine’s Day HF was experiencing issues and he worked around the clock to fix it. I don’t know of any other forum of this size that is worked on by a single developer.

For personal feedback, I would say that you, Omni, have changed quite a bit in the past few years. Overall, I would say you have changed for the better. You don’t put up with bullshit, which is great. I think the last five or so years have mellowed you out a little, too. When I first joined, I was afraid of talking to you. You didn’t seem like a person, but instead; just a forum owner. But that has since changed. You are a human, make human mistakes, and accept that others make mistakes, too. You also still find time to have fun on the forum even with the stress HF brings you – something I don’t think I nor a lot of others could manage to do. You work day in and day out to better the community. There is no telling how much stress this has put on you or those around you but like I said; somehow you manage to balance it and do a great job.

Closing remarks

To sum it all up, I realize this thread is scattered. I’ve been working it for a few months and have been waiting for the right time to post. Overall, HF is a great community. We have our fair share of shitheads and complete idiots but we also have a ton of valuable members. It’s always sad to see people come and go. Sometimes they are here for a few years and other times they just lose interest and make poor decisions (such as selling their account, exit scamming, trolling, etc.). There is not another forum that I have been on for even a third of the time I have on HF. It’s been a fun, memorable, and life changing seven years. Without HF, I probably would not have enhanced my coding skills (including learning several languages), continued my self-driven quest for knowledge, and, as cliché as it sounds, became who I am today. With all of this being said, I am excited to see how the next seven years play out.

-Charger