Access Control

Synchronet Access Control

This topic covers a wide range of methods and instructions on how a Synchronet sysop can enable or restrict access to their BBS.

Specific TCP/IP hosts (computers) or ranges of hosts can be restricted from accessing your Synchronet servers through the use of various filter files. Filter files may also be used to restrict specific words from being used in user-generated content (message subjects, user names, aliases, etc.).

The sysop can disallow remote users from creating new user accounts by setting SCFG->System->Toggle Options->Closed To New Users to “Yes”.

The sysop can restrict users from creating new user accounts to only those that know a semi-secret New User Password (NUP), by setting SCFG->System->New User Password.

Synchronet user accounts each have the following security/access control settings which the sysop may use to enable or restrict the user's access to specific features of functions of the BBS:

• Level: a value (a.k.a. security level) between 0 and 99, with level 90-99 being reserved for operators of the system (sysops/co-sysops)
• Flags: 4 sets of 26 sysop-defineable toggle flags (A-Z) which allow for customized access control
• Exemptions: 26 flags (A-Z) which have pre-defined functions to exempt the user from specific limitations
• Restrictions: 26 flags (A-Z) which have pre-defined functions to restrict the user from using specific features/functions
• Expiration: a date a which time the user account will be automatically deleted (regardless of inactivity)
• Credits: a balance of credit which the user can deposit into (e.g. by uploading files) or withdraw from (e.g. by downloading files)
• Minutes: a balance of time which the user can use to go beyond their normally limited time per/call or per/day (a.k.a. time bank)

The sysop determines which access control values will be assigned to newly created user accounts in SCFG->System->New User Values:

╔══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗
║                      New User Values                     ║
╠══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╣
║ │Level                      50                           ║
║ │Flag Set #1                                             ║
║ │Flag Set #2                                             ║
║ │Flag Set #3                                             ║
║ │Flag Set #4                                             ║
║ │Exemptions                                              ║
║ │Restrictions                                            ║
║ │Expiration Days            0                            ║
║ │Credits                    10,485,760                   ║
║ │Minutes                    0                            ║
║ │Editor                     FSEDITOR                     ║
║ │Command Shell              DEFAULT                      ║
║ │Download Protocol          None                         ║
║ │Default Toggles...                                      ║
║ │Question Toggles...                                     ║
╚══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝

In the above example, newly created user accounts will have:

• Level 50 (never set above 89)
• No flags set in any of the sysop-defined flag sets (1-4)
• No exemptions
• No restrictions
• Will not expire
• Will have a credits balance of 10MB
• Will have 0 minutes in their time bank

The sysop can specify combinations of access controls (e.g. security level, flags) and user values (e.g. gender, age, etc.) in SCFG (mostly under the options named “Access Requirements”) to control access to specific areas or functions of the BBS and restrict to specific groups of users.

See Access Requirements for more details.

There are multiple methods available for creating and editing user accounts:

• By calling or connecting to the BBS and selecting “New” at the Login prompt
• makeuser module (user creation only)
• makeguest module (Guest account creation only)
• uedit TUI user editor
• useredit GUI user editor
  • User->Editor menu option from the Synchronet Control panel for Windows
• gtkuseredit GUI user editor (*nix)
• “UEDIT” sysop command, available while logged-in to the Terminal server as an operator of the system (sysop)
  • e.g. ;uedit command from the main menu of the default command shell

The first user account created when connected to the Terminal server will automatically be given Sysop-level access (i.e., Security level 90, all flags and all exemptions).

For this reason, the System Password is prompted for (with the SY: prompt) during the first new user creation process.

The sysop account is traditionally the first user record in the database (i.e., user #1). This user account should not have the alias of “Sysop” - use your real name or a handle instead. Synchronet automatically treats the alias of Sysop specially and forwards any mail received for “Sysop” to user #1.

There is usually one sysop (System Operator) per BBS - the owner and operator of the hardware which Synchronet is running on and accepting remote users. Quite often systems require more than one sysop and Synchronet is flexible in this respect. Within Synchronet, a sysop is defined as any user with a security level of 90 or above. Any user that qualifies as a sysop, will be prompted to enter the system password during login and/or when invoking a sysop function. Users with sysop access can cause serious damage to the system, so give out this ability with caution.

As stated above, any user with a security level of 90 or greater can perform sysop functions, “So why have levels 91-99?” you might wonder. Well, you can still restrict a user with sysop access from accessing BBS functions areas (e.g. Message Groups or Sub-boards or File Libraries or Directories) by setting the minimum required security level above that user's level. For example: If you have a sysop with a security level of 90, you can still have a Message Group or Sub-board with a minimum required level of 91. Now this sysop will not be able to access that Group or Sub-board. While it is true that sysops can edit their own and subordinate user's accounts, they can not edit a sysop of higher level's account (when calling remotely). A sysop can't raise any user's level above their own, or add flags or exemptions that they themselves don't already have.

Some sysops will want to have a Guest user account on their BBS. Guest accounts can be used to allow:

• Inspection of basic BBS content without creating a user account
• Anonymous FTP access

When a sysop with Security Level 99 logs into the Terminal server, they will be asked to create a Guest account if the following conditions are met:

• Sysop's Security Level is 99
• Guest user does not already exist
• Sysop has not already been asked and said No and to not be asked again

If the sysop answers Yes, the makeguest JavaScript module will be executed to create the Guest account with the recommended access controls:

• Restrictions: G, K, P, M, W, R, C
• Exemptions: G, L, P, T

If you answered No to both the “create Guest?” and “Ask again later?” prompts, you will need to run the makeguest.js module manually if you wish to create a Guest account.

• Access Requirements (ARS)
• Configuration
• How To: Block Hackers