Ubuntu Forums
__NOTOC__
{{Infobox website
| name = Ubuntu Forums
| logo = Ubuntu Forums Logo.png
| screenshot =
| caption = Screenshot of The Ubuntu Forums, March 2012
| url = {{URL|https://ubuntuforums.org}}
| type = Forum
| language = English
| registration = Yes, using Ubuntu One
| owner = Canonical Ltd.
| author =
| launch_date = October 2004
| current_status = Online
}}
The Ubuntu Forums is the official forum for the Ubuntu operating system.{{cite web | url = http://www.ubuntu.com/support/community/webforums | work = Ubuntu | title = Web Forums | access-date = 29 March 2012}}
As of May 2022, The Ubuntu Forums has 2.1 million registered members and more than 2.2 million threads.{{cite web|url=https://ubuntuforums.org/index.php#wgo|work=Ubuntu Forums|title=Ubuntu Forums § What's Going On? - Ubuntu Forums Statistics|access-date=7 May 2022}} The Ubuntu Forums currently runs on the forum software vBulletin.{{cite web | url = http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=176622 | work = Ubuntu Forums| title = Why the Ubuntu Forums use VBulletin | access-date = 7 Feb 2013}}
On July 20, 2013 the site was compromised, with attacker(s) both defacing the site and gaining access to "all user email addresses and hashed passwords"{{cite web | url = http://blog.canonical.com/2013/07/21/notice-of-security-breach-on-ubuntu-forums-site/ | work = Canonical| title = Notice of security breach on Ubuntu Forums site | access-date = 16 Dec 2013}}
The site was compromised once again on July 15, 2016. "Usernames, email addresses and IPs for 2 million users" were compromised but 'no active passwords' were accessed.{{cite web|last1=Silber|first1=Jane|title=Notice of security breach on Ubuntu Forums|url=http://insights.ubuntu.com/2016/07/15/notice-of-security-breach-on-ubuntu-forums/|website=Ubuntu Insights}}
History
The Ubuntu Forums were created by Ryan Troy in October 2004.[http://ubuntuforums.org/index.php?page=about About Ubuntu Forums] The forums became a popular resource for Ubuntu and were deemed the Official Ubuntu Forums in November 2004.{{cite web | url = http://www.oreillynet.com/pub/au/3796 | work = O'Reilly | title = Ryan Troy | access-date = 29 March 2012}} The forums hosting continued to be paid for by Ryan and the occasional donations of forum members until March 2006, when Canonical offered to host the forums on its own servers. In June 2007, the forums' domain name, license, and assets were all transferred to Canonical, which now has sole ownership.{{cite web | url = http://www.informit.com/articles/article.aspx?p=1688713&seqNum=2 | work = informIT | title = A Brief History of The Ubuntu Forums | access-date = 29 March 2012 | last1 = Mako Hill | first1 = Benjamin | last2 = Burger| first2 = Corey | last3 = Helmke| first3 = Matthew}}
Role
The primary function of The Ubuntu Forums is for Ubuntu support, but it also has a popular community area where other topics may be discussed.{{cite web | url = http://ubuntuforums.org/forumdisplay.php?f=11 | work = Ubuntu Forums| title = The Community Cafe | access-date = 30 March 2012}}
Governance
The Ubuntu Forums are governed by a moderation team made up of volunteers, often referred to as The Forum Staff.[http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?p=9280735 Forum Staff] The Forum Staff have three ranks: Administrators, Super Moderators and Moderators. The Administrators serve on the Forum Council.{{cite web | url = https://wiki.ubuntu.com/ForumCouncil | work = Ubuntu | title = Forum Council | access-date = 29 March 2012}}