Change your vBulletin Version Number
This tutorial will teach you how to change the version number at the bottom of your vBulletin forums.

Tutorial:
First you have to enable debug mode.

Download and open includes/config.php

Find near the bottom:
?>

If you are using vBulletin 3.5:
Add above:
$config['Misc']['debug'] = 1;

If you are using vBulletin 2.x or 3.0.x:
Add above:
$debug = 1;
Now save and upload includes/config.php

Log into your Admin CP.

Find your way to vBulletin Options -> vBulletin Options -> Version Info and Other Untouchables

Now Change "vBulletin Version Number" to what ever your little heart desires and click Save.

It is NOT recommended to keep debug mode on at all times. So I would suggest turn it on when you need it and turn it off when you don't. To turn off debug mode simply remove the file edits you did at the beginning of this tutorial.

Note: This is completely legal and Jelsoft does not mind if you change the version number at the bottom of all the pages. As long as you keep the copyright intact to at least its minimum requirements, “vBulletin, Copyright ©2000 - 2005, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.”.

P.S. I hope this makes sense... its almost 2am and I am tired... If there is anything I missed, something you cannot understand, something you would change, or just need help please post your ideas/problems.

Find your way to vBulletin Options -> vBulletin Options -> Version Info and Other Untouchables
Two questions:

1) Is that the correct location for 3.5 RC2? We could not find any such place in the ACP.

2) We read at vB.org that removing the version number makes it harder for hackers to mess with your board. Is there any truth to that?

Thanks.

2) Yes, that is a fact. Black Hat Hackers look up exploits for certain vBulletin version numbers and if you don't show it on your forum, then it'll be a bit harder for them to hack your forum

OK thank you Trent for verifying that :cool:

You're welcome. Oh, and Version information and Other Untouchables is the first option in the vBulletin options when you are running debug mode. Oh, and Debug mode is fun! You can customize everything! Oh, and check out what I changed it to...hehehehe...http://trenttech.net

How do you run debug mode? I tried to look it up at http://www.vbulletin.com/docs/html/ but oddly they dont even mention it :confused:

BTW I liked your new version number :D

Hehe. Oh, and he tells you in the post how to enable Debug Mode

Ahhh... OK, got it. I was trying to add:

if ($_SERVER['REMOTE_ADDR'] == '123.123.123.123')
{
$debug = 1;
} else {
$debug = 0;
}


As told here (http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/showthread.php?t=118652&highlight=debug+mode) :p

That is a very old post, I guess that's why

Okay, jpt62089, I tried out your little tutorial, and it worked on my 3.5.0 board. Very nice tutorial and thanks for sharing it. But I went a little further, and had a thought.

What if you just wanted to remove the version number altogether (but of course, leaving the copyright notice intact!!!)? If the minimum that Jelsoft requires is to leave their copyright notice intact, I reckon there's nothing wrong with removing the version number altogether. I tried that but the word "version" was left intact, making the "Powered by..." statement look very odd/unfinished/sloppy.

I just want to add a "how to" for removing the word "version" for those who have no clue how to do this.

Follow the instructions listed at the top of this thread for turning the debug mode on.

Find vBulletin Options > vBulletin Options > Version Info and Other Untouchables.

Remove whatever is in the version number text box, so that it's empty. Or, you could do what I did, that is to just enter the number 3 in the text box. Save the change.

Now go to Languages & Phrases > Search in Phrases

Type this into the search box: powered_by_vbulletin

and make sure the Phrase Variable Name Only is selected. Now click on the Find button.

A list of all matches will come up on the screen. Find the one called powered_by_vbulletin and click on the Edit button.

You should see two text boxes, the bottom one is the one you'll be editing. If there is no text in the bottom text box, click on the Copy Default Text button. Please be aware that you cannot remove/alter the copyright text, but you are free to alter the Powered by vBulletin Version part. I just removed the word "version". Bingo, you should end up with something like this:

Powered by vBulletin 3
I put 3 as the version number, but you can leave it blank, which will look like

Powered by vBulletin
making it a bit more difficult for hackers to know exactly which version of vBulletin that you are using.

BTW if I'm wrong and I'm not allowed to remove the version number completely then feel free to kick my butt and remove my post. :o

Enjoy! :D

G3MM4, that is the proper way to do it. The version number is in vb so that vb knows what version it is running. If vb doesn't know what version it is running, then you are going to have a few problems. The best way is to just edit the phrase.

G3MM4, that is the proper way to do it. The version number is in vb so that vb knows what version it is running. If vb doesn't know what version it is running, then you are going to have a few problems. The best way is to just edit the phrase. ^ Yeah that ^

Also don't forget that part of your Jelsoft license agreement you must retain

vBulletin Copyright ©2000 - 2006, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd
so that you comply with your licensing obligations.

thanks!:)

Hey that is very useful, i really wanted to change my vb number but never know how. thanks a lot.

Hey that is very useful, i really wanted to change my vb number but never know how. thanks a lot.
Login to your admin cp > Languages & Phrases > Search in Phrases > powered_by_vbulletin

Now click on the Find button.

You should be able to see something like: Powered by vBulletin&reg; Version {1}<br />Copyright &copy;2000 - {2}, Jelsoft Enterprises LtdReplace the value {1} to your desired version number. Just FYI, as part of Jelsoft license agreement, you are not allowed to make any changes to the vBulletin copyright notices. Make sure that the copyright notices remain unchanged (and visible).

Great thread.

Thanks for the info!!!