We'll probably have to close Classifieds for a while

"Some things are apparent. Where government moves in, community retreats, civil society disintegrates and our ability to control our own destiny atrophies. The result is: families under siege; war in the streets; unapologetic expropriation of property; the precipitous decline of the rule of law; the rapid rise of corruption; the loss of civility and the triumph of deceit. The result is a debased, debauched culture which finds moral depravity entertaining and virtue contemptible."
-- Justice Janice Rogers Brown

"The United States government is the largest criminal enterprise on earth."
-rduckwor

October 27, 2025, 09:17 AM

steve495

quote:
Originally posted by chellim1:
So how did he get your password?

I will not speak for Black92LX, but there are many ways to figure out a password, and in this case, I bet it was not brute force here at SIG Forum.

Since forums like SIGForum do not have much personal information and it's not banking-related or an online store, folks may think it's not worth it to have a good password. For those sites you think are low risk, do you use the same easy password?
People use the same password - and in many cases the same username - for many sites. If a username and password are figured out elsewhere, crawlers will find the same username and try that password on other sites. You can't imagine how sophisticated these criminals are with their databases, matching up usernames, email addresses and possible passwords.
Phishing emails.

At any given time, these criminals could be running 100 or more scams. If only one or two pay off per day...

So...

Use a unique password or passphrase for every site. Yes, this sucks, but it is what it is. (I easily have 200+ passwords and need to use a password manager. I use LastPass, but there are others.)
Expect to see more implementation of two-factor authentication everywhere. This could be the implementation of something like Google Authenticator, which requires an app on your phone, verification codes sent to your email (not super-secure if your email is compromised), or text codes to your cell phone (costly for the host).
Be suspicious of emails sent to you. The phishing emails (that try to get you to "log in" to your "account") are becoming increasingly difficult to recognize. You might click on the button/link and enter the username and password, and then nothing happens. You drop the issue and think it's no big deal, but you've just given them your username and password and confirmed the email address. Since many folks use the same password, they start checking other sites.

Passwords...

If you are using something like sigforum987 as a password, that's pretty easy for them to "crack." sigforum-Ranch-#3 would take forever for them to "crack."

October 27, 2025, 03:04 PM

Fuego220

It’s a damn shame. I have used the classifieds for years here, and would not mind paying a membership fee to keep up sales. On a knife sale website I use we have to add a hand written note in the pics, and on other gun sale sight I use I have to pay a membership fee. I’m hoping we can get the classified section back.

October 27, 2025, 04:45 PM

10X-Shooter

I was thinking the same thing. Maybe members who pay a membership fee can use the classifieds. Maybe that would take a bite out of them. They wouldn’t want to enter banking or card info. I pay a membership for my gun club, I wouldn’t be opposed to helping Para’s pay on his bill and for his time. Many of us have benefitted in so many ways, me since the early days. Just a thought.

October 27, 2025, 05:52 PM

P220 Smudge

quote:
They wouldn’t want to enter banking or card info.

Sure they would. How do you think they get your money in the first place?

October 27, 2025, 06:43 PM

parabellum

I appreciate the thought, but no one is going to have to pay to use Classifieds, except for dealers, and that's only if we create a separate dealers-only section, and maybe not even then.

October 30, 2025, 12:13 AM

i8mtm

I appreciate Para looking out for the members, and I hope the Classifieds come back.

I don't post much but I am a long time member here. I have gotten some really great deals on Sigforum classifieds over the years. I have learned a lot and interacted with a lot of great people. I have been fortunate to have never been burned by any transactions here.

That said, I am now at the point in my life where I need to start divesting some of the hoard I have accumulated, and my first thought was Sigforum, because I have had such positive experiences as a buyer.

Cheers,

~i8mtm

November 10, 2025, 01:08 AM

Cpt. Solo

Well, this is a bitter blow. I haven't been on for a while, but I did arrange the purchase of my first Sig through the classifieds. I hope it comes back.

November 21, 2025, 07:33 PM

Mr.9mm

Para, I don't get here as often as I would like, but really wanted to say I appreciate all the work you put into this forum and am sorry that you have to deal with the headaches it presents at times!

November 26, 2025, 03:51 PM

jimb888

Ditto, super appreciated Para. I'm sure it's the biggest pain in the A** for you. I do hope the classifieds come back (in safe mode), but it's funny as I've only had one sell using them. Someone was looking for a barrell and I had one I wasn't using.

I just like perusing them. Lots of interesting things pop up. Scammers suck, this place has been blessed so far, but lot of work goes into that we all know. Thanks for that work.