Advice Needed On Backend
 

I'm planning a website but am stymied by which software to use. Figured I'd post here for advice and opinions

Site presents as a blog. Visitors who register can message other registered users. But, I want the ability to view all messages to make sure the rules aren't being bent.

Originally, I thought of Wordpress. I searched for message plugins and bookmarked a few. But I think all are private. So, I thought of adding PHPbb for messages. Each "thread" would be password-protected so only the two users would have access. Me, too.

My concerns are putting it all on Wordpress software and plugins, given how often exploits are found. My not being able to view messages raises flags.

PhPbb has vulnerability problems as well. But I could view messages, delete (archive) the threads and maintain the blog portion.

I can put PHPbb on a different domain and not worry about subdomain issues or losing it all on one domain.

I'm weighing it all as I type this out. I want user ease, protection and simplistic handling of it all. Free, too.

Please suggest, advise or give opinions. The idea may sound confusing but I feel with the right backend and careful planning, it can work.

Thanks in advance

Hey PamWinterReturns, Wordpress would be the easiest to setup and maintain. Once you get it set up how you want and learn it's idiosyncrasies. The trick I have learned with WP is to keep everything updated. Also use a firewall. I use Wordfence across 17 WP sites. (Adult as well as main stream). Use a Brute force blocker and a country IP blocker. You can block quite a few bad actors between the three of them.

As for message plugins, I did a quick Google search and came up with some possibilities. Message Plugins. I dont know if you have seen these but a couple of them may work for you.

I would imagine others on the board have been down this road and can point you in a direction.

Good Luck.

I would keep searching Wordpress for a decent option.

Thanks. Front End PM is my choice. They responded to questions fast and being a Wordpress plugin, will not need any special coding done for integration.

I looked at seven plugins but this is best. I'm going to try to get on Windows tonight and see how it is.