IntegraMOD

This is a replacement for my previous post which wasn't at all explanatory enough.

The website I'm administering is running IM Portal and PHPBB 2.0.X. I've been working an IM141 deployment for it, but got delayed by other factors in life (like work). Someone else is starting to work the site as well and is strongly advocating going to PHPBB 3.0.X ASAP and working the rest of the integration stuff later. That means losing alot of existing extra content beyond the boards.
Going to PHPBB 3.0.X and retaining the extra stuff means going to Stargate Portal which has always been the plan, but I've become attached to some of the IM141 mods and was waiting for the IM3 deployment, but waiting isn't an option.

So my questions are:

(1) Is IM141 (patched per IM141 22 to 23 patch) as secure as IM3 even in it's latest test build configuration?
(2) If I wanted to participate in the testing of IM3 - how can I find everything I'd need to build a test site up to the latest config? I've tried browsing the forums and haven't found enough data (or anything past June).
(3) Should I just bite the bullet and go to PHPBB 3.0.X and Stargate Portal 1.0.3 and hold off on the other mods (or incorporate them singly by hand)?

I'd appreciate any advice or information. You can respond by PM and delete this post. You can also reach me at my email address on the board. I just need some ammunition to make the other newer administrator happy.

what mods do you have on your IM Portal site?

IM141 is only insecure if you do not follow the instructions located here.
http://www.integramod.com/forum/web.php ... install_p1
the info on page2 is critical to making your site secure. That said, it is still phpBB2 based with mods so an unaltered phpBB3 is more secure. Mike has taken alot of time to ensure that Stargate portal does not reduce the security of phpBB3, so the two work very well together. If you run phpBB3/Stargate and can resist the urge to add mods, then updating to IM3 will be very easy. Many of the mods you see here in my version are being re-written slightly so as not to alter phpBB3's core code. This will keep your sites secure even if vulnerabilities are found in some of the mods and make updating your site easy so you wont have to wait for us to release an update.

Been using phpbb3/stargate for a while now and have had no issues other than signing up of spambots, but with a great spambot mod or adjusting the signup process with extra signup criteria, can easily avoid any issues.

I use a spambot mod that checks new signups with 2 sites of known spammer names, emails and ips, and notifies me if a new registered member is a registered spammer. I receive a pm about the new account, and I created a Anti-Spam account on my site, and this account creates an automated post about this new account. I can then name, email and/or ip ban this account. Works great.

Is there a way to upgrade from 141 to phpbb3 w/o a major disaster?

yes, but it will only import basic phpBB info. (users, groups, posts, pm's and attachments)
You may have to move your forums back into order after the update since the original phpBB2x did not have subforums.
Ive also found it is sometimes easier to remove all non-default usergroups prior to the update then re-create your usergroups on your new board. Occasionally you will have permission issues with imported usergroups.

One thing you should be aware of is that MANY of the features your used too are mods and are not included in phpBB3. This has been the biggest complaint ive heard from users who have done this.