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So sad to hear this. And don't like the trend. I feel forums like this offer a bit more personally than just a one way facebook post. Where we can interact with each other and get to know each other over a longer period of time and content. -Steve

A Public Service Announcement from one of your mods here!😉 Safe activities you can be doing! Or replying with other suggestions for us to be doing. Or what you are doing! Full disclosure: this was stolen from PRS forum

Concur Steve- Thank you for making it all possible!

TrueFire hacked, credit cards and personal info may have been compromised Tuition website TrueFire has informed users that an “unauthorised person” had access to the company’s computer system, and specifically to unencrypted information that was entered into its website, for a period of over five months. Guitar.com was today contacted by one of the affected users, who shared with us the full text of the letter they had been sent from TrueFire LLC, titled ‘Notice Of Data Breach’, explaining and apologising for what had occurred. The user told us that TrueFire, which boasts over 1 million users worldwide, explained that even though it does not store personal information itself, the ‘unauthorised user’ had potentially been able to harvest sensitive customer information as it was being entered into the site. In the letter, TrueFire wrote: “On January 10, 2020, TrueFire discovered that an unauthorised person gained access to our computer system and, more specifically, to information that consumers had entered through the website. While we do not store credit card information on our website, it appears that the unauthorized person gained access to the website and could have accessed the data of consumers who made payment card purchases while that data was being entered, between August 3, 2019 and January 14, 2020.” It continued: “We cannot state with certainty that your data was specifically accessed, however you should know that the information that was potentially subject to unauthorised access includes your name, address, payment card account number, card expiration date and security code.” TrueFire went on to recommend that affected users review payment card statements for suspicious activity, as well as following standard preventative measures against identity theft. It also provided assurance that it was monitoring for any more unauthorised activity on the site, and was working with “computer forensic specialists to determine the full nature and scope of the intrusion”, as well as reporting the breach to law enforcement authorities. Guitar.com reached out to TrueFire for a comment on this story, and the company released the following statement to us: “The confidentiality, privacy, and security of information in TrueFire’s possession is one of its highest priorities. TrueFire has stringent security measures in place to protect this information, and we are providing notice to the segment of customers who were potentially affected by this incident.

there are 4 web sites I visit daily (hourly) Guitar Gathering, Joe Bonamassa, Gibson USA and Fender forum Fender just announced last night they are closing down their forum for good. Last day is March 20, 2020

so happy to see that the live lesson will be on..I am so overwhelmed with so many emotions and no job for a while so I'm antsy and also worried about my grown sons who are on their own... Glad I will be able to take my mind off of it for a while!! Maria

So sad to read this. I met him at a Gathering as he was doing videos. He was such a nice guy. He did a fantastic job doing all the vids. RIP Paul!

I only met Paul at one Gathering, but he was very kind to me and I enjoyed talking with him. It sounds like my experience with him was typical, he was loved by many people.

So sorry to hear this. He was a very nice and humble person. Thoughts and prayers to his family.

Such terrible news. Paul was such a great soul and such an important and well-liked member of the Gathering family. I still remember testing Yamaha silent guitars with him at my 1st NAMM, and how we were so tempted to succumb to our shared GAS. I am deeply saddened and can only offer my deepest condolences to his friends and family. He will be missed. Greg

I am so sorry to hear this. I have followed Paul's 'throat blog' for the past two years and was occasionally in contact via email to see how he was doing. His wit and wisdom were always on display through the incredibly difficult and painful procedures he endured. He has been an inspiration to me and will be missed.

Oh no!!! Paul was such a sweet person. A truly kind soul.... he will be missed by many. May he rest in peace, and prayers for his family at this difficult time....

Oh, no, no, no. The tears are starting. Paul was one of the sweetest, most generous, most soft-spoken men I've ever known. I will always remember him sitting with me outside Third and Lindsley in the late afternoon sunshine, chatting and waiting for the show, only weeks before he discovered his illness. I followed his blog over the months with hope, growing apprehension, and sheer astonishment at his courage and candor. He took the picture of me over there. I'm heartbroken to have to say goodbye.

I think we will see this trend continue. Not only are many of those forums expensive to maintain, but they are also competing with other forms of social media - most notably, Facebook. The Collings Guitar forum closed last year taking with it tens of thousands of posts and much accumulated knowledge.