One easy way to get rid of spammers.

sven · Jedi Guardian Joined: 27 Dec 2006 Posts: 814

Hi guys,

If you don't want to add moderation on new members, one simple way that blocks pretty much spam (was at least ten now) is to add or change one or two of the optional fields in the registration form to be mandatory, but remove the symbol that informs that the field is mandatory and then write it out clearly in the description text that this particular field is required and why.
Spam robots automatically fills the required fields by looking after a required symbol. Therefore the spammers registration will fail.
Not waterproof but helps.

ElusiveStranger · Posted: Sat Mar 15, 2008 3:33 am Post subject:

My fecking (watch Father Ted) fingers are hurting tonight with the spammers.
We haven't had many to my knowledge for a fair while though.
Could someone write a script or summat that a newbie fails to introduce themselves gets blacklisted?

PS Wedgeout didn't do this - he's a genuine guy.
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ElusiveStranger · Posted: Sat Mar 15, 2008 3:50 am Post subject:

Hey Sven, penny's just dropped. Didn't you do a hack for spamming??

Could you share your knowledge with JP to stop this crap?
....Dunno about the other Mods, but I haven't seen a spam attack like this (25+ posts) for ages.
Did get a couple last week, but that's as much I (personally) have seen for ages.

Cheers mate Happy

_________________
The advice you receive on here is worth the paper it's written on.
Your experiences are worth shed loads to others, including the f'ups - live and learn.
Wouldn't YOU rather learn by someone else's mistakes? So would they.

'78 Bay, 2 litre 091 box, EJ20 NA & the ashtray's on the 'right' side.
I don't lean forward for hills any more Grin

Bugger, missed out on "Live fast, die young"

sven · Jedi Guardian Joined: 27 Dec 2006 Posts: 814

It takes some time for all the spam robots to find the forum, but when it's finally found they go crazy. It was 20 new spam this morning...

To force new members to write an intro is the same idea but different approach. I think there are examples that tells how to do both ways (Google is your friend).

pepper · Jedi Knight Joined: 22 May 2006 Posts: 245

Why not moderate newbie members?

Until they've posted say at least 10posts?

ITs how one of the other forums I go on manages it, it seems to work quite well and of someone wants to post images or links it won't take them long to build up to that level.

sven · Jedi Guardian Joined: 27 Dec 2006 Posts: 814

We use that kind of moderation on cnczone.com (I'm one of the Master Mod's over there), but it's automatic. Some of the spambots nowadays posts a "hello I'm new"-message to get the first post through and then spit out all the spam. We catch all of a members first four posts if they follow a bunch of criterias, posting URL's or pictures for example. If they're caught in the filter all posts will be blocked until we release them. At the moment we have less than 1 sexual spam per week that comes through. Ok, cnczone is big, but it gives some extra work to block posts.

Covin · Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2008 8:37 pm Post subject:

It's a constant battle for me as well ES, I removed quite a few big porn video clip post off here the other day as well as the usual spam registration attempts.
I spend a few hours every day deleting spam from VWKD, Covin Forum and DurhamDubbers... It's a pain Sad

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jp · Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2008 12:19 am Post subject:

I will look into what Sven has suggested in his first post

It really has been pretty bad of late and keeping us mods on our toes and I thank you guys for de-spamming

Sven do you know if the 'Are You Human?' question is any good at stopping spamming ? as that was gonna be my next port of call.

Once again thanks for all your help