Spam problem emerging?

[David Staten]

Originally Posted by John Slade

Thoughts anybody?

How about new accounts are "moderated" until they have a few posts under their belt? Like...3 or so... newbie wimps are automatically moderated.
Accept non-free mail addresses only.

And perhaps you can bless a handful of regulars to serve as moderators (with LIMITED administrative priveledges) to this purpose..

That way legitimate newbies dont have much delay during normal posting times, but you cut off the problem before it can occur... and they are only on probation for a VERY limited time.

Dave

[Spodman]

"I accept no account applications from free email addresses" I wouldn't be in favour of this approach, I don't subscribe to ANYTHING unless I can use a free email address I keep for that purpose. If I get a spam-alanche immediately after subscribing to something then I unsubscribe. If the spam stops I get my email address back, otherwise I abandon it and create another. If there is no spam I will change the subscribed address to a real one.

As a user of the forum the approach John took to the problem is optimum for me. I don't think there is much point to just restricting new users for a set time, but certainly terminate them if they do as you describe. It is up to you if this approach is how you want to be spending your time Another approach would be to only grant posting rights to those who can demonstrate some level of knowledge OR interest in canards?

Bit of personal responsibilty here, users shouldn't blindly follow LINKS . If you put your cursor over the link you can see where it will take you in the status bar, & then decide for yourself.

[MarbleTurtle]

What if I don't have a cat?

[Dust]

yes - it is definitely emerging - i delete the user and any threads started when noticed - "buy imitrex online" will not be allowed as a user name - heh heh heh

there was another one yesterday, oh well - the delets just take a moment

[karoliina]

We have had quite much trouble with spam in our forums and blog.
Now the blog is equipped with spam killer plugin. The spam rate was first something like 1 or 2 per day but it soon exploded into 20 per day and the 200 per day and then 2000 per day.
Had to deal somehow with it, now the WordPress I am using in the blog is using spam killer.

[CBarber]

No kidding. Even in my private email, I get about 1000 spam mails a day! I have had the same email address for several years (maybe 10 years+). The only way I can deal with it is a program called SpamBayes. It works really well and except for having to clear out my junk mail folder periodically, rarely have to worry about the spam too often.

I guess I could change my actual email address, since I own the domain and then be more carful with its distribution (even though I also use it in business which make this more difficult, esp since this has been a way old clients/referral sources have been able to more easily reach me). Also, it was not as mcuh of a problem back in the day when I got it.....before "bots". But, then the email bastards would win. What kills me is that spam must work or it would not be so prevelent. So it goes.

Chris

[karoliina]

I have published my email only as image on my web site. Still I am receiving a lot of spam. Spammers propably use intelligent bots that can read emails even from images. However, I can deal with that. The forum is the biggest problem, we have to give up using phpbb and try using something else which is less much target of spamming (we are running our flight club's forums).

[Dust]

new member "vcempreved"

wondered what that meant in russia, where it says he is from, googled it

he has joined pages of forums in the last few days and is banned from one, i gonna be proactive and delete the member, if you be real - just use a different name

[Dust]

ditto

viagraonline43

mgi192 and three threads

[Dust]

Well, i now google most new members and while reviewing the list of new users, i found over 20 with the same email address
kittykim at sculpturecreations.com
cooljim at sculpturecreations.com

and others

all deleted - deleted over 40 just now, fortunately few have actually returned the email and have posted take that spammers

[chasingmars]

Another one, by "Gurusha34", just now... unfortunatly his post is about pilot rather than plane weight reduction...

Anyhow, does the forum support some way to mark a thread as spam? Three (or some other arbitary number) mark a thread as spam by hitting a button and it's hidden/marked for mod review...

Dunno if that's even technically feasible...

[Dust]

I delete em and the member when spotted, so does UFO and Slade

[John Slade]

Three more today. I cleaned 'em out.

Dan, is there anything we can change to make programmed registration more difficult? Does the latest release have the "type this number" feature?

[JonC]

Originally Posted by John Slade

Three more today. I cleaned 'em out.

Dan, is there anything we can change to make programmed registration more difficult? Does the latest release have the "type this number" feature?

Its called Captcha and yes, phpbb does support it. It however will only help in trying to stop robots, not humans.

[Magnum]

PHP Code:

Its called Captcha and yes, phpbb does support it. It however will only help in trying to stop robots, not humans. 


Put a waiting period on it so its too much work for the spammers and then their first 3 posts must be approved before it goes up and let all new members know up front!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
"OR", we could just shoot em where they stand
Press on!
Tom