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JTT
Advanced Member
Joined: 11 Jan 2006
Posts: 109
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 Posted: Thu Mar 01, 2007 12:50 pm Post subject: What's with the spam all of a sudden? |
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I've had my forum on here for 14 months and never had any 'spam registrations' -- now all of a sudden every morning I can expect 2 or 3 idiots registering to my board that I have to delete.
Can anyone give me some idea as to how they are doing this, is it some new entryway that is allowed here and they CAN do it? Or.. what?
I find it hard to believe that these jerks are wasting their time going forum to forum to register, put in their stupid, useless website urls, fake emails, etc. What is up with this, anyone else finding an increase in this?
Thanks. |
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Blackpanther
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Joined: 24 Oct 2004
Posts: 597
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| Posted: Thu Mar 01, 2007 5:31 pm Post subject: |
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| It's spambots, and there's nothing much you can do about them. |
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Xyclops
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Joined: 10 Jul 2005
Posts: 107
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| Posted: Thu Mar 01, 2007 8:58 pm Post subject: |
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yeah, as BlackPanther says these are spambots. Not actual people. Basically it's just software that malicious people have written that goes from website to website looking for forums to join up to in order to get links to their sites spread throughout the internet. I guess this is intended to improve rankings in search engines, but I think google and others are probably wise to this tactic now. But still, it's annoying for us forum owners.
I'm not sure exactly what they are gaining from doing this, as I delete every spam post and every member with a dodgy website. I would expect many forum owners also do this. Although if it's a busy forum I suspect memberlists may get left by some owners. |
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JTT
Advanced Member
Joined: 11 Jan 2006
Posts: 109
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| Posted: Sun Mar 04, 2007 6:59 pm Post subject: |
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Wow, I mean -- my forum is private, so they have to register/join. I can't believe they sign up to JOIN with a different name all the time and different email addresses and web addresses. Just seems like hand typed in stuff.
You're wasting your time spam idiots!!! |
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confusedabit
Advanced Member
Joined: 28 Feb 2005
Posts: 455
Location: USA
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| Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2007 3:47 pm Post subject: |
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Do you have your registration set up for them to enter the digits shown at registration? I think I (or maybe it was someone else!) suggested creating a custom field that ust be REQUIRED to be completed in order to be able to register. You would have everyone enter the same "answer" to this field that is shown in a very clear spot on your forums. Example: "Enter the word "tomato" in the vegetable field in order for your registration to go thru. All registrations without this word will be denied."
Sort of like a password but one that is for everyone. Would that work? |
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JTT
Advanced Member
Joined: 11 Jan 2006
Posts: 109
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| Posted: Mon Mar 12, 2007 2:54 pm Post subject: |
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| I'll see if I can do that, thanks. A "code" verification thing would be good, but I don't know if it exists, actually. |
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confusedabit
Advanced Member
Joined: 28 Feb 2005
Posts: 455
Location: USA
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| Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2007 2:19 am Post subject: |
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| JTT wrote: | | I'll see if I can do that, thanks. A "code" verification thing would be good, but I don't know if it exists, actually. |
You would have to create/manipulate this to work for you-there is no feature already like it. |
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JTT
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Joined: 11 Jan 2006
Posts: 109
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| Posted: Thu Mar 22, 2007 1:23 pm Post subject: |
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ooohh kay... yeah, I don't know how to do that, but... it's a great idea! LOL
Like -- we have all of our members, we're not taking more -- how do I set something like this up? Maybe they won't bother to do the extra step and move on with their useless spamming lives elsewhere?
edit: I actually found this --
"Enable Visual Confirmation
Requires users enter a code defined by an image when registering."
and I cked off Yes -- so.. does that do it? |
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confusedabit
Advanced Member
Joined: 28 Feb 2005
Posts: 455
Location: USA
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| Posted: Thu Mar 22, 2007 1:33 pm Post subject: |
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| JTT wrote: | ooohh kay... yeah, I don't know how to do that, but... it's a great idea! LOL
Like -- we have all of our members, we're not taking more -- how do I set something like this up? Maybe they won't bother to do the extra step and move on with their useless spamming lives elsewhere?
edit: I actually found this --
"Enable Visual Confirmation
Requires users enter a code defined by an image when registering."
and I cked off Yes -- so.. does that do it? |
JTT, since you stated you are no longer taking new membes, I think that is even better yet!! You can disable any NEW sign-ups this way:
ADMIN CP> SYSTEM SETTINGS> SECURITY & PRIVACY> Then, scroll down and under "Security (Troublesome Users)" look for this question and select YES:
Disable new registrations?
The way I am understanding things, that would prevent anyone else from joining your boards. I have not tried it to see exactly what message etc is shown. Hope it works for you! |
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JTT
Advanced Member
Joined: 11 Jan 2006
Posts: 109
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| Posted: Thu Mar 22, 2007 1:36 pm Post subject: |
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Ah! Good - that sounds good. Thanks confusedabit!
edit: actually, I don't have a place that says "System Settings"... is this on a phpbb board?? |
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confusedabit
Advanced Member
Joined: 28 Feb 2005
Posts: 455
Location: USA
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| Posted: Thu Mar 22, 2007 2:03 pm Post subject: |
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| JTT wrote: | Ah! Good - that sounds good. Thanks confusedabit!
edit: actually, I don't have a place that says "System Settings"... is this on a phpbb board?? |
Ahhh, sorry, I thought you had an ipb board--darn it! I should have read this thread better. Don't know why I just realized it was in the general discussion forum here--I thought it was on the ipb forum.
Maybe someone with your type of board could post if there is a way to shut out any further sign-ups. Sorry again JTT. |
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JTT
Advanced Member
Joined: 11 Jan 2006
Posts: 109
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| Posted: Thu Mar 22, 2007 2:25 pm Post subject: |
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LOL -- don't  yourself about the head, confusedabit -- at least you were kind enough to be here when I needed the help and try!  |
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JTT
Advanced Member
Joined: 11 Jan 2006
Posts: 109
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| Posted: Thu Aug 30, 2007 1:08 pm Post subject: |
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I see BritneyloverII is here too. Everybody spammed nicely by BritneyloverII?
BritneyloverII is a LOSER. Like all spammers. |
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Alien2thisWorld
Member
Joined: 27 Apr 2006
Posts: 22
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| Posted: Thu Mar 13, 2008 9:56 pm Post subject: Read my post above! |
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| I posted a possible solution called Spammers!!! above, try it |
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