Forum Spam and spambots

[GimmedaBall]

This forum is attacked on almost a daily basis with spam/spambots.

Curious as to how the Administrators are handling the issue?

What level of security is used on the site to prevent hackers and spambots from getting into the member database and pilfering the personal info?

Don't click on obvious spam---you might inadvertently be sharing your email address with the spambot. Also, no need to reply to a spam message---it is not a human participant in the conversation but a way to generate replies and then . . . who knows what happens next (in other words, don't comment on the urinating at night message).

Be sure to vet links posted on a forum. It is one reason I always post the full address. Highlight the entire line and have your antivirus program check the link before you click on the link. I use Norton and both of the links below registered as safe:

https://blog.vanillaforums.com/product/9-ways-to-eliminate-spam-in-your-community-forum

https://stopforumspam.com/

 

[unseenaz]

just create a minimum post limit to create a thread, make it like 15 posts required, issue should take care of itself. these links are likely created by bots. @Shaggy

 

[iLLmatiC]

I'm sure a captcha would assist. Can also ban IP address blocks from known bad regions.

 

[Shaggy]

I've tried alot of things and nothing seems to stop them all. You should see the moderating que, there were over 20 spam users stopped even before they were able to fully register. The site is doing its job, but some always seem to get through.

 

[jf-08]

just create a minimum post limit to create a thread, make it like 15 posts required, issue should take care of itself. these links are likely created by bots. @Shaggy

It's a daily grind. We try to keep on top of it as best as we can. About every day I "ban" about a dozen accounts, and those are a few of the onslaught that the software actively stops.

We've tried the minimum post stuff before and all that does is have a spammer post the minimum posts in other threads before starting a thread. It muddies up the board.

So please be patient, and we appreciate your help!!!

 

[RugbyMuffin]

I am cool with it.

Been on this board for years, NEVER had a problem with security or anything like that. Good work Mods!

I just have fun with the spam posts. Nothing you can do about it, it is part of life, and it will only get worse.

FYI, as an electrical engineer, I will tell you this. Your computer, and all your electronics are all susceptible. Anyone telling you otherwise, is selling you magic beans.

Its life, bad things happen. Do what you can, but like most things, if a thief wants something, they will eventually get it.

 

[Brian in Mesa]

It's a daily grind. We try to keep on top of it as best as we can. About every day I "ban" about a dozen accounts, and those are a few of the onslaught that the software actively stops.

We've tried the minimum post stuff before and all that does is have a spammer post the minimum posts in other threads before starting a thread. It muddies up the board.

So please be patient, and we appreciate your help!!!

Well said.

I am on the site at odd hours during the night banning any spambots that I see.

 

[Raindog]

Compared to other forums I frequent, I think this is a solid board. Very few bad threads make it through for very long, as far as I have ever seen.

The worst moderated forums I usually see are ones run by media outlets, especially newspapers and the like. Sometimes it hardly seems that they bother to keep the boards clean - and they actually SHOULD have the resources to keep a tight moderation on it.

 

[GimmedaBall]

I'm sure a captcha would assist. Can also ban IP address blocks from known bad regions.

I have a terrible time typing in some of those. That might pizz off more members than it protects. LOL.

Not a bad idea to stop spambots at the registration step.

 

[iLLmatiC]

You could always try the meat cleaver approach and close registration lol.

 

[POISON]

This forum is attacked on almost a daily basis with spam/spambots.

Curious as to how the Administrators are handling the issue?

What level of security is used on the site to prevent hackers and spambots from getting into the member database and pilfering the personal info?

Don't click on obvious spam---you might inadvertently be sharing your email address with the spambot. Also, no need to reply to a spam message---it is not a human participant in the conversation but a way to generate replies and then . . . who knows what happens next (in other words, don't comment on the urinating at night message).

Be sure to vet links posted on a forum. It is one reason I always post the full address. Highlight the entire line and have your antivirus program check the link before you click on the link. I use Norton and both of the links below registered as safe:

https://blog.vanillaforums.com/product/9-ways-to-eliminate-spam-in-your-community-forum

https://stopforumspam.com/

This forum is attacked on almost a daily basis with spam/spambots.

Curious as to how the Administrators are handling the issue?

What level of security is used on the site to prevent hackers and spambots from getting into the member database and pilfering the personal info?

Don't click on obvious spam---you might inadvertently be sharing your email address with the spambot. Also, no need to reply to a spam message---it is not a human participant in the conversation but a way to generate replies and then . . . who knows what happens next (in other words, don't comment on the urinating at night message).

Be sure to vet links posted on a forum. It is one reason I always post the full address. Highlight the entire line and have your antivirus program check the link before you click on the link. I use Norton and both of the links below registered as safe:

https://blog.vanillaforums.com/product/9-ways-to-eliminate-spam-in-your-community-forum

https://stopforumspam.com/

I wasn't thinking and commented on that thread. It won't happen ever again. It just pisses me of seeing that garbage. Wish there was a way to prosecute these idiots

 

[Solar7]

I'm a Mod on another large forum using Xenforo and it's kinda just a reality of life.

I think they do an amazing job here of having enough moderation to handle the issue. I rarely come here and see more than one or two threads posted from bots.

 

[blindseyed]

Wait those threads aren't real?....are telling me that I can't get $246,972 for depositing $1200 into an account from Malaysia while solving ED with different Russian woman who really want to meet me while taking vitameatavegamin to keep me alive past 134 yrs old??

 

[iLLmatiC]

You guys can look at the originating IP address and block that region.

 

[RugbyMuffin]

Wait those threads aren't real?....are telling me that I can't get $246,972 for depositing $1200 into an account from Malaysia while solving ED with different Russian woman who really want to meet me while taking vitameatavegamin to keep me alive past 134 yrs old??

Cool.

The one I saw was for male enhancement pills, and back pain pills. You take one, and then you will need the other.

 

[Solar7]

You guys can look at the originating IP address and block that region.

Two problems with that (well, one that's probably not a huge issue for a board based off of Arizona Sports...). 1. If you ban a wide IP range like that, people might not be able to sign up and post that genuinely want to.

2. Most bot traffic is probably spoofing their IP through a VPN anyways, meaning that even if all of the bot traffic is coming from Malaysia, they've probably rerouted that to look like they're coming from London or something.

 

[iLLmatiC]

Two problems with that (well, one that's probably not a huge issue for a board based off of Arizona Sports...). 1. If you ban a wide IP range like that, people might not be able to sign up and post that genuinely want to.

2. Most bot traffic is probably spoofing their IP through a VPN anyways, meaning that even if all of the bot traffic is coming from Malaysia, they've probably rerouted that to look like they're coming from London or something.

Both of your points are valid but if there's traffic coming from obvious areas like Russia or China you can probably safely just block IPs originating from those areas.

Like you said though they are likely either spoofing their IP through a VPN or using zombie machines.

 

[NJCardFan]

I play DC Universe Online and every time I sign on, I have to block at least 5 spammers in the first 3 minutes. Saturday was ridiculous with over 20 in a period of 5 minutes. Here's a screenshot of what one of the chats looks like:

You must be registered for see images attach

 

[jf-08]

Two problems with that (well, one that's probably not a huge issue for a board based off of Arizona Sports...). 1. If you ban a wide IP range like that, people might not be able to sign up and post that genuinely want to.

2. Most bot traffic is probably spoofing their IP through a VPN anyways, meaning that even if all of the bot traffic is coming from Malaysia, they've probably rerouted that to look like they're coming from London or something.

This is the case most of the time.

 

[Raindog]

Cool.

The one I saw was for male enhancement pills, and back pain pills. You take one, and then you will need the other.

I just wished someone had told me before I took the male enhancement pills.

 

[CardNots]

I just wished someone had told me before I took the male enhancement pills.

Just post the findings...

 

[GimmedaBall]

Cool.

The one I saw was for male enhancement pills, and back pain pills. You take one, and then you will need the other.

If you take the male enhancement pill first you might not be worried about needing the back pill second.

 

[splitsecond]

beep boop beep boop hello fellow fans of red birds I am totally just a regular fan of the amerian football and not a robot

 

[GimmedaBall]

I wasn't thinking and commented on that thread. It won't happen ever again. It just pisses me of seeing that garbage. Wish there was a way to prosecute these idiots

Poison: I didn't want to post to the spam message (the one about urinating) and so started this separate thread on Spam. Didn't want others to open it and didn't want the message to vanish when the moderators deleted the message. Also, wasn't trying to call you out on answering the spam---I still have my fingers crossed on helping those hundreds of people who asked me for money to help them launder their millions to the US.

 

[Chris_Sanders]

I do my best to help out. I understand the frustration and definitely feel it