Spammers

[dkaufman1]

So clearly spammers are an issue. They auto spam vBulletin (runs this Forum) software and while mods have to delete the user and the post we get email notified about the post, which means (I think) we have to visit the post or we no longer will get notified about future posts in that thread.

So a few thoughts - change BB systems (immensely hard? no guarantees?)
find and implement better spam filters
create a small delay in the email process - where comments are not held in moderation but emails are, giving mods a bit of time
better qualify new members or even existing members every so often

Hope this can help.

Always looking for the silver lining - once in a while a thread long forgotten pops up in my email or a new thread to me pops up in the main page's list. That's nice.

 

[justjimjpc]

So clearly spammers are an issue. They auto spam vBulletin (runs this Forum) software and while mods have to delete the user and the post we get email notified about the post, which means (I think) we have to visit the post or we no longer will get notified about future posts in that thread.

So a few thoughts - change BB systems (immensely hard? no guarantees?)
find and implement better spam filters
create a small delay in the email process - where comments are not held in moderation but emails are, giving mods a bit of time
better qualify new members or even existing members every so often

Hope this can help.

Always looking for the silver lining - once in a while a thread long forgotten pops up in my email or a new thread to me pops up in the main page's list. That's nice.

I had suggested a script that some trusted members could execute without having to be a moderator .... dont know if this forum supports scripts in that way !!! But I would love to sap them !!

 

[Deleted User]

What about implementing a captcha type thing upon registration?

 

[Phases]

For every spammer resolution method there is, there's an evolution in the way spamming works.

We constantly try to change with them, and have added filters over time, delays, captchas and random questions.

They stop for a bit (well, slow down) then come back.

At the moment there are a couple filters in place, using keywords and posting timers to flag and catch.

There was a captcha on registration, but now we use random questions.

I do think we need to explore more, again, though. There was a point where dev had a script for us based on usernames, back when they were using abc[date], but they've moved on.. again.

Perhaps if we require the first [x] number of posts to have to go through moderation.... that would probably help.

The worst part about them is how they flag subscribed threads. We do a pretty good job of zapping them when they get reported - it's not really a matter of not having enough ban sticks - but that doesn't stop the subscription email from going out.

Keep those thoughts/suggestions a comin'!

edit: maybe a filter that blocks based on links in first x number of posts...

 

[justjimjpc]

if people arent allowed to advertise their wares, how will i find where to buy cheap Uggs and learn chinese? geez!

LOL, You should have a Masters possibly even a Doctrate in Chinese by now !!!

 

[shivers316]

I was actually a member of a site where you couldn't post links until you had 10 posts. That might help a bit.

 

[justjimjpc]

I was actually a member of a site where you couldn't post links until you had 10 posts. That might help a bit.

I think prohibiting a new member's first 10 posts is a good idea, provided that those ten posts are not to any exisiting thread (reducing the subcribed thread issue).

Those 10 posts should be moderated... with a notice to the poster that a delay, of no less than two days and no more than five days, will pass before any of their posts will appear to other members.

 

[shivers316]

So much work just to keep spammers out.

 

[justjimjpc]

So much work just to keep spammers out.

I believe that the mod only taking action after getting the email/notice of a new poster with 10 or more posts waiting, is no more work than the mod getting the notice of spam (current action) ... the rest should be handled by a forum script... and our (subscribed posts) emails would not be stuffed with trash which we have to answer or we will not get future emails even if they are valid posts...

 

[Phases]

...a delay, of no less than two days and no more than five days, will pass before any of their posts will appear to other members.

Not sure I agree with that particular detail, but good thinking guys.

Gotta kinda find a balance between what's sufficient to keep out spammers and what will piss off and deter new members.

I'd think once the post has been seen and approved that'd be suffice.

 

[shivers316]

I believe that the mod only taking action after getting the email/notice of a new poster with 10 or more posts waiting, is no more work than the mod getting the notice of spam (current action) ... the rest should be handled by a forum script... and our (subscribed posts) emails would not be stuffed with trash which we have to answer or we will not get future emails even if they are valid posts...

I'm not saying it's more work, just stating a fact. The spam has definitely slowed down a lot though. It was really crazy for a while.

 

[justjimjpc]

...
I'd think once the post has been seen and approved that'd be suffice.

One post may be enough ??? since is seems that the average spammer leaves 6 to 10 posts while he is logged in ...

 

[justjimjpc]

if people arent allowed to advertise their wares, how will i find where to buy cheap Uggs and learn chinese? geez!

I could PM all the ones I get via email subscription, that way you can keep up on your proficiency in Chinese !!!

 

[justjimjpc]

The whole moderate new posts may seem a little discouraging to first time posters trying to get legit help. The spam issue needs to be addressed before the alleged spammer is able to register; or sign on additional board moderators to help tackle the issue.

I had to go through two levels of input (graphic letters and a second text input) when I recently registered at xda-developers.... then did the email confirmation response to complete registration ...

I don't know how effective that is to weeding out the spammers ... or even how it compares with our process ? But it might be a step we could take, if we dont already employ the same method ...

 

[Phases]

One post may be enough ??? since is seems that the average spammer leaves 6 to 10 posts while he is logged in ...

Right, but the first post would have to be approved before any would show, thus none would show.

But that's not what I meant. I meant once the post was seen and approved it (and others) would then show. I read your post that I was replying to as "your post will have a delay of 2 to 5 days before showing", which wouldn't be acceptable.

The whole moderate new posts may seem a little discouraging to first time posters trying to get legit help. The spam issue needs to be addressed before the alleged spammer is able to register; or sign on additional board moderators to help tackle the issue.

Agreed, hence the happy middle ground that needs to be found. It will never be fully addressed before registration, just the nature of the beast. It will always, at best, just be kept barely under control.

It isn't a matter of not having enough mods to zap them - we do pretty well. Reported posts get whiped quickly for the most part and many more on top of that get zapped before anyone sees and reports them, and many more get caught in the filters before that.

I had to go through two levels of input ....... or even how it compares with our process ? But it might be a step we could take, if we dont already employ the same method ...

ATM we employ the random question (can swap back to captcha, were using that before) along with email verification. I'm sure we can add another level of verification and will consider it but again, they WILL find a way past it.


Again... perhaps a good idea would be to filter/block posts with links/pictures in it for a users first X number of posts. Does that seem like it'd be pretty good?

 

[Phases]

It would be nice if there were a plugin/option that allowed for flagging a user and putting the remainder of their posts in moderation cue once they were 'reported' if they had less than X number of posts.

So if a member has say, 15 posts.. and someone reports a post, that and the rest of their posts go invisible to members until a mod can look.

We shall look around.

 

[Phases]

"Good news everyone"

Ok. See my above couple posts still but.. check this out.

I've made a new user group called Spam Hammers. For those interested, well known, and those clearly doing the work (aka I'll need to see a good number of reported posts from you first and you'll need to be someone I know and trust), I can put you in that usergroup and you'll have access to the OTBC tool. So, instead of reporting spam, you can just ban and wipe all their posts in one swift downswipe of your Spam Stick.

For now all I really see, while several people do report stuff, jjj doing 99% of the reporting. It's pretty insane. So we'll start with you jjj, and see how at bay you can keep them.

If we need to add more spam hammers later I will tally up the reported posts from this date and add the next highest reporter.

I'll pm you instructions jjj.

This doesn't solve the registration/posting therefore subscription email problem but it'll at least help keep them away from visibility on the boards. We will continue to dig into options.

 

[justjimjpc]

This sounds like a great plan ...

 

[dkaufman1]

Wow....this is why I love you guys, and I'm not afraid to say it. I make one little suggestion and you guys run a full brainstorming and implementation session.

I really didn't even need to comment at all but felt at least a Thank You and a glad I wasn't the only one annoyed.

I think the suggestions all sound great and do agree pre-registration should be the first thing, once you are a member I want to see you posting as much as possible.

Great job everybody.

For my next post - how can all the good members at AF become millionaires? This has really been bugging me, and I hope we can tackle it.

 

[justjimjpc]

Wow....this is why I love you guys, and I'm not afraid to say it. I make one little suggestion and you guys run a full brainstorming and implementation session.

I really didn't even need to comment at all but felt at least a Thank You and a glad I wasn't the only one annoyed.

I think the suggestions all sound great and do agree pre-registration should be the first thing, once you are a member I want to see you posting as much as possible.

Great job everybody.

For my next post - how can all the good members at AF become millionaires? This has really been bugging me, and I hope we can tackle it.

Might as well go for Billionaire --- Todays Billion is yesterday's Million ...

 

[Kelmar]

Any new news on preventing these spammers? Seems like there are still quite a bit of them working their ways through....

 

[Caddyman]

the usergroup is a tremendous idea. i have had really good luck with the following

use the built in human verification question

use a image captcha

use re-captcha

with those 3 things i get a damn near spam on all the sites i admin for.