Infested With Spammers

A forum for solving problems that might be encountered during installation, updating, or in game.
Death's Avatar
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Post by Death's Avatar »

Lugas wrote:What I meant was that those with less than 1 post can't create a topic! If anyone wants to create a topic they should mention it in a thread. The spambots only post once and then leave. If they can't create a topic, they can't spam!
Still unpleasant. A simple adjustment to the new user registration will keep the forums spam free and classy (requiring you to post in a thread first is a usability nightmare and tacky).

-DA
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Baak
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Post by Baak »

Death's Avatar wrote:A simple adjustment to the new user registration will keep the forums spam free and classy (requiring you to post in a thread first is a usability nightmare and tacky).

-DA
Agree 100% that the hack is a nightmare. Try messing with phpBB code in that way and you'll soon see why. :)

But I don't believe the registration tweaks alone will block the spammers as long as [anonymous] "guests" can start a thread, since they don't have to register in the first place! This is a permissions thing I have discussed with Doobie and CIK. Many boards do not allow guests to start a thread for precisely this reason.

I've passed on the simple registration tweaks that have worked successfully for us (the OoH). They're minor changes - the tricky bit is knowing what to change in what files in phpBB, which I've outlined - so it's just a matter of time when the guys get a chance to mess with it.


As I mentioned to Doobie/CIK, Magma can always try the registration tweak first and then see if the guest-instigated-threads become/remain a problem. It comes down to a trade-off at that point: Is it worth it to allow anonymous instigation of threads which allows spammers in the door - wasting everyone's time and creating more work for the admins - simply for the sake of the lazy bums who can't be bothered to login or check the little "remember me" checkbox, yet can take the time to start a thread. :)
Lugas
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Post by Lugas »

I won't be happy until something about it is done. :evil:
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The Elfoid
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Post by The Elfoid »

Lugas wrote:I won't be happy until something about it is done. :evil:
Lugas ~fix my forums bitches
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Doobie
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Post by Doobie »

Lugas wrote:I won't be happy until something about it is done. :evil:
Something has been done... CIK already tightened up registration from what I understand.
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Baak
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Post by Baak »

Did those bots that just posted in the general section do so after that radio box was added to the registration form?

If so you might want to check that the adjusted code for determining if the proper option was selected is really working. :)
Soulytfs_1
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Post by Soulytfs_1 »

Easy Fix, this is!

Delete "the Elfoid" account and you will not have spam anymore :twisted:
The Elfoid
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Post by The Elfoid »

Soulytfs_1 wrote:Easy Fix, this is!

Delete "the Elfoid" account and you will not have spam anymore :twisted:
As a member of TFS, if I go down you go too buddy.
Soulytfs_1
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Post by Soulytfs_1 »

The Elfoid wrote:
Soulytfs_1 wrote:Easy Fix, this is!

Delete "the Elfoid" account and you will not have spam anymore :twisted:
As a member of TFS, if I go down you go too buddy.

Hahaha LOL.
Now stop smaping this page :)
CIK
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Post by CIK »

Ok the spammers should now be locked out of the forums for good. A big thanks to Baak for the idea & code mods for this latest tool. If they continue to get thru it will only be through already registered bots or via human bots.
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AblitERateOR
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Post by AblitERateOR »

thank god! or rather thank Baak!!
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Lugas
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Post by Lugas »

Thank both!
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Baak
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Post by Baak »

Glad to be of help!

Although I do kinda miss those "Send in $100 in exchange for 10,000 cases of Viagra from the Nigerian Lottery", which unfortunately the poster is unable to accept themselves due to unspecified Nigerian Port Authority laws...

... Nah! ;)
The Elfoid
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Post by The Elfoid »

Well I think the anti-spam protection did its job.

I waited to thank admins until we found out :P
Lugas
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Post by Lugas »

The spammers have come back!!
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