8 replies to this topic

[SARBRO]

So I haven't checked my forum for a while and I've noticed that there about 300 new posts from spamers!


They're trying to sell everything from prescription drugs, to clothes, to Thai computers services to Buddha(not god) knows what!

So I'm going to take a wild guess and assume that search engines will take away my "quality website" points because of this spam?

Besides Adult material what other content does the search engines penalize against?

... off to go delete posts....

-jason

[arteworks]

man i had that same problem and it was friggin annoying. first it was set so anyone could post...and i would then manually go in and change the password of spammers and delete their posts and profile urls...then i modified it to i had to approve new users...and still it was getting to the point where it was such a problem and taking so much time, i just took down my forum. nobody was using it anyway but spammers. it sucks.

[Scottie]

You have to moderate blogs with open comments and forums these days. No way around it.

Forcing new members to validate their email address will cut down on a lot of the blatant spam, but the more popular your forum is, the more spammers will take the time to actually validate so that they can post.

It's just the cost of running a forum... you have to stay involved (or get good moderators!)

[SARBRO]

thanks.. going to put restrictions on the forums

[Randy]

Your own time or staff time is going to be a major factor in how clean the forum stays Sarbro. The back end restrictions certainly help, but when push comes to shove a real person -or 20- needs to be watching over things every single hour of every single day.

I wouldn't even hazard a guess as to how many posts here at HR are either dumped outright because they're pure spam or how many posts that have to be altered to conform to the rules. But I can tell you that the number would probably surprise you.

Even with a lot of really cool automated systems in place, I'd be willing to bet that the number of manually removed/altered posts it's a fairly large number. Plus we have a decided advantage over a lot of forums. As you've probably noted Jill etal have recruited staff from all over the world. So there's usually someone here to nab 'em fast when they manage to get through the automated protections.

This multi-pronged approach is the main reason you don't see spam 'round here much.

[torka]

I wouldn't even hazard a guess as to how many posts here at HR are either dumped outright because they're pure spam

More than 2,537 last time I checked...

Here's my "multi-pronged approach" -->

--Torka

[OldWelshGuy]

If you are using phpbb then there is a fairly easy way to eliminate a large % of spammers at source. What I did was to hide the signature and web address fields away from the registration page (they are still there but not showing). Then when there is a new registration, the script then checks to see if either of these fields have been completed, if they have the submission is binned instantly. The thing is you see that ONLY a bot would complete those fields, as a real user can not see them

[CTPhil]

If you are using phpbb then there is a fairly easy way to eliminate a large % of spammers at source. What I did was to hide the signature and web address fields away from the registration page (they are still there but not showing). Then when there is a new registration, the script then checks to see if either of these fields have been completed, if they have the submission is binned instantly. The thing is you see that ONLY a bot would complete those fields, as a real user can not see them

I installed that same mod, and it worked great...but now I'm getting a new bot that signs up even without being able to leave a spam URL, I even think they have a legit email. I'm still trying to figure out what's to be gained by signing up at a forum then not spamming.

[OldWelshGuy]

they can come back later and add their signature or make posts.