[richwdf]

Hi everyone, just been reading up about validating Google language code and found the answer on your forum so thank you.

Whilst looking around the forum I spotted this thread about spammers and link posting.

Forums are being hit by spammers posting rubbish. We found that some spammers post a thread, then go back a few weeks later and edit it. We stopped this by putting a time limit for allowing the posts to be edited.

We found that spammers were sending out privateer messages to all members so stopped new users from having the ability to contact other users apart from admin.

I know which software is being used by spammers because it is being sold on the web, though won't post the name on here - but can you believe that they are openly flogging the software - unbelievable!

Also, we are using vBulletin forum software which a pretty popular forum package to use, though is one of the favourites to be spammed. Note vBulletin has a sister site ending in .org website which provides all the unofficial hacks to improve the forum.

We recently introduced 'Project Honey Pot' which can be integrated into the forum software which stops the spammers from gaining access to the forum in the first place by comparing usernames and IP addresses to a ever growing blacklist and blocking access to the server.

We threw out the CAPTCHA method on the registration page because many users (including myself) struggle to read the words!!! and went instead for the 'ask the unique question route' in which new users have to answer a question which the forum admin make up. It can be simple, or forum related, anything you want, but it is ruthlessly efficient in stopping spammers at the registration page because every forum makes up its own questions and answers.

Also we have a interesting modification running which auto moderates the posts made based upon certain words which are used by spammers if they want to place links on your site.

Last but not least is the increasing risk of the forum being hacked, you can protect admin areas using the cPanel or similar to prevent hackers gaining access to your site.

Sorry for rambling on, but spam on forums is something that needs to be stopped.

Hope this helps out some forum owners.

Cheers...

[azasmith]

+1 for using the Question & Answer approach.

What I do with my forum. Admittedly not as big as this one. But, asking a unique question and answer. Something along the lines of what are the 4th 5th and 2nd letters in the following word or something.

The 2nd thing I do is disable UTC-12. An uninhabited time-zone, however the first in the list. So auto spam bots normally will always use UTC-12 as their timezone. Killing the registration if the timezone is UTC-12 worked too. However the Q&A seems to have been more effective.

The only spammers you'll get after implementing the above 2 procedures are human ones. The way I tackle this is all "Newly Registered Members" (users with <1 post) have their first post moderated. It keeps the mods busy, which is always good. Most normally make spam posts as their first post. And you can normally tell what they're bringing to the conversation and the forum by their first post.

The only downside is if someone makes a useful contribution for their first post. Gets approved. But then spams from post 2 onwards. However the amount of spammers that will do this are far fewer than you saw before.

I would disagree with the moderate all users as seen on page 1. This forum sees a lot of forum members registering. And would require a full time team to allow/disallow users based on this. Automated techniques can be just as effective.

Hope this brought something to the topic.

[rallport]

Best way imo is when they hit their 25 post limit get an admin to manually review the posts they've made. If they are crappy generic comments, make it harder for them to post links and say their account will be re reviewed after a few weeks or something.

Then, only allow people are active and continributing useful stuff.

I've also noticed some forums have success with a suspension type rule - where a user would get x chances before being susepnded and then more would led to a longer suspension.

[zed]

what makes you think we don't have these sort of rules?

[MikeChipshop]

azasmith, on 16 March 2012 - 03:38 AM, said:

The only spammers you'll get after implementing the above 2 procedures are human ones.

We really only have had an issue with human posters.

rallport, on 17 March 2012 - 03:43 PM, said:

Best way imo is when they hit their 25 post limit get an admin to manually review the posts they've made. If they are crappy generic comments, make it harder for them to post links and say their account will be re reviewed after a few weeks or something.

Then, only allow people are active and continributing useful stuff.

I've also noticed some forums have success with a suspension type rule - where a user would get x chances before being susepnded and then more would led to a longer suspension.

^^ Pretty much exactly what we do.
It's actually very rare to see a spam post here and if you do it's not normally around for more than a few minuets.
The mod team routinely get rid of around 20 spammers a day (I'm sure at least 90% by zed) along with all their 'rush to 25 posts' posts. Thankfully there is enough mods now to handle the deluge that sometimes hits.

The best to tackle spammers is to continue the way we are and that's with a dedicated mod team and a community who actively report and berate spammers. So keep the heat up chaps!