SPAM POSTS

Day · Jul 25, 2006

If you notice any spam posts please notify myself or Nik ASAP.

We've both been busy recently so unfortunatly some spam posters are slipping through the net and managing to create posts with links to malicious websites.

Sorry for any harm done

oliie · Jul 25, 2006

It may be a long shot but you could approve each registration to post on the site? Or only allow posts after being a member for more than 5 days?

Both a bit tedious...

O.

Day · Jul 25, 2006

Think Nik tried approving all registering users but it got silly.
They use spambots that seem to get aound all the security there is in place.
Short of recreating the forum on a different version of phpBB there is little we can do.

The whole of russia is already banned lol

Johnnytheboy · Jul 25, 2006

I belong to a particular computer game forum who got so overwhelmed with spammers that some of us volunteered to split the member list into chunks of about 100 members each and went through the list manually, flagging up dodgy names. That was a fun evening I can tell you.

cardealer · Jul 26, 2006

I've noticed a proliferation of spamming through Gmail the last couple of weeks, but of course that content also generates the Adsense links at the top. Cynic.

hyb · Jul 26, 2006

Johnnytheboy said:
I belong to a particular computer game forum who got so overwhelmed with spammers that some of us volunteered to split the member list into chunks of about 100 members each and went through the list manually, flagging up dodgy names. That was a fun evening I can tell you.

Which game?

Johnnytheboy · Jul 26, 2006

"Sid Meier's Pirates!"

http://addictedforums.com/

It's quietened down a lot now - used to be a great little forum, like this.

I'm a sad PC gamer, with a preference for big slow games like Civ, etc.

Day · Aug 14, 2006

Bump!

Day · Apr 9, 2007

and again!

fazedesign · Apr 9, 2007

Yep, it's been pretty damn relentless at the moment...

Noodle999 · Apr 11, 2007

Wouldn't be too difficult to whip up a script to flag suspected spam posts to mods based on certain criteria, rather than waiting for users to notice...

Day · Apr 11, 2007

Great idea.

Would be nice if we didn't have to charge users for better software

PM Nik he has the admin rights to this forum, not sure if he reads every thread these days.

Steve · Apr 12, 2007

Not wanting to sound like a Yorkshireman (sorry Cue) but I pay my way with removing the little porn-pedalling bastardos every day. If I wasn't doing this, ie. if we had more spam protection, I wouldn't mind donating some greens for the greater good.

We should make it voluntary at first, I know a lot of the regular users wouldn't mind wiring NIk a few quid, the money it's saved us all solving problems (OK don't mention the money it's cost in people posting up their tasty mods) has paid for this many times over.

Or we could sell more merchandise, Numbered Orbisoud's for instance. :lol:

Nik · Apr 12, 2007

There are some mods i can apply to the forum which can help prevent spamers, but having spent so many late nights (an a resulting 999 call) last time rebuilding the forum, I decided to wait for phpBB v3 to be available before putting the same effort into rebuilding the forum. v3 should hopefully be much better, they are just taking their time getting it released.

The alternative is to switch to something like vBulletin as we use on Cliosport, but that is costly so i would have to charge some sort of membership fee to recover the costs. I prefer the look of phpBB personally, and v3 looks to have many of the advantages of vBulletin so i'd like to wait for that ideally.

Cue · Apr 12, 2007

agree wth NIk, although having a paid subscription (with some benefit) would be good.

Cool Hand Luke · Apr 12, 2007

Waiting for phpBB v3 seems to make more sense in terms of cost and added functionality. In the mean time if you are looking for any new moderators (i dont post a lot but i am on browsing a lot) or help with the site i'm more than willing to lend a hand.

Nik · Apr 12, 2007

Cue said:
agree wth NIk, although having a paid subscription (with some benefit) would be good.

Yeah, I still plan to do this at some point, obviously there will be some benefit to being a member, although i want to ensure that the site is still left open enough not to discourage new Trophy owners from registering on the register and getting involved.

Steve · Apr 20, 2007

Just stopped some nasty Spambot called Sarah mid-stride from spamming up the site, one got us last night and I had to delete about 12 posts first thing this morning.

Well Done people for not replying to these posts, especially ones that appear at the end of an existing thread, it makes it much easier for me to kill them. And keep PMing us if you spot one, that way I get an e-mail warning me of the attack and can respond quicker on the rare occasion I've not got the site running in the background!

DON'T UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES CLICK ON THE LINKS WITH THESE SPAM POSTS! Unless you like spyware!

My gift to you, you little bastards!

http://www.auditmypc.com/freescan/antispam.html

Cue · Apr 20, 2007

ahh, i've been replying to some so they remain at the top of the thread list - so it's easier for you..... if you want a pm, what do you want it to say - a link to the thread?

FunkyMunky · Apr 20, 2007

Cue said:
ahh, i've been replying to some so they remain at the top of the thread list - so it's easier for you..... if you want a pm, what do you want it to say - a link to the thread?

link to the thread would be wicked