Spam

Threads about the forum, forum software, forum features, etc

Re: Spam

Postby GPW » Thu Jul 25, 2013 8:25 am

I’m a Moderator on another Forum (Electronics/amp building) and we get spammed to Death .... Every day is a long list of spammers banned, a continuous struggle to keep up with them ....and apparently , as Greg said, they are very sophisticated , and able to get past all our devices ... :o
Something we’ve speculated on is the individual spammers appear to work through a much larger system (Evil conspiracy ?) , technically much beyond their capabilities ... :roll:

Since we never see any spam here , you guys are doing a Great job !!! :thumbsup: 8) :applause:
There’s no place like Foam !
User avatar
GPW
Gold Donating Member
 
Posts: 14911
Images: 546
Joined: Thu Feb 09, 2006 7:58 pm
Location: New Orleans

Re: Spam

Postby MtnDon » Sun Apr 20, 2014 10:19 am

Spambots can register on forums easily because the registration pages within any one type or brand of forum software uses the same layout. What type of information being asked for is known to the author of the spambot software. Any popular forum software can be inspected and the spammer software written to fit. Their software searches for forums that run on a particular type, like here it is phpBB. That info is in the footer of every page.

The captcha's are useless. Bots can read those quicker than people. IMO, the key in spam defense is to be able to customize the registration pages. If the location of the fields that needed to be filled with something that has to look like the email address was moved to another position the spam bots would be frustrated by that. That programming is beyond most of us though. Question and response security things work well as long as the logic behind is more cpmplex than asking for the answer to 2 + 3.

For 4 or 5 hundred dollars anyone can buy some very capable spamming software from folks who will also sell you lists of thousands of forums, blogs, etc including what software they run.
Our 6x12 deep vee nose cargo trailer camper conversion... viewtopic.php?f=42&t=58336

We have a small off grid cabin we built ourselves in the NM mountains; small PV solar system; 624 watts PV, Outback CC & inverter/charger ... http://countryplans.com/smf/index.php?topic=2335.0
User avatar
MtnDon
2000 Club
2000 Club
 
Posts: 2199
Images: 24
Joined: Sun Aug 19, 2012 10:57 pm
Location: New Mexico

Re: Spam

Postby Esteban » Mon Dec 22, 2014 11:54 am

I found lots of spam on TNTTT today. I tried to alert the moderators but that was unsuccessful. Frustrating.
Steve - SLO, CA
Esteban
Donating Member
 
Posts: 1684
Images: 15
Joined: Fri Jul 28, 2006 4:39 pm
Location: California, San Luis Obispo
Top

Re: Spam

Postby eaglesdare » Mon Dec 22, 2014 12:42 pm

We (admins) are working on this. There seems to be a problem with some Admins being "timed out" when trying to take care of this. But they are aware and they are trying to clean it up. Thanks everyone. Just continue to hit the red flag and we will do what we can. :wine:
Louella
May the foam be with you.
User avatar
eaglesdare
Donating Member
 
Posts: 3168
Images: 13
Joined: Tue Aug 26, 2008 7:06 pm
Top

Re: Spam

Postby Breytie » Mon Dec 22, 2014 4:41 pm

There seems to be a server issue on top of that - I often get server ERROR 500 when hitting the flag, typing a coment and hit submit.
Experience is learning from your own mistakes
Here I make mine in public: My build
Breytie
Teardrop Master
 
Posts: 209
Images: 36
Joined: Sun Sep 04, 2011 4:21 pm
Top

Re: Spam

Postby GuitarPhotog » Mon Dec 22, 2014 5:37 pm

Is this a "spamstorm" or "Spamageddon?"

I've personally flagged more than a dozen today. I hope you get it solved soon.

I was getting up to 100 link spam posts to my blog and had to put all post under moderation until it slowed to the more normal 1-3 a week.

<Chas>
:beer:
GuitarPhotog
Silver Donating Member
 
Posts: 1779
Images: 55
Joined: Tue Feb 08, 2011 12:52 pm
Location: Grants Pass Oregon
Top

Re: Spam

Postby rowerwet » Mon Dec 22, 2014 6:16 pm

Just a couple ideas, on one forum I'm on, you cannot post links until you post count hits 100, on another all new members are on probation and their post must be approved before they show up, this has kept the spam to a minimum.
Good luck guys! We love the forum and know you put some real work into keeping it running :thumbsup:
User avatar
rowerwet
Gold Donating Member
 
Posts: 2075
Images: 521
Joined: Mon Apr 20, 2009 12:52 am
Location: Merrimack River Valley
Top

Re: Spam

Postby Kevin A » Mon Dec 22, 2014 6:20 pm

The best thing you can do for us right now is red flag any spam you see. We are painfully aware of their existence and until Mike can change the security settings all the rest of us can do is move or delete the offenders. Thanks for your patience.
"Follow me, I'm right behind you"

ImageImage
User avatar
Kevin A
The other guy
 
Posts: 3222
Images: 289
Joined: Mon Jan 17, 2005 1:16 am
Location: California, Eureka
Top

Re: Spam

Postby mikeschn » Mon Dec 22, 2014 10:42 pm

It's been quite the evening, but I think we got them all. Like Glenn said, it's a daily challenge! thanks for being patient, and thanks to the guys and gals who help, including Kevin, Louella, Doug & Steve.

Mike...
The quality is remembered long after the price is forgotten, so build your teardrop with the best materials...
User avatar
mikeschn
Site Admin
 
Posts: 19202
Images: 479
Joined: Tue Apr 13, 2004 11:01 am
Location: MI
Top

Re: Spam

Postby mikeschn » Mon Dec 22, 2014 10:52 pm

Esteban wrote:I found lots of spam on TNTTT today. I tried to alert the moderators but that was unsuccessful. Frustrating.


Thanks for trying Steve. Unfortunately, because we were at work we didn't see your alerts. :(

Mike...
The quality is remembered long after the price is forgotten, so build your teardrop with the best materials...
User avatar
mikeschn
Site Admin
 
Posts: 19202
Images: 479
Joined: Tue Apr 13, 2004 11:01 am
Location: MI
Top

Re: Spam

Postby capnTelescope » Mon Dec 22, 2014 11:24 pm

Great job, Moderators! :applause: :applause: :applause:
I'll burn that bridge when I come to it.

Brad
ImageImageImage

Building the Bed & Breakfast
User avatar
capnTelescope
Lifetime member
 
Posts: 1218
Images: 368
Joined: Sun Jun 27, 2004 3:44 pm
Location: Round Rock, TX
Top

Re: Spam

Postby tony.latham » Mon Dec 22, 2014 11:34 pm

capnTelescope wrote:Great job, Moderators! :applause: :applause: :applause:


Cap:

How do we know you're not a bot? Didn't you upload a movie of some kinda robot cutting out teardrop walls? :thinking:

Folks: We need to think about this. Do the math. Maybe we need a poll. Who thinks "Brad" is a bot? :o

Tony the Human
User avatar
tony.latham
Gold Donating Member
 
Posts: 6880
Images: 17
Joined: Mon Jul 08, 2013 4:03 pm
Location: Middle of Idaho on the edge of nowhere
Top

Re: Spam

Postby mikeschn » Tue Dec 23, 2014 4:30 am

I've added a button under Forum Problems, called "Spammers". This will send an email to myself and the admins that are watching for spammers.

Just include the name of the spammers, and we'll find them and squash them.

Mike...
The quality is remembered long after the price is forgotten, so build your teardrop with the best materials...
User avatar
mikeschn
Site Admin
 
Posts: 19202
Images: 479
Joined: Tue Apr 13, 2004 11:01 am
Location: MI
Top

Re: Spam

Postby bobhenry » Tue Dec 23, 2014 7:04 am

It is so nice to have our forum back !

Thanks to all who helped to make it so ......

Bob
Growing older but not up !
User avatar
bobhenry
Ten Grand Club
Ten Grand Club
 
Posts: 10354
Images: 2614
Joined: Fri Feb 09, 2007 7:49 am
Location: INDIANA, LINDEN
Top

Re: Spam

Postby pchast » Tue Dec 23, 2014 9:46 am

:thumbsup:
Thanks!
pchast
Platinum Donating Member
 
Posts: 2023
Images: 97
Joined: Mon Jan 28, 2013 5:47 pm
Location: Athens, NY
Top

PreviousNext

Return to Threads about the forum!

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 7 guests