Preventing SPAM - Bots and Humans [*Read the First Post!*]

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ChrisRLG
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Re: Preventing SPAM - Bots and Humans [*Read the First Post!*]

Post by ChrisRLG »

for support you should start your own topic.

This is not the right place to ask for help.

As the problem you have is with the admin toolkit, you should ask at the makers own website - link in my signature.
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gundogsdotnu
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Re: Preventing SPAM - Bots and Humans [*Read the First Post!*]

Post by gundogsdotnu »

Sorry!

The makers website is down so I asked here but in wrong discussion....

Whó´t happen again
nightotter
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Re: Preventing SPAM - Bots and Humans [*Read the First Post!*]

Post by nightotter »

I have a private forum and lately I have been plagued with Spam-Bots. I tried a few of the mods mentioned in this thread but they didn't work. Finally, I thought to add a * (wild card) to disallowed names and it worked. I know this isn't much of a fix for public forums, but for those who want to stop spam, it's a work around.
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Re: Preventing SPAM - Bots and Humans [*Read the First Post!*]

Post by ric323 »

nightotter wrote:I have a private forum and lately I have been plagued with Spam-Bots. I tried a few of the mods mentioned in this thread but they didn't work. Finally, I thought to add a * (wild card) to disallowed names and it worked. I know this isn't much of a fix for public forums, but for those who want to stop spam, it's a work around.
What MODs did you try?
I have not heard of ANY spambots getting past the RAC MOD or the security question MOD if they are correctly installed (which includes changing the default answer supplied in the RAC MOD).

Of course disallow "*" will stop anyone from registering, so it's only a very short term fix.
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nightotter
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Re: Preventing SPAM - Bots and Humans [*Read the First Post!*]

Post by nightotter »

I did use the Registration Auth Code mod. Unless I loaded it wrong (it seems to work when tested), the bots got passed it. I also loaded a mod that would reject any application that took less than 5 seconds to fills out (which, I assume, bots do).

As I said, I run a private forum, so the wild card/disallowed names, works for me. I simply remove the * when I want someone to join and replace it when they are on board.

I know that most forums are public, so my fix isn't really an option, but I wanted to post it for those who might be in my situation.

cheers,

Otto.
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stevemaury
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Re: Preventing SPAM - Bots and Humans [*Read the First Post!*]

Post by stevemaury »

Did you change the default code on the RAC MOD? Experience has shown that if you do that, it stops 100% of bots. Assuming it is installed correctly, of course.
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Re: Preventing SPAM - Bots and Humans [*Read the First Post!*]

Post by ric323 »

Is the RAC MOD still installed? Could you tell us the address so we can check if it's working?
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nightotter
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Re: Preventing SPAM - Bots and Humans [*Read the First Post!*]

Post by nightotter »

stevemaury wrote:Did you change the default code on the RAC MOD?
Yes, more than once.

Ric, I have PM'd you the URL.
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Re: Preventing SPAM - Bots and Humans [*Read the First Post!*]

Post by RMcGirr83 »

If it is a private forum, why not force the use of an invitation code.

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Re: Preventing SPAM - Bots and Humans [*Read the First Post!*]

Post by ric323 »

nightotter wrote:
stevemaury wrote:Did you change the default code on the RAC MOD?
Yes, more than once.

Ric, I have PM'd you the URL.
Then why is your registration page currently accepting the default RAC code?
If I enter anything but "qwerty12345" as the authorozation code, it complains about that, and says my name is disallowed. If I enter that default code, it only says my name is disallowed...
The Knowledge Base contains solutions to many common problems!
How to fix "Doesn't have a default value" and "Incorrect string value: xxx for column 'post_text' " errors.
How to do a clean re-install of the latest phpBB3 version.
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nightotter
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Re: Preventing SPAM - Bots and Humans [*Read the First Post!*]

Post by nightotter »

That's strange. I did change the appropriate code in the usercp_register.php. I just tried and got rejected. Oh well.
user244
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Re: Preventing SPAM - Bots and Humans [*Read the First Post!*]

Post by user244 »

I added a couple lines of code to my registration file and made one alteration to the template file that deals with it and I have had 'zero' spammers now for one week.

Before that I was getting 8-15 a day or more.

I like mods, but realize the more mods, the harder to update. My post is here

http://www.phpbb.com/community/viewtopi ... 8&t=911615

I know there are tons of mods out there, but this is just a simple adjustment to the template to make a text box or two visually disappear, so the box is still there but humans cannot see it. And adding two lines to another file that check registration for a '[' or for input in those 'invisible' boxes.

This 'mod' requires nothign special on the part of someone joining. All it does it make some fields invisible to them like 'icq' and 'website'. It also will bounce anyone who adds a '{' (bracket) in the signature field.
I find all bots seem to add an icq and/or a [url] link.


With a little php knowledge you can do much more to this and at the same time not worry too much about anykind of upgrading (though, I guess now that 3 is out, it won't matter).

So far these changes have fully stopped any spammers from appearing as users in my lists and I believe this results in the bot not getting 'an error' so the spammer is aware of the change. And the regular user has to do nothing special to reguister.

I assume they will eventually see it, or a new bot will come out. I will just add a new parameter to the php commands to block that one.

I for one am supremely happy to not have to do the torturous copy/paste lookup delete user method anymore...yeah!!!

As an added bonus, I have been able to make it easier for new users to register by not using the captcha and not using 'admin' approval. I am entirely happy for me and the users.
precious-babes
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Re: Preventing SPAM - Bots and Humans [*Read the First Post!*]

Post by precious-babes »

OK I apologise now because I know this is going to wind some of you up - but please be patient, I am completely new to running a forum, I have no clue on Mods or even how to install them lol

However, the last week I have had porn pictures uploaded on posts, so the spammer is registering and posting porn pictures (including children of 5 years doing disgusting acts on adults) now I dont want to disable the bbcodes to stop pics as I use this.

The spammer registers about 2-3 times a day and though the pics have stopped for now, they are posting messages on the forum with hundreds of links to porn sites - my forum is not even a month old and 8 of the newest registered members is this spammer - is this a human spammer or a bot?

What is the best mod to prevent this - I have read all of the first post but I am still confused haha and I am just trying to find the one that will work best for this, I have registration set for the user so they have to confirm their email and I have visual confirmation set, its limited a little but I still get messages with porn links on the forum.

So which mod is going to be the best?

Again I apologise for being a pain, I have never installed a mod myself and this is just getting me down!
precious-babes
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Re: Preventing SPAM - Bots and Humans [*Read the First Post!*]

Post by precious-babes »

Oh and I run a pregnancy and parenting forum - some of the content is for medical conditions and so having porn pics exploiting children is just disgusting!
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RMcGirr83
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Re: Preventing SPAM - Bots and Humans [*Read the First Post!*]

Post by RMcGirr83 »

The security question mod is very easy to install and quite effective at stopping spam bots. If you need help in installing it, please feel free to send me a pm.
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