Change Topic Number

[yorktown]

I found that bots are targeting a specific topic and are spamming.

If I change the topic number they will stop (for now). This is the T# that the database assigns to new topics.

In The MYSQL tables.... what tables do I change and what fields?

Example: I want to change topic #18 to #999 (not used).

[geocator]

Make sure the number you are using is less than the current number, for example a deleted topic. Then change the posts and topic tables in the database.

Dont think this will do much though.

[yorktown]

Yes, bet there are many tables in the database.

I noticed that some of the numbers created are on several tables.

So topic # 18 may be within several tables of the database.

Which tables do I change the topic number manually through MYSQL?

[geocator]

The topic number is only referenced in the topics and posts table.

[yorktown]

But isn't it also listed in the forums table?

Once you change the topic number.....shouldn't you have to change the topic number for:

1) Each post.
2) The Forum it is related to.

[yorktown]

I made the changes in MySql.

I understand that it won't permanently stop bots. My guess is it will slow them down in my case. They target one particular topic and spam it.

I changed the topic number. So now they have to go back with the bot to do more work.

Its an easy command for me to implement in MySql, and gives the spammers more headaches:

Syntax:
update idate_posts set topic_id='OLD TOPIC NUMBER' where topic_id=NEW TOPIC NUMBER;
update idate_topics set topic_id='OLD TOPIC NUMBER' where topic_id=NEW TOPIC NUMBER;


example:
update idate_posts set topic_id='1000' where topic_id=9;
update idate_posts set topic_id='2000' where topic_id=10;
update idate_topics set topic_id='1000' where topic_id=9;
update idate_topics set topic_id='2000' where topic_id=10;

[stevemaury]

Why not stop them before they get in?

Preventing SPAM - Bots and Humans

[Lumpy Burgertushie]

and, if you have changed the topic number to a number that is higher, then you have just made every topic number from now on, will be a number higher than the one you just changed.

in other words, if you had 100 topics

the one you changed , you changed from number 10 to number 1000

the next topic that gets created will be number 1001


robert