Link Spammers

[480sparky]

Since we're having problems with spammers registering and leaving a ton of links in one post, why not just make it so you need to have like 5 or 10 posts before you can add a link?

 

[Light Guru]

Since we're having problems with spammers registering and leaving a ton of links in one post, why not just make it so you need to have like 5 or 10 posts before you can add a link?

So they then just make 5 or 10 additional dummy posts. Time period would be better like 24 hours.

 

[480sparky]

Since we're having problems with spammers registering and leaving a ton of links in one post, why not just make it so you need to have like 5 or 10 posts before you can add a link?

So they then just make 5 or 10 additional dummy posts. Time period would be better like 24 hours.

Usually they're bots, so they won't know to make 5 or 10 dummy posts.

 

[runnah]

Since we're having problems with spammers registering and leaving a ton of links in one post, why not just make it so you need to have like 5 or 10 posts before you can add a link?

So they then just make 5 or 10 additional dummy posts. Time period would be better like 24 hours.

Usually they're bots, so they won't know to make 5 or 10 dummy posts.

It's too late... they are learning.

 

[480sparky]

It's too late... they are learning.

If they're 'learning', we'd see 5 or 10 posts of "Nice shot!" and such, then the spam would hit the fan.

 

[Overread]

We already do see spambots drop 5 or 10 filler comments before dropping their payload. They tend to however try and cheat by copy-pasting the posts from earlier in the thread so that they can run but not require someone to actually read the forum. Others just go for a series of "nice photo" comments in the galleries.

Also don't forget one of the first things new members often want to do is drop links to their photo gallery or blog - if we impose a restriction it hits them as well as the spambots. Whilst spammers are a pain and we do get a fair few, we also tend to remove them pretty quickly and they've not yet overloaded the mod team.

 

[480sparky]

We already do see spambots drop 5 or 10 filler comments before dropping their payload. They tend to however try and cheat by copy-pasting the posts from earlier in the thread so that they can run but not require someone to actually read the forum. Others just go for a series of "nice photo" comments in the galleries.

Also don't forget one of the first things new members often want to do is drop links to their photo gallery or blog - if we impose a restriction it hits them as well as the spambots. Whilst spammers are a pain and we do get a fair few, we also tend to remove them pretty quickly and they've not yet overloaded the mod team.

So......... how about a limit of ONE link during a probation period? Can that be done?

 

[Overread]

We could up the filters and block posts from appearing until after a mod approves them. Even without a link being present.

The problem is that that method of moderation puts a lot more work on the mods line (for all the spambots we get, we get many more new members). It also slows up a persons chance to get involved with the forum early on if their post don't appear or they have to wait for moderation to clear them. This slow down can mean that they flit away and might even join other sites that don't have such a limitation. That early first impression is important and something we'd like to preserve by allowing people to join and get involved with the forum right from the moment they sign up.

It's this problem of beating back the spam, whilst also remaining open and easily accessible to new members that makes adding harsher filters or blocks a problem.

 

[480sparky]

Looks like they've overcome any barricades put up for them again.

 

[amolitor]

Yes, robots are updated quite a lot.

It's actually best to let them drop their payload, and then clean up after them. If they start hitting errors, then the robot builders know that the current approach isn't working, and they'll update it. If you let it "work" then the robot builders don't get the automatic notification that their robot needs to be made smarter.

 

[Overread]

Eh its a foolish battle though - the only sites they really invade are dead sites that no one uses. VB software takes seconds to remove any spam so any site with any active mods/admin can strip them out faster than they can register new accounts to spam with. So really they only spam up dead sites that will likely be closed when the owner doesn't renew the payments for the sites hosting.

 

[480sparky]

But they still hit 4 or 5 times here today that I've seen...........

 

[Overread]

Aye - sadly ranking well in google has its downsides. Esp since quite a few bots are registered accounts by real people so its harder to filter them out. We do get a fair amount stopped before it even appears on the site itself; some slips through but appears for only a few moments typically and is then removed.