Author Topic: Spam  (Read 12218 times)

Pieter Hulshoff

  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1543
  • Karma: +46/-14
    • View Profile
    • Towel 42
Spam
« on: January 23, 2017, 05:33:41 PM »
You've probably noticed that this forum's increased popularity has also brought in some spammers. I've currently taken the following two steps:
1. New accounts have to accepted by the administrator(s).
2. IP bans will be set up for IP ranges used by spammers.

In short: should you see any spam: just ignore it or report it. I'll get to it, and do what I can to permanently remove those people from this forum.

ryuuji

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 166
  • Karma: +1/-0
    • View Profile
Re: Spam
« Reply #1 on: January 23, 2017, 06:50:43 PM »
That is good news to have the accounts accepted by the admin.

Pieter Hulshoff

  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1543
  • Karma: +46/-14
    • View Profile
    • Towel 42
Re: Spam
« Reply #2 on: January 24, 2017, 08:45:00 AM »
I already have over 1500 attempts to create new accounts from the banned IPs...

Pieter Hulshoff

  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1543
  • Karma: +46/-14
    • View Profile
    • Towel 42
Re: Spam
« Reply #3 on: January 25, 2017, 07:54:19 AM »
They're still busy; over 2500 now...

GoodWill Emu

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 26
  • Karma: +4/-0
  • Maker of the RetroFE Setup Tool
    • View Profile
Re: Spam
« Reply #4 on: January 25, 2017, 04:33:36 PM »
Godd that you keep the spam out.
Look at the emulationstation forum, you'll get shocked for life...  :'(

Pieter Hulshoff

  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1543
  • Karma: +46/-14
    • View Profile
    • Towel 42
Re: Spam
« Reply #5 on: January 26, 2017, 08:33:37 AM »
Over 4000; so far it seems the IP bans are holding. :)

bundangdon

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 11
  • Karma: +0/-0
    • View Profile
Re: Spam
« Reply #6 on: January 27, 2017, 02:50:22 AM »
Godd that you keep the spam out.
Look at the emulationstation forum, you'll get shocked for life...  :'(

What blows my mind the most is that some person (or people) actually spammed 'the crap out of' that forum to the point where it's now a gigantic mess. It makes me wonder, did those persons really think that was going to be an effective form of advertising? Or, did they just do that to completely destroy the emulationstation forums?

PinealServo

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 30
  • Karma: +0/-0
    • View Profile
Re: Spam
« Reply #7 on: January 27, 2017, 05:28:19 AM »
I'm pretty sure it's largely automated.  There's software that knows the standard login procedure for various forums, blog systems, etc. and just crawls the web looking for places to scribble. I think it's meant less for human consumption and more for the consumption of the other web crawlers that determine search rank and that sort of thing. Of course, I'm sure a lot of people end up clicking on some of the links anyway.

bundangdon

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 11
  • Karma: +0/-0
    • View Profile
Re: Spam
« Reply #8 on: January 27, 2017, 06:33:35 AM »
I'm pretty sure it's largely automated.  There's software that knows the standard login procedure for various forums, blog systems, etc. and just crawls the web looking for places to scribble. I think it's meant less for human consumption and more for the consumption of the other web crawlers that determine search rank and that sort of thing. Of course, I'm sure a lot of people end up clicking on some of the links anyway.

Yep, I've heard the term "spam-bots" quite frequently which is most likely what you're referring to. And they're probably floating around everywhere, finding new and innovative ways to annoy internet users across the globe :)

Pieter Hulshoff

  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1543
  • Karma: +46/-14
    • View Profile
    • Towel 42
Re: Spam
« Reply #9 on: January 30, 2017, 09:39:00 AM »
It's over 9000!!!!!

Sorry, I'll quit now, but that one just had to be said. :)

IP filters are holding, and accounts have to be acknowledged by me. I'm sure a few will slip by, but with each one I catch the IP filter is extended.

KMetalMind

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 44
  • Karma: +1/-0
    • View Profile
Re: Spam
« Reply #10 on: February 04, 2017, 08:22:45 AM »
You know the filters are working when you never find spam entering the forum. Good work!!  ;D

Floyd

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 52
  • Karma: +0/-0
    • View Profile
Re: Spam
« Reply #11 on: February 20, 2017, 11:37:12 PM »
Isn't there a spam protection during account registration? I do remember many forums have something like "click on the pictures containing a storefront" and that kind of measures. I'm sure it will benefit.

Pieter Hulshoff

  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1543
  • Karma: +46/-14
    • View Profile
    • Towel 42
Re: Spam
« Reply #12 on: February 20, 2017, 11:56:10 PM »
I have strong captchas installed, but that doesn't prevent manual account generation.

Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk


Pieter Hulshoff

  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1543
  • Karma: +46/-14
    • View Profile
    • Towel 42
Re: Spam
« Reply #13 on: March 16, 2017, 07:09:16 AM »
*sigh*, still 10-15 new spam accounts being registered every day. I wonder how long before they give up...

dougan78

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 159
  • Karma: +4/-0
    • View Profile
Re: Spam
« Reply #14 on: March 16, 2017, 09:27:17 AM »
Never.