Spam

[BazC]

It's getting worse. I've visited the site 3 times today and each time there was fresh spam to report. There seems to be more and more bot posts with no obvious motive too.

This is by far the most badly affected site I visit, surely something can be done about it!?

It's really p'd me off this morning for some reason so forgive the rant. It is starting to become a real problem though!

[kilvano]

Agreed.

Is there a newer version of Vbullitin that has better security. Or maybe add extra security functions to it like the scrambled images.

Its not that the posts are pissing me off its just that these scumbags get away with it!

[mattclary]

Not for very long, usually. ;)

[art]

Oh, you didn't know? Spam has gotten a new layer of protection recently

[Sarford]

Oh, you didn't know? Spam has gotten a new layer of protection recently

LOL!! Great one!!

[THREEL]

Oh, you didn't know? Spam has gotten a new layer of protection recently

Did you post this on the JOKES thread too? This is a classic. If not now, it will be soon.

[art]

This is actually a real product. My wife buys spam meat once in a while. I do not know if all cans come like this now, but last time she bought it it came in the extra container.

I almost fell on the floor when I saw it in a nice new container. What? An update to good ol' spam?

[THREEL]

This is actually a real product. My wife buys spam meat once in a while. I do not know if all cans come like this now, but last time she bought it it came in the extra container.

I almost fell on the floor when I saw it in a nice new container. What? An update to good ol' spam?

Isn't there a saying? "Truth is funnier than fiction." I know that's not always the case, but in this instance it's definitely true.

Maybe they don't want the mystery meat to breed whilst sitting on the shelf with nothing to do. You know the old saying, "Idle cans are the Devil's workshop." Oh, wait a minute, that's "hands", not "cans". Never mind! a la Gilda Radner.

I have to admit that I've had Spam on a few occasions, but you have to fry it and top it with a slice of cheese, your choice. The funny thing is, I cannot stand ham, and that's one of the main ingredients. Go figure!

[art]

I love ham. Spam is ok once in a while. I like it cold, on bread with tomato, cheese and slice of onion.

[liquidpope]

I only like spam in spam spam spam spam spam spam eggs and spam.

[JamesCurtis]

Spammers beware!! we're gonna CAN you! Ha Ha!!

Spam in a can. [heard this somewhere]

[THREEL]

Spammers beware!! we're gonna CAN you! Ha Ha!!

Spam in a can. [heard this somewhere]

Now, that's bad. sounds like something I'd say. Question is: Do you slice it thin or thick. I like mine thin, just like my bologna. Have you ever had a bologna sandwich with potato chips in it. The secret is to smash the 2 pieces of bread together, once you have all of the ingredients inside. You want the chips to become almost 1 with the meat. Yum-yum!!!

[Largemedium]

This thread is almost as bad as spam. :devil:

[richdj]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Te3ljC29nHU

Sorry couldn't resist......

There are alot of forums lately that are getting spammed to death....

Rich

[Wickster]

I guess it's time for NT to implement those Colored Alpha characters you have to type in before being able to join a forum. It that will help at all.

[Martin Adams]

Well, us Brits got rid of spam (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/42083.stm) many years ago!

[KSTAR]

Scrambled eggs spam and rice is a college delicacy! :tongue:

[Digital Hermit]

Fried spam between to slices of whole-wheat bread with mustard ... mmm mmm. :thumbsup:

[evenflcw]

Ouch, almost looks like this board is being targeted specifically now. More new spam than regular posts... atleast they're in the right forum section (if spam was tolerated).

[colkai]

Yup, I've noticed we are getting hit a great deal here, mind you, it seems to be "high time" lately.
A website I help out with is getting daily spams from obviously the same source, I really feel sorry for these folks that their only source of "fun" is annoying other people, which somehow, they think is "cool". It's a pity they don't put their 'talent' to more constructive uses.

[Kuzey]

I'm not sure, but I think the idea is that even if no one here clicks on the links it gets picked up on a google search so it doesn't matter if anybody responds or not 8/ 8/

Maybe require some kind of validation code or sentence they have to type in before each post can be made...atleast for 24 hours or so until Newtek knows they aren't bots.

Kuzey

[StereoMike]

Oh didn't know bots are already capable of reading that distorted text during registering.
That's bad, would it help to distort it even more?
What if it ain't bots but a cheap chinese office of internet spammers paid by western spamkings?
It's really getting annoying, the rss feed is full of that trash...

Mike

btw good idea Kuzey!

[Martin Adams]

Yep, I've got a forum with the distroted text and that did no good at all. I now validate all the accounts manually. Not good. If someone is being paid to do it manually, then there's nothing you can do to stop that.

[lilrayray77]

I bet it has been mentioned, but why not have the first post of any "person" checked, before it is actually displayed on the board. I believe ZbrushCentral does this, seems to get the job done.

[99sproth]

As a php dev I've delt with a fair number of spam bots.

There are some easy things your can implement. For example changing the php files names. AS the bots will always look for certain php files to inject their crap into.

Next changing the registration form names. Simple and effective.

Next adding extra form pages. Even a radio button saying "are you a bot?" - not kidding.

ip range banning.

Sophisticated email registration.

also a timer on form registration page. A normal user will always take a few seconds to fill in the forms (even if they have autocomplete). If the timer hasnt reached 1 10th of a second the ip can be instantly blocked.

-Si

[JamesCurtis]

99sproth,

Some very informative tips!!

[MooseDog]

:agree:

for the new person nt hires:

NewTek is currently looking to fill two job openings. Both of these positions require working full-time from the San Antonio office.

Graphics & Web Designer - 3D Marketing:

i think this explains alot too. the board is being maintained on an ad-hoc basis at best probably.

[99sproth]

:(

more stuff this morning.

an upgrade of the forum software wouldn't go a miss either. VB is on version 3.6.4 already.

[Verlon]

"are you a bot" button. That's funny.

IP range banning could have unintened consequences (much like Newtek itself experienced after buying some bad internet real estate).

Distorted text not working? Well I hate that crap anywhere. It never fails, I get some case of "is that a G or a 6?" or something like that.

You could have photos and ask the person to identify the photo. Heck, you could even use avatars from this site for photos.

[art]

99sproth, great ideas. I like lilrayrays' idea of validating the 1st post too. That would weed out at least those who are too lazy to research the subject of the forum.

And maybe a quick quiz during the registration:

You can use Lightwave for:

a) Frying chicken
b) Spying on friends
c) Searching for diet products
d) Cleaning toilet
e) Moving geometry
f) Solving algebra
g) Adding neon lights to you car

Bad answer = ban (or contact admin)

[99sproth]

And maybe a quick quiz during the registration:

You can use Lightwave for:

a) Frying chicken
b) Spying on friends
c) Searching for diet products
d) Cleaning toilet
e) Moving geometry
f) Solving algebra
g) Adding neon lights to you car

Bad answer = ban (or contact admin)

I'm sure if you were crafty will LWscript and the sdk you could probably do all them in LW. :P

(I just wrote an instant messenger in melscript :P)

[art]

I tried d) but lscript had problems with handling overflows. Now that I think about it, f) is doable. Oh well, tricky question I guess.

[99sproth]

I tried d) but lscript had problems with handling overflows.

HAHAHAHA. :p