Pixelation

General => General Discussion => Topic started by: aureotoshi on January 01, 2019, 12:25:41 pm

Title: Too much Spam in the forum...
Post by: aureotoshi on January 01, 2019, 12:25:41 pm
Hi, I have noticed there is a lot of spam in the forum.

I have some smf forums and VBulletin forums. and I think it's possible to stop spam.

I have found this plugin/addon:

http://custom.simplemachines.org/mods/index.php?mod=3851 (http://custom.simplemachines.org/mods/index.php?mod=3851)

And this resources:

https://www.softaculous.com/blog/protect-your-simple-machines-forum-from-spam/ (https://www.softaculous.com/blog/protect-your-simple-machines-forum-from-spam/)

https://theadminzone.com/threads/simple-method-to-protect-your-smf-site-from-spammers.100825/ (https://theadminzone.com/threads/simple-method-to-protect-your-smf-site-from-spammers.100825/)

reCaptcha is nothing nowadays.

I try to help, if there is something I can do please tell me!!!

Happy new year!

Aureo.
Title: Re: Too much Spam in the forum...
Post by: Zanorin on January 19, 2019, 12:04:50 pm
I agree and I find it upsetting... Since most of the spamposts have an URL as a title, would it be possible to automatically block all posts beginning with "http://" or "https://" ...?
Title: Re: Too much Spam in the forum...
Post by: aureotoshi on January 19, 2019, 01:01:14 pm
I think it's not as hard to protect the forum... I have had for many years a forum of digital image with VBulletin and there is tools available, despite this is a SMF, it must have tools also.
Title: Re: Too much Spam in the forum...
Post by: MysteryMeat on January 23, 2019, 04:00:55 am
I think it's not as hard to protect the forum... I have had for many years a forum of digital image with VBulletin and there is tools available, despite this is a SMF, it must have tools also.

to my chagrin, several viable solutions (notably capcha on new threads) have been proposed to the problem, and almost all of them have been shot down. Those that HAVE been implemented have proven worthless.

It's almost like driving away the dude responsible for the bulk of spam handling was a poor idea!

Can you tell I'm a bit bitter about the leadership of the website right now?
Title: Re: Too much Spam in the forum...
Post by: Indigo on January 23, 2019, 06:20:24 am
Agreed about the spam.  Sorry I haven't been able to get it under control.  I've spent hours trying to set up a system where 1st posts need to be reviewed, but everything I've tried has failed.  We are still working on it though.
Title: Re: Too much Spam in the forum...
Post by: testaccount on January 23, 2019, 07:06:49 am
testing post approval
Title: Re: Too much Spam in the forum...
Post by: Indigo on January 23, 2019, 07:09:07 am
Alright.  I believe I've sorted it out.  Thanks for the kick in the butt all, and sorry it took so long.  Now users' first post must be approved.  This should GREATLY reduce spam as nearly all of them only post once.  Let me know if you guys continue to have problems
Title: Re: Too much Spam in the forum...
Post by: Kiana on January 23, 2019, 07:15:16 am
Thanks, Dan! It seems to be working. The filter has already successfully caught a spam topic.  ;D
Title: Re: Too much Spam in the forum...
Post by: yrizoud on January 23, 2019, 08:35:45 am
It comes at a price, because the first post review is a hurdle for real new users.
And I salute the mod(s) who will review the daily spam.
Title: Re: Too much Spam in the forum...
Post by: Kiana on January 23, 2019, 09:28:56 am
Since the spam is all in one place, eliminating the need to go into individual threads to delete replies, it cuts down on the workload for the mods quite a bit.  :y: The annoyance of visible spam before the rounds are made should be pretty much eliminated, and no one has to be up at odd hours of the night to delete posts. I've manually tested the filter in every board and sub-board, for creating threads and replying. It is a little bit annoying for new users with no posts yet to have to wait a day or so for approval, but once they have one approved post it won't affect them anymore, so I think it's a worthwhile tradeoff considering it has already begun preventing spam.

By the way, CAPTCHA is enabled for new threads, but it's ineffective at eliminating spam because many spammers are actual humans.
Title: Re: Too much Spam in the forum...
Post by: eishiya on January 23, 2019, 02:40:51 pm
Thanks for adding the filter! And extra thanks to Kiana for going through and checking it so thoroughly!

Are new users adequately informed of the filter? If not, many might leave the forum before their first post gets approved. If they are informed and the reason for the approval process is clearly explained, they're more likely to be patient.
Title: Re: Too much Spam in the forum...
Post by: aureotoshi on January 23, 2019, 07:46:13 pm
Hi!

I don't wanted to critiquize but help the forum  :) :) :)

Thanks for the people fighting hard to maintain the forum, I know how hard it can be as I have had a strong forum of digital computer graphics in the past, and was a 24 horus work that users don't see at all.

If I can help here I am.

Captcha is unuseful nowadays, spammers can go through it with digital tools, no need to spam real people.

Thanks!  ;)

Title: Re: Too much Spam in the forum...
Post by: 0xDB on January 23, 2019, 08:40:07 pm
It feels REALLY GOOD to open the board in the mornings again and NOT seeing any spam anymore.  :y:
Title: Re: Too much Spam in the forum...
Post by: DawnBringer on January 26, 2019, 02:15:18 am
Oh, just great...where will I find my escorts and viagra now!?  :lol:
Title: Re: Too much Spam in the forum...
Post by: aureotoshi on January 26, 2019, 10:17:13 am
[REDACTED]


 :crazy: :crazy: :crazy:
Title: Re: Too much Spam in the forum...
Post by: Zanorin on January 27, 2019, 09:49:02 am
Thank a bunch ! I feel happy again when I browse the forum :)
Title: Re: Too much Spam in the forum...
Post by: aureotoshi on January 27, 2019, 11:20:09 am
Sorry for the link, it was only a joke  :)

Thanks for edit.
Title: Re: Too much Spam in the forum...
Post by: Kiana on January 27, 2019, 07:23:04 pm
Don’t worry about it  ;)
Title: Re: Too much Spam in the forum...
Post by: MysteryMeat on January 27, 2019, 11:58:14 pm
oh hey, the problem's fixed

radical, good work and I retract some of my salt
Title: Re: Too much Spam in the forum...
Post by: Indigo on January 29, 2019, 12:07:49 am
 :y: