Zach Posted July 16, 2006 Posted July 16, 2006 Hey....about these spambots.... If you set up registration so you have to activate with a link sent to the user's email account, it will most likely prevent these bots from registering. New Element had a problem with them too, enabling the email activation made them go away.
robbalvey Posted July 16, 2006 Posted July 16, 2006 Hey....about these spambots.... If you set up registration so you have to activate with a link sent to the user's email account, it will most likely prevent these bots from registering. New Element had a problem with them too, enabling the email activation made them go away. I've tested that. The ratio to people who create an account and those who actually go through the final step to activate is staggering! I'd much rather be bothered with having to delete a spam post every couple of days than have to go a delete a bunch of "dead" accounts out of the database. That's MUCH more work for us than just simply clicking the "delete post" button on these threads. Also, the email notification feature IS flawed. It doesn't take into account people's spam filters, or these new systems where you have to send back a blank email in order for you to be put on someone's "white list." So on top of the "dead accounts" I would have legitimate people who had problems registering and I'd have to go fix their accounts. Just removing that feature entirely makes the forum more "accessible" to everyone. And yes that means spambots too, but that's why we have admins and mods to help out! I know the spam bots are annoying, but the best thing to do is just ignore them and know that they will be gone within minutes or worst case scenario, a few hours. --Robb "Just wanted to explain why we have our settings the way we do." Alvey
WillMontu Posted July 16, 2006 Posted July 16, 2006 I believe that new versions of PHPBB have an option to allow the user to identify text in an image, and simply enter the text to confirm. It's designed such that bots have a difficult time reading the text.
robbalvey Posted July 16, 2006 Posted July 16, 2006 ^ Yes, we have that too as an option, tested it, and it also causes problems. A lot of times the image just doesn't appear, and the person registering will give up. What we have found (and I know I've already said this) is that the way to make the site the most accessible is to allow people to sign in WITHOUT having to verify an email or type in an image. And yes, that means it might be more work for us admins and mods, but we are choosing to make the site easier to use even if it creates a little more work for us. It's much less work to delete a post than it is to have to go into the user database and fix registration problems. Seriously, do you all think we don't know about some of these options? And haven't done some researching before opting to either use them or not use them? It's not as though we're sitting here going "gee, there's some spammers...too bad that us the web hosts don't know enough about running a website to see if there is something we can do about it....." Just because you see something being implemented on another website does not always mean that's the best option! --Robb
Jon Sabo Posted July 16, 2006 Posted July 16, 2006 Spam is HUGE in Hawaii (not the internet-type). SPam Musubi rocks with the locals and the Haole's!
stormrider Posted July 17, 2006 Posted July 17, 2006 LOL, my mom's Philipino and I always have to eat spam. I guess islanders love it for some reason.
BelizeIt Posted July 17, 2006 Posted July 17, 2006 The Hawaiian Box Lunch is tasty! I'll have to go an visit my local L+L Hawaiian BBQ. SPAM is always on the menu.
SoCalDude Posted July 17, 2006 Posted July 17, 2006 I believe that new versions of PHPBB have an option to allow the user to identify text in an image, and simply enter the text to confirm. It's designed such that bots have a difficult time reading the text. They have programs that read and input that text with no problem. If somebody is going to spam they are going to do it despite what protection you put up.
jamez9579 Posted July 17, 2006 Posted July 17, 2006 Can I have Spam, Eggs, Sausage, and Spam without the Spam?
robbalvey Posted July 17, 2006 Posted July 17, 2006 I believe that new versions of PHPBB have an option to allow the user to identify text in an image, and simply enter the text to confirm. It's designed such that bots have a difficult time reading the text. They have programs that read and input that text with no problem. If somebody is going to spam they are going to do it despite what protection you put up. EXACTLY! Even when we had those systems in place, the spammers still got through. So when I removed those verification systems my thought process when something like this: "Why make it more difficult for the legitimate people who actually want to register for the forum when no matter what we do, the spammers will still get through!" I hope that make sense to everyone. --Robb
okinawaboy11 Posted July 17, 2006 Posted July 17, 2006 Spam is HUGE in Hawaii (not the internet-type). SPam Musubi rocks with the locals and the Haole's! Oh I love spam! They use it a lot over in Japan too.
methylene Posted July 17, 2006 Posted July 17, 2006 Interesting enough that image verification was mentioned. I help run a rather large forum (twice the posts/members as this board) and so I follow all sorts of forum tech news. I read an article today about two new types of image verification scripts http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/3277 The first has you choose a kitten out of an array of mammals, the second has you choose three hotties out of an array of 9 people. That's just awesome! Matt
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