Octopus Overlords

Posted: **Sun Mar 04, 2012 11:46 pm**

While it is a pain in the rear, I am sure you will appreciate how little spam makes it on the board and that what does is disintegrated quickly and with extreme prejudice.

Rip

Posted: **Fri Nov 02, 2012 4:17 pm**

I am a particularly clueless spammer.

Posted: **Fri Nov 02, 2012 4:20 pm**

I am amused.

Posted: **Fri Nov 02, 2012 4:23 pm**

As am I, but I actually went ahead and hit the report button, too.

Posted: **Mon Mar 11, 2013 11:42 am**

Fishpants, I changed the CAPTCHA for a forum board over the weekend. Now "people" have to answer a question instead of solving the 3D image. I'm writing because it's like a wonderful vacation! Going on 3 days without ANY spammers registering. Give the option a look at if you have the time or wanted to try it out. Should be available for you in the Administrative Control Panel, under General, down to Board Configurations, and click Spambot Countermeasures.

Something that took me some time to figure out is, make sure the question IS in the default language. I learned that English comes two ways, British and US. Keep an eye out for which one is asterisk-ed and match that when forming/configuring your question. The suggested manner to use (which is what I did) for a question is, the first 3 and last 3 letters. In other words, come up with a question that cannot be searched easily on Google. The sweet thing is you can put in a few variations of the answer too! ALSO there is a button to turn on specifics like spacing and capitalization. I've put in a few answers in case the person who really and honestly register for the forum uses spaces and caps.

Example, Q: What are the first 3 and last three letters of the word OctopusOverloards? A: Octrds (like I mentioned, you could add octrds and oct rds for possible answers too.

EDIT to add a minute later:
AND of course, I went over to register on OO to see if you all already had this in place... my OH my, you have a nice defense set up!
Guess you can say, "Oh, how cute... the computer guy's little wife is trying to help us out. Awww, isn't she so cute... let's give her a mouse pad and she if she uses it?"
Sorry guys, should of known better but had to put it out there.

Posted: **Mon Mar 11, 2013 11:58 am**

I don't know what defenses are in place for registration here now, but if you notice how regularly the "our newest member" updates with yet another random string of characters, lots of not-a-person accounts are getting through. Relatively few of them are posting though. We have yet to hear from zoopyteepejoT.

Posted: **Mon Mar 11, 2013 12:17 pm**

And when real new people do register, we line up and execute them on the assumption that they're spambots.

Posted: **Mon Mar 11, 2013 11:29 pm**

silverjon wrote:...We have yet to hear from zoopyteepejoT.

Ha! great name! It gets old fast with all the spam. I still hear Monty Python every time I type the word spam, cracks me up... but believe me, that is the only thing enjoyable about all the bogus registerers. What the OO admins have set up now is pretty impressive. I'm actually surprised that spammers get through.

Blackhawk wrote:And when real new people do register, we line up and execute them on the assumption that they're spambots.

I do enjoy the jolly ol' fun had with the spambots who are able to post. I've only witnessed one execution though, very interesting to watch however. Glad I wore my bullet proof vest when my number was called

few bruises but nothing a little make-up wouldn't hide.

Posted: **Tue Mar 12, 2013 4:47 pm**

Wow. We are being monitored. Registered users:

chooclodype
roorwaywodolo
PaulDAUBTETTY

Have all been around for a while and are browsing and I have no idea who any of them are as they've registered and never said a thing.

I'm ascared.

And they were just joined by

RofRourb

Posted: **Tue Mar 12, 2013 5:20 pm**

LordMortis wrote:And they were just joined by

RofRourb

Ruh roh

Posted: **Tue Mar 12, 2013 7:02 pm**

KKBlue wrote:
Blackhawk wrote:And when real new people do register, we line up and execute them on the assumption that they're spambots.
I do enjoy the jolly ol' fun had with the spambots who are able to post. I've only witnessed one execution though, very interesting to watch however. Glad I wore my bullet proof vest when my number was called few bruises but nothing a little make-up wouldn't hide.

I am still concerned that genuine new posters will end up getting mobbed by responding to an old thread they found via Google. It isn't like we have an excess of new members.

Posted: **Wed Mar 13, 2013 8:16 am**

Blackhawk wrote:I am still concerned that genuine new posters will end up getting mobbed by responding to an old thread they found via Google. It isn't like we have an excess of new members.

Naw, the OO's seem to do a little research first before pouncing. Sure they poke with a stick to see if it moves or reacts. Nothing more than the typical animal can handle. At least in my experance. Lots of lurkers on the board. Bet ya not everyone is registered who visits the forum too. You've had some older members resurface and it's always nice to have an original member pop in to make a comment. Think the forum has great life, happy to be a part of the group (as many others are too).

It's day 5 and still not a one spammer since the change to the registering requirement.

Posted: **Thu Mar 14, 2013 11:23 am**

I implemented "Spam Hammer" as the bots had a human queue set up to answer random questions, including stuff like "identify what this picture is". I was getting annoyed with them (I've also blocked IP subnets from China and a number of other high risk areas around the world) -- spam hammer seems to really work though. They have to post a certain number of times to include hyperlinks, have a signature and so on (and their initial posts are scanned for spammy phrases, and blocked if they have links/spam in them).

You'd be amazed at the number of bots that keep hammering against the wall, but the few that actually get through are far and few between. Once in awhile I clean up the user DB and delete 0 post accounts that registered and haven't been back, which reminds me that's probably overdue.

Posted: **Thu Mar 14, 2013 11:52 am**

FishPants wrote:You'd be amazed at the number of bots that keep hammering against the wall, but the few that actually get through are far and few between. Once in awhile I clean up the user DB and delete 0 post accounts that registered and haven't been back, which reminds me that's probably overdue.

That's cool. Although I am relatively certain that zoopyteepejoT and chooclodype aren't human lurkers, though they are online here quite regularly.

Posted: **Thu Mar 14, 2013 12:02 pm**

silverjon wrote:
FishPants wrote:You'd be amazed at the number of bots that keep hammering against the wall, but the few that actually get through are far and few between. Once in awhile I clean up the user DB and delete 0 post accounts that registered and haven't been back, which reminds me that's probably overdue.
That's cool. Although I am relatively certain that zoopyteepejoT and chooclodype aren't human lurkers, though they are online here quite regularly.

They're NSA assets.

Posted: **Thu Mar 14, 2013 4:07 pm**

FishPants wrote:I implemented "Spam Hammer"...

I remember you telling me about this too. I got excited. It felt like I realized the world was actually round and had to share. The Spam Hammer seems pretty impressive. Just like water, the spammers can only be kept out for so long.

Posted: **Mon Mar 18, 2013 6:07 pm**

KKBlue wrote: Example, Q: What are the first 3 and last three letters of the word OctopusOverloards? A: Octrds

So close to "Octards." Close enough that I now have a new name for forum members.

Posted: **Tue Mar 19, 2013 2:55 pm**

Kraken wrote:
KKBlue wrote: Example, Q: What are the first 3 and last three letters of the word OctopusOverloards? A: Octrds
So close to "Octards." Close enough that I now have a new name for forum members.

Awesome.

Posted: **Tue Mar 19, 2013 6:32 pm**

That is funny Kraken. Think I'll use the Q&A as a sig, ha.

Posted: **Mon Mar 25, 2013 4:58 pm**

LawBeefaroni wrote:
silverjon wrote:
FishPants wrote:You'd be amazed at the number of bots that keep hammering against the wall, but the few that actually get through are far and few between. Once in awhile I clean up the user DB and delete 0 post accounts that registered and haven't been back, which reminds me that's probably overdue.
That's cool. Although I am relatively certain that zoopyteepejoT and chooclodype aren't human lurkers, though they are online here quite regularly.
They're NSA assets.

Now that I've noticed them I can't unnotice them.

And what really strange is that chooclodype registered in Dec 2012 but Google says it's been watching a lot longer:

http://www.google.com/#hl=en&nfpr=1&q=+ ... 08&bih=691" target="_blank

And watches only us.

Posted: **Mon Mar 25, 2013 5:05 pm**

I think that has to do with what Octards were online when Googlebot snapped the picture, while the date shows when the thread was actually created.

Posted: **Tue Apr 23, 2013 12:45 pm**

A whole bunch of users just turned up with account names based on Louis[char] and Vuitton[char].

I wonder what they are selling.

Posted: **Wed Apr 24, 2013 4:13 pm**

Building good will for Coach?

Posted: **Tue Jul 02, 2013 11:48 am**

I just decided to look around here, and found this thread.
I am a BOT, really just go check some of the other forums recently!

Just joking people!

Regards,
Tony L

Posted: **Wed Jul 03, 2013 1:35 pm**

And you seem to have joined just in time. Browsing right now (in addition to all of the the spam posts of the last few days)

Dilmfendelm
Fiebonnaa (who has an outside chance of not being a bot)
irncvqvh
Lelfelige
xgxhqrgw
Zireejaxjaift

I think we need a bigger wall.

Posted: **Wed Jul 03, 2013 1:57 pm**

I haven't seen zoopyteepejoT in a while. I hope nothing bad has happened.

PaulDAUBTETTY spawned a brother briefly, though I forget the given name.

Posted: **Wed Jul 03, 2013 2:12 pm**

Wow, quite the unusual crew here.

Since first posting the other day, Bots have really been the only subject to get a reply too.

He's a Bot... She's a Bot... It's a Bot...

WTF,

Really

Geeez

Posted: **Wed Jul 03, 2013 4:26 pm**

Sorry, I don't do racing games.

If you went and introduced yourself in the EBG forum, you'd get a warm welcome, laced with teasing about how can we be sure you're not a bot.

Posted: **Wed Jul 03, 2013 4:46 pm**

Given enough time, will a thousand bots with a thousand algorithms log in as Shakespeare?

Posted: **Thu Jul 04, 2013 7:28 pm**

Yeah, Tony. It's nice having a new voice around. Unfortunately, I didn't respond since I wasn't into the racing game. Hope to see you around in the other forums.

And in bot news, Hj9FWqcuu2 is lurking around... that guy gives me the creeps.

Posted: **Wed Jul 17, 2013 3:47 pm**

silverjon wrote:I haven't seen zoopyteepejoT in a while. I hope nothing bad has happened.

And people said my name was hard to pronounce. I totally wish I'd grabbed zoopyteepejoT, but now somebody beat me to it.

And in bot news, Hj9FWqcuu2 is lurking around... that guy gives me the creeps.

At least zoopyteepejoT was pronounceable.
Unpronounceable people do give me the creeps as well.
It all started with Cthulhu.

Posted: **Sat Feb 14, 2015 1:13 am**

- El Spammo Removo.

Posted: **Sat Feb 14, 2015 2:22 am**

LOL, the honeypot strikes again.

Posted: **Sat Feb 14, 2015 2:31 am**

It really was a remarkable post.

Posted: **Sat Feb 14, 2015 2:51 am**

rechly160 wrote:Thanks for sharing lots of information with this post. I really enjoy your post.

and we really enjoy your posting about enjoying the post.

Posted: **Sat Feb 14, 2015 6:46 am**

On Friday The Thirteenth no less.
Valentine's Day Eve to boot!

And only three days before...Hey, could it be Obama in love, having a bad day?

Happy Valentine's Day, rechly. Now, hurry and get back home to Michelle before she finds out where you've been.

Posted: **Sun Apr 24, 2016 6:11 pm**

missed opportunity title: "Spambada: The Forbidden Dance"

Posted: **Fri Oct 21, 2016 11:57 am**

Odin wrote:Nice! It's not like we've got a huge flood of potential new users to risk offending.

Posted: **Fri Oct 21, 2016 2:42 pm**

Turing test fail?

Posted: **Mon Jun 12, 2017 12:16 pm**

We're getting a new wave of spammers that seem to be making accounts then building up their posts with either very generic comments in random threads ("I agree!", "That's great!") or by simply quoting an earlier response verbatim. I'm guessing it is either a new flavor of bot or a sweatshop lab somewhere.

Does staff want to be notified when these guys pop up, or do you prefer to wait until they hit the requirement and add links?

Octopus Overlords

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