New User Requirements - Spam Prevention

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FishPants
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New User Requirements - Spam Prevention

Post by FishPants »

In order to limit the amount of spam bots on the forum, the new restrictions are in place immediately on newly created accounts:

1. A user must post 10 messages before they are allowed to link to any external sites (they can still link to posts here, but they can't link to any other external URL).

2. They must be registered 2+ Days ago to post external links (1 & 2 combined really).

3. I've included a regex to filter out non-english characters during the same time period above.

4. Min first post characters are 80 -- however in my testing this didn't seem to work.

This should greatly reduce the amount of spam bots and human spam bots, or at least make them really dedicated spammers.
Last edited by FishPants on Wed Jan 04, 2012 10:57 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Odin
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Re: New User Requirements - Spam Prevention

Post by Odin »

Nice! It's not like we've got a huge flood of potential new users to risk offending.
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Re: New User Requirements - Spam Prevention

Post by The Bad Shepherd »

Is spamming an issue here? I haven't noticed much, but I mostly peruse the PC Gaming section.
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Odin
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Re: New User Requirements - Spam Prevention

Post by Odin »

The Bad Shepherd wrote:Is spamming an issue here? I haven't noticed much, but I mostly peruse the PC Gaming section.
I don't get the feeling it's a huge problem, but it's enough of a nuisance that I can see the board mods and admins wanting to crack down on it. It usually seems to manifest in somebody resurrecting a really old thread and posting something that bumps it back to the top of the forum.
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Re: New User Requirements - Spam Prevention

Post by The Meal »

It's a trending issue here in that it's becoming more prevalent.

#4 on the crackdown list is one which is surprising to me. Were I to make an account on a new site (as a legitimate user) for some hypothetical new hobby, I could see that one catching me by surprise. If the response to the proposed post made it obvious what the problem was, it'd make for an easy fix, but if the warning message was vague, I could see skipping that posting (and potentially that entire site) forever.
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Re: New User Requirements - Spam Prevention

Post by LawBeefaroni »

The Meal wrote:I could see that one catching me by surprise.
80 characters? I don't think so. :P
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Re: New User Requirements - Spam Prevention

Post by Odin »

LawBeefaroni wrote:
The Meal wrote:I could see that one catching me by surprise.
80 characters? I don't think so. :P
:lol:
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Re: New User Requirements - Spam Prevention

Post by The Meal »

LawBeefaroni wrote:
The Meal wrote:I could see that one catching me by surprise.
80 characters? I don't think so. :P
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Re: New User Requirements - Spam Prevention

Post by Isgrimnur »

Image

And what about all the people who won't be able to join the community because they're terrible at making helpful and constructive co-- ... oh.
It's almost as if people are the problem.
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Re: New User Requirements - Spam Prevention

Post by ImLawBoy »

The Bad Shepherd wrote:Is spamming an issue here? I haven't noticed much, but I mostly peruse the PC Gaming section.
It's probably more of an issue to staff than it is to others. Most spammers get reported pretty quickly, but then I have to make so many dang clicks to ban them that I'm going to end up with carpal tunnel. ;)
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FishPants
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Re: New User Requirements - Spam Prevention

Post by FishPants »

The error message tells whem what's up, so if a spammer wants to hang around for a few days, make 10 posts etc.. Then well, yep they can still spam. Usually the chinese sweatshop spammers don't have that kind of time on their hands.. Let's hope.
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KKBlue
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Re: New User Requirements - Spam Prevention

Post by KKBlue »

I was going to ask how you all cope with spammers. I have started a forum and seem to get at least 6 a week. It was funny in the beginning, cause I would get so excited that another person has signed up, then I look at the Email and realize it's another spammer. Now it's a pain in the butt! So, I guess that I don't feel so singled out (forum wise) with the constant housekeeping of removing spammers and the trash they leave behind.
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Re: New User Requirements - Spam Prevention

Post by dbt1949 »

Well damn! Now what am I gonna do?
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FishPants
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Re: New User Requirements - Spam Prevention

Post by FishPants »

KKBlue wrote:I was going to ask how you all cope with spammers. I have started a forum and seem to get at least 6 a week. It was funny in the beginning, cause I would get so excited that another person has signed up, then I look at the Email and realize it's another spammer. Now it's a pain in the butt! So, I guess that I don't feel so singled out (forum wise) with the constant housekeeping of removing spammers and the trash they leave behind.
Depends on what forum software you are using, but if it's PHPBB3, definitely check out the Spam Hammer mod. Seems to be the right approach!
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Re: New User Requirements - Spam Prevention

Post by SpaceLord »

Where's the cup for me to pee in?
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Re: New User Requirements - Spam Prevention

Post by Odin »

I'm baffled that this doesn't seem to be helping. Seriously, what do you have to do to keep these f'ers out??
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Re: New User Requirements - Spam Prevention

Post by ImLawBoy »

My understanding is that this latest measure won't actually stop the spammers from registering (we've tried a number of things there, with varying levels of success). What it does is prevent them from posting links, which reduces the effectiveness and incentive to register.
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Odin
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Re: New User Requirements - Spam Prevention

Post by Odin »

Ah, I get it. So we'll still get the thread necros unless/until they figure out that it's not worth the effort.
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Avenger
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Re: New User Requirements - Spam Prevention

Post by Avenger »

Wierd, I was logged out and had the maximum number of failed logins. Someone has been trying to login me in it seems?
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Re: New User Requirements - Spam Prevention

Post by shanesgirl »

i am all for spam prevention, but i am trying to get help for a problem someone asked for my system spec, but, it won't let me post them- says it looks too spammy-- how can i get help if i can't post the info they want??
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Re: New User Requirements - Spam Prevention

Post by FishPants »

shanesgirl wrote:i am all for spam prevention, but i am trying to get help for a problem someone asked for my system spec, but, it won't let me post them- says it looks too spammy-- how can i get help if i can't post the info they want??
It should tell you the criteria that made it too spammy.. External links etc are prohibited until you've been around for a few days and posted a few times, which you have. If for some reason you still have problems, send me a PM and I will look into it.
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silvaril
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...

Post by silvaril »

Heya

I asked for a DXDiag text file attachment showing the system specs for the Sims-2 problem reported in the following thread:
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=78090" target="_blank


Figured worst case scenario a copy / paste from the text file would give the info though...
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Re: New User Requirements - Spam Prevention

Post by shanesgirl »

@silvaril-- i just posted my specs- it finally let me.
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Re: New User Requirements - Spam Prevention

Post by The Meal »

FishPants wrote:
shanesgirl wrote:i am all for spam prevention, but i am trying to get help for a problem someone asked for my system spec, but, it won't let me post them- says it looks too spammy-- how can i get help if i can't post the info they want??
It should tell you the criteria that made it too spammy.. External links etc are prohibited until you've been around for a few days and posted a few times, which you have. If for some reason you still have problems, send me a PM and I will look into it.
It would look like what was attempted to be posted was an image. It also would seem that images aren't allowed until a user has amassed eleven posts (and/or some time criterion, I'm assuming).
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Re: New User Requirements - Spam Prevention

Post by stessier »

maliahh wrote:hello I am new in this forum and these all information are really very useful to me.
Did a spammer really post in this thread??? :lol:
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Re: New User Requirements - Spam Prevention

Post by Odin »

stessier wrote:
maliahh wrote:hello I am new in this forum and these all information are really very useful to me.
Did a spammer really post in this thread??? :lol:
It's positively surreal.
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Re: New User Requirements - Spam Prevention

Post by ImLawBoy »

Thanks for all the reports, folks. We've banned the spammer.
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Re: New User Requirements - Spam Prevention

Post by Ninyu »

Buahhahahahaha!
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Re: New User Requirements - Spam Prevention

Post by Exodor »

pitata wrote:I'm and glad to join.

I have to admit, if I was a spammer I would bump this thread to get my post count up, too.

:lol:
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Re: New User Requirements - Spam Prevention

Post by Lassr »

priceless! :lol:
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Re: New User Requirements - Spam Prevention

Post by FishPants »

:doh:

Lol well looks like I add another country level IP ban. Talk about persistent, especially when it hasn't been successful here yet.. Seriously guys, move along, we don't buy your junk.
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Re: New User Requirements - Spam Prevention

Post by Tokek »

FishPants wrote::doh:

Lol well looks like I add another country level IP ban. Talk about persistent, especially when it hasn't been successful here yet.. Seriously guys, move along, we don't buy your junk.
Looks like you banned the whole of Singapore. Sadly, my work proxy goes through Singapore since that's where the regional HQ is so I'm "banned" from OO while I'm at work :cry:
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Re: New User Requirements - Spam Prevention

Post by LawBeefaroni »

Tokek wrote: Looks like you banned the whole of Singapore. Sadly, my work proxy goes through Singapore since that's where the regional HQ is so I'm "banned" from OO while I'm at work :cry:
Well, you're going to want to tell your employer to move their regional HQ. :wink:


But seriously, thanks for the info. Blocking legit members was a concern and while I can't promise anything for FishPants, I'm sure we'll look into it.
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Re: New User Requirements - Spam Prevention

Post by FishPants »

Just PM me your external IP address from your proxy (http://www.whatismyip.com/" target="_blank if you aren't sure what it is) and I will exclude it from the block ranges. Any normal user is more than welcome to send that stuff through, and as long as it's a work proxy and not an open proxy or a TOR proxy I will whitelist it.
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Kal
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Re: New User Requirements - Spam Prevention

Post by Kal »

So...

Longish time reader and recently registered on the board. Thought I had previously registered about 3 years ago but either I remembered wrong or the account was deleted as I never used it to post. Read through Bad Shepherds genius DF AAR and felt compelled to PM him congratulations and so on, so re-registered an account under the name 'Kalil'.

Apparently attempting to PM without having any posts triggers the anti-spam measures and so I was locked out of posting or PM'ing to rectify the problem...as Im not actually a spambot...I would like to offer my thanks to lokiju for trying to pass on my plea for non-spambot status via the Qt3 forums.

Looking forward to contributing 'witty' posts to a forum that has captured my interest. Ive lost some appreciation for those forums with smaller communities that I used to post frequently on plus a couple of others that have slowly drifted into becoming internet ghost-towns. That combined with my recent posting to the arse end of Nepal has resulted in a craving to post in a community rather than lurk.

So to summarise:

- The OP doesnt reflect that a PM triggers anti-spam measures if no posts have been made,
---(presumably otherwise not sure how I triggered spam measures)
- The anti-spam measures remove the ability to communicate with admins etc,
- Thanks to lokiju for his help,
- Thanks to Bad Shepherd and Hippolito for their excellent write ups,
- Hello to the rest of the membership.

Cheers,

'Kal'
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Re: New User Requirements - Spam Prevention

Post by Hempus »

Hey guys its me Tony. Ravens friend. I am back online. Had to see if the forum was stil here. It did not recognize myold login so i had to make a new one.
:D
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Re: New User Requirements - Spam Prevention

Post by ianmurphy »

hi guys im new here
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Re: New User Requirements - Spam Prevention

Post by Ariana_FFD »

bye
Last edited by Ariana_FFD on Fri Jun 15, 2012 5:54 pm, edited 1 time in total.
poof!
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Re: New User Requirements - Spam Prevention

Post by Blackhawk »

Ariana_FFD wrote:While i do appreciate the reasons, I love to participate and so I do post links for subjects like the John Carter thread, I tried to post an ERB site link. I was asking about a new build and could not post my Newegg links :( . Makes me feel so limited in my ability to participate. :grund: I don't want to be a lurker for long.... :pop:

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Re: New User Requirements - Spam Prevention

Post by Ariana_FFD »

bye
Last edited by Ariana_FFD on Fri Jun 15, 2012 5:54 pm, edited 1 time in total.
poof!
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