Influx of Spam - Page 2

The Sasquatch of Fangorn · 04-01-2008, 09:51 AM

Just out of curiosity, did anybody change the rule to 130 seconds instead of 90 as a prank?

Butterbeer · 04-01-2008, 09:52 AM

so..i logged in for the prank ..what is it?

the prank that there is no prank today?

That's a dull one - i know the buy-out star trek one caused some problems last year - but i thought that was classic!

so...what gives?

best BB

sisterandcousinandaunt · 04-01-2008, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Butterbeer

so..i logged in for the prank ..what is it?

the prank that there is no prank today?

That's a dull one - i know the buy-out star trek one caused some problems last year - but i thought that was classic!

so...what gives?

best BB

That wasn't last year, confused one. You're losing track.

**Mari** · 04-01-2008, 10:04 AM

buy out Star Trek from last year? Did I miss something? I know I was around, because Jonathans avvie was funny...

Yikes! Sas, you were right it's 130 seconds now! *faints*

Huorn · 04-02-2008, 02:17 PM

The spam is dated last August. I already deleted it.

***Earniel*** · 04-02-2008, 06:15 PM

Most curious, usually all they do is post spam threads. But it's first time I hear of them sending PM's as well.

Huorn · 04-12-2008, 11:35 AM

I thought it really odd to receive a spam PM. The guy is not on the memberlist anywhere, so it is not an issue anymore.

Midge · 04-15-2010, 10:21 AM

Erm. Might want to check out the odd posts in the Lord of the Rings Books forum. Some of them look like the poster just noted key words, searched for something and pasted it in from some kind of wiki site about movies or something - see the 25 years in Moria thread.

***Earniel*** · 04-15-2010, 01:31 PM

Yeah, we've had a couple of spammers just like that lately. We'll get him sorted out in no time.

Midge · 04-16-2010, 04:24 PM

Yeah! Haha.. Are you going to use that plastic gecko that Jonathan mentioned?

inked · 04-16-2010, 09:50 PM

Ven de EuroEnglish iz de natunal languag of de EntMut, de Spamerz vil be hamerd und not a problem animor!!!

Hektor und Acaly fur Prezidant fur Lif und no mor spaming!

***Earniel*** · 04-17-2010, 04:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Midge

Yeah! Haha.. Are you going to use that plastic gecko that Jonathan mentioned?

I have, the gecko was swift and merciless.

Ingwe · 05-07-2010, 02:56 AM

Adding a system to the ban system to ban user agents would also be useful - most spam bots seem to have some kind of odd user agents, like MSIE 2.0. There are sites out there that list common (and uncommon) user agents and how likely they are to be tied with spam.

Disabling the ability to post links until your 10th post could also be another option. That requires some source code editing for vBulletin as in any forum, but it'd probably be quite easy to find a mod for vB that would do that.

Of course, lol, no system is perfect. Even overriding a user registration form to not include the "submit registration form" until the user reads an agreement for 30 seconds isn't a perfect system either. But, usually spam bots don't spend time waiting for Javascript to put the "register" button into the code after the 30 seconds time expires. So 99 spammers out of 100, that will even work.

stopforumspam-dot-com also contains a list of IPs, email addresses, usernames, and host names that are associated with spammers. For admins, an extra button can appear on the who's online list that would direct the admin to a query on stopforumspam-dot-com that would give the admin information on whether or not that IP address is linked to any spam, past or present. Blanket banning isn't a recommendation as most IPs modulate (change from time to time) so banning one IP range might solve the spam for a while, until a relevant user starts using that IP address once the address modulates from computer to computer.

Anyway, enough of the technical jargon. Just glad to see that the spam is down to a minimum.

***Earniel*** · 05-07-2010, 06:44 AM

Adding a specific ban-system is a bit out of my field, but I have been thinking abouy looking into things that would restrict links like you mentioned. Unfortunately that will have to wait until I have the time to look into what I can and am allowed do with the Vbulletin software, which isn't now.

I do know of the website, and have used it more than once to conform a spammer. It's a useful tool.

X Perry Mint · 12-11-2010, 01:39 PM

testing again...

X Perry Mint · 12-11-2010, 01:41 PM

Okay, so far so good. Testing again...

Midge · 04-05-2011, 08:24 PM

So... there are a couple of posts in the Middle Earth forum that have nothing to do with middle earth - as a matter of fact are simply long lists of what I suspect are movies, but I could be wrong. Just wanted to let you know... highly suspect behavior, that is.

***Earniel*** · 04-05-2011, 08:48 PM

Hah, it's been a while since we had such a bold spammer.

Should be dealt with now.

Midge · 04-06-2011, 06:27 PM

I always feel terrible in the case of it being an actual human poster who's accidentally trying to spam - I don't want to point my finger and say, "HIM! HE'S SPAMMING US!" as if I were the Moot God or something, condemning that person to being gecko-smacked or whatever it is you do.

Aikanáro · 06-17-2011, 01:18 AM

Have we got a golf spammer in the Hobbit forum?

(Nothing wrong with threads about golf, but just - not that many, and not there

)

04-01-2008, 09:51 AM	#21
The Sasquatch of Fangorn The Co-president of Entmoot - The Half-Dwarven Guardian of the Ancient Forest Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: rexacoracophalifatoryx Posts: 1,405	Just out of curiosity, did anybody change the rule to 130 seconds instead of 90 as a prank? __________________ proud member of the republic of rexacoracophalifatoryx and it's sister planet clom. "she turned me into a newt!!........but I got better."-Monty Python and the holy grail. Thanks for breaking up the group Yoko!"- The reduced Shakespeare company. Fly Eagles fly, on the road to victory. Fight Eagles fight, score a touchdown 1-2-3. Hit 'em low, Hit 'em high, And we'll watch our Eagles fly. Fly Eagles fly on the road to victory.

04-01-2008, 09:52 AM	#22
Butterbeer Elf Lord Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: here and there Posts: 3,514	so..i logged in for the prank ..what is it? the prank that there is no prank today? That's a dull one - i know the buy-out star trek one caused some problems last year - but i thought that was classic! so...what gives? best BB Last edited by Butterbeer : 04-01-2008 at 09:53 AM.

04-01-2008, 10:04 AM	#24
Mari Elf Lady Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: In the lands where mountains are but a fairytale Posts: 8,588	buy out Star Trek from last year? Did I miss something? I know I was around, because Jonathans avvie was funny... Yikes! Sas, you were right it's 130 seconds now! faints __________________ Love always, deeply and true ★ Friends are those rare people who ask how we are and then wait to hear the answer. ★ Friendship is sharing openly, laughing often, trusting always, caring deeply. ...The Earth laughs in flowers ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson, "Hamatreya"...

04-02-2008, 02:17 PM	#25
Huorn Elven Warrior Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Fangorn's Treeherd Posts: 393	The spam is dated last August. I already deleted it. __________________ Silver Valley Oak As for me and my house we will serve the LORD Just call me Oakie

04-02-2008, 06:15 PM	#26
*Earniel* The Chocoholic Sea Elf Administrator Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: N?n in Eilph (Belgium) Posts: 14,363	Most curious, usually all they do is post spam threads. But it's first time I hear of them sending PM's as well. __________________ We are not things.

04-12-2008, 11:35 AM	#27
Huorn Elven Warrior Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Fangorn's Treeherd Posts: 393	I thought it really odd to receive a spam PM. The guy is not on the memberlist anywhere, so it is not an issue anymore. __________________ Silver Valley Oak As for me and my house we will serve the LORD Just call me Oakie

04-15-2010, 10:21 AM	#28
Midge Faithful Gardener Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: I walk here and there, they say... Posts: 3,603	Erm. Might want to check out the odd posts in the Lord of the Rings Books forum. Some of them look like the poster just noted key words, searched for something and pasted it in from some kind of wiki site about movies or something - see the 25 years in Moria thread. __________________ In God I trust, I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? Psalm 56:11 "Starbuck, what do you hear?" "Nothin' but the rain, sir!" "Then grab your gun and bring in the cat." Make sure to check out the C.S. Lewis forum. Game threads, movie and book discussions and more!

04-15-2010, 01:31 PM	#29
*Earniel* The Chocoholic Sea Elf Administrator Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: N?n in Eilph (Belgium) Posts: 14,363	Yeah, we've had a couple of spammers just like that lately. We'll get him sorted out in no time. __________________ We are not things.

04-16-2010, 04:24 PM	#30
Midge Faithful Gardener Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: I walk here and there, they say... Posts: 3,603	Yeah! Haha.. Are you going to use that plastic gecko that Jonathan mentioned? __________________ In God I trust, I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? Psalm 56:11 "Starbuck, what do you hear?" "Nothin' but the rain, sir!" "Then grab your gun and bring in the cat." Make sure to check out the C.S. Lewis forum. Game threads, movie and book discussions and more!

04-16-2010, 09:50 PM	#31
inked Elf Lord Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: sikeston, MO, usa, earth, sol Posts: 3,114	Ven de EuroEnglish iz de natunal languag of de EntMut, de Spamerz vil be hamerd und not a problem animor!!! Hektor und Acaly fur Prezidant fur Lif und no mor spaming! __________________ Inked "Aslan is not a tame lion." CSL/LWW "The new school [acts] as if it required...courage to say a blasphemy. There is only one thing that requires real courage to say, and that is a truism." GK Chesterton "And there is always the danger of allowing people to suppose that our modern times are so wholly unlike any other times that the fundamental facts about man's nature have wholly changed with changing circumstances." Dorothy L. Sayers, 1 Sept. 1941

05-07-2010, 02:56 AM	#33
Ingwe Elven Warrior Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Somewhere not of this world Posts: 402	Adding a system to the ban system to ban user agents would also be useful - most spam bots seem to have some kind of odd user agents, like MSIE 2.0. There are sites out there that list common (and uncommon) user agents and how likely they are to be tied with spam. Disabling the ability to post links until your 10th post could also be another option. That requires some source code editing for vBulletin as in any forum, but it'd probably be quite easy to find a mod for vB that would do that. Of course, lol, no system is perfect. Even overriding a user registration form to not include the "submit registration form" until the user reads an agreement for 30 seconds isn't a perfect system either. But, usually spam bots don't spend time waiting for Javascript to put the "register" button into the code after the 30 seconds time expires. So 99 spammers out of 100, that will even work. stopforumspam-dot-com also contains a list of IPs, email addresses, usernames, and host names that are associated with spammers. For admins, an extra button can appear on the who's online list that would direct the admin to a query on stopforumspam-dot-com that would give the admin information on whether or not that IP address is linked to any spam, past or present. Blanket banning isn't a recommendation as most IPs modulate (change from time to time) so banning one IP range might solve the spam for a while, until a relevant user starts using that IP address once the address modulates from computer to computer. Anyway, enough of the technical jargon. Just glad to see that the spam is down to a minimum. __________________ I'm back. Everyone fear for their lives. Arrggghhh! Get to the choppa, it's Godzilla, fighting Indiana Jones, Copyright, uh-oh!

05-07-2010, 06:44 AM	#34
*Earniel* The Chocoholic Sea Elf Administrator Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: N?n in Eilph (Belgium) Posts: 14,363	Adding a specific ban-system is a bit out of my field, but I have been thinking abouy looking into things that would restrict links like you mentioned. Unfortunately that will have to wait until I have the time to look into what I can and am allowed do with the Vbulletin software, which isn't now. I do know of the website, and have used it more than once to conform a spammer. It's a useful tool. __________________ We are not things.

12-11-2010, 01:39 PM	#35
X Perry Mint Hobbit Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 22	testing again... __________________ X Perry Mint I am!

12-11-2010, 01:41 PM	#36
X Perry Mint Hobbit Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 22	Okay, so far so good. Testing again... __________________ X Perry Mint I am!

04-05-2011, 08:24 PM	#37
Midge Faithful Gardener Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: I walk here and there, they say... Posts: 3,603	So... there are a couple of posts in the Middle Earth forum that have nothing to do with middle earth - as a matter of fact are simply long lists of what I suspect are movies, but I could be wrong. Just wanted to let you know... highly suspect behavior, that is. __________________ In God I trust, I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? Psalm 56:11 "Starbuck, what do you hear?" "Nothin' but the rain, sir!" "Then grab your gun and bring in the cat." Make sure to check out the C.S. Lewis forum. Game threads, movie and book discussions and more! Last edited by Midge : 04-06-2011 at 06:28 PM.

04-05-2011, 08:48 PM	#38
*Earniel* The Chocoholic Sea Elf Administrator Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: N?n in Eilph (Belgium) Posts: 14,363	Hah, it's been a while since we had such a bold spammer. Should be dealt with now. __________________ We are not things.

04-06-2011, 06:27 PM	#39
Midge Faithful Gardener Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: I walk here and there, they say... Posts: 3,603	I always feel terrible in the case of it being an actual human poster who's accidentally trying to spam - I don't want to point my finger and say, "HIM! HE'S SPAMMING US!" as if I were the Moot God or something, condemning that person to being gecko-smacked or whatever it is you do. __________________ In God I trust, I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? Psalm 56:11 "Starbuck, what do you hear?" "Nothin' but the rain, sir!" "Then grab your gun and bring in the cat." Make sure to check out the C.S. Lewis forum. Game threads, movie and book discussions and more!

06-17-2011, 01:18 AM	#40
Aikanáro Chaotic Good Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Mar Vanwa Tyaliéva Posts: 827	Have we got a golf spammer in the Hobbit forum? (Nothing wrong with threads about golf, but just - not that many, and not there ) __________________ Vanima i metta nauva, nan anda ar sarda nauva i mallë.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
The TeaCup Cafe Part 9 (a.k.a. The Recreation Room NCC-1701)	Spock	Entmoot Archive	449	04-04-2006 10:41 PM
Let's Delete Blatant Spam Threads	Nurvingiel	Feedback and Tech Problems	15	05-09-2005 06:19 PM