Influx of Spam - Page 2

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.

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

)

The Gaffer · 06-17-2011, 04:54 AM

Hang on, wasn't golf invented by The Bullroarer? Didn't he whack some goblin's head clean off and it rolled down a rabbit hole?

Once I make the PGA tour I am going rename myself Bullroarer Baggins. Hey, if you can call yourself Tiger and have people not laugh in your face, it should be easy...

***Earniel*** · 06-17-2011, 06:12 AM

Heh, if our little spammer had bothered to think about mentioning the Bullroarer, I could have been persuaded not to smack him with the plastic gecko.

Midge · 06-17-2011, 01:06 PM

Sweet gecko justice has been served! Hah!

Aikanáro · 06-21-2011, 07:12 AM

Golf spam strikes again!

A laita Valandil for making it vanish!

Midge · 07-05-2011, 08:25 AM

Possibly there's a spammer for solar energy in the General Messages board... or just someone who is really gung ho for the environment.

Midge · 08-31-2012, 12:50 AM

http://entmoot.com/showthread.php?t=15788

This showed up in The Hobbit Movies forum. I'm assuming it's not supposed to be there.

Midge · 08-31-2012, 12:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eärniel

Questions about Feanor's name would limit the newbies only to those who have read the silmarillion. For a silmarillion forum, that would make sense, but not for one with broader tolkien forums.

Could be fun though, having a whole question form to go through to register, but I think it's only for the die-hards of fans.

Also can we just make this for fun?

04-16-2010, 04:24 PM	#1
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	#2
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	#4
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	#5
*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.

04-05-2011, 08:24 PM	#6
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	#7
*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	#8
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	#9
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.

06-17-2011, 04:54 AM	#10
The Gaffer Elf Lord Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: In me taters Posts: 3,288	Hang on, wasn't golf invented by The Bullroarer? Didn't he whack some goblin's head clean off and it rolled down a rabbit hole? Once I make the PGA tour I am going rename myself Bullroarer Baggins. Hey, if you can call yourself Tiger and have people not laugh in your face, it should be easy...

06-17-2011, 06:12 AM	#11
*Earniel* The Chocoholic Sea Elf Administrator Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: N?n in Eilph (Belgium) Posts: 14,363	Heh, if our little spammer had bothered to think about mentioning the Bullroarer, I could have been persuaded not to smack him with the plastic gecko. __________________ We are not things.

06-17-2011, 01:06 PM	#12
Midge Faithful Gardener Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: I walk here and there, they say... Posts: 3,603	Sweet gecko justice has been served! Hah! __________________ 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!

06-21-2011, 07:12 AM	#13
Aikanáro Chaotic Good Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Mar Vanwa Tyaliéva Posts: 827	Golf spam strikes again! A laita Valandil for making it vanish! __________________ Vanima i metta nauva, nan anda ar sarda nauva i mallë.

07-05-2011, 08:25 AM	#14
Midge Faithful Gardener Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: I walk here and there, they say... Posts: 3,603	Possibly there's a spammer for solar energy in the General Messages board... or just someone who is really gung ho for the environment. __________________ 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!

08-31-2012, 12:50 AM	#15
Midge Faithful Gardener Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: I walk here and there, they say... Posts: 3,603	http://entmoot.com/showthread.php?t=15788 This showed up in The Hobbit Movies forum. I'm assuming it's not supposed to be there. __________________ 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!

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