Fraking Spammers - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: RayJones
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 11, 2010, 09:35:02 am
content: What is with all these newbie, ie first post, bullshit posts in the recent days?Obviously spammers (or a sole agent) given the consistent bullshit at the bottom signature of these posts.Perhaps it is time to toughen up the registration procedure, or somehow moderate the first few postings of newbies to prove they are worthy of uttering on the board at large?Unfortunately it doesn't solve the problem for the poor sucker faced with such moderation procedures, which is probably Dave given we are not moderated.

author: RayJones
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 11, 2010, 09:36:01 am
content: Actually, perhaps not even spammers, but definite troll behaviour.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 11, 2010, 11:24:51 am
content: Anyone got any good plugin ideas?I already have a Captcha and a human question, so if they are getting past automatically I don't know how.Dave.

author: cksa
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 11, 2010, 12:06:32 pm
content: ban links in signatures until more than 10 posts?

author: Kiriakos-GR
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 11, 2010, 01:17:43 pm
content: Quote from: cksa on September 11, 2010, 12:06:32 pmThat's an good idea ... making it like 30 posts before the " profile signature " become editable ,its even better ..

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 11, 2010, 01:20:08 pm
content: Quote from: cksa on September 11, 2010, 12:06:32 pmI don't see an option for that.Anyway, the links are dead giveaway that they are spammers, and that's needed because they are getting pretty clever at actual post content!I've added another random registration puzzle.Dave.

author: JohnS_AZ
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 11, 2010, 01:45:19 pm
content: In my opinion you could just disable signatures. I don't use that function and see that many others don't. Although some other users might feel strongly about that.

author: Simon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 11, 2010, 01:46:02 pm
content: personally I think it is a person or a small group that are humanly registering as it's always a similarly stupid question and the exact 4 links with the same text formatting, you might want to see if forum updates address the issue if you suspect a bot, I was having lots of bots on the rotaract forum I started and then upgraded the software and now I get virtually none

author: Simon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 11, 2010, 01:50:16 pm
content: Quote from: JohnS_AZ on September 11, 2010, 01:45:19 pmwell it's nice to be able to put in links to things you have an interest in like your own site or another hobby but yes there are boards that have a blanket ban on links in sigs or sigs at all to address that but no not everyone will be pleased with the idea, it won't stop them trying anyhow and when they figure that out they will just put the links in the post and go back to being merciless and less suttle, after all they have nothing to loose.banning certain email domains works a treat, I know many use google mail addresses but i've banned many a weird *@strangedomain.com/cn/tw etc domain addresses

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 11, 2010, 01:51:55 pm
content: I wouldn't be surprised if static questions are just answered once by a human. Disabling links in a signature might be a fair trade-off if it would actually block these bots.Do they come from constant IP blocks that you can block? It will always be cat and mouse game, but it would be to reduce the amount of work on the cat's part.

author: Bored@Work
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 11, 2010, 01:59:23 pm
content: What should disabling links in signatures or signatures at all fix?The spammers would simply put the links in the message body. You should come to terms that spammers are professional, organized crime. Professional assholes, no doubt, but these assholes won't be stopped in any way by disabling the signature. They will simply adjust their software for the next round, and try again.

author: migsantiago
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 12, 2010, 12:14:31 am
content: When spam arises, forum admins enable moderators to control it. Moderators are chosen based on their profile realibility, online time and forum how-to knowledge.As for now, spam is kinda slow in this forum. I think that when Dave finds it hard to be deleting and banning trash by himself, he will select some people to fight those spammers.

author: GeoffS
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 12, 2010, 01:35:37 am
content: One forum I'm on allows signatures but doesn't allow HTML code in them.You can still cut and paste the link info but not click on it directly.The problem is that SMF, the code behind this forum, does not have an option for that.

author: Zero999
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 12, 2010, 09:28:48 am
content: Have you signed up tohttp://www.stopforumspam.com?Another good idea would be to ask a basic question to prove the person has at least some electronic knowledge and an IQ greater than an earthworm.Some examples:Which is a better conductor of electricity: wax or copper wire?What's more dangerous: a 9V battery or the mains?Which uses more power: a pocket calculator or an electric train?Anyone too stupid to answer the above shouldn't be allowed post here.Fortunately I've not seen any idiots here so far, other than spammers and the one who goes on about itunes all the time. Another forum I used to visit was packed with them and could've done with an idiot filter and I would'v liked to have added a question with a diagram of a solar panel connected to a light shining on it or a motor connected to a generator both mechanically and electrically - there were too many free-energy-tards there too.

author: Simon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 12, 2010, 09:35:00 am
content: I was thinking that too, have an simple electronics quiz so that you need to put in human intelligence to register and are not that stupid you will piss us all off (I haven't forgotten a certain member that I've not seen here in a while and was being really dump to the point of being annoying)

author: Jon Chandler
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 12, 2010, 01:00:58 pm
content: The Swordfish Basic forum was plagued with a spammer for "Ugg Boots" for the longest time. Page-long posts listing different styles and saying how comfortable they are. I have a really hard time imagining a person logging into a technical forum, seeing a post about Ugg Boots and deciding to order a pair or two! I guess it just takes one or two orders to make it worth it to the spammers.

author: Simon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 12, 2010, 01:05:08 pm
content: I think that spamming is fast becoming just a nuisance, we all recognise it and ignore it where as in the past people might go and look. The same porbalby goes for google ads and others, it has all become just part of the experience

author: Jon Chandler
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 12, 2010, 01:20:55 pm
content: Maybe some weedout questions to sign up for the forum should be:Would you buy Ugg Boots, Viagra or a Rollex watch from a post in the microcontroller forum?

author: Simon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 12, 2010, 01:40:03 pm
content: Quote from: Jon Chandler on September 12, 2010, 01:20:55 pmyea that would be a good one lol