An increasing amount of spam...

[-Archmage-]

Lately I've noticed a lot more spam. :| Does anyone know any reason why that may be?

[ultifd]

I have a feeling that updating to 1.1.12 may have broken some of the addons (tabs in posting, for example), but the security ones seem fine, but I'll try and run some tests when I get the time, make sure they are working and all.

Or possibly just more and more bad luck/the bots/spammers are getting better. I really can't wait for SMF 2.0!

[Omega]

I'm leaning towards coincidence. It could be worse, someone could mention us on troll's home ground (4chan). I really don't think the new account creation stuff worked, but nothing much to do about that. SMF 2 would be nice, but conversations with the Glest Team indicated they would prefer it to be a non-RC release before we install it, and I'd rather not go against their decisions, with them being the ones footing the bill on the hosting.

[-Archmage-]

I'm leaning towards coincidence. It could be worse, someone could mention us on troll's home ground (4chan). I really don't think the new account creation stuff worked, but nothing much to do about that. SMF 2 would be nice, but conversations with the Glest Team indicated they would prefer it to be a non-RC release before we install it, and I'd rather not go against their decisions, with them being the ones footing the bill on the hosting.

Hmmm..... Well I guess without the spam Ultifd n' I would be outta a job! :P

[ultifd]

:O I'd rather use that time to help test MG and GAE...  :D
No spam=better Constellus too. Although, I wish we had that Historical Romans faction.

[-Archmage-]

No spam=better Constellus too.

Haha. Nah, deleting a message doesn't at all affect the quality of my work.

Although, I wish we had that Historical Romans faction.

Sorry, the way everything is looking I'll be with the Constellus Team for probably another year at least. As for developing my own faction, I'd need help and a Historical Romans mod wouldn't be my number 1 idea.

[ultifd]

Haha. Nah, deleting a message doesn't at all affect the quality of my work.

I mean you would have more time to work on Constellus. :) I'm pretty sure that equals a better mod. ;)

As for developing my own faction, I'd need help and a Historical Romans mod wouldn't be my number 1 idea

Oh, I just thought about that because you seemed really determined about it before. What would be your # 1 idea then?

[Gabbe]

Do you perform IP bans=?

[-Archmage-]

Quote
Haha. Nah, deleting a message doesn't at all affect the quality of my work.
I mean you would have more time to work on Constellus. Smile I'm pretty sure that equals a better mod. Wink

I don't constantly work on Constellus, I read the forums too, and spending two seconds deleting a topic is just as valuable as reading another one so I really don't lose any time at all!  ;D
Look at this we quarrel about anything. :O

Quote
As for developing my own faction, I'd need help and a Historical Romans mod wouldn't be my number 1 idea
Oh, I just thought about that because you seemed really determined about it before. What would be your # 1 idea then?

We're going a bit off-topic so just to wrap this up: It's been awhile since I was "determined", I started some work on it actually, not much, but I lost inspiration. My number 1 idea is top secret. :P

Do you perform IP bans=?

Those are too easy to get around, I have no clue why they were invented. :P I would just block them by username and password, that way no matter where they come from, and since they can't log in and change their user/pass, then they're locked out perfectly. :D ...And an ip ban just in case they are.....*ahem*( :confused:).

[ultifd]

Whatever :P
I suppose I also thought that because (before) I would remove the topic or message, then PM Omega about deleting the accounts. Anyways, the next version of SMF should fix all these problems...

[titi]

No I don't think this can easily be fixed. Look at the way those "bots" work around the captchas if things get too difficult to solve fully automatically:

They open up a porn page for example and let the users solve captchas before they get access to a movie or picture. And now guess which captchas they show them to solve? Their server presents them the captchas of registrations like the ones from the glest forum ...

And this is just one way to deal with spam protections .....

[-Archmage-]

No I don't think this can easily be fixed. Look at the way those "bots" work around the captchas if things get too difficult to solve fully automatically:

They open up a porn page for example and let the users solve captchas before they get access to a movie or picture. And now guess which captchas they show them to solve? Their server presents them the captchas of registrations like the ones from the glest forum ...

And this is just one way to deal with spam protections .....

How about Administrators can define a level of trust a user has? If you have no trust you have to do a captcha for each post. If you have LOW trust you have to do a captcha on videos and pictures. Normal trust is you don't have to do any captchas cause you're a normal user. :P

[Ishmaru]

I believe the more popular something gets the more spammers you get. So as much as we hate them at least we know Glest is still popular!!  ;D Maybe i'm a little too optimistic. :P

PS if we do capatchas please no advanced math... I'm terrible at math... :'(

[ultifd]

No I think this could easily be fixed with some addons...but we can't install those... because something is outdated.
Overall I think 2x should fix all of this, it's much better. If not we can just install those mods. :)

How about Administrators can define a level of trust a user has? If you have no trust you have to do a captcha for each post. If you have LOW trust you have to do a captcha on videos and pictures. Normal trust is you don't have to do any captchas cause you're a normal user. :P

No need for bots. :P

[Omega]

It's worth noting that bot accounts are disposable. Every one is a unique email, IP address, and username, and are usually only used to post once or twice. Banning is impractical, and I delete the accounts sometimes, but usually just leave it as they are far too numerous anyway.

[John.d.h]

Is there an easy way to mass-delete a bunch of accounts?  Because somebody could bulldoze through the members list pretty quickly.  Even just deleting a few hundred of the obvious ones would help clean out the clutter.

[ultifd]

Is there an easy way to mass-delete a bunch of accounts?  Because somebody could bulldoze through the members list pretty quickly.  Even just deleting a few hundred of the obvious ones would help clean out the clutter.

http://www.simplemachines.org/community/index.php?topic=415691.0
Perhaps you could use this method to delete spam accounts? Be careful though, if you do.

Something like this, I guess.

[Omega]

I'd rather wait for 2.0 so we can use one of the pre-existing methods of removing the accounts.

[titi]

I think the best way to prevent spam are glest form content related question instead of captchas :)
These can be changed whenever needed, are related to our content and cannot be solved automatically.

[Zoythrus]

I think the best way to prevent spam are glest form content related question instead of captchas :)
These can be changed whenever needed, are related to our content and cannot be solved automatically.

like, "What are the original two factions in Glest?"

and about deleting bots, if you guys need help with that, i'll help you guys out.

[-Archmage-]

I think the best way to prevent spam are glest form content related question instead of captchas :)
These can be changed whenever needed, are related to our content and cannot be solved automatically.

like, "What are the original two factions in Glest?"

and about deleting bots, if you guys need help with that, i'll help you guys out.

Well.......if bots can do captchas then they should be able to do this......... Do they look in the page source code or something for the correct answer? Because obviously they don't read the images. :P

Hahahaha, nice try Zoy. :O

[Zoythrus]

i was just thinking that such a task would take a while to do, so im offering my help...

[Omega]

Well.......if bots can do captchas then they should be able to do this......... Do they look in the page source code or something for the correct answer? Because obviously they don't read the images. :P

Captchas are specially made to prevent that, but asking a question like "the two original magitech factions" is only secure if the answer is conducted server side, which would need a much larger change due to the way the structure of the PHP files are. However, one technique many bots use is to have humans do the first captcha anyway, such as by making porn sites enter them, etc;

[Gabbe]

There are already enough mods & admins, the ones currently assigned i am sure can do the job just fine right? or you little lazy you no?

[ElimiNator]

I have noteced lots of spam being posted, and it takes quite a wile to be removed.