Spam Bots are back

torbrex

I have noticed over the last couple of days that the forum has been invaded by Spam Bots once again, this time it is love spells and black magic from India.

During the upcoming Forum redesign could you put in a 'Capcha' for newbies for their probation period.

I know I asked this before but here I am asking again. Its all very well saying "hit the spam button" but when members are faced with dozens of these :spam: messages, it does get a bit soul destroying at times.

molerat

Credit Card & Credit File boards are full, about 30 each. Captcha would be a good idea to help combat them.

Lube

Excellent idea although it may not cut down all spam it would certainly stop some of it

forgotmyname

Why not have a limit on new members? 1 post when signed up out of hours? Or for the first x amount of posts.

Or if a post is marked as spam it instantly blocks them from posting any more until reviewed.

Should slow them down a bit.

I have a feeling that this site maybe a no go area this weekend. The quantity today was off putting.

torbrex

I have no doubt that the Forum Team has a lot of measures already in place to deal with spammers, its just that when normal users of the site are at the sharp end and expected to do the work to stop them that it gets a bit waring.
Most of the types of spam that we have seen over the last couple of days happens through the night and early morning and it clogs up the forum search as well as the individual boards. I and others have previously suggested that dedicated and trusted members that are usually present at these times be given a little bit extra oomph to be able to stop these spammers quicker but it was rejected by the team.

Fruit_and_Nut_Case

torbrex wrote: »

I and others have previously suggested that dedicated and trusted members that are usually present at these times be given a little bit extra oomph to be able to stop these spammers quicker but it was rejected by the team.

I just came here to suggest something like that. I guess if the idea has already been rejected I won't bother.

custardy

torbrex wrote: »

I have no doubt that the Forum Team has a lot of measures already in place to deal with spammers, its just that when normal users of the site are at the sharp end and expected to do the work to stop them that it gets a bit waring.
Most of the types of spam that we have seen over the last couple of days happens through the night and early morning and it clogs up the forum search as well as the individual boards. I and others have previously suggested that dedicated and trusted members that are usually present at these times be given a little bit extra oomph to be able to stop these spammers quicker but it was rejected by the team.

Agreed. I mod on another VB board and there is a "1 touch ban & clean up function" for new members.
a couple of clicks and they are banned and all their posts deleted.
The beauty being my working hours mean Im up around 3-5am and catch most of the early morning spammers

fermi

custardy wrote: »

Agreed. I mod on another VB board and there is a "1 touch ban & clean up function" for new members.
a couple of clicks and they are banned and all their posts deleted.
The beauty being my working hours mean Im up around 3-5am and catch most of the early morning spammers

If even just board guides had that, it would help a lot. :cool:

custardy

fermi wrote: »

If even just board guides had that, it would help a lot. :cool:

Yup,its a great tool
You see one spam post and jobs one.
Doesnt matter about moderation rights on other boards.

fermi

Yep. As it is we see a lot of the spam, but can't do anything about it.

Spam button and reporting help, but takes too long, and sometimes just doesn't work.

pavlovs_dog

same problem on mortgage free wannabe board this morning

how about a spam warriors thread? We post links to threads that are obviously spam so that regular forumites can click the spam button in the hope of getting rid of them a bit quicker?

I know prevention is better than cure, but on weekends especially when forum team presence is scarce, it would at least allow a sense of normality to return. The front page of MFW is currently taken up by a spammer.