Blocking Registration for IP Range (CIDR)

[DarkStarX]

Hello,

We have noticed that we are beginning to get quite a few suspected spambot registrations on our forum.  Before this problem gets really out of hand, we have decided that we are going to selectively deny registration from certain IP ranges.

We are using SMF 1.1.12 and understand that we can use a wildcard mask for a ban based on the IP address, however we are not clear on how to use this to block a range of addresses.

For example, consider the IP range 58.22.0.0 - 58.23.255.255.  Would the syntax be:  58.22.0.*:58.23.255.255?  If not, what would the correct syntax be?

I did search the site for a post addressing this question, but did not find any posts that addressed this question specifically.  My apologies if my search parameters missed it.

Thank you!

Frank

[ripystys]

You may want to go to the Member section as admin, and do the following:

Admin -> Members -> Ban members -> Add new ban

Ban name: IP range 58.22-23.*.*
Expiration: Never
Reason: (Reason for ban, to be displayed to banned member)
Notes: (add information why you banned this range, for yourself)
Restriction: Full ban
Triggers -> Ban on IP: 58.22-23.*.*

[Add]

This will block anyone from the IP range banned from trying to register.
My recommendation:  Try to find out owner and location of domain range, using e.g. URL Dogg, and: Don't ham it up.

Regards,
rip

[Illori]

you could also look into a mod like Bot Buster that can stop the bots before they even successfully register on your forum.

[JimM]

Or better yet, if your host provides cpanel, deny the IP range before they ever get to your site in the host control panel.  You can also use an .htaccess file to deny access to a specific range.

[cicka]

Or better yet, if your host provides cpanel, deny the IP range before they ever get to your site in the host control panel.  You can also use an .htaccess file to deny access to a specific range.

That is the most efficient way in my opinion. That is how I do it too.

[JimM]

@ DarkStarX - Were you able to resolve this issue with the suggestions made? 

[SportPistol]

Many personal thank for the posts in this topic.
The advise went to great use as our forum has been attacked by many foreign registration requests.
Installed Bot Buster per guidance from http://custom.simplemachines.org/mods/index.php?mod=1599 and immediately have seen a halt to foreign registration attempts.
Your collective knowledge is appreciated.

[JimM]

Marking this one as solved as the information provided should be sufficient.