Hello guys
I have a problem with spam messages on my forum. The problem is that they use real accounts of our users (or even users who were real users before) so I don't know the best way to stop them.
I use SMF 2.0.19
Ban the user accounts for lapsed users and change the passwords for current users and let them know (only useful if you know the account hasn't been hacked and/or the email address changed) ...
Quote from: GL700Wing on September 29, 2024, 08:18:26 AMBan the user accounts for lapsed users and change the passwords for current users and let them know (only useful if you know the account hasn't been hacked and/or the email address changed) ...
Thanks for the suggestion! But yeah, there are too many of those accounts. I was banning them for a while, but they just keep coming back with new accounts.
Quote from: PaulCastellano on September 29, 2024, 06:12:06 AMI have a problem with spam messages on my forum. The problem is that they use real accounts of our users (or even users who were real users before) so I don't know the best way to stop them.
It looks like your users accounts have been compromised. Go this page and download the resetpwds.php file. Upload it to the root of your forum and run it from the browser.
https://github.com/SimpleMachines/tools
That will ensure that all your users passwords have been reset. You can inform them about that by sending a mass email or putting up a notice in the News section.
If I were you I would also do a scan of the forum folder/server space to make sure that there aren't any stuff that shouldn't be there.
Quote from: PaulCastellano on September 29, 2024, 12:42:47 PMThanks for the suggestion! But yeah, there are too many of those accounts. I was banning them for a while, but they just keep coming back with new accounts.
If they are creating new user accounts you could try using verification questions with the Image for Anti-Spam Verification Questions (https://custom.simplemachines.org/index.php?mod=4278) mod - this combination is very effective at reducing the number of spammers who register.