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Stop Spammer

Started by M-DVD, December 31, 2008, 07:31:43 AM

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Matthias

I've made a few updates to the mod, but probably won't make any more.
There is a new and I think better mod from SleePy
https://custom.simplemachines.org/index.php?mod=4311
Quality first

SD-X

Quote from: Matthias on April 14, 2022, 01:40:23 PMI've made a few updates to the mod, but probably won't make any more.
There is a new and I think better mod from SleePy
https://custom.simplemachines.org/index.php?mod=4311
His mod is decent, but lacks many of the features this mod has that I use to stop the spam from getting through.

Matthias

What features specifically are you using?
Quality first

Sebastiii

Quote from: Matthias on April 14, 2022, 01:40:23 PMI've made a few updates to the mod, but probably won't make any more.
There is a new and I think better mod from SleePy
https://custom.simplemachines.org/index.php?mod=4311
I did install it too, it's working good, because it avoids spammer to register directly 👍

Matthias

I just remembered, I still have a version for 2.0.x where you can set whether spammers should go into the approval loop or be rejected directly with a message.
But I had never published. I have to put it together again and package it...
It is only for 2.0.x
Quality first

SD-X

Quote from: Matthias on April 14, 2022, 03:06:25 PMWhat features specifically are you using?
My biggest ones are the features to go back and check existing users, (which is useful on large forums, and also helps catch those who slipped through because they weren't known to the database during their registration), and the ability to decide on what happens automatically when the database connection isn't working.

This mod also has a history of working very well, (without conflict), with httpBL, (which is sadly also lacking updates). I don't know if the other SFS mod has any issues with this or not, but I'd like to be able to keep that compatibility if httpBL ever does get updated. The two together pretty much stop everything without the need to do anything like ban bad IP routes or use registration questions. (This mod does most of the work, and httpBL tends to catch the stragglers). I've used them for years together with amazing success on numerous forums.

Don't get me wrong. I think the other mod is great, and I'm using it as a temporary workaround until this one is updated, but this one is just better for my particular use case. (I like catching each and every spammer, not just the ones that post).

Steve

Quote from: Sebastiii on April 14, 2022, 01:08:20 PM
Quote from: Steve on April 14, 2022, 11:58:09 AMFYI ... anyone other than the mod author attaching older versions of a mod isn't allowed.
Ok, sorry, I didn't know that, now I can run the latest version.
No worries. :)
DO NOT pm me for support!

Matthias

I know what you mean. You would like to select users in Admin Center and check directly if they are spammers or not.

I also found that very good in the mod. But exactly with this feature I have big problems for SMF 2.1.x

On the other hand I am glad that there is a good new mod for 2.1.x in my opinion. You can turn on that the spam registrations are logged.
Quality first

SD-X

Quote from: Matthias on April 14, 2022, 03:40:11 PMOn the other hand I am glad that there is a good new mod for 2.1.x in my opinion. You can turn on that the spam registrations are logged.
Unfortunately I'm still seeing an average of about 4 spammer registrations a day still getting through with the other mod running, so being able to check these is really important to me. :(

Steve

DO NOT pm me for support!

SD-X

Quote from: Steve on April 14, 2022, 05:48:49 PMGetting through to your forum?

Have you done something like this: https://simplemachines.org/community/index.php?topic=531660.msg3776163#msg3776163
Nope. I'll never use questions or anything that requires users to interact beyond a simple click because most of them, (as we all know from experience), aren't always the brightest bulbs and have extreme difficulty completing some of the most basic tasks. For forums like mine that also support users from around the world, and have some that don't have a great understanding of the English language, there is going to be difficulty with some types of questions that bots already have no problem getting around.

I know this will probably start a debate leading to people thinking my point of view is ignorant, but I've been able to successfully mitigate 99.9% of spam bots from my forums over the years using a simple, basic ReCaptcha mod, (original and the "No Captcha" versions), StopSpammer, and httpBL with extreme success. (I do the same on my PHPBB-based forums too). On some forums I've added further mods that read from different databases similar to Stop Forum Spam and Project Honey Pot for extra protection, but they weren't really necessary as long as the other ones were operating correctly.

Matthias

@SugarD-x
You have removed the SMF copyright in your forum. Then you can't expect support here.
Quality first

Steve

Nice catch @Matthias.

@SugarD-x, Matthias is indeed correct. Don't expect any more support until you replace the copyrights and leave them there.
DO NOT pm me for support!

Kindred

Quote from: Steve on April 15, 2022, 10:47:50 AMNice catch @Matthias.

@SugarD-x, Matthias is indeed correct. Don't expect any more support until you replace the copyrights and leave them there.

To be clear: while you are legally allowed to remove the SMF copyright, the position of SMF  is that, if you remove the SMF copyright, you have indicated that you do not need the support of the community and, therefore, SMF team members, and many helpers on this community site will not provide support to admins of that site.

You are not allowed to alter the SMF copyright in any way. Remove or leave. You CAN add additional lines.
Слaва
Украинi

Please do not PM, IM or Email me with support questions.  You will get better and faster responses in the support boards.  Thank you.

"Loki is not evil, although he is certainly not a force for good. Loki is... complicated."

Sir Osis of Liver

Does the mod work in 2.1?
Ashes and diamonds, foe and friend,
 we were all equal in the end.

                                     - R. Waters

Matthias

No, it is actually only for 2.0
Have a look at this:
https://custom.simplemachines.org/index.php?mod=4311
Quality first

SulevFan

Hi folks, while I'm here, let me ask for advice. Many years ago I registered on the Stop Forum Spam forum (https://www.stopforumspam.com/forum/)

Now I seem to be unable to log in or do the usual password recovery. I've tried emailing admin there, twice over a couple of months, but to no avail.

Any other ideas how I can recover my registration?



EL34

I have a couple suggestions for Stop Spammer mod

I am using version 2.4 on SMF 2.0.19
I also use Mod httpBL and it shows this currently Spammers stopped by MOD httpBL: 406886

I have been using both these mods for many years

I get up to 10+ spammers trying to register on my Forum every day (look at my screen shot)
All potential members must be approved by me, the admin, so no one gets automatic approval.

I block many spammer IP's using a format like this 5.188.210.*
I currently get over 400 hits every day in the error log and ban log for spammers trying to re-register using the same IP address, so that works very well.
I have to clear these logs every day and it seems to be getting worse by the day.

I really would like to take this spam protection a step further by not allowing anyone to try and register if their IP AND email show up in the spammer data base.

I don't care about the user name because many user names are common, like Bob and that does not mean they are a spammer, just a guy named Bob and there are lots of legit Bob's

I also would like the 10 verification questions to be shuffled when presented to someone trying to register.
I shuffle these manually every so often and it seems to slow down the spammers for a few days.
I think the spammers share the questions and answers and they are using some sort of automated registration bot?

So to recap the two things I would like to see added:
No one can register if their IP and email is in the data base. (Don't care about the username?
Shuffle the verification questions

Is anyone interested in having these same items added to the mod?

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Forum History -> EZBoard -> YABB -> SMF 1.1.19 -> SMF 2.0.19

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