Cant stop the spam : (

[xerus`]

I run a SMF forum (version 1.1.14) and spam is a big problem.  Just last week I removed about 6,000 accounts registered from spam bots.

I added the SMF verification questions, and chose two questions that are incredibly specific to the community, and this has not slowed down spam registrations at all.  I also tried adding the "stopforumspam" filtering system, and this seems to only slow down spam by about 40 to 50% (which is pretty decent!)

Does anyone have any additional tips or success stories with stopping spam bots from registering?  I tried recaptcha, but that proved to be pretty worthless as well so I removed it.

Thanks : )

[Aleksi "Lex" Kilpinen]

Well, I've used The default captcha on high + HttpBL + Verification questions, and the combo has worked very well.
In addition, I've blocked Tor networks from accessing select sites I run, because they were being hammered hard from Tor at one point..

[wandawill]

here is the main bot attacker at my forum. I have run several ips and just about all of them are in China. I put their own abuse emails in my forum news, hopefully they will get some of their own medicine. I have never had a bot make it passed my 5 questions, but there is always a few trying.

http://www.chinanetspam.com/

[xerus`]

What kind of verification questions are you guys using?

[Illori]

ones that only people have a real reason for using my forum would be able to answer. questions like is 1+4=5 are easy questions that bots would be able to answer. questions like what does SMF stand for may be more complicated for them to answer, or what is abbreviation for simple machines forums.

[wandawill]

I change them often, but they are real simple for the sake of people that don't speak English.
what is bob's name? starts with a b ends with a b
what color is green?
not one single bot has made it in

[clorimer]

I change them often, but they are real simple for the sake of people that don't speak English.
what is bob's name? starts with a b ends with a b
what color is green?
not one single bot has made it in

I'm new to all of this still; where do I find the mod or whatever it is that adds the verification questions to my forum? (I'm using 1.1.14)?

[Illori]

http://custom.simplemachines.org/mods/index.php?mod=1516 and use http://custom.simplemachines.org/mods/index.php?mod=2113 to get it installed

[Aleksi "Lex" Kilpinen]

There you go, the second one there

After trying out alternatives, I've found this combination of two mods/settings to stop nearly all spammers if combined:

HttpBL For 1.1 and 2.0 &
Anti-Spam Verification Questions for 1.1 (2.0 has this built in)

EDIT: Ninja'd, although - It doesn't need the version emulation - It should install fine without it

[clorimer]

http://custom.simplemachines.org/mods/index.php?mod=1516 and use http://custom.simplemachines.org/mods/index.php?mod=2113 to get it installed

- - - - - - - - - -

There you go, the second one there

After trying out alternatives, I've found this combination of two mods/settings to stop nearly all spammers if combined:

HttpBL For 1.1 and 2.0 &
Anti-Spam Verification Questions for 1.1 (2.0 has this built in)

EDIT: Ninja'd, although - It doesn't need the version emulation - It should install fine without it

Thanks much to both!

[a10]

Cant stop the spam

yes, you can.

I use 3 questions, very specific to forum content, and any potential legit \ wanted member will know the answers, any bot definitely not, and any human-bot would have to waste quite some time researching and trying. If any spam registration should ever make it through, I'm ready to switch to new questions asap. So far so good.

see http://www.simplemachines.org/community/index.php?topic=436750.msg3065887#msg3065887