This forum is being SPAMMED... help?

[sindre_mehus]

Thanks for giving me the names and IP of the spammers, SpritHansi.

To remember which ones I have blacklisted I'll remove the corresponding posts from this topic.

Have a nice weekend,
Sindre

[SpritHansi]

OK

[squipple]

I'm not quite sure I follow where the spam is coming from, but...

I had an issue on my phpBB forum where a bunch of "users" were registering that were spambots or just plain non-users. Adding picture confirmation security packages, etc. didn't help at all. Spambots already knew how to get around them because they're widely publicized. I got rid of 100% of them with a simple trick. Add a simple required quesiton to the register page that only someone who has browsed your site can answer. For example "What is Subsonic's tagline?" Answer would be "Easy Listening".
Spambots will attempt to fill out the form and fail to answer that required field and won't be registered. Bing! no more new spammers.
Then all I had to do is delete all the spamming users that were already registered.
Hope this helps.

[agroni1888]

Hows about that:

Let's set up a whole new subsonic forum (with: mybb, phpbb3, or what ever we want, as long as its free).

I wouldn't make any efforts with overtaking users and posts. Just a new clean Forum with the newest (free) Version.

The important Topics can be manually copied (which wouldnt be many I guess) and in the new Forum you should have some mods from the beginning... just a little mor structure and done.

I would help if needed (that means if you'd set up just a clean new Forum, I'd create the forums, categories, customize a little, etc.)

[evandena]

Have you thought about migrating off nasty phpBB? It's riddled with security flaws and full of spammers.
My biggest complaint against phpBB is it's lacking search feature, which is critical in providing support forums.

VBulletin is by far the forum leader, though it's $200.

Of the free options, MyBB is my favorite.

Both offer very effective migration tools. If you need a hand I'd be glad to help.

[alphawave7]

I'm not quite sure I follow where the spam is coming from, but...

I had an issue on my phpBB forum where a bunch of "users" were registering that were spambots or just plain non-users. Adding picture confirmation security packages, etc. didn't help at all. Spambots already knew how to get around them because they're widely publicized. I got rid of 100% of them with a simple trick. Add a simple required quesiton to the register page that only someone who has browsed your site can answer. For example "What is Subsonic's tagline?" Answer would be "Easy Listening".
Spambots will attempt to fill out the form and fail to answer that required field and won't be registered. Bing! no more new spammers.
Then all I had to do is delete all the spamming users that were already registered.
Hope this helps.

THIS is the solution, along with several others...but the primary wall is to force human involvement by question/answer, along with email activation.

[burjast]

I can also help moderating forum.

[sindre_mehus]

I can also help moderating forum.

Thanks a lot! I've given you moderator rights now.

Sindre

[burjast]

Tnx, i'll cover my timezone, so you guy's won't even notice spam appearing

[ccandreva]

One way to reduce spam is require email confirmation from new members. The board sends an email with a unique link that needs to be clicked before the account is active.

This is a common requirement these days. I was surprised when this board didn't require it.

[burjast]

it wouldn't stop this type of spamming..

[ccandreva]

My experience is that it is very effective in stopping bots. (I do web hosting for a living).

The typical bots we see use invalid email addresses, so they never get the confirmation, never activate, and never post.

Another sign is all fields other than the login/password fileed with the same string, recently a country name like Bogata.

[burjast]

best option would be not to allow links to be posted and maybe to block posts with spam words but yea, short term solution would be to enable activation confirm. email which should be in phpbb somewhere..

[Exrace]

I can also help with moderation if you like.
I have many years experience with phpbb.

[sindre_mehus]

I can also help with moderation if you like.
I have many years experience with phpbb.

Thanks! You now have mediator rights.