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New Anti-Spam measures
- Absent Minded
- Posts: 3464
- Joined: 2006-07-09 08:50
- Location: Washington State U.S.A.
- Been thanked: 3 times
New Anti-Spam measures
Today Mez added some new anti-spam measures that we believe will help this forum out quite a bit. Big applaud for Mez!
Thank you Mez.
We have already seen a large reduction in the spam-bots making posts. Nothing is 100% effective but I believe this anti-spam measure will go a long way in helping eliminate our current spam problem.
Thank you Mez.
We have already seen a large reduction in the spam-bots making posts. Nothing is 100% effective but I believe this anti-spam measure will go a long way in helping eliminate our current spam problem.
Serving the community the best way I can.
Spreading the tradition of Community Spirit.
Please read some Basic Forum Philosophy
Give a man a fish, he eats for a day. Teach him how to fish, he eats for life.
Updated Nov. 19, 2012
Spreading the tradition of Community Spirit.
Please read some Basic Forum Philosophy
Give a man a fish, he eats for a day. Teach him how to fish, he eats for life.
Updated Nov. 19, 2012
Re: New Anti-Spam measures
Finally! Three cheers. Hip, hip, horray!
Full speed ahead and leave the spam bots in the dust!
Full speed ahead and leave the spam bots in the dust!
- rivenathos
- Posts: 217
- Joined: 2009-01-09 11:57
Re: New Anti-Spam measures
This is excellent news. Thanks, Mez!
Running Debian on Dell: OptiPlex 3010, OptiPlex 7010, OptiPlex 9010, and Inspiron 1545.
Linux User #461545
Savannah, Georgia, USA
Linux User #461545
Savannah, Georgia, USA
Re: New Anti-Spam measures
Excellent!Absent Minded wrote:Today Mez added some new anti-spam measures that we believe will help this forum out quite a bit. Big applaud for Mez!
Anti-spam mods will reduce the problem to a level that is easily handled by moderators.Nothing is 100% effective but I believe this anti-spam measure will go a long way in helping eliminate our current spam problem.
Thank you Mez.
Re: New Anti-Spam measures
I would have seen a reason for a thanks 1 and half a year ago.
In other words: When the spam problem first got out of hand, was mentioned in a thread, where possible solutions were proposed (and ignored, for said time).
In other words: When the spam problem first got out of hand, was mentioned in a thread, where possible solutions were proposed (and ignored, for said time).
"I am not fine with it, so there is nothing for me to do but stand aside." M.D.
Re: New Anti-Spam measures
Unfortunately this is true.nadir wrote:I would have seen a reason for a thanks 1 and half a year ago.
In other words: When the spam problem first got out of hand, was mentioned in a thread, where possible solutions were proposed (and ignored, for said time).
- Absent Minded
- Posts: 3464
- Joined: 2006-07-09 08:50
- Location: Washington State U.S.A.
- Been thanked: 3 times
Re: New Anti-Spam measures
While it is long over due and I understand some of our members are resentful about how long, still, now is much better than not at all.cynwulf wrote:Unfortunately this is true.nadir wrote:I would have seen a reason for a thanks 1 and half a year ago.
In other words: When the spam problem first got out of hand, was mentioned in a thread, where possible solutions were proposed (and ignored, for said time).
Serving the community the best way I can.
Spreading the tradition of Community Spirit.
Please read some Basic Forum Philosophy
Give a man a fish, he eats for a day. Teach him how to fish, he eats for life.
Updated Nov. 19, 2012
Spreading the tradition of Community Spirit.
Please read some Basic Forum Philosophy
Give a man a fish, he eats for a day. Teach him how to fish, he eats for life.
Updated Nov. 19, 2012
Re: New Anti-Spam measures
Late is better than never. I can't bring myself to worry about what is past.
Always on Debian Testing
Re: New Anti-Spam measures
Just out of curiosity, I looked to see what these new anti-spam measures looked like.
On the initial signup screen at least, there is a second "anti-spam" question. Unfortunately, it looks like it'll prove to be just exactly as easy to spoof via script as the old "what is the middle number?" doodad (which is still in place).
I fear that the current respite may prove to be at best a temporary lull until the bot writers update their automated signup script(s).
On the initial signup screen at least, there is a second "anti-spam" question. Unfortunately, it looks like it'll prove to be just exactly as easy to spoof via script as the old "what is the middle number?" doodad (which is still in place).
I fear that the current respite may prove to be at best a temporary lull until the bot writers update their automated signup script(s).
Re: New Anti-Spam measures
That second question was added a while ago - and before the anti-spam measures.dasein wrote:Just out of curiosity, I looked to see what these new anti-spam measures looked like.
On the initial signup screen at least, there is a second "anti-spam" question. Unfortunately, it looks like it'll prove to be just exactly as easy to spoof via script as the old "what is the middle number?" doodad (which is still in place).
I fear that the current respite may prove to be at best a temporary lull until the bot writers update their automated signup script(s).
Have a look @ the timezone selection - and/or try registering with a known spammers details (stopforumspam.com)
Re: New Anti-Spam measures
It's more than that. We now use a blacklist compiled by forums around the world.dasein wrote:Just out of curiosity, I looked to see what these new anti-spam measures looked like.
On the initial signup screen at least, there is a second "anti-spam" question. Unfortunately, it looks like it'll prove to be just exactly as easy to spoof via script as the old "what is the middle number?" doodad (which is still in place).
I fear that the current respite may prove to be at best a temporary lull until the bot writers update their automated signup script(s).
- Absent Minded
- Posts: 3464
- Joined: 2006-07-09 08:50
- Location: Washington State U.S.A.
- Been thanked: 3 times
Re: New Anti-Spam measures
While the signup stuff has not changed much, there is now a database of known spammers (not sure if that is IP or URL or both really) that is dynamically updated by this board as well as others that use this plugin across the internet. For example each time we use our new counter measures on a previously unknown spammer, that database is updated so other boards can benifit from our efforts as we also benifit from their efforts.dasein wrote:Just out of curiosity, I looked to see what these new anti-spam measures looked like.
On the initial signup screen at least, there is a second "anti-spam" question. Unfortunately, it is just exactly as easy to spoof via script as the old "what is the middle number?" doodad (which is still in place).
I fear that the current respite may prove to be at best a temporary lull until the bot writers update their automated signup script(s).
Serving the community the best way I can.
Spreading the tradition of Community Spirit.
Please read some Basic Forum Philosophy
Give a man a fish, he eats for a day. Teach him how to fish, he eats for life.
Updated Nov. 19, 2012
Spreading the tradition of Community Spirit.
Please read some Basic Forum Philosophy
Give a man a fish, he eats for a day. Teach him how to fish, he eats for life.
Updated Nov. 19, 2012
- thanatos_incarnate
- Posts: 717
- Joined: 2012-11-04 20:36
Re: New Anti-Spam measures
I've seen a thing recently where users have to play a simple game in order to start a download.
It was as simple as "put the banana in the basket" and there were other items to choose from.
Could something like that be implemented here?
It was as simple as "put the banana in the basket" and there were other items to choose from.
Could something like that be implemented here?
Re: New Anti-Spam measures
Ah, so the new anti-spam measure(s) is/are something akin to a distributed blacklist. That's a hopeful sign.Absent Minded wrote:... there is now a database of known spammers ...that is dynamically updated by this board as well as others ...
Re: New Anti-Spam measures
We now work with http://www.stopforumspam.com/ and https://www.projecthoneypot.org/ among others. It helps dramatically.dasein wrote:Ah, so the new anti-spam measure(s) is/are something akin to a distributed blacklist. That's a hopeful sign.Absent Minded wrote:... there is now a database of known spammers ...that is dynamically updated by this board as well as others ...
Re: New Anti-Spam measures
I wasn't aware that Project Honeypot was still active, but it's nice to see that they are. (I actually contributed a couple of MX records to them a very long time ago, and was wondering just the other day if the project was still active, and thus would still need said records.)
Distributed blacklisting is a very powerful and very robust tool. And nearly impossible for the Bad Guys to defeat. Excellent choice. (Though I do worry a tad if email address is one of the things that is tracked/blacklisted. Google "Joe Job" for details.)
Distributed blacklisting is a very powerful and very robust tool. And nearly impossible for the Bad Guys to defeat. Excellent choice. (Though I do worry a tad if email address is one of the things that is tracked/blacklisted. Google "Joe Job" for details.)
Re: New Anti-Spam measures
"I am not fine with it, so there is nothing for me to do but stand aside." M.D.
Re: New Anti-Spam measures
Well , I can see My job here is done
( as miniscule as it was , flagging spammers )
( as miniscule as it was , flagging spammers )
Re: New Anti-Spam measures
@Pick2
1) Reporting spam is not, never has been, and never will be, a "miniscule" contribution.
2) While the automatic anti-spam measures recently put in place will help tremendously, some spam still gets through. So you're not out of a job... it's just that your job is now a whole lot easier (mine too).
1) Reporting spam is not, never has been, and never will be, a "miniscule" contribution.
2) While the automatic anti-spam measures recently put in place will help tremendously, some spam still gets through. So you're not out of a job... it's just that your job is now a whole lot easier (mine too).