How do we stop them? - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

The Might · 01-07-2010, 08:30 PM

I guess the interviews are a joke right?

Just googled a bit looking for possible answers on how to achieve this on a vBulletin forum. Upgrading to version 3.6 would bring improved image captchas, but I'm not sure how much that would help... it would against bots, but if these are real people then it wouldn't help.

Also, a couple of addons were mentioned which either make it unattractive for spammers to post in the forum by blocking the links they post or addons detecting keywords in their posts as spam and sending them to the moderation queue.

Otherwise, the only other idea I found interesting was moderating new members, so only allowing them to post once they were manually unlocked by an admin. Not sure how well that would work though.

Loslote · 01-07-2010, 08:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Might

I guess the interviews are a joke right?

Yes. That's why I added the

. Mostly I am always joking, so it's a pretty safe assumption to make.

Lalaith · 01-08-2010, 06:59 AM

Following on from Loslote's idea, change typing Tolkien to answering a question....What has it got in its pocketsss?

Ibrîniðilpathânezel · 01-08-2010, 09:30 AM

I might suggest asking people to type something like my name, but then, even I have to cut and paste it to get it right. And even most Tolkien fans look at it and go "what the ----?"

Estelyn Telcontar · 01-10-2010, 09:01 AM

Dear member who used several * to tell a spammer to leave: annoying as they may be, they are bots. They will not react to any responses by you or others, whether polite or profane. The only solution is for us to ban them and delete their posts/threads, which we do as fast as we can. Thank you.

Eönwë · 08-07-2010, 03:49 AM

It seems that two of them have recently joined, but not yet posted (1 and 2).

Just thought I'd mention it as I saw in them in the Active and Newest members section at the bottom of the front page, and they have no posts yet.

Inziladun · 08-07-2010, 07:49 AM

If you search the Members List by the number of posts, probably the last eight or nine pages or so (ie, the ones that have zero posts) are almost exclusively spammers. Sometimes they'll lie dormant for a while before slamming the host forum.

Bêthberry · 08-07-2010, 08:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eönwë

It seems that two of them have recently joined, but not yet posted (1 and 2).

Just thought I'd mention it as I saw in them in the Active and Newest members section at the bottom of the front page, and they have no posts yet.

At least one of them will have a bad hair day when it posts.

01-07-2010, 08:30 PM	#1
The Might Guard of the Citadel Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Oxon Posts: 2,205	I guess the interviews are a joke right? Just googled a bit looking for possible answers on how to achieve this on a vBulletin forum. Upgrading to version 3.6 would bring improved image captchas, but I'm not sure how much that would help... it would against bots, but if these are real people then it wouldn't help. Also, a couple of addons were mentioned which either make it unattractive for spammers to post in the forum by blocking the links they post or addons detecting keywords in their posts as spam and sending them to the moderation queue. Otherwise, the only other idea I found interesting was moderating new members, so only allowing them to post once they were manually unlocked by an admin. Not sure how well that would work though. __________________ “The invisible and the non-existent look very much alike.” Delos B. McKown

01-08-2010, 06:59 AM	#3
Lalaith Blithe Spirit Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 2,779	Following on from Loslote's idea, change typing Tolkien to answering a question....What has it got in its pocketsss? __________________ Out went the candle, and we were left darkling

01-08-2010, 09:30 AM	#4
Ibrîniðilpathânezel Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Back on the Helcaraxe Posts: 733	I might suggest asking people to type something like my name, but then, even I have to cut and paste it to get it right. And even most Tolkien fans look at it and go "what the ----?" __________________ Call me Ibrin (or Ibri) :) Originality is the one thing that unoriginal minds cannot feel the use of. — John Stewart Mill

01-10-2010, 09:01 AM	#5
Estelyn Telcontar Princess of Skwerlz Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: where the Sea is eastwards (WtR: 6060 miles) Posts: 7,500	Dear member who used several * to tell a spammer to leave: annoying as they may be, they are bots. They will not react to any responses by you or others, whether polite or profane. The only solution is for us to ban them and delete their posts/threads, which we do as fast as we can. Thank you. __________________ 'Mercy!' cried Gandalf. 'If the giving of information is to be the cure of your inquisitiveness, I shall spend all the rest of my days in answering you. What more do you want to know?' 'The whole history of Middle-earth...'

08-07-2010, 03:49 AM	#6
Eönwë Flame Imperishable Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Right here Posts: 3,928	It seems that two of them have recently joined, but not yet posted (1 and 2). Just thought I'd mention it as I saw in them in the Active and Newest members section at the bottom of the front page, and they have no posts yet. __________________ Welcome to the Barrow Do-owns Forum / Such a lovely place

08-07-2010, 07:49 AM	#7
Inziladun Gruesome Spectre Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Heaven's doorstep Posts: 8,039	If you search the Members List by the number of posts, probably the last eight or nine pages or so (ie, the ones that have zero posts) are almost exclusively spammers. Sometimes they'll lie dormant for a while before slamming the host forum. __________________ Music alone proves the existence of God.

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