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Spam Solutions?

By pacov on May 18, 2011 11:54:04 PM from Demigod Forums Demigod Forums

So, being a mod on the dg forums, I get to see the amount of spam that seems to hit the forums via brand new accounts, etc (even after its deleted, etc).  Now obviously, if an actual person is doing this, then there's not a heck of a lot that can be done.  Is there any concern that this is done via script, though?  And if so, can anything be done to make it more difficult to prevent the complete nonsense spam? 

I suggest something that would be quite annoying, but could potentially solve quite a bit of the problems.  What if there was a timer that did not allow new users to post for 2 days?  That would likely defeat any sort of spam script (eg typically all the spam comes from 1 account on 1 day and then is gone).  It would also deter a human that was hired to post horse crap.  And, as no one else has a solution like this in place, it would not likely be adapted to via script, etc.  Anyway, my 2 cents, but it would be good not to see as many silly as spam posts here imo.  And I'm sure everyone would agree. 

A simple, yet annoying way to implement this would be to queue up any forum confirmation email (if SD uses them - can't remember) for 24 hours.  If the emails are sent via timed job, that shouldn't be too difficult (thought I doubt they are).

+171 Karma | 14 Replies
Reply #1
pacov
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May 18, 2011 11:54:12 PM from Demigod Forums Demigod Forums

nt

Reply #2
EternalRequiem
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May 19, 2011 1:22:44 AM from Elemental Forums Elemental Forums

... there is a thing called IP banning now on a forum I help run. if someone does it we mark said person/member as a spam bot and not only does it ban the member but it also bans the IP address. Normally we don't get spammers because we keep up on things and don't let them slip past our nets.

Reply #3
Jafo
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May 19, 2011 2:16:37 AM from WinCustomize Forums WinCustomize Forums

OMG...not all 'spam' here [on SD's forums] is from immediate/new members.  Often 'they' will try to legitimize their presence first....play a waiting game for 'effect'.

I've been 'at it' here for almost 10 years now, almost always applying a Ban to minimize recurrences.

There's several clear indicators for defining a spammer [even without the spam] but I'm not about to publish them here [would only benefit the spammer]...

Catch me via IRC and I'll pass them on to you...

Reply #5
Jafo
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May 19, 2011 2:18:44 AM from WinCustomize Forums WinCustomize Forums

Forgot to mention....last spammer 'taken out' by me survived as a member for just on 15 minutes.

[That ain't the record]...

Reply #6
myfist0
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May 19, 2011 4:53:20 AM from Sins of a Solar Empire Forums Sins of a Solar Empire Forums

Corporations are good at making corporate subsidiaries. Stardock creates a security subsidiary that charges $20,000 for the removal of spam and the account with can be claimed by a suit against the spammer via the TOS. 

The delay on the account would piss off a lot of new members which will create a lot of posts for that reason. I hate spam but not that much.

 

Reply #7
Campaigner
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May 19, 2011 7:47:46 AM from Elemental Forums Elemental Forums

It's easy to fix but Stardock needs to fix stuff then.

 

On other forums when you sign up, there's this question: "How many unicorns are there in the picture above?" and the above has a pic of 10 unicorns. It has be randomly generated all the time though.

I actually answered wrongly on those questions several times...the answerfield didn't say if it wanted numbers or letters

 

One thing though, I don't see a moderator badge on Pacov but does he (and DrJBL) have power in the Elemental forums as well..?

 

Reply #8
Jafo
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May 19, 2011 7:52:34 AM from WinCustomize Forums WinCustomize Forums

Quoting Campaigner,
reply 6
One thing though, I don't see a moderator badge on Pacov but does he (and DrJBL) have power in the Elemental forums as well..?

Forum Moderators tend to be site-specific, whereas 'Admins' are Admins on all of Stardock's sites...

Reply #9
pacov
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May 19, 2011 10:49:41 AM from Demigod Forums Demigod Forums

Quoting Jafo,
reply 7
Forum Moderators tend to be site-specific

yup - you only see the mod badge if you go through Demigod forum portals -

https://forums.demigodthegame.com/

Anyway, I'll try to catch you on IRC sometime soon then, Jafo.  Thanks.

 

Reply #10
DrJBHL
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May 19, 2011 10:55:47 AM from WinCustomize Forums WinCustomize Forums

Might be nice if there were a 'list' of Mods and their Forums....

Reply #11
Island Dog
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May 19, 2011 11:54:47 AM from Elemental Forums Elemental Forums

Considering how many forums we have, the amount of "bot" spam is very low actually.  We can't impose a timer because people come o the forums for support and help, and that wouldn't be helpful for them to wait to do that.

 

Reply #12
Campaigner
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May 19, 2011 12:38:18 PM from Elemental Forums Elemental Forums

Besides, the mods need to do SOMETHING once in a while to earn their badges

Reply #13
Jafo
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May 19, 2011 7:56:29 PM from WinCustomize Forums WinCustomize Forums

Quoting Campaigner,
reply 11
Besides, the mods need to do SOMETHING once in a while to earn their badges

"Badges? We ain't got no badges. We don't need no badges! I don't have to show you any stinkin' badges!"...

Reply #14
pacov
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May 19, 2011 8:41:25 PM from Demigod Forums Demigod Forums

oneupmanship

Classic.

Reply #15
Uvah
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May 19, 2011 10:17:45 PM from WinCustomize Forums WinCustomize Forums

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