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why all the spam? forum becoming very hard to use
https://www.dirtdoctor.com/efl/dirtDoctor/why-all-the-spam-forum-becoming-very-hard-to-use-t14084.html
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Author:  kb5won [ Fri Jul 01, 2011 3:14 pm ]
Post subject:  why all the spam? forum becoming very hard to use

I like to visit this site every week or so, but lately I've noticed huge amounts of spammers. What is going on with that?

I know there are several plug-ins with SMF (the forum software I'm familiar with) that cut down or prevent spam. Is there anything that can be implemented to this forum do clean it up?

Author:  khwoz [ Fri Jul 01, 2011 4:03 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: why all the spam? forum becoming very hard to use

Because Admin. doesn't bother to check new posts; not even daily & don't seem to care!

Author:  admin [ Fri Jul 01, 2011 10:13 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: why all the spam? forum becoming very hard to use

khwoz wrote:
Because Admin. doesn't bother to check new posts; not even daily & don't seem to care!


Not sure who you are referring to, but I get in here when I can, granted, not daily, and clean up the mess. The reason we are seeing so much is that the slimeball spammers know that a tiny fraction of their posts attract new users to their sites and they are taking advantage of the decision to open the forums to all...I'm certain everyone at DirtDoctor.com cares, it's just an issue that we're trying to work through and arrive at the best result for all.

Author:  Doug [ Sat Jul 02, 2011 7:09 am ]
Post subject:  Re: why all the spam? forum becoming very hard to use

The spammers register as new Forum members. It is not a machine creating automated spam. The spam is one of the downsides to the benefits we receive from the internet and this Forum. It is unfortunate, but there are people who are willing to invade our community with their spam messages. We check the Forums for spam as often as we can to remove the posts from spammers. The process to stop this spam is to review each post before it goes live - and this is not a good solution for people who want to communicate in real time in this Forum.

To your second point, we do care about our Forum, our website, our community and helping people to live a more natural organic lifestyle.

Author:  kb5won [ Sat Jul 02, 2011 7:52 am ]
Post subject:  Re: why all the spam? forum becoming very hard to use

I understand the problem well. There are things other than holding every message that can be implemented to deal with spammers.

established users don't need to have their messages held... this problem is similar to the one TSA is faced with, but they choose to punish everyone equally as well.

Author:  khwoz [ Sat Jul 02, 2011 4:37 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: why all the spam? forum becoming very hard to use

Doug wrote:
The spammers register as new Forum members. It is not a machine creating automated spam. The spam is one of the downsides to the benefits we receive from the internet and this Forum. It is unfortunate, but there are people who are willing to invade our community with their spam messages. We check the Forums for spam as often as we can to remove the posts from spammers. The process to stop this spam is to review each post before it goes live - and this is not a good solution for people who want to communicate in real time in this Forum.

To your second point, we do care about our Forum, our website, our community and helping people to live a more natural organic lifestyle.

YOU HAVE 18 AS OF 5:30 SAT. 7-2-11; THIS IS VERY CARING, NATURAL & HELPFULL! TO HELP OUR COMMUNITY BETTER; MAYBY YOU COULD START A PORN & SPAM FORUM?

Author:  sandih [ Sun Jul 03, 2011 6:50 am ]
Post subject:  Re: why all the spam? forum becoming very hard to use

The spam gets cleaned up as quickly as possible. The comment about the admin not caring is not very appropriate.

Author:  khwoz [ Sun Jul 03, 2011 4:16 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: why all the spam? forum becoming very hard to use

:cry: 8 more at 4:50 Sun., more earlier. No,the spam does not get cleaned up as quickly as possible! If admin. cared, someone would ck & delete c*** several times a day! The whole problem is profit motivated, Doug says edited as often as possible (no one is paid to do this except in their spare time). By the way, what are moderators doing to correct this issue? I don't see them reporting issues to admin. :roll: Did anyone notice that the word "c***" was edited but porn & spam gets through?

Author:  kb5won [ Sun Jul 03, 2011 8:05 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: why all the spam? forum becoming very hard to use

Here are some things that I'm doing on the forum I manage to deal with spammers:

1- new members can only post in a few of the boards, expected to introduce themselves. after they have made two posts, all the other boards open up and allow posting (automatic)

2- policy in place that you need to introduce yourself within a week of creating an account, or it gets deleted (I have to manually do this) -- I've noticed that most of the spammers set up accounts that remain dormant for some time, then they come back and start posting the spam.

3- all accounts must have an active email account (automatic)

4- I use a forum spam tool that checks several of the spammer databases against known abusers (uses hostname, IP, username, and email) - then ban those with 'known records'. This has been the biggest deterrent so far.


Maybe some of these things could be adapted for use here?

Author:  kb5won [ Sun Jul 03, 2011 8:09 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: why all the spam? forum becoming very hard to use

OH, I was going to add that banning based on IP is important. Many of the spammers have hundreds of accounts and email addresses they use, but it is harder for them to use different IPs.

The chance of banning a good person based on IP is there, but it is minuscule. Most of the spam users that try to use my forum get blocked based on their IP.

Author:  Doug [ Sun Jul 03, 2011 8:46 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: why all the spam? forum becoming very hard to use

khwoz - I have deleted spam eight times today - approx. every 1.5 hours. Spam is an issue and the moderators and Admins are attacking the spam the best we can. Instead of complaining, how about helping? We can give you access to help remove the spam posts. OK?

kb5won - All of your suggestions are already implemented except for the one week waiting period before someone can post. We are spending a lot of resources, time and energy on this issue. We appreciate you taking the time to give us your suggestions. If you find new ideas, please let us know.

Author:  sandih [ Mon Jul 04, 2011 6:00 am ]
Post subject:  Re: why all the spam? forum becoming very hard to use

I can only delete posts in my forum. There is a moderator forum that you cannot see where we do notify off spam. We do this in our SPARE time after working full time jobs elsewhere. We do this for free to try to help others with organic gardening questions.

Author:  khwoz [ Mon Jul 04, 2011 3:26 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: why all the spam? forum becoming very hard to use

Doug, there were two options; ignore & excuse or complain. I chose complain. Yes, I'll try to help. PM me with info.

Author:  Doug [ Mon Jul 04, 2011 11:36 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: why all the spam? forum becoming very hard to use

Thank you very much. Your response and assistance is wonderful. I will contact you tomorrow.

Author:  Yard Food [ Sat Jul 09, 2011 9:45 am ]
Post subject:  Re: why all the spam? forum becoming very hard to use

I actually called in about this once. And someone actually answered the phone, so someone is aware and working. She was quite nice too, I should add.

Some suggestions.

Registration should require more applicant input. New members would have to fill out the location, birth date, gender, email and other type it in yourself fields for their reg to be accepted. For the privacy minded, you can put in bogus info, so long as the bd is over, say, 13 years old. Not so much for controlling who's in by age but to make a step you have to do correctly. You could probably get away with djfkghsdfkghkdf in a type in field since it is text, unless someone reviewed every application by hand, and that's ridiculous. But typing in something is still an extra step. Making the process take longer discourages spammers. It knocks out bots by the drove and cuts down on real person spammers too. They're not trying to spend much time regging. It takes away from spamming time.

Make it so the only way to activate your account is to click the email link, log in through it and activate your account. More steps, less spammers.

Time limits on posts. A member can only make one post every 5 minutes. It's like a cool down timer on spammers. They don't like it. Members will be spending that 5 minutes reading and composing. Most will never notice it.

All mods are global. Any mod can edit, move and delete any post in any forum.

Ban spammers. I'm sure they are, and with zero tolerance. There are spammers out there who will actually make half way valid looking posts and lace them with spam, or put spam in their signature. No benefit of doubt for them. Banana ramma their butts.

Anyway, love the show. Listen every Sunday.

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