Kat recently unlocked the front door of the forum so anybody can register and post msgs.
They still need admin approval before they show up on the board, but that means an admin or moderator must look at and approve or delete dozens or hundreds of spam messages every day.
I tried, but couldn't keep up with the traffic. I gave up trying to delete messages and just deleted the accounts of known spammers. Last night I spent three hours and finally caught up at 2AM.
In the past week I approved just ONE new account for Blackie. I don't know if the other mods have seen any legitimate new accounts. The hundreds of other new accounts were all spammers listed in the anti-spam databases.
Please, please add one of the forum mods available at http://custom.simplemachines.org/mods/index.php
There were similar problems a few years ago on the FSP Forum and the problem went away when they installed a spam blocker mod.
I'll be on the road in a few days, away from the computer, so someone else will have to pick up the load
Thanks for your work Jerry.
I tried to get them to do the same thing on the Free Talk Live boards where someone, for some bizarre reason, just suddenly made me a mod. I was told it would require paying someone to do the install so it wouldn't happen. The mods, meanwhile, were all working for free. I quit modding. Spam away!
I have a feeling they were making it out to be a lot more of a deal than it really would be. I know it can't be much work to install an addon.
thanks jerry
I just approve anyone that isn't a robot and leave the rest
I don't know exactly how to get Kat to do forum things ...... she has to be in just the right mood and me saying anything probably ruins it .... so let's just pretend I didn't say anything
Quote from: Russell Kanning on November 13, 2013, 10:13 AM NHFT
... she has to be in just the right mood and me saying anything probably ruins it .... so let's just pretend I didn't say anything
Well then have you tried reverse psychology?
good idea
I must not do that quite right because it doesn't work either :)
Quote from: Russell Kanning on November 13, 2013, 10:13 AM NHFT
thanks jerry
I just approve anyone that isn't a robot and leave the rest
I don't know exactly how to get Kat to do forum things ...... she has to be in just the right mood and me saying anything probably ruins it .... so let's just pretend I didn't say anything
Well, if that's the way you want it done it will be lots easier on me, but won't your space run out soon?
Well, I couldn't stay away from it. I have OCD when it comes to spammers.
So after getting caught up on banning them and removing their messages I was randomly banning or deleting their accounts when I noticed that the ones I deleted were back the next day making new accounts from the same IP address.
SO , it is better to ban their accounts than to delete them, because this prevents them from logging on and leaving new messages with a new account.
I also found that by checking each new member against the spammer database I could ban them BEFORE they left any messages. If I do this twice a day it cuts the number of spams considerably.
The only problem with this is I can only ban them after they create an account. It would be much more effective if there was an option to ban with only the IP address before they make an account.
So if you are deleting a spammer's accounts, don't; it is better if you ban them instead.
As often as I check this forum (a couple of times a day, at least), I'm surprised that there is any spam problem. I know Jerry's not on here constantly to delete spam, yet I can't recall the last time I saw spam here.
Spam new user accounts? Yeah, there's not much to do about bot sign-ups. But if they're not posting, what's the problem?
Your diligence is appreciated Jerry. :) 8)
Quote from: KBCraig on November 21, 2013, 06:05 AM NHFT
As often as I check this forum (a couple of times a day, at least), I'm surprised that there is any spam problem. I know Jerry's not on here constantly to delete spam, yet I can't recall the last time I saw spam here.
Spam new user accounts? Yeah, there's not much to do about bot sign-ups. But if they're not posting, what's the problem?
If you are not a moderator or an administrator you don't see the couple dozen spams that are posted every day.
Yea we have to OK posts
So no spam will get through
So once a post has been allowed through, you can then post without moderation?
Quote from: dalebert on November 21, 2013, 10:43 AM NHFT
So once a post has been allowed through, you can then post without moderation?
I believe that is how it works.
I have seen exactly ONE legitimate new account and when I approved that message he was able to post more.
I don't know if the other moderators have approved any others.
Regular users don't see the Chinese, Polish, Korean, etc spammers who are pushing Viagra, Ugg boots and Asian travel agencies who sign up several accounts every day.
So the only problem they create here is using up disk space on Kat's server, but we could get a bad reputation from the search engines when their webcrawlers index all the links in the spam. This site will eventually be listed as a source of spam links. That's why I'm trying to block as many as possible.
This is all news to me. I'm a moderator, aren't I? I don't see any of this stuff, I don't know why. :-\
Quote from: Russell Kanning on November 13, 2013, 10:13 AM NHFT
thanks jerry
I just approve anyone that isn't a robot and leave the rest
I don't know exactly how to get Kat to do forum things ...... she has to be in just the right mood and me saying anything probably ruins it .... so let's just pretend I didn't say anything
What??!! You can't herd Kats?
Quote from: Raineyrocks on November 21, 2013, 04:44 PM NHFT
This is all news to me. I'm a moderator, aren't I? I don't see any of this stuff, I don't know why. :-\
Hello? :) Am I suppose to be performing certain duties as a moderator?
Oh, wait a minute! :duh: Once in a while I get emails like this : Raineyrocks,
This email contains a summary of all items awaiting approval at New Hampshire Underground.
The following topics are awaiting approval:
I didn't copy the whole thing in case this supposed to be private, but whenever I click on the link to it, they say this topic does not exist.
So what do I do?
Quote from: Raineyrocks on November 22, 2013, 06:56 AM NHFT
Quote from: Raineyrocks on November 21, 2013, 04:44 PM NHFT
This is all news to me. I'm a moderator, aren't I? I don't see any of this stuff, I don't know why. :-\
Hello? :) Am I suppose to be performing certain duties as a moderator?
Oh, wait a minute! :duh: Once in a while I get emails like this : Raineyrocks,
This email contains a summary of all items awaiting approval at New Hampshire Underground.
The following topics are awaiting approval:
I didn't copy the whole thing in case this supposed to be private, but whenever I click on the link to it, they say this topic does not exist.
So what do I do?
If it does not exist that means some other moderator has already deleted it.
Here's one http://nhunderground.com/forum/index.php?topic=26145.msg352137#msg352137
I'll not delete so you can see it
What you as a moderator should do is click on the sender's name and under Profile>>Actions>>Ban this User>>check the box Ban on IP>>Add
( DO NOT Delete the account instead of Banning)
Then using your browser's back arrow, until you get back to the message find the Remove button, click it, and you're done.
Thank you so much Jerry :)
When I clicked on the link it came up: An Error Has Occurred!
This topic doesn't exist on this board.
So I couldn't go through the steps you told me to. How do you know when you should ban or add somebody?
Quote from: Raineyrocks on November 22, 2013, 09:52 AM NHFT
Thank you so much Jerry :)
When I clicked on the link it came up: An Error Has Occurred!
This topic doesn't exist on this board.
So I couldn't go through the steps you told me to. How do you know when you should ban or add somebody?
I dunno what to tell you. When I click on the link the spam message shows up touting Uggs , Victoria secret and beats by dre.
Are you sure you are still a moderator?
Quote from: jerry on November 22, 2013, 10:12 AM NHFT
Quote from: Raineyrocks on November 22, 2013, 09:52 AM NHFT
Thank you so much Jerry :)
When I clicked on the link it came up: An Error Has Occurred!
This topic doesn't exist on this board.
So I couldn't go through the steps you told me to. How do you know when you should ban or add somebody?
I dunno what to tell you. When I click on the link the spam message shows up touting Uggs , Victoria secret and beats by dre.
Are you sure you are still a moderator?
Gosh, I think so because I get those emails once in awhile. It says I'm a moderator under TMI and Insufferable Peppiness and Gloating. I don't know. :-\
Quote from: Raineyrocks on November 22, 2013, 11:48 AM NHFT
Quote from: jerry on November 22, 2013, 10:12 AM NHFT
Quote from: Raineyrocks on November 22, 2013, 09:52 AM NHFT
Thank you so much Jerry :)
When I clicked on the link it came up: An Error Has Occurred!
This topic doesn't exist on this board.
So I couldn't go through the steps you told me to. How do you know when you should ban or add somebody?
I dunno what to tell you. When I click on the link the spam message shows up touting Uggs , Victoria secret and beats by dre.
Are you sure you are still a moderator?
Gosh, I think so because I get those emails once in awhile. It says I'm a moderator under TMI and Insufferable Peppiness and Gloating. I don't know. :-\
You only have access in the areas you moderate.
here's one from your area
http://nhunderground.com/forum/index.php?topic=26146.msg336994#new
That's so strange because if that's from my area I'm still coming up with this from your link: An Error Has Occurred!
This topic doesn't exist on this board.
Quote from: Raineyrocks on November 22, 2013, 12:13 PM NHFT
That's so strange because if that's from my area I'm still coming up with this from your link: An Error Has Occurred!
This topic doesn't exist on this board.
It's the second subject in Insufferable Preppiness and Gloating, touting Air Jordon shoes in French.
I'm just a global moderator. You need an administrator to explain this one.
Okay thanks Jerry. :) I think I need to update some things, it seems like my settings are outdated.
I can't update the version I need under Admin tab. I've tried everything I can think of. Does anyone that's a moderator want to call me and help explain how to update this?
If you do just send me a message and I will give you my phone number but please have patience with me through the process. ;D
I need a whole walk through because I can't even find a file associated/compatible whatever with the download.
Quote from: Raineyrocks on November 22, 2013, 02:19 PM NHFT
I can't update the version I need under Admin tab. I've tried everything I can think of. Does anyone that's a moderator want to call me and help explain how to update this?
If you do just send me a message and I will give you my phone number but please have patience with me through the process. ;D
I need a whole walk through because I can't even find a file associated/compatible whatever with the download.
sorry Rainey, that's not the solution; you can't upgrade the SMF forum, only Kat can do that.
If you really want to get involved with blocking spammers (I don't reccomend it--they are horrible people and it can be terribly frustrating) you might try emailing Kat and asking if she has set your permissions to allow that.
Okay thanks Jerry :) I don't think it was asking me to upgrade the SMF forum, it just said that I needed to update to a higher SMF than 2.02, it said the current SMF version was 2.06.
I was thinking though that maybe it's better if I don't because everything has been running fine I just thought I could be helpful but I really don't know what I'm doing. :P
I will if Kat needs me to though. :) Thank you very much again! ;D
Quote from: Raineyrocks on November 22, 2013, 03:29 PM NHFT
Okay thanks Jerry :) I don't think it was asking me to upgrade the SMF forum, it just said that I needed to update to a higher SMF than 2.02, it said the current SMF version was 2.06.
I was thinking though that maybe it's better if I don't because everything has been running fine I just thought I could be helpful but I really don't know what I'm doing. :P
I will if Kat needs me to though. :) Thank you very much again! ;D
According to Russel, Kat's attitude is to ignore them as long as the regular users can't see them
I'm just obsessive about not letting spammers gain any benefit from what they are doing.
Quote from: jerry on November 22, 2013, 12:26 PM NHFT
Quote from: Raineyrocks on November 22, 2013, 12:13 PM NHFT
That's so strange because if that's from my area I'm still coming up with this from your link: An Error Has Occurred!
This topic doesn't exist on this board.
It's the second subject in Insufferable Preppiness and Gloating, touting Air Jordon shoes in French.
Are you sure that isn't Rich? :)
ha ha Silent Bob
Jerry thanks
Rainey your main job here is to be the public face of this organization to the State representatives of NH. No geek chores expected of our BLONDE
Quote from: Silent_Bob on November 22, 2013, 05:27 PM NHFT
Quote from: jerry on November 22, 2013, 12:26 PM NHFT
Quote from: Raineyrocks on November 22, 2013, 12:13 PM NHFT
That's so strange because if that's from my area I'm still coming up with this from your link: An Error Has Occurred!
This topic doesn't exist on this board.
It's the second subject in Insufferable Preppiness and Gloating, touting Air Jordon shoes in French.
Are you sure that isn't Rich? :)
I thought Rich was in South America.
The spammer's IP was from China, maybe he's getting around more.
I've deleted hundreds of spam, but never knew about banning spammers.
Thanks. I'll be doing that now.
Quote from: Russell Kanning on November 22, 2013, 07:00 PM NHFT
ha ha Silent Bob
Jerry thanks
Rainey your main job here is to be the public face of this organization to the State representatives of NH. No geek chores expected of our BLONDE
Gee thanks Russell :) Wait a minute, serious question here! What if I dye my hair black? Does that mean I'm fired?
we could take a vote .... but to some of us you will always be the BLONDE
Quote from: Russell Kanning on December 08, 2013, 12:18 PM NHFT
we could take a vote .... but to some of us you will always be the BLONDE
;D I love it as long as everyone knows that I am intelligent it just comes out in different ways or words and of course dippy at the same time :) I am ME; I am the "BLONDE", I accept this 'position' with honor, thanks Russell!
Spam Project Update:
Well it's taken several weeks, but I think I've got a handle on our spam problem.
Today there were only 8 spammers that registered accounts and I caught most of them before they were able to post.
I think I've banned most of Asia and Eastern Europe's major spammers and I noticed they are using up their more valuable IP address; mostly open relays and compromised computers in Canada and the US.
If you are a moderator or administrator you can look at the Ban List and see the results. I've been putting the country of origin and number of entries in the StopForumSpam database in the Notes section.
PLEASE, PLEASE do not delete these accounts or all my work will have been for naught. The spammers still show up on a daily basis, but when they are blocked their scripts just go on to the next forum. If the account is deleted, the script will register a new account and I will have to start over.
I don't think I have, but if a non-spammer complains of being unfairly banned, check their IP address against one of the spam databases (I like StopForumSpam,) and tell them to run a virus check on their computer if you get a positive result.
Thanks for all your work Jerry.
indeed