Method of decreasing spam

[Grantofhell]

Unfortunately, because the forum isn't very active all the time, Setting something that requires human input (let alone 5) might take a while for a legit user to get on and post a simple thread about resolving their issue(s).

I'm voting on the 10 post minimum before links/pics/etc are allowed. It wasn't just links we had an issue with, pictures as well, si?

 

[Legodude522]

Unfortunately, because the forum isn't very active all the time, Setting something that requires human input (let alone 5) might take a while for a legit user to get on and post a simple thread about resolving their issue(s).

I'm voting on the 10 post minimum before links/pics/etc are allowed. It wasn't just links we had an issue with, pictures as well, si?

Not a bad idea but they still can just post the links as text rather than hyperlinks.

 

[Grantofhell]

There is absolutely no way to keep all forms of spam out. So we increase the complexity of our CAPTCHA...They increase the ability of their bots. It actually happens the other way around. Like Seti said, the price of peace is eternal vigilance. We can make all the systems we want, they'll still get in somehow. Not that we should just letit happen, but keep the worst of things (like pornography) out of the forums by preventing new members from being able to post that kind of thing. At least with the links as only text, someone will actually have to copy-pasta it to the URL to follow it. The unfortunate part about links is that most people don't preview the link before they just click it. Some spams are virus links. Some are just trying to sell something.

 

[lhamil64]

I think that having a minimum amount of posts to add links/pictures sounds best. I've seen it done on a couple of other forums and it seems like a pretty good idea. Really the only downside is if a new member needs to put up a screenshot for help with something (or participate in a Show your Desktop thread) then it is a little annoying. However, I think that most new members probably wont be putting up screenshots in their first post.

Another thing I've seen implemented on other forums is a warning whenever a link is clicked. For example, if someone clicks a link in a post, it would first take the user to a page telling them the link could contain viruses/malware (etc) and that it could also be used to phish their password. I see how this can be pretty annoying if the link is harmless but there could be an option in the user control panel (or somewhere else) to turn off the warning.

 

[lhuser]

Don't ban free email address providers. If everybody used their ISP address, then Free email providers wouldn't need to exist.

I'd consider banning Chinese IP addresses. I know that might sound racist or whatever, but I dont think anyone here posts from china, and a disproportionate amount of Spam comes from there.

That reminds me of notebookforums. They had that thing where free email addresses were banned. What a waste!

Adding more mods wont decrease the amount of spam we get. It may help get rid of it a bit quicker. Forums get spam, that's the nature of the beast. Even the larger, more popular forums get inundated at times.

Well, mods in different timezones can improve the spam patrolling.

The price of peace is eternal vigilance.
The bots get smarter and we have to scramble to catch up. The captcha series of spam blocks has been defeated and it's been reported the Q and A is on its way out also. A human operator signs up and then cuts the bot loose.
A sure fire way to keep them under control is to have the new signups in a usergroup that has no hyperlinks, avatars, sigs, or access to PM/emails for say 10 or so posts (and the lobby doesn't count). By then staff should be able to figure out if it's legit or a spammer. Buzz did something like that at CV and it's working great.

That, I second.

I have an idea, lets close the forum to all new members. That will take care of the spam problem forever.

Hence, you defeat the purpose of a forum

Anything that involves a human is too time consuming. Instead, we should implement a modification that would prevent new users from posting links until they have completed five posts.

Simple and effective.

True, but it could be easily be worked around. But it does help.

 

[Atomic Rooster]

Well, mods in different timezones can improve the spam patrolling.

We do have mods in different time zones. The US, UK, and Australia. We have three zones covered in the US alone if I'm not mistaken.

 

[lhuser]

What about in Russia Gasp! Nah, just kidding, but I wouldn't doubt that.

 

[vampist]

Restricting links and pictures can be very frustrating if you are trying to get help. Think about it...

Anything that requires human interaction, just throw out those ideas.

The only thing that is going to stop them with out restricting real people that need help is randomly generated questions.

For example:
Please select the mad face:
What planet are we on: Earth, Mars, Saturn.
What goes inside a sock: Shoe, Hand, Foot.

You just need to be clever, replacing the questions for ever new user (randomly generated).

Adding more mods won't help stop spam.

Also even if you stop links in the post, you will still get the spam bots that post it in their signatures. (Yes I know it only comes out as plain text in the signature)


EDIT: Also don't name the image files for what the represent. e.g. happy.gif

 

[foothead]

What about in Russia Gasp! Nah, just kidding, but I wouldn't doubt that.

In soviet Russia, forum moderates you.

Had to say it.

Adding increased captcha won't really help. It seems like a lot of the spammers are human, or a human does the captcha.

The no link/image thing for 5 posts seems to be a winner. At the very least, people will see what URL they are going to, and I am sure less will bother to hilight it, right click, and hit 'go to url'

 

[David Lindon]

Restricting links and pictures can be very frustrating if you are trying to get help. Think about it...

Anything that requires human interaction, just throw out those ideas.

The only thing that is going to stop them with out restricting real people that need help is randomly generated questions.

For example:
Please select the mad face:
What planet are we on: Earth, Mars, Saturn.
What goes inside a sock: Shoe, Hand, Foot.

You just need to be clever, replacing the questions for ever new user (randomly generated).

Adding more mods won't help stop spam.

Also even if you stop links in the post, you will still get the spam bots that post it in their signatures. (Yes I know it only comes out as plain text in the signature)


EDIT: Also don't name the image files for what the represent. e.g. happy.gif

This would only stop Automated spam, any human can join and spam the forum