NoSpam! - an alternative to CAPTCHA images

[antialiasis]

This hack is for vBulletin 3.6.x. For 3.5.x, please use the one provided in this thread. If you are using 3.7.x, you must use the one in this thread.

This simple hack is meant as a replacement for the default CAPTCHA system in vBulletin. There are two main reasons one might want to do this: firstly, new technology is constantly being developed to crack CAPTCHA images and make spam accounts anyway, and secondly, the more secure the CAPTCHA, the more difficult it is for genuine users to tell what the numbers in the image are. There is also the issue of visually impaired users, and the fact that not all servers are capable of generating CAPTCHA images.

So what does this hack do instead? It asks a question. Any question you want. That's the best part: YOU make up the questions, which means that every forum is unique, which means that it is impossible for spambots to be simply programmed to bypass it at all forums with the hack installed. You can make one or many questions - if you make many, the hack will pick one at random when a guest attempts to register, search, post or send mail through the Contact Us form. Their input is compared with your specified answer, and voil?, if they get it right they're pretty much guaranteed to be human. If they get it wrong, they're given an error message.

It doesn't have to be a complicated question. Heck, you can just make it "Please type 'blah' into this box." Or you can go with inserting a simple image with HTML and ask what is shown on the image. Or you can ask them to tell you two plus two. It's up to you. In fact, this can also be used as a means of forcing people to read the rules by asking for a certain password found there, or if your forum focuses on a specialized subject, ask a question concerning the subject that all your genuine users will be able to answer, but a random troll or "CAPTCHA-sweatshop-reader" will be scratching their head over.

It's simple to install, too: just one product to import, and that's it.


VERSION HISTORY:

3.0: Added functionality to allow users to specify which pages should use NoSpam!.
2.0: Extended the NoSpam! functionality to guest posts, guest searches and guest "Contact Us" in addition to registration.
1.1: Made template edit automatic (with thanks to Cole2026), added ability to have more than one answer to each question, and made answers case insensitive. To upgrade, I recommend undoing the template edit so you won't have to worry about it anymore (replace $nospamfield in the template register with $imagereg, or if you added $nospamfield above $imagereg, just remove $nospamfield altogether), and then reimport the product through the Admin CP (making sure that Allow Overwrite is set to On).
1.0: Initial release.


INSTALLATION:

Please download NoSpam!.zip, not product-nospam.xml, for the tested version. product.nospam.xml is NoSpam! 4.0 adapted blindly to 3.6, i.e. by editing the XML file for the 3.7 version without actually testing it on a 3.6 board. Theoretically it should work, but I cannot guarantee it at this time. If you download NoSpam!.zip and unzip it, it will contain another file called product.nospam.xml, which you should use.

1. Import product-nospam.xml through the Admin CP product manager.
2. Go to your vBulletin options in the Admin CP and select NoSpam! Settings. Once there, turn the system on and input your questions and answers according to the instructions there.

The system should now be functional and running. :)


UNINSTALLATION:

Just uninstall the product through the Admin CP.


SUPPORT:

Full support will be given here in this thread. All suggestions are welcome.

Thank you and please click "Mark as Installed" if you like it.


If NoSpam! is not working for you or you are looking for something a little different, you might want to check out Advanced Textual Confirmation (http://bbantispam.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=1092#1092).

[AzzidReign]

Wow...first to say thanks! I'll be installing this as soon as I'm done with my server mainenance!

[Kaezul]

Saw this on another forum the other day, it was pretty awesome. Good work.. Maybe I'll find it useful in the future.

[antialiasis]

On another forum? Can't have been the same thing, because I just made this up and haven't posted it anywhere else, but I wouldn't be surprised if you found something similar sometime.

[whitetigergrowl]

Awesome! Thank you!

[utw-Mephisto]

This is awesome easy and easy awesome :) thanks

* utw-Mephisto installs

[Kirk Y]

On another forum? Can't have been the same thing, because I just made this up and haven't posted it anywhere else, but I wouldn't be surprised if you found something similar sometime.

I too have seen this on another forum. Good idea -- but couldn't a script be programmed to simply input the appropriate answer, assuming there was only one question.

[y2krazy]

I'm sure there's a slew of possible questions in the database. Maybe even an option to use your own? :)

[Phaedrus]

Downloaded, installing later.... Thanks.

[SoftWareRevue]

Installed and appears to be working fine. Thanks!

[RMS-Chef]

I'm sure there's a slew of possible questions in the database. Maybe even an option to use your own? :)
If I understand correctly that is the point of this.
You create the custom question and answer.

[Jon_Simmonds]

Really nice idea, thanks :)

[Mr Chad]

umm, you could easily code a bot that grabs the string and adds the two numbers to produce the answer.

[blankoboy]

umm, you could easily code a bot that grabs the string and adds the two numbers to produce the answer.

Then you could simply create a different question and answer. Some example:


What do you put in your car to make it go? Gas
What company makes the Xbox? Microsoft
Do you stop or go at a green light? Go
What is the main ingredient in cheese cake? Cheese
Is it hot or cold outside in the winter? Cold


What I'd like to know, as I have not tried this yet, is does this support multiple questions/answers? Can I create question/answer list as above and they will randomly appear? Also are the answers case senstive?

If yes to my first question....I'll be installing this asap! Please make it not case sensitive. :)
Would be nice to see a screeny of the AdminCP for this!

[antialiasis]

The questions and answers are, as I thought I had made completely clear in the first post, completely customizable. There are no default questions or question formats that the bot could robotically answer. There is just an input field where you specify your questions and answers, which can be literally anything:

So what does this hack do instead? It asks a question. Any question you want. That's the best part: you make up the questions, which means that every forum is unique, which means that it is impossible for spambots to be simply programmed to bypass it at all forums with the hack installed.

Yes, it supports multiple questions:

You can make one or many questions - if you make many, the hack will pick one at random when a user attempts to register.

The answers are case sensitive at the moment, but I was now thinking about giving it a little more flexibility, both by making it case insensitive and allowing you to specify multiple possible answers to the same question (for example, if you were using the first question in your list, I believe the British would answer it with "Petrol" rather than "Gas").

I'll give you an admin CP screenshot when I've done those tweaks.

[blankoboy]

This is great! You can use it not only to prevent spambots from registering with your site but also as an aptitude prerequisite. ;) This would help to filter a lot of fools out of your membership. I keed, I keed (partially). ....:D

[eclectica]

You can have lots of fun making up your own customized questions.

[Smoothie]

Can this be used in conjunction with CAPTCHA?

[Mark.B]

What do you put in your car to make it go? Gas
Petrol!

[Kirk Y]

E85!

[hcmagix]

Now avaible for german vb users, Thanks antialiasis

Installed

[adwade]

Can this be used in conjunction with CAPTCHA?
YES, you sure can!

I just installed this MOD in Vb 3.6.0 and it's terrific. Works like a charm. If you want your users to get in on the fun, just post a message asking THEM for questions to use! ha, ha This is a BLAST! Many Thanxx antialiasis!:laugh:

[Phaedrus]

Watch out for users with Dyslexia... Spelling can be an issue.

[Cole2026]

You can eliminate the template edit (preventing you from editting a template, easier for upgrades.) by putting this code into the register_start hook location:
$vbulletin->templatecache['register'] = str_replace('$imagereg', '$nospamfield', $vbulletin->templatecache['register']);

[JulianWolf]

Does anybody know if it works for 3.5 also?

[Zachery]

So they modify their code to cpature this snipet of text and then use a human to enter the form number like they have before. It will only work so well for so long. I do feel its not a bad idea but im sure it won't be too hard for them to figure their way around this one.

[antialiasis]

If they are using a human to enter the answer, it is a problem, yes - but there is not exactly much else that can be done about human CAPTCHA readers, either. Your best bet is, as I mentioned, if you have a forum concerning a special topic and you ask a question relating to the topic which genuine users will be able to answer easily but an average human CAPTCHA reader won't. (Additionally, there is the fact that a lot of spamming companies are based in for example Russia, and while anybody can read a couple of numbers on an image, they would have to know a fair bit of English - or whichever language the forum is in - to be able to both understand and answer such a question.)

Thanks for the bit about avoiding the template edit, Cole2026 - I was thinking it could be handy to do that for this hack, but was too lazy to look up how to do that since I've never done it before.

And yes, it can be used in conjunction with the regular CAPTCHA - then just be sure to add the template edit above instead of replacing.

Dyslexic users should be able to refresh and get another question until they have one they can definitely spell - administrators should accommodate dyslexic users by not making the answers to all the questions overly difficult. I can't do much about that myself. (In any case, users whose dyslexia is so problematic that they have difficulties with fairly simple words are most likely not very common on internet forums that are entirely about reading and typing messages.)

I'm fine-tuning the upgrade with multiple answers and case insensitivity - should be up in just a little while.

EDIT: Version 1.1.

[ChrisTech]

On another forum? Can't have been the same thing, because I just made this up and haven't posted it anywhere else, but I wouldn't be surprised if you found something similar sometime.

It came from vbulletin.com forums (http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/showpost.php?p=1193538&postcount=28) which I'd bet many people acted on to stop their forums from being spammed.

If you make this plugin/hack backwards compatible for the diff. versions of VB, many folks will LOVE you for it.

[antialiasis]

It's a similar concept, yes, but at its core a completely different hack - it's based on one plugin and a custom profile field, with only one question and one answer, and not a matter of controlling things through the admin CP at all.

I already think this should more or less work for 3.5 with a couple of minor edits to the product XML to remove the 3.6-only stuff, given that it's fairly simple and not really interacting much with any default vBulletin functions...

[adwade]

And yes, it can be used in conjunction with the regular CAPTCHA - then just be sure to add the template edit above instead of replacing.
EDIT: Version 1.1.

Question for those of us who've already installed your previous version: I kept the CAPTCHA code and placed your's in front of it.(figure one more layer of security is better) So how do I install this updated version?

By that, I mean will it remove the CAPTCHA code from my template? Or reverse the order I have them in? Do I need to UNinstall, revert my templates, then install this new version -or- can I just import the .xml and overwrite?

Sorry so many questions, but I'm quite new (i.e. 3wks) at all this.

Thanxx, AD

[dvsDave]

The new updated product doesn't have the code that Cole2026 suggested in it. :confused:

[antialiasis]

It does... There was already a plugin at register_start, and I added the code there (inside the if statement).

adwade - what you should do is simply to remove the $nospamfield from the template (or revert it, unless you've got other edits in it), and then import the new product through the Admin CP, making sure that Allow Overwrite is on. (You don't need to uninstall it first or anything.) That's all you have to do.

[dvsDave]

hmm... I redownloaded it just to be sure... but I don't see Cole's code anywhere in the xml file. I uploaded the .xml file that I have just for comparison's sake (I downloaded it just a moment ago and checked it with the same results).

[antialiasis]

That's version 1.0...

Don't ask me how the heck this keeps happening to me. I have the zip file right here on my computer - the very same one I attached to the first post a couple of minutes after I last edited the files in it - and the file in there is the correct one. How the 1.0 file landed in the zip file attached to the post is completely beyond me if it did, and I apologize. The correct one is definitely there now, though, as I downloaded it after attaching it and it has the right file.

[dartho]

antialiasis - your profile says you are using VB 3.5.4 - will you be releasing this for 3.5 also? I really like the idea!

[antialiasis]

Oh, that's an error in my profile, actually.

Editing the XML for 3.5 shouldn't be too hard, though - just removing a couple of things, and it should work just fine. :/ In fact... I attached an XML file that I think should in theory work for 3.5. Not tested at all, though.

[dartho]

Downloaded and installed the "product-nospam-3-5.xml" Installed OK, I sleected YES to enable, added a question and saved - but still got the old image verification on the registration screen :(

the nospam template is there, and there are 2 no spam plugins:

Hook Location : register_addmember_process
Check if NoSpam! question has been answered correctly

Hook Location : register_start
Generate NoSpam! question


Any ideas for me to try?

Thanks!

[antialiasis]

Hmm, there should be one more plugin... o_O A cache_templates one?

The normal image verification isn't supposed to disappear, by the way - you need to manually disable it if you want to use only NoSpam!. But if the NoSpam! isn't appearing... well, that's weird. Try making the template edit manually (adding $nospamfield above $imagereg in the register template).

[hcmagix]

Version 1.1 also translated for german vb users

[dartho]

There in may lay the problem - there is no "$imagereg" See template code below:

I added in a $nospamfield just above this, and it all came togther - thanks!


<if condition="$show['regimagecheck']">
<fieldset class="fieldset">
<legend>$vbphrase[image_verification]</legend>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="$stylevar[formspacer]" border="0">
<tr>
<td>
$vbphrase[enter_text_image_right]
</td>
<td rowspan="2"><img src="image.php?$session[sessionurl]type=regcheck&amp;imagehash=$imagehash" alt="$vbphrase[registration_image]" width="201" height="61" border="0" /></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><input type="text" class="bginput" name="imagestamp" size="50" maxlength="6" /><input type="hidden" name="imagehash" value="$imagehash" /></td>
</tr>
</table>
</fieldset>
</if>

[antialiasis]

Ooh, of course - it was only put in a template of its own in 3.6. So yeah, do it like dartho says.

[jetblast10]

Sweet! Thanks!

[Master Nemesis]

will download and install later
Thanks

[toolblast]

Wow man! Thanks so much! This is EXACTLY what I was looking for after reading a thread on vb.com about spamming and how CAPTCHA in 3.5 was cracked by spammers already. Im going to install it asap!

[Hornstar]

The answers are case sensitive at the moment, but I was now thinking about giving it a little more flexibility, both by making it case insensitive and allowing you to specify multiple possible answers to the same question (for example, if you were using the first question in your list, I believe the British would answer it with "Petrol" rather than "Gas").

I'll give you an admin CP screenshot when I've done those tweaks.

Yeah multiple answers would be good, like you said, the answer could be

gas Gas Petrol petrol diesel Diesel and probably many other alternatives as well ^^ lol

btw can this be used with the image verification system as well to create a double protection?

[mauisun]

installed on 3.60 newest version, works good, thanks :)
....mauisun

[antialiasis]

Yeah multiple answers would be good, like you said, the answer could be

gas Gas Petrol petrol diesel Diesel and probably many other alternatives as well ^^ lol

btw can this be used with the image verification system as well to create a double protection?
I already made that update, and yes, it can be used with image verification.

[dartho]

I was getting a spammer a day befoer I installed this - 10 day of NO SPAM. Nice Work

[Biggles]

Excellent hack AA. Much obliged to you. Have clicked and nominated for HOTM. Well done. It's working great on my board.

[kevinj]

Thanks for this hack,

I've been recieving lots of fake registrations from spam bots. Problem solved now :)

[HondaATC]

Anyway to make this work on 3.5.4?

[antialiasis]

Flip to page three of this thread, download the product XML attached to post #36 and then make the template edit as dartho instructs a couple of posts below. :)

[HondaATC]

There in may lay the problem - there is no "$imagereg" See template code below:

I added in a $nospamfield just above this, and it all came togther - thanks!


<if condition="$show['regimagecheck']">
<fieldset class="fieldset">
<legend>$vbphrase[image_verification]</legend>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="$stylevar[formspacer]" border="0">
<tr>
<td>
$vbphrase[enter_text_image_right]
</td>
<td rowspan="2"><img src="image.php?$session[sessionurl]type=regcheck&amp;imagehash=$imagehash" alt="$vbphrase[registration_image]" width="201" height="61" border="0" /></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><input type="text" class="bginput" name="imagestamp" size="50" maxlength="6" /><input type="hidden" name="imagehash" value="$imagehash" /></td>
</tr>
</table>
</fieldset>
</if>



Which template do I need to edit this into? Sorry, didn't see the name of it specified on page 3. Thanks ;)

[pr0team.net]

easy for spambots :)
it's not alternative to captcha this is 100 % better than captcha for spambots trust me.

[SpanishHarlem]

Thank's for this. I really hope it help's keep the spammers out

[moonclamp]

Is it possible for someone to input the answer via a checkbox or radio button? If someone has a selection they'll be less likely to make spelling mistakes.

Also, could this easily be added to the bit where a member verifies there age, before they even agree to the rules?

Does this work on the guests contact form and search pages?

[remasnet]

Great idea I will install it
Thnx

[antialiasis]

Which template do I need to edit this into? Sorry, didn't see the name of it specified on page 3. Thanks ;)
It's the register template.

Is it possible for someone to input the answer via a checkbox or radio button? If someone has a selection they'll be less likely to make spelling mistakes.

Also, could this easily be added to the bit where a member verifies there age, before they even agree to the rules?

Does this work on the guests contact form and search pages?
Hmm, I'd have to mess around a little for all of those. I'll look into it.

[adwade]

I was wondering if this MOD could be used another place in vBulletin besides just the registeration process? Namely,

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ref: Tipem's comment...
Surprisingly enough, I've tried this and it's worked (not involving verification images or captcha).

On your web form, have a "verify" input text box. Above that say: "Enter in 'V f r 4 R $' without spaces or quotes in the text box below" (and the verification code can be static).

And whaddya know -- no spam from email web forms. Eventually spam bots might figure this out, but it can be a quick fix. To make it even more difficult, you could say "Enter in 'V-4-R-$-s' with no spaces, quotes, or dashes in the text box below." Because a spam bot isn't human, they cannot comprehend this. It's all about fooling bots. The key is not to do it a methodical way, not a hidden or "tricky" way -- just an "odd" way that only humans can comprehend.

Simple. taken from http://www.sitepoint.com/forums/showthread.php?t=417095
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Upon reading that, I wondered if this MOD could be used on the 'contact us' form as well as the new user registeration perhaps? If so, where would one add the code in vBulletin to do so?

GREAT MOD by the way, one of my favorites!

[antialiasis]

Well, as a quick non-tested solution for now to add it to the contact us form:

1. Edit the "Cache the NoSpam! template" plugin to say:

if (THIS_SCRIPT == 'register' OR THIS_SCRIPT == 'sendmessage')
{
$globaltemplates[] = 'nospam';
}

2. Copy the entire text of the "Check if NoSpam! question has been answered correctly" into another plugin located at the sendmessage_docontactus_start hook

3. Make a new plugin on the sendmessage_contactus_start hook with the following code:

if ($vbulletin->options['nospam_onoff'])
{
$vbulletin->templatecache['contactus'] = str_replace('$imagereg', '$nospamfield\n\n$imagereg', $vbulletin->templatecache['contactus']);
$questions = explode("\n", $vbulletin->options['nospam_questions']);
$nospamnumber = array_rand($questions);
$qanda = explode(":",$questions["$nospamnumber"]);
$nospamquestion = $qanda[0];

eval('$nospamfield = "' . fetch_template('nospam') . '";');
}

And that should be it. Again, note that it's not tested.

[adwade]

Well, as a quick non-tested solution for now to add it to the contact us form:
.
...:knockedout: (cloud of confusion to the all UN-knowing) :knockedout:
.
And that should be it. Again, note that it's not tested.

Let me repeat back what I heard you say: "If you know what you're doing, it's possible." ha, ha :confused: You lost me on step #2 I'm afraid, but then I'm not a coder. I do well to follow simple template edits without screwing things up. :nervous:

Anyway, as I said just a tremendous MOD. I think it will be able to stop many a spambot in it's tracks.

[antialiasis]

Well, to copy the text of a plugin into another one, you go to "Plugin Manager" in the Admin CP menu (under Plugins and Products, close to the bottom), find the plugin with the right name (using the browser's search function is probably the easiest way to do this), click its name, copy the "Plugin PHP Code" and then click "Add New Plugin" (the link under "Plugin Manager") and paste it into the "Plugin PHP Code" instead. Select the hook with the specified name in the "Hook Location" drop-down, and I suggest also selecting "NoSpam!" in the "Product" drop-down. Lastly, set "Plugin is Active" to Yes. To just add a new plugin with predefined text, do everything from the part where I tell you to click "Add New Plugin" again.

If you still find it confusing, it won't be long before this is all in the product itself anyway.

[Ski-Whiz]

Not sure if this is posted, but you can simply create a new profile field, make it editible on at registration..

Add a new "single line text" field.. It's pretty easy..

Good idea though..

[Skedoozy]

Installed!

I've been getting a lot of spammers signing up lately, hopefully this will take care of them. Thanks!

[Gripemaster]

*INSTALLED* Thank you! I like! :)

[AndyZ]

Very nice functionality, and a plug-in too!

Thank you.

[schanulleke]

Thank you for this possibility. We were looking for this. :)

I noticed the questions are only asked if someone wants to register. Is it also possible to use this if you want to allow unregistered people to post on the forum?

So instead of image verification for unregistered posting using these question to verify if they are human.

If this is possible, could you tell us how we can make that work?
Thank you in advance!

[Mile-O-Phile]

Then you could simply create a different question and answer. Some example:

What do you put in your car to make it go? Gas

Bad example. Petrol, diesel, key, and a driver are all perfectly valid answers also.

[bigmonay2k]

lol nice hack

[kau]

What about a copy for 3.5.x

[a squared]

Is this working in 3.6.2?

[Sore Eyes]

Thank you for this possibility. We were looking for this. :)

I noticed the questions are only asked if someone wants to register. Is it also possible to use this if you want to allow unregistered people to post on the forum?

So instead of image verification for unregistered posting using these question to verify if they are human.

If this is possible, could you tell us how we can make that work?
Thank you in advance!

I strongly support this suggestion.

Would be great!

And now I looked a bit further into it, I found a few more occasions where the CAPTCHA is used, like the search when someone is not logged in, and there might be more...

[farooqaaa]

wow!!!!! thanks alot.

My server didnt supports GD Library. it fixed my problem now, thanks!ss!!!!

*lets click Installlllll*

[antialiasis]

I am working on a version that works with all places where CAPTCHA is used in vBulletin - it's working fine for guest posts and contact forms, but I'm having problems with the guest search for some reason. I'm hoping to get it out soon.

There is a 3.5 plugin (and a note following it) on page three or four of this thread.

And yes, it works in 3.6.2 - well, my forum is having a problem with displaying the wrong version number, but I did replace the files and everything and it works fine.

[Sore Eyes]

AntiAlias,

sounds good :D

I hope you will be succesfull ;)

[spgoldman]

Hi,
I get this error when trying to import xml:
Database error in vBulletin 3.5.2:

Invalid SQL:

### INSERT QUERY GENERATED BY fetch_query_sql() ###
INSERT INTO plugin
(`active`, `executionorder`, `title`, `hookname`, `phpcode`, `product`)
VALUES
('1', '5', 'Cache the NoSpam! template', 'cache_templates', 'if (THIS_SCRIPT == \'register\')\r\n{\r\n $globaltemplates[] = \'nospam\';\r\n}', 'nospam');

MySQL Error : Unknown column 'executionorder' in 'field list'
Error Number : 1054
Date : Wednesday, October 25th 2006 @ 10:22:53 AM
Script : http://www.westwoodvelo.com/admincp/plugin.php
Referrer : http://www.westwoodvelo.com/admincp/plugin.php?do=productadd

Any Idea????
Thx

[PoetJA-1975]

Very nice share = Jacquii clicks INSTALL
Thanx -

I do have a question though - http://JPiCForum.info - You'll see I am making use of the QuickRegister on the JPiC portal... How can I get this to work for that?

I'm also using image verification for non-members on the Contact Us page - It would be excellent if NoSpam! work for that page as well.

At anyrate - Thanx = wonderful modification - EASY install :)

Jacquii.

[ski diva]

Just wanted to post that since I installed this on October 17, I have had no spammers at all! A great add on. And thanks for adapting it for us 3.5.4 users.

[Top Nurse]

This hack kicks ass!

We ditched the captcha and went all the way with this product. Few outside our organization would be able to come up with the right answers and I can guarantee no bot will ever make it. :laugh:

Edit: Besides asking a straightforward question you can also set up fill in the blank questions. If you utilize sayings that are specific to your intended audience then you pretty much eliminate all the bots.

For example:


Fill in the blank "Jails, Institutions, and ______"
Fill in the blank "Nuclear _______ is a by-product of splitting atoms."


We made up a whole bunch of these types of questions and with the random display we can just about forget about bot spammers. https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/external/2007/03/4.gif

By the way, where is the Mod of the Month link! This hack gets my vote. :)

[GrendelKhan{TSU]

installed 3.6.0 !

working great..thanks! :D

[msu2k]

Great hack! Can we get a similiar hack for the Contact Us form please?

[m_k]

wow thanks!

working like a charm on ver 3.5.4 after i used the version you posted here --> https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showpost.php?p=1063726&postcount=36

and the template modification here --> https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showpost.php?p=1065526&postcount=40

great hack :-)

[m_k]

installed on second forum, but had to be a bit creative to get it working with the AquaSoft template :-)

[buro9]

This is so simple, and so genius... installed.

[PoetJA-1975]

Very nice share = Jacquii clicks INSTALL
Thanx -

I do have a question though - http://JPiCForum.info - You'll see I am making use of the QuickRegister on the JPiC portal... How can I get this to work for that?

I'm also using image verification for non-members on the Contact Us page - It would be excellent if NoSpam! work for that page as well.

At anyrate - Thanx = wonderful modification - EASY install :)

Jacquii.

----Bump----

Is this hack supported?
Looking forward to answers for MY concerns ;)

Jacquii.

[adwade]

He addressed part of it back on page 4...

Well, as a quick non-tested solution for now to add it to the contact us form:

1. Edit the "Cache the NoSpam! template" plugin to say:

if (THIS_SCRIPT == 'register' OR THIS_SCRIPT == 'sendmessage')
{
$globaltemplates[] = 'nospam';
}

2. Copy the entire text of the "Check if NoSpam! question has been answered correctly" into another plugin located at the sendmessage_docontactus_start hook

3. Make a new plugin on the sendmessage_contactus_start hook with the following code:

if ($vbulletin->options['nospam_onoff'])
{
$vbulletin->templatecache['contactus'] = str_replace('$imagereg', '$nospamfield\n\n$imagereg', $vbulletin->templatecache['contactus']);
$questions = explode("\n", $vbulletin->options['nospam_questions']);
$nospamnumber = array_rand($questions);
$qanda = explode(":",$questions["$nospamnumber"]);
$nospamquestion = $qanda[0];

eval('$nospamfield = "' . fetch_template('nospam') . '";');
}

And that should be it. Again, note that it's not tested.

and later went on to say it'd be incorporated in a future release...

Well, to copy the text of a plugin into another one, you go to "Plugin Manager" in the Admin CP menu (under Plugins and Products, close to the bottom), find the plugin with the right name (using the browser's search function is probably the easiest way to do this), click its name, copy the "Plugin PHP Code" and then click "Add New Plugin" (the link under "Plugin Manager") and paste it into the "Plugin PHP Code" instead. Select the hook with the specified name in the "Hook Location" drop-down, and I suggest also selecting "NoSpam!" in the "Product" drop-down. Lastly, set "Plugin is Active" to Yes. To just add a new plugin with predefined text, do everything from the part where I tell you to click "Add New Plugin" again.

If you still find it confusing, it won't be long before this is all in the product itself anyway.

[dsmoke]

will this work with 3.5.4? thanks

[PoetJA-1975]

Tried the template mods on page 4 - to work for the Contact Us page and the Quick Registration... Please help for 3.5.4 - Thanx

Jacquii.

[schanulleke]

I am working on a version that works with all places where CAPTCHA is used in vBulletin - it's working fine for guest posts and contact forms, but I'm having problems with the guest search for some reason. I'm hoping to get it out soon.


I am looking forward to that. ;)

[user02934123123]

This hack has worked beautifully and solved in one motion my problems with spammers using scanning software that can read CAPCHA images. Many thanks.

[Coldhands]

I . . . . HATE . . . . SPAM! and I love this hack. Thanks! Clicking install now.


P.S. I created a new plugin so it shows up on my contact us form, but the vB NoSpam phrase doesn't show for some reason. You can see what I'm talking about here: http://www.actuarialoutpost.com/actuarial_discussion_forum/sendmessage.php

Where can I edit that phrase in the template to show up?

[AzzidReign]

I'm running a 3.6.3 board and this installed good. I just didn't realize I had to turn off the image verification at first :P DOH!

[IHateLiberals]

I installed in 3.5.4, works good. But, I have one style that is not a child of my other styles and the template didn't apply to that style. So if some goes to register and would change to that style, this hack doesn't show.

How can reapply this to that one other style?

Thanks.

[oddmusic]

I'm running a 3.6.3 board and this installed good. I just didn't realize I had to turn off the image verification at first :P DOH!

I have it running on 3.6.3 (new forum still in testing mode and offline) and you can use it along with image verification if you want to use both, unless I misunderstood what you meant in your reply.

My only problem was forgetting to turn "on" NoSpam! DOH! :P

Great hack! <clicks installed>

[JohnGBSA]

Ideally the solution here would be to ask the person to select the correct option from say 4 different ones. Something like, "which one of these is not a vegetable?"

Potatoe
Carrot
Water
Peas

Makes it a lot simpler and less problematic for cultural differences.

/John

[Top Nurse]

Gotta love this mod as no spammers for over a month now. :D

Got one tiny problem. We have a dual language setup in English/Spanish. How would I go about converting it so it displays in Spanish?

[PimvanJ]

Is there a way to maintain this to the "tell us about our site page? (sendmessage.php)
I'm getting more and more spam from that page.
(Running vB 3.5.4)

[NexDog]

Just a quick thank you message. Spam has been getting out of control so I hope this helps. Forum members started complaining when the pr0n spambots started to hit so something had to be done. Installed on 3.5.x. Cheers.

[jalmz]

it works like a superman.. =) installed.... 3.5.4

[benpaul10]

Hi, This is a great idea! I run a forum with a narrow topic and can invent a bunch of questions that a non member would not be able to answer easily.

Unfortunately when I try to install I get:

Database error in vBulletin 3.5.4:

Invalid SQL:

### INSERT QUERY GENERATED BY fetch_query_sql() ###
INSERT INTO plugin
(`active`, `executionorder`, `title`, `hookname`, `phpcode`, `product`)
VALUES
('1', '5', 'Cache the NoSpam! template', 'cache_templates', 'if (THIS_SCRIPT == \'register\')\r\n{\r\n $globaltemplates[] = \'nospam\';\r\n}', 'nospam');

MySQL Error : Unknown column 'executionorder' in 'field list'
Error Number : 1054
Date : Tuesday, November 21st 2006 @ 01:55:50 PM
Script : http://fencingforum.com/forum/admincp/plugin.php
Referrer : http://fencingforum.com/forum/admincp/plugin.php?do=productadd
IP Address : 85.189.97.228
Username : wingnutLP
Classname : vb_database

Any suggestions? Sorry I am no forum guru and my understanding of PHP is slim to nil!

[jalmz]

Hi, This is a great idea! I run a forum with a narrow topic and can invent a bunch of questions that a non member would not be able to answer easily.

Unfortunately when I try to install I get:

Database error in vBulletin 3.5.4:

Invalid SQL:

### INSERT QUERY GENERATED BY fetch_query_sql() ###
INSERT INTO plugin
(`active`, `executionorder`, `title`, `hookname`, `phpcode`, `product`)
VALUES
('1', '5', 'Cache the NoSpam! template', 'cache_templates', 'if (THIS_SCRIPT == \'register\')\r\n{\r\n $globaltemplates[] = \'nospam\';\r\n}', 'nospam');

MySQL Error : Unknown column 'executionorder' in 'field list'
Error Number : 1054
Date : Tuesday, November 21st 2006 @ 01:55:50 PM
Script : http://fencingforum.com/forum/admincp/plugin.php
Referrer : http://fencingforum.com/forum/admincp/plugin.php?do=productadd
IP Address : 85.189.97.228
Username : wingnutLP
Classname : vb_database

Any suggestions? Sorry I am no forum guru and my understanding of PHP is slim to nil!

try this one
For ver 3.5.4
https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showp...6&postcount=36

template modification
https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showp...6&postcount=40

[benpaul10]

OOPS, I didn't see the version number on the mod. Thanks!

Unfortunately the two links you posted take me to here https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/portal.php

were you linking to a similar mod for earlier versions of VB?

[benpaul10]

Ah I see you were refering to the posts earlier in this thread

https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showpost.php?p=1077273&postcount=53

Thanks for pointing this out...

Unfortunately I am still a bit lost still

"There in may lay the problem - there is no "$imagereg" See template code below:

I added in a $nospamfield just above this, and it all came togther - thanks!"

I have found the template I need to alter can someone please clarify whet I need to add and where I need to put it in the template please?

Sorry to be so ignorant!

[TLove]

/bump

Yeah, any chance on clarification on this? What is the exact code for the template mod?

[kanadian]

thank you for this simple and excellent mod!

[Panzer Max]

Ah I see you were refering to the posts earlier in this thread

https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showpost.php?p=1077273&postcount=53

Thanks for pointing this out...

Unfortunately I am still a bit lost still

"There in may lay the problem - there is no "$imagereg" See template code below:

I added in a $nospamfield just above this, and it all came togther - thanks!"

I have found the template I need to alter can someone please clarify whet I need to add and where I need to put it in the template please?

Sorry to be so ignorant!

I think what you do is, go into the Edit template, Register templates, open the one called simply "register".

Then do a search for regimagecheck and you will see:

<if condition="$show['regimagecheck']">
<fieldset class="fieldset">


I just added $nospamfield above the line like this:


$nospamfield
<if condition="$show['regimagecheck']">
<fieldset class="fieldset">

Seems to work for me with 3.5.4
I updated both of my templates that way.

[mutus123]

I was starting to get about 5 spam registrations a day. Even though most of them never made it beyond "Awaiting Email Confirmation" status... It was still annoying to delete them all the time.

Since I installed this plug-in... not even one spam reg..... nothing.

I have to say a big thank you for this one. :up:

:cool:

[farooqaaa]

Ahh it will help me alot :).

In my server GD isnt enabled, and CAPTCHA images aren't working. Using this will solve my problem.

thanks.s.s.s.!

[somedevil]

Installed

Thanks for this, it should be a big help!

[Basscat]

<font color="SeaGreen">*Basscat installs mod</font>

Great mod! Thanks!

[Pestillence]

Very nice Mod.
Thank you very much. :)

[Smoothie]

There should be a petition to have this added into vBulletin as a standard feature. The more ways we can figure out how to prevent these +++++++s from spamming our forums, the better.

[makaiguy]

[Clicks INSTALL]
Have been getting hammered with pr0n spammers lately. Just added this to my 3.5.4 test board (via the info on page 3 of this thread) and it seems to be working great. Now off to put in into my 'real' board. (I'll get around to installing 3.6.x one of these days ...).

Thank you for a wonderful contribution to the vB community!

[Loso]

Installed it and works fine

Thank you very much

[mrpotatohead]

I've just tried to install this and got this error back:

Database error in vBulletin 3.5.0:

Invalid SQL:

### INSERT QUERY GENERATED BY fetch_query_sql() ###
INSERT INTO plugin
(`active`, `executionorder`, `title`, `hookname`, `phpcode`, `product`)
VALUES
('1', '5', 'Cache the NoSpam! template', 'cache_templates', 'if (THIS_SCRIPT == \'register\')\r\n{\r\n $globaltemplates[] = \'nospam\';\r\n}', 'nospam');

MySQL Error : Unknown column 'executionorder' in 'field list'
Error Number : 1054
Date : Tuesday, November 28th 2006 @ 01:59:52 AM
Script : http://www.bigbrotherforums.net/forums/admincp/plugin.php
Referrer : http://www.bigbrotherforums.net/forums/admincp/plugin.php?do=productadd
IP Address : 62.6.158.162
Username : Big Brother
Classname : vb_database

Any ideas?!


- Joe

[benpaul10]

I think what you do is, go into the Edit template, Register templates, open the one called simply "register".

Then do a search for regimagecheck and you will see:

<if condition="$show['regimagecheck']">
<fieldset class="fieldset">


I just added $nospamfield above the line like this:


$nospamfield
<if condition="$show['regimagecheck']">
<fieldset class="fieldset">

Seems to work for me with 3.5.4
I updated both of my templates that way.
Works great thanks Panzer :)

[xKillswitchx]

This will be very useful for me, as the past two days I have been banning members left and right for posting porn and drive cleaner links. Thanks alot!

[Moturdrn]

Out of two forums so far, one hasn't had a single spammer back (touch wood), and the other has only had one (which we suspect was human input and then setting the bot loose) in the past five days (whereas previously we were banning roughly 3, 4, or 5 a day. Again, touch wood).

Easy to install, easy to use, and an absolute gem in the use against spammers :)

[beansbaxter]

what question(s) are you guys using on this?

will 2+2 work? do new users see this as dumb and trivial and not sign up?

i really like this idea, not knocking it, just curious if its hurting the rate of new user signups??

[adwade]

what question(s) are you guys using on this?

will 2+2 work? do new users see this as dumb and trivial and not sign up?



Not at all, mine LOVE it. Start a thread asking your users to develop some questions for it and you'll have a blast!

[richier]

There in may lay the problem - there is no "$imagereg" See template code below:

I added in a $nospamfield just above this, and it all came togther - thanks!


<if condition="$show['regimagecheck']">
<fieldset class="fieldset">
<legend>$vbphrase[image_verification]</legend>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="$stylevar[formspacer]" border="0">
<tr>
<td>
$vbphrase[enter_text_image_right]
</td>
<td rowspan="2"><img src="image.php?$session[sessionurl]type=regcheck&amp;imagehash=$imagehash" alt="$vbphrase[registration_image]" width="201" height="61" border="0" /></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><input type="text" class="bginput" name="imagestamp" size="50" maxlength="6" /><input type="hidden" name="imagehash" value="$imagehash" /></td>
</tr>
</table>
</fieldset>
</if>




I have tried everything and I can't get the mod to work. VB 3.5.4

I instlled the mod as directed and followed the directions listed above and it never shows up.

I really want to stop the spam. I get 10-15 new spam members per day

[Smoothie]

I have tried everything and I can't get the mod to work. VB 3.5.4

I instlled the mod as directed and followed the directions listed above and it never shows up.

I really want to stop the spam. I get 10-15 new spam members per day
Cause I think this is for 3.6, maybe. ;)

[richier]

Cause I think this is for 3.6, maybe. ;)

Look on page 3 theres a mod for 3.5 :alien:

[Smoothie]

Look on page 3 theres a mod for 3.5 :alien:Well, go re-read page 3 again. Nobody got it to work w/ 3.5.x. :rolleyes:

[richier]

Well, go re-read page 3 again. Nobody got it to work w/ 3.5.x. :rolleyes:

Yes they did by adding a line in the register temp. go read then come back

[makaiguy]

Haven't had a single new spammer registration since installing NoSpam!

I managed to find the pieces for doing this in 3.5.4 by scouring the whole thread. But to save some of the rest of you some trouble:
INSTALLING IN VERSION 3.5.x Download from here:
https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showpost.php?p=1065526&postcount=36

Modify 'register' template per this post:
https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showpost.php?p=1065526&postcount=40
Don't forget to actually turn it on in the options (accessed via your vb options) in addition to enabling the plugin.

[Top Nurse]

Think I am came up with a simple solution to our Spanish/English forum as the hack doesn't allow for a translation of questions in vB. We just add the same question in Spanish to each English question and use the two different answers the hack can utilize. Then it doesn't matter what language the reader is using. :D

[Red Matrix]

Installed easily, turned it on, had fun with the questions! Great hack.

I find it keeps out the dummies, too.
How many continents are there?:7:seven
GMT stands for Greenwich _ Time:mean
How many letters in this question?:28
Four squared divided by 2, then add 2:10:ten
What's the cube root of 27?:3:three

[Smoothie]

Installed easily, turned it on, had fun with the questions! Great hack.

I find it keeps out the dummies, too.

LOL

[Smoothie]

A suggestion for future versions, not sure if it could be implemented or how hard it would be, but this would bust the bots balls for sure. After say "X" number of tries (configured in the admin cp of course) at answering the questions and not getting any of the tries correct, the user/bot/spammer gets locked out of the registration page. Just like users who try to login with a wrong username or password.

[flynnibus]

installed: thanks so much!

[dakar]

Installed :) Thanks, much better than click this or that image... too easily defeated, even through trial and error a robot would have a 25% chance of getting it right with 4 images.

[Ingmar]

Thank you antialiasis! Keep up the great work!

*Clicks Install and MOTM*

[phpdevrus]

wow excellent. was looking for something like this. optimally we should have random verification tests ;-) to make it hard to randomly bypass.

[lazytown]

Awesome!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH. Spam bots just started coming on strong today.

I'm sure this will stop them -- and even if they are humans it will annoy them and they may have a hard time answering certain questions (esp if their English is bad!)

Works on 3.6.4 and 3.5.x with the modifications noted.

-vissa

[Smoothie]

Enter questions and answers for NoSpam! in the format Question:answer1[:answer2:answer3] etc.

Does this mean you can have more than one answer for each question? Either would be correct?

[lazytown]

Does this mean you can have more than one answer for each question? Either would be correct?

Yes, that is correct. More than one possible answer. By the way, as far as I can tell it's not case-sensitive so you don't have to worry about that.

-vissa

[Smoothie]

Yes, that is correct. More than one possible answer. By the way, as far as I can tell it's not case-sensitive so you don't have to worry about that.

-vissaGood deal, thanks a bunch.

[Sore Eyes]

Hi Antialiasis,

are you still thinking of adding support for the silly question in the search and the 'contact us' functions of vB?

Or is there anyone else who applied the hack there and can help me?

Thx a lot

[SportsZone]

Installed and works flawlessly, thanks :)

[Maxman1544]

This has been a life saver. Haven't had to delete one new user since this was installed. The spammers were out of control!

Thank You!!!

[Hardcoreweather]

Those March 28th 1983 accounts can now be a thing of the past . Thanks

[antialiasis]

Hi Antialiasis,

are you still thinking of adding support for the silly question in the search and the 'contact us' functions of vB?

Or is there anyone else who applied the hack there and can help me?

Thx a lot

Hmm, I've got a lot to do these days, but yes, I was working on that and was in fact very close to finishing it - I got it working perfectly on the Contact Us form and for guest posts, but the search was being annoying. I should start messing around with it again in my Christmas break.

[Smoothie]

How about adding a feature where a guest has x number of attempts to answer the question(s) and if it can't be answered within that limit it locks them out of the registration for x number of minutes. Now that would be awesome.

[antialiasis]

Well, such a thing would always be easy to bypass unless one went into some major IP-checking - you can lock people out of logging in because you can block logins for the account, but for registrations, there is no foolproof way of knowing whether two registration attempts are being performed by the same user; you can of course plant a cookie, but few things are easier than deleting cookies, and then all that would be left would be using some sort of careful tracking of the IPs of registration attempts, which I think would just be a major headache to code for very little benefit - especially if you have multiple questions, a script that attempts random letter combinations in hopes of getting the right answer by chance would just take way too long for such an awfully small benefit - spam registration at one forum - that they wouldn't bother making such a script and instead just let the bot turn to some other victim that doesn't have this hack installed. In the spam industry it's all about posting as many advertisements in as little time as possible in as cheap a way as possible. Making things very difficult for them, as this hack does, will simply mean they will turn somewhere else; they have absolutely no motivation to attack your forum rather than that neighbour forum that's much easier to attack, and as such they're going to attack the other one because it takes less time and thus maximizes the profits per day.

For short, I think your board is quite safe from spam even if the bots get an infinite number of attempts.

[GTAce]

I just wanted to say, this is a brilliant idea for a mod. I used to not have much of a problem with spambots, but the last few months have been horrible...We'd average 1-3 spambots per day and sometimes as many as 5 or more. I hadn't installed any extra protection because from everything I had read, the spambots were even finding ways around these mods...but I've been following your mod here and it looked to be pretty foolproof, and so far, it is. I've been running it for a few days now and haven't had a single spambot register..Without this mod, I probably would have had 10 spambots if not more since then.

Great work and let's hope I'm not speaking too soon :)

[Skatiechik]

Has anyone got this to install on 3.5.2? I haven't tried, but one of the adminstrators has, and followed the template change, but still gets lots of errors apparently.

[dartho]

Haha! Die you spamming Rusky!

Still no spammers since installation :D

@SkatieChick - I have this running under 3.5.4 which I would imagine to be minimally different to 3.5.2
Install the XML from this post: https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showpost.php?p=1063726&postcount=36
and then in the Register template, search for the line:
<if condition="$show['regimagecheck']">
and add
$nospamfield
immediately above it

Perhaps AntiAlais can add this to the install instructions?

[antialiasis]

Version 2.0 at last! The NoSpam! functionality has been added to guest searches, guest posts and guest "Contact Us" as well as the original registration. To upgrade, just download the new zip file and import the new product through the Admin CP with Allow Overwrite set to On.

An "official" 3.5.x version is coming as well as soon as I've gotten 3.5 to install on my test board and can mess with making the template edits automatic.

[PoetJA-1975]

Version 2.0 at last! The NoSpam! functionality has been added to guest searches, guest posts and guest "Contact Us" as well as the original registration. To upgrade, just download the new zip file and import the new product through the Admin CP with Allow Overwrite set to On.

An "official" 3.5.x version is coming as well as soon as I've gotten 3.5 to install on my test board and can mess with making the template edits automatic.

AWESOME! Anyway that you can get this to work on the Quick Register form as well?

Thanx - especially for the 3.5 version ;)

Excellent mod!

Jacquii.

[blankoboy]

antialiasis, this is such a simple yet fantastic hack for VB. Not only is this good for spam prevention but also great as an aptitude test for your forum userbase.

Right off the bat you can help to eliminate casual trolls by asking for answers to semi-intelligent questions :rolleyes: . Well, it can help to filter out folks who are not completely intune with the topic of your forum if you so choose. Keep up the great work!

[antialiasis]

Quick Register form? Where is that exactly? o.o

[Quantnet]

Great news. Updated. I tested and it works great. Now, only if you can offer an option of multiple choice for the questions.

[schanulleke]

:banana: THANKYOU ! I am very happy to see the update you posted today. I will install this later today, but I am sure this will work out great.

Thank you very much for your time and effort!

EDIT: it works. Thank you!

[Skatiechik]

Haha! Die you spamming Rusky!

Still no spammers since installation :D

@SkatieChick - I have this running under 3.5.4 which I would imagine to be minimally different to 3.5.2
Install the XML from this post: https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showpost.php?p=1063726&postcount=36
and then in the Register template, search for the line:
<if condition="$show['regimagecheck']">and add
$nospamfieldimmediately above it

Perhaps AntiAlais can add this to the install instructions?



Ok cheers, I will give this a try and see if I can get it to work myself. However can you be more explicit in your instructions please.

Reason being I more familiar with phpBB and this the first mod I will have added to VBulletin.

I have worked out the .xml files needs to be imported via the product manager to install them.

Just done that, you talk about editing the register template, is that via ftp in a folder somewhere, or is it accesible for the ACP?

Cheers.

[makaiguy]

Version 2.0 at last! The NoSpam! functionality has been added to guest searches, guest posts and guest "Contact Us" as well as the original registration. To upgrade, just download the new zip file and import the new product through the Admin CP with Allow Overwrite set to On.

An "official" 3.5.x version is coming as well as soon as I've gotten 3.5 to install on my test board and can mess with making the template edits automatic.

Version 2.0 update works wonderfully in my 3.6.4 test board, including guest searches and 'contact us' (I don't have guest posting).

Thank you so much. I've turned Captcha off all together now.

... now I've just got to find time to update my 'real' board to 3.6.4 ...

[Skatiechik]

Ok cheers, I will give this a try and see if I can get it to work myself. However can you be more explicit in your instructions please.

Reason being I more familiar with phpBB and this the first mod I will have added to VBulletin.

I have worked out the .xml files needs to be imported via the product manager to install them.

Just done that, you talk about editing the register template, is that via ftp in a folder somewhere, or is it accesible for the ACP?

Cheers.

I just fumbled around a bit in the dark, and figured out what you meant by edit template. Added the line to the customised template and all seems to be working. Not sure what the other admin had issues, with best go ask incase I have done something wrong :) Looks fine to me though.

[subzonline]

thanks i requested this a bit ago. and im glad to see it is here.

[scootman]

Click Install... Thanks

[tobias_t]

I installed the plugin under 3.5.3 and made the change to the template, but the NoSpam field still doesn´t show up on the register page. Users who try to register do however get an error message for not filling out the (invisible) field. Any suggestions?

Thanks, Tobias

[tobias_t]

Please disregard my previous post, I had edited the wrong template - it works great now.

The best thing is that for every spammer who now gets caught later on in the moderation queue through the Prevent Spam plugin, I know he actually went through the effort of signing up manually :D

[PoetJA-1975]

Quick Register form? Where is that exactly? o.o

Uh.... I think people have actually asked for this before - how to make the NoSpam system work on the quick register form... The link: https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?t=114342&highlight=quick+register

At anyrate - This mod is JUST AWESOME - I've been using it on 3.5.x since it 1st was introduced...

I HAVEN'T HAD ONE SINGLE SPAM REGISTRATION SINCE INSTALLING = Excellent excellent work my friend ;)

This should be Mod of the Month :)

Jacquii.

[Sore Eyes]

This should be Mod of the Month :)



I support this :D

Where can I vote?

[antialiasis]

If you want to nominate it for Mod of the Month, the link is in the Mod Options on the right of the first post, below the "Mark as Installed" link. :)

[PoetJA-1975]

Thanx ANTIALIASIS for all of your work on this EXCELLENT modification.
Just spent the last hour or so customizing the vBAdvanced for QuickRegister!
Finally have it the way I like - Thanx to your diligent work and advice in the 3.5 NoSpam thread!

KUDOS and Cheers for a fine modification - should be "out-of-the-box" vB!
Thanx,

Jacquii.

ps - strangely enough I still don't see the vote option:

Mod Options
Mark as Uninstalled

Report this Modification
Download
NoSpam!.zip (4.0 KB, 88 downloads)

[antialiasis]

Hmm, funny. I see "Nominate for MOTM"... o.o You can try asking the vBulletin.org support.

Unless it's the style you're using... Are you on Smooth Blue? If not, try that.

[greersfos]

I have been subject to a rash of spambot registrations recently. I just insalled NoSpam!

Thanks for the mod.

fos....

[Talisman]

We haven't problems with bots yet, but I thank you kindly for releasing this.

:bunny:

[somedevil]

Just updated as suddenly I'm getting spams from the contact us page...Hope it works!

Thanks again for the great mod!

[nanaimobar]

Works like a charm. Thanks. Clicked install and MotM.

[jmw]

Spammers are screwed with this one. I doubt they can get around this now. There is no way unless you ask something stupid like: What's the name of USA president? Bush. Color of the sun? yellow. :) Dig that spammers! R.I.P. spammers.

[Sober-Teens]

Thank you so much! I hope this works. Installed on all three forums and it was my first go at installing a product, took me awhile but I got it.

Worked on 3.6. and 3.5 versions ( did need the $nospamfield code on 3.5).

*fingers crossed*

[antialiasis]

If you installed the hack specifically for 3.5, you do not need to make a manual template edit. If you installed the one found in this thread, however, you do.

[hgb]

installed and thank you very much :cool:

was have'n a hard time with the .ru .de .ee bots.

seems they all went away after this install ;)

thx

[motowebmaster]

Your efforts are very much appreciated!

[linesider]

I added this two weeks ago and spam registrations are down 90%. Just the person spammers and that is way down - thanks!

[loonytune15]

Thanks for the hack. Hope it works good :)

[lazytown]

Great news. Updated. I tested and it works great. Now, only if you can offer an option of multiple choice for the questions.

Multiple choice would be a very bad method. Bots could just select them randomly and get through. Free entry is the absolute best (infinite possibilities!).

-vissa

[bigtime]

Excellent!! My forum and contact form has been getting drilled by spammers.

Thanks for the great hack!

Tim

[Froberg]

I have been using this for some days now. Not a one spam bot registration.

I love you. I truly do. :P

[TitanPK]

may bad...issue resolved

[TitanPK]

ummm my bad...I clicked the wrong xml file.

Great Hack. Thanks alot..you got my vote

[TitanPK]

I have to say again..GREAT hack..I installed this yesterday and am giggling all day as the Spam bots (up to 10 at a time) are getting error after error.

Thanks AGain

[Itzbenreel]

ClicksInstall.

Nominated for MOTM.

Would have your babies if possible.

Thanks

[jw00dy]

Great Mod. I love it.

*installed.

[hgb]

great mod indeed thx so much

spam is gone 100% here hehe

[jgrakowski]

this could also be used to password your forums. if you follow me..

[Prisoner]

Not a single bot registration since I installed this a few weeks ago. Thank you!

[Southernphuk]

Alrighty, imported this, setup the answer, checked all the templates and such but when I go to register an account, it still comes up with just the catcha confirmation, doesn't have the questions show up.

What could I possibly have screwed up or not looked at (everything is 'active')?

[darkman]

Installed and nominated - brilliant!
Thanks :)

[chatfan]

Nominated and installed and printed in gold leaf and all that :)

Always hated the Captchas, usually takes me two times to read and type the right letters.
Some of them I never got like the myspace one and some of them are just anooying. Are they case sensitive? And if so is that a I or a l l'm seeing?

This is the perfect solutions AND it lets you have some fun too!
typing silly messages for people to repeat, what more can you ask from a security system lol.

[Smoothie]

I added a question and it has no answer, but I don't give a shit. Just having some fun......

Question: Type in your wife and or girlfriends cup size.

[antialiasis]

Alrighty, imported this, setup the answer, checked all the templates and such but when I go to register an account, it still comes up with just the catcha confirmation, doesn't have the questions show up.

What could I possibly have screwed up or not looked at (everything is 'active')?
A few possibilities. Have you modified the register template at some point?

If all else fails, try manually inserting $nospamfield just above $imagereg in the template.

[KipLarson]

Does this work with all vbulletin 3.6x version? I have two forums at 3.6 and 3.61 and don't want to pay to have them updated.

Also, have you recommended this to the vBulletin team for actual use in later versions?

[antialiasis]

It should work with all 3.6.x, yes. I think I originally made this when I had 3.6.0 or 3.6.1.

I haven't specifically spoken to the vBulletin team about it, but from what I've seen on vBulletin.com, they seem to be bent on just using the CAPTCHA system and then suggesting a kind of crude, manual, less flexible way to do what is basically what this hack does on the registration page.

[Ted S]

Has anyone tested the registration completion rate of this system versus CAPTCHA versus no verification?

[ADM]

Not too sure if this has been pointed out but it says that if they are unable to successfully answer the NoSpam! question to contact the administrator.

The problem there is that that NoSpam! question is also added to the contact us form... thus there is no way for that user to contact the admin.

Maybe in the next version allow us to disable the appearance of the nospam question on certain screens?

[antialiasis]

I was kind of thinking they could contact by other means, heh. But yeah, that kind of makes sense. Disabling them on a page-by-page basis would be a good idea for the next version.

[Smoothie]

Not too sure if this has been pointed out but it says that if they are unable to successfully answer the NoSpam! question to contact the administrator.

The problem there is that that NoSpam! question is also added to the contact us form... thus there is no way for that user to contact the admin.

Maybe in the next version allow us to disable the appearance of the nospam question on certain screens?
where does it say that? Not on mine it don't.

Edit: never mind, saw the message if they failed the test. LOL. Here's a suggestion. Try inputing questions your possible future members could actually answer. :p

[Luky]

I think that this would be easier to crack, if you look at the source code and find every possible algorithem and then you can make a php file to answer these questions, or most of them.

[Gastongr]

Just what i was looking for, thanks :).

[letsjoy]

A nice one....

[antialiasis]

I think that this would be easier to crack, if you look at the source code and find every possible algorithem and then you can make a php file to answer these questions, or most of them.

Um, huh? You're misunderstanding the function of this somehow. Although I don't understand quite what you're trying to say, you seem to believe one of the following:

a) That the answers are somehow in the source of the page and can just be extracted from there (which they aren't; they're stored on the server and only the number identifying the right answer for this particular question can be found in the source).
b) That the questions are always mathematical and can simply be solved by a computerized calculator (which they're not).
c) That the questions are predetermined and thus could be answered using a simple if statement in a script that hardcodes the questions/answers in, which there is not (there are no default questions and they're 100% user-customizable so there are infinitely many possibilities for questions and answers, at least as far as the server can handle).

I assure you that it is impossible to create a script that will get around NoSpam! unless that script contains the best artificial intelligence yet invented, and if it does, then it can sure as hell crack CAPTCHA as well. I guarantee that this will provide you with better spam protection than CAPTCHA ever will, at least if you use proper questions, and if you don't, that's your fault, not mine.

[OrangeFlea]

This work with 3.5, too? My members are tired of seeing board updates so 3.5 is it until 4.0.

[dd4w2000]

Great mod. I installed this on vb 3.6.2 Unfortunately the nospam field didnt show on my registration page. I looked throught this thread and found a template edit fix which is shown below. Did a search in my registration template and no code alteration had been made. Added the 1 line of code and all is now working. Thanks very much.

I think what you do is, go into the Edit template, Register templates, open the one called simply "register".

Then do a search for regimagecheck and you will see:


Code:
<if condition="$show['regimagecheck']">
<fieldset class="fieldset">
I just added $nospamfield above the line like this:



Code:
$nospamfield
<if condition="$show['regimagecheck']">
<fieldset class="fieldset">

[BrandiDup]

I've been having MAJOR problems with spammers lately, getting 10-12+ new ones per day on some days. Since installing this hack, they've come to a screeching halt! I don't think we've had a single one yet. So, thank you SO much. This hack was very much appreciated!

[antialiasis]

This work with 3.5, too? My members are tired of seeing board updates so 3.5 is it until 4.0.

There is a special 3.5 version - you can either search the 3.5 forum or find it in a link at the bottom of my profile. :)

[larrydude]

hmm. I am running vb 3.64. I love this mod, but it makes the search function not work for guests.

With NoSpam! disabled, guests can search fine, with it inabled they get a "invalid answer" message.

Any ideas?

Thanks.

[hsv z clubbie]

Installed ----- Thanks :D

[antialiasis]

hmm. I am running vb 3.64. I love this mod, but it makes the search function not work for guests.

With NoSpam! disabled, guests can search fine, with it inabled they get a "invalid answer" message.

Any ideas?

Thanks.

So the NoSpam! question is not actually appearing on the search page?

This is the one most vulnerable to template edits, so something going wrong with it is not too unlikely. If it's not appearing, you might want to make the automatic template edit manually:

FIND

<if condition="$imagereg">

REPLACE it with

<if condition="$imagereg OR $vbulletin->options['nospam_onoff']">

Then FIND

<td align="$stylevar[left]" valign="top" colspan="2">$imagereg</td>

REPLACE it with

<td align="$stylevar[left]" valign="top" colspan="2">$nospamfield

$imagereg</td>

[larrydude]

Actually, I had overlooked the option to disable options. As I was getting ready to do your suggestions, I tested and it did what I wanted.

I needed this to work for sign ups, but not for searches.
THANKS!

[phill2003]

Hi,

Could someone post directions to include this in the quickregister hack please.

This is a very good addition.

[Luky]

Um, huh? You're misunderstanding the function of this somehow. Although I don't understand quite what you're trying to say, you seem to believe one of the following:

a) That the answers are somehow in the source of the page and can just be extracted from there (which they aren't; they're stored on the server and only the number identifying the right answer for this particular question can be found in the source).
b) That the questions are always mathematical and can simply be solved by a computerized calculator (which they're not).
c) That the questions are predetermined and thus could be answered using a simple if statement in a script that hardcodes the questions/answers in, which there is not (there are no default questions and they're 100% user-customizable so there are infinitely many possibilities for questions and answers, at least as far as the server can handle).

I assure you that it is impossible to create a script that will get around NoSpam! unless that script contains the best artificial intelligence yet invented, and if it does, then it can sure as hell crack CAPTCHA as well. I guarantee that this will provide you with better spam protection than CAPTCHA ever will, at least if you use proper questions, and if you don't, that's your fault, not mine.
B is what i was talking about! :)

[Betablocker]

Nice hack

Easy to install and works a dream :)

Thanks

[Doctor Who]

Great hack, I really appreciate the work you put into this! Hopefully it will decrease the amount of spam users I am getting by even more than image verification!

[jw00dy]

Just wanted to report, that this MOD ROCKS! My spam users have almost gone to nothing. In fact I'd say 0, but as soon as I do, I'll get one, so I'm not going to jinx myself or this mod.

If you love spammers, don't install this. If you hate them, this is a MUST install.

[web-rocket]

Tried it on my forums and got a SQL error vBulletin 3.5.2 I guess it doesnt work for older ver?

ERROR BELOW:

Database error in vBulletin 3.5.2:

Invalid SQL:

### INSERT QUERY GENERATED BY fetch_query_sql() ###
INSERT INTO plugin
(`active`, `executionorder`, `title`, `hookname`, `phpcode`, `product`)
VALUES
('1', '5', 'Cache the NoSpam! template', 'cache_templates', 'if ($vbulletin->options[\'nospam_onoff\'])\r\n{\r\n if (THIS_SCRIPT == \'register\' OR THIS_SCRIPT == \'search\' OR THIS_SCRIPT == \'newreply\' OR THIS_SCRIPT == \'newthread\')\r\n {\r\n $globaltemplates[] = \'nospam\';\r\n }\r\n else if (THIS_SCRIPT == \'sendmessage\')\r\n {\r\n $actiontemplates[\'contactus\'][] = \'nospam\';\r\n }\r\n}', 'nospam');

MySQL Error : Unknown column 'executionorder' in 'field list'
Error Number : 1054
Date : Wednesday, January 10th 2007 @ 03:14:20 AM
Script : http://www.talkpaws.com/forums/admincp/plugin.php
Referrer : http://www.talkpaws.com/forums/admincp/plugin.php?do=productadd
IP Address : XXX.XXX.XXX.XXX
Username : XXXXXXX
Classname : XXXXXXX

[Smoothie]

Tried it on my forums and got a SQL error vBulletin 3.5.2 I guess it doesnt work for older ver?

ERROR BELOW:

Database error in vBulletin 3.5.2:

Invalid SQL:

### INSERT QUERY GENERATED BY fetch_query_sql() ###
INSERT INTO plugin
(`active`, `executionorder`, `title`, `hookname`, `phpcode`, `product`)
VALUES
('1', '5', 'Cache the NoSpam! template', 'cache_templates', 'if ($vbulletin->options[\'nospam_onoff\'])\r\n{\r\n if (THIS_SCRIPT == \'register\' OR THIS_SCRIPT == \'search\' OR THIS_SCRIPT == \'newreply\' OR THIS_SCRIPT == \'newthread\')\r\n {\r\n $globaltemplates[] = \'nospam\';\r\n }\r\n else if (THIS_SCRIPT == \'sendmessage\')\r\n {\r\n $actiontemplates[\'contactus\'][] = \'nospam\';\r\n }\r\n}', 'nospam');

MySQL Error : Unknown column 'executionorder' in 'field list'
Error Number : 1054
Date : Wednesday, January 10th 2007 @ 03:14:20 AM
Script : http://www.talkpaws.com/forums/admincp/plugin.php
Referrer : http://www.talkpaws.com/forums/admincp/plugin.php?do=productadd
IP Address : XXX.XXX.XXX.XXX
Username : XXXXXXX
Classname : XXXXXXX

Did you even bother to search for the older one that works with your version?
:rolleyes:

[Stifmeister2]

Great work. ;)

[LBmtb]

Sweet mod. Thanks a lot!

[WoodiE]

Very nice, I've disabled CAPTCHA and enabled NoSpam! I'll see how well it does over the next week or two.

[imported_Tal]

Hello!

Recently I have been getting a lot of spam accounts created on my forum. I have those CAPTCHA images turned on as well as the e-mail verification but that obviously doesn't help as they just keep coming!

I installed this and it says that it made style changes etc.. there is a new option in the admin CP, however on the registration page there isn't the form to fill out (I did make a question and enable it of course).

If I then click register I get the error 'You have entered the NoSpam! question incorrectly etc'.

The skin I am using is Fusion Expanded from eXtremepixels.

I have no other plugins installed.

Thanks!

Edit: I browsed through the posts here and they instructed me to look for the CAPTCHA image code.. The exact code isn't there but I have found:

$imagereg

I've put the nospam $ thing above that but to no avail :(

I'm using 3.6.4 also :)

[antialiasis]

"nospam $ thing"? Well, it was $nospamfield, and being exactly like that is very important so I'd like confirmation that that is exactly what you put in. $imagereg is the code you should have been finding, yes, and I am assuming the one you found was indeed in the register template.

[imported_Tal]

Yes.. that's exactly what I put, I wrote 'thing' because I was typing quickly and didn't want to make another [ code ] field because of the license policy :)

It didn't load up unfortunatly and I tried Internet Explorer and Opera (although it shouldn't have made a difference). I uninstalled the product and installed another named 'Enhanced CAPTCHA Image Verification' which gives you 4 pictures to click through.

I would rather have this one as it is near impossible for a bot to crack through whereas the other can just be a 'click 'till it gets lucky'.

This is what I put, for verification:


<td>
$vbphrase[parent_guardian_email]:<br />
<input type="text" class="bginput" name="parentemail" size="25" maxlength="50" value="$parentemail" dir="ltr" />
</td>
</tr>
</if>
</table>
</fieldset>
$nospamfield
$imagereg

</div>
</div>
</td>
</tr>
</table>


I guess that is wrong? :)

[antialiasis]

Hmm, it should be correct. All the plugins are definitely enabled and unchanged, and you turned the system on, right?

[KipLarson]

Well, I actually posted a link to this on vbulletin.com about how I thought they should use something like this... of course I didn't say I came up with it... but I don't think they like being told that someone that doesn't work on the vBulletin team has come up with something that works better than anything they've come up with.

The stuff they recommend would require an admin to sit at his/her computer constantly to approve new members or not.

[cdoyle]

Hi,
I scanned through the first few pages for this hack, and just wondering if there was an official release of this for 3.5?

We've been getting spammed a ton lately, and this would really help in stopping that.

Thanks

[Smoothie]

Hi,
I scanned through the first few pages for this hack, and just wondering if there was an official release of this for 3.5?

We've been getting spammed a ton lately, and this would really help in stopping that.

ThanksClick the modders profile, and magic will happen. :p

[NeoToxic]

How do i remove the image verification now i have this instead?-- Found it.

For people who want to know. ACP-->VBOptions-->User Registration Options-->Image Verification (Set to no)

[KipLarson]

Right now I have it set on both, the image and the NoSpam! verification question.

By the way I plan to keep a running counter (as long as I can remember to come back)

Of how many days without a spam bot.

So far... 1

[King Justice]

Thank you! This is an awesome plugin - please keep up the great work! :)

[Basscat]

Well, I actually posted a link to this on vbulletin.com about how I thought they should use something like this... of course I didn't say I came up with it... but I don't think they like being told that someone that doesn't work on the vBulletin team has come up with something that works better than anything they've come up with.

The stuff they recommend would require an admin to sit at his/her computer constantly to approve new members or not.

The image verification(CAPTCHA) is so difficult, even I struggle on it, and I have 20/20 vision. Based on the amount of posts on all of the forums reguarding spam, you would think they would add something like this to the software.

SPAM BOTS do not think. They process data! Thats what makes this mod so GREAT! There is NO data to process! It takes a human to answer the question.

I nominate this hack for MOTM!

[antialiasis]

To be honest, I understand the vBulletin developers in not wanting this an official feature. This is the kind of thing that works great as a modification, but not as an official feature - when you download forum software, you don't expect to be required to make up stupid questions in order to turn an important feature on, and since it is absolutely essential for NoSpam! to do its job correctly that it has no default questions and is entirely up to the user, this is an unsolvable problem.

Requiring creativity of the user just has an air of unprofessionalism to it, and although I personally am the type that really would do that sort of thing, I can perfectly understand that the vBulletin developers would not be too fond of the idea.

[Shanoon]

This is a godsend! Thanks so much :D I've installed it of course

[dzigns]

Triple A stuff, i love it and have installed it. :)

[imported_gc1]

Fantastic Mod (clicks install)

[imported_gc1]

Hi,


Could someone post directions to include this in the quickregister hack please.

This is a very good addition.

Anybody tried this yet? This is would be excellent

[antialiasis]

There is a solution for this in the 3.5 thread, which at a glance I can't see why wouldn't work just fine for 3.6 too (assuming the quickregister template is about the same). Ask if there's a problem, though.

[UphillRacers]

Very impressive.
Clean and functional.

Well done

[Caiman]

Ingenious :) Gone from being inundated with spammers, to having none- using simple maths that any human will be fine completing. Thank you, I'll be recommending this to everyone.

[phill2003]

There is a solution for this in the 3.5 thread, which at a glance I can't see why wouldn't work just fine for 3.6 too (assuming the quickregister template is about the same). Ask if there's a problem, though.


The box for the answer shows up but the question doesnt :( lol its a tad hard to get it right then :)

[antialiasis]

Hmm.

This is rather funny because as far as I can see, the variable is set...

Does the Quick Register form show on the normal registration page? If so, does the NoSpam! question appear in it there? If not, does it appear on the search page for guests or the guest post page?

[phill2003]

Hmm.

This is rather funny because as far as I can see, the variable is set...

Does the Quick Register form show on the normal registration page? If so, does the NoSpam! question appear in it there? If not, does it appear on the search page for guests or the guest post page?


The question appears as it should on the registration page but nowhere else :(

[thuffner]

I have been having a huge problem with spam lately and came across this hack.

Nevertheless, spam no more!

Amazing hack, worked like a charm. Well done! :)

[antialiasis]

The question appears as it should on the registration page but nowhere else :(

Hmm...

Okay, can you give me the full text of that plugin? "Generate NoSpam! question" on the hook global_start?

[Ordovicium]

So the NoSpam! question is not actually appearing on the search page?

This is the one most vulnerable to template edits, so something going wrong with it is not too unlikely. If it's not appearing, you might want to make the automatic template edit manually:

FIND

<if condition="$imagereg">

REPLACE it with

<if condition="$imagereg OR $vbulletin->options['nospam_onoff']">

Then FIND

<td align="$stylevar[left]" valign="top" colspan="2">$imagereg</td>

REPLACE it with

<td align="$stylevar[left]" valign="top" colspan="2">$nospamfield

$imagereg</td>

I can't find the template for these changes.

[sportsoutlaw]

Have had this installed for almost a week now, and it seems to have completely eliminated my bot spam. (Which was about 5-8 registrations and posts per day)

Great Job!

[phill2003]

Hmm...

Okay, can you give me the full text of that plugin? "Generate NoSpam! question" on the hook global_start?

here it is.

if ($vbulletin->options['nospam_onoff'] AND !$vbulletin->userinfo['userid'])
{
$nospamdo = true;
switch (THIS_SCRIPT) {
case 'register':
$thetemplate =& $vbulletin->templatecache['register'];
break;
case 'sendmessage':
$thetemplate =& $vbulletin->templatecache['contactus'];
break;
case 'search':
$vbulletin->templatecache['search_forums'] = str_replace(array('$imagereg</td>', '($imagereg)'), array('$nospamfield\n\n$imagereg</td>', '($imagereg OR $vbulletin->options[\'nospam_onoff\'])'), $vbulletin->templatecache['search_forums']);
break;
case 'newreply':
$thetemplate =& $vbulletin->templatecache['newreply'];
break;
case 'newthread':
$thetemplate =& $vbulletin->templatecache['newthread'];
break;
default:
$nospamdo = false;
}

if ($thetemplate)
{
$thetemplate = str_replace('$imagereg', '$nospamfield\n\n$imagereg', $thetemplate);
}


$questions = explode("\n", $vbulletin->options['nospam_questions']);
$nospamnumber = array_rand($questions);
$qanda = explode(":",$questions["$nospamnumber"]);
$nospamquestion = $qanda[0];
if ($nospamdo) {
eval('$nospamfield = "' . fetch_template('nospam') . '";');
}
}

as you can see i have done the edit you stated was needed to get the nospam into the quick register template but from what i can see it is as it should be otherwise.

[thincom2000]

I would recommend creating separate options fields for questions and answers. Each field could still separate questions and answers by line breaks, but now you could allow colons to be used in at least the questions. To allow them in answers, I would recommend using a string to separate answers instead of just a colon - maybe :|: since it is even more unlikely someone would want that in their answers. :)

[mamedo73]

thanks my friend.