Forbid Users from Posting Links or Images if They Have Fewer than 15 Posts

[lisss001]

Just as the title says - if a user has fewer than 15 posts, he will be unable to post a link or an image within a message. This includes e-mail addresses and the system cannot even be fooled by the old user[at]email.com, we also locked that down.

Reduce your SPAM today!

It is a product. To install, simply import the xml via your Admin CP, Manage Products, Import New Product. No configuration is required.

Updated

12/05/2008 - Thankyou to Amykhar for allowing the future development of this modification.

Version 3.1

- Title re-created to make sense in Admin CP.
- Date updated added.
- Added protection so that users posting "user[at]user.com" cannot fool the system.

Please remember I did not create this modification, it was created by Amykhar and Erwin. Permission has been obtained for a re-release and future updates to be provided by myself. I will continue to support and update this modification as necessary in the future.

Please Remember, Click Install !

Support: I provide support as and when I can, members are free to help each other although posting code is not permitted.

VVV Screen-shots provided further down the page VVV

Certain members have been suggesting code edits for this modification. I have tried them and they just make this product stop working. Please do not attempt any manual code edits as it may stop the product from functioning. I am open to suggestions and improvements for the further development of this modification.

Please send me any code you would like included via P.M, DO NOT post it here. I can do testing and you will be credited if your code addition is added.

Feel free to offer support, suggestions and installation advice.

[cafenetland]

dont u need to ask him before posting his mod ?

[lisss001]

Why does it matter, it's just re-posted, I took no credit and people have started installing it. I just thought it would help people find it. If he has a problem and contacts me I will remove it no questions asked.

[XiZa]

is it possible to just disallow links and not images?

[cafenetland]

Why does it matter, it's just re-posted, I took no credit and people have started installing it. I just thought it would help people find it. If he has a problem and contacts me I will remove it no questions asked.


no no do not take me wrong.

i am just asking.

i do not know either that u need to ask or not.

[lisss001]

Just don't worry about it mate. I have just re-posted something, people do this all the time, some take credit for others work I do not, really don't worry.

[lisss001]

XiZa the answer is no, sorry, every link off-site gets blocked.

[Forum Lover]

howbout posting email addresses?

[lisss001]

No, it won't let you post an e-mail address.

[Forum Lover]

No, it won't let you post an e-mail address.

Cool, thing that I was looking for.

[indie2industry]

VERY NICE.... (the update)

[lisss001]

Thanks, I hope the minor update helps you all. ;)

[lisss001]

Official Permission from the previous developer has finally been obtained for posting of this mod to future versions. I look forward to updating this in the future and wish you all spam-free forums. Also I hope you all really like the update I made.

[MrFlicks]

Installed

Excellent idea

We had a problem with adult porn viagra etc spam but this is just what we needed to help put people off and saves us a lot of time deleting posts of one time spammers

Thank you

Clicked Install

[lisss001]

Thanks, that's exactly what it's here for. I hope it helps many others like yourself. I know how annoying all that spam stuff is, especially the porn and spam stuff.

[Rev O]

Great Mod, would be even great if it could be configured by Admin.

Thanks nonetheless.

[pmkb]

FYI - This mod is not preventing images/links from being posted in 3.7's social groups.

It might or might not be working for profile visitor comments - I'm not sure yet (haven't tested).

[lisss001]

It is not intended to, it's just to prevent spam on the main forums.

[pmkb]

It won't be long before the spammers figure out they can target the social groups instead.

[maxicep]

Thanks , thats intelligent

Installed !

[zlos]

That's it!
Simple and cool :)
Installed...

[RedeemedWarrior]

awesome job

[HFB]

A couple issues that arose right away with this mod:
1) members with < 15 posts are unable to report posts.
2) members with <15 posts are unable to quote posts containing links, images, or email addresses.

[logicuk]

i would also like to use this hack but i only want to block urls, not images

thanks

[TheInsaneManiac]

Will this stop the spam bots that no longer use url tags? I see some of them post links that are not active as in you have to copy and paste them. So will this prevent those also? Can you rig this to work with signatures?

[neologan]

installed, but changed it to only work with under 1 post, just to stop spam.

[neologan]

Will this stop the spam bots that no longer use url tags? I see some of them post links that are not active as in you have to copy and paste them. So will this prevent those also? Can you rig this to work with signatures?

i think it may work for those types of url because it blocks all of these:

($pagetext,'[url') or
($pagetext,'[URL') or
($pagetext,'www.') or
($pagetext,'@') or
($pagetext,'[at]')
($pagetext,'http://')))

you could add or remove others i suppose.

[TheInsaneManiac]

Actually I like this better:
https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?t=173490

[lisss001]

If you would like a more advanced anti-spam mod please feel free to use the mod above. This one is very simply and has one objective, to filter URL's, Images and the like from new users. that is the goal of this modification and that is all that it does and ever will do. This is a very simple modification for people who don't want to configure settings e.t.c and it does the job it was created for.

[Scarface Claw]

Does this work with 3.7.1?

[Lombardo]

Is there a way to change the amount of posts?

[lisss001]

You can change the amount of posts by editing the file in Dreamweaver athough this is not supported here. A clue would be to change the value of 15. This is not supported here, do so at your own risk. I only support the changes that I personally make to the file and upload.

[logicuk]

installed great simple hack thanks

[MeMySelfNi]

<div align="center">>>installed<<
</div>

[munnakv]

Installed this. But I am yet to test with a test user.
Good thinking. Thanks

[TitanJeff]

I love this hack but my RSS feed would not work when activated. Anyone else having this problem? Thanks.

[Baldilocks]

Same problem for me. Disabled until a workaround can be found.

[Captain Tycoon]

Marked and Installed! Works perfectly! Thanks :)

[JeepGuy1999]

Working perfect for me too, thanks.

[TitanJeff]

I ran across this post in the older version of this product. Though I don't know anything about how it works, would this be a solution for those of us with RSS problem when using this?

https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showpost.php?p=901734&postcount=90

[Baldilocks]

Probably, but I wouldn't know where to begin. LOL.

[lisss001]

I will look into the RSS issue, could you give me more information please ?

[ShawneyJ]

wow what a life saver thanks, my site just got attacked with po.rn pics :D
cheers.

[joelozito]

Hi, I installed the file and it worked immediately, thanks!

The one problem I'm having is with my automatic RSS Feed poster. Once I installed this mod, the RSS Feeds stopped being automaticaly fed into my forums. It doesn't give an error, but I'm wondering if it's because the userid associated with the Feed poster has less than 15 posts. I posted 15 as that userid, but still no luck.

Any ideas?
Thanks,
Joe

[joelozito]

Hi all,

I have an update on this issue. I used TitanJeff's suggestion from 01 Jul 2008 11:14 and the RSS Poster started working.

Thanks TitanJeff!
-j

[TitanJeff]

I couldn't find the solution. What did you do? Thanks.

[joelozito]

I used the technique in this post:
https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showpost.php?p=901734&postcount=90

[TitanJeff]

Great. Where does that piece of code go? Between the <phpcode> and </phpcode>?

[joelozito]

Yep. Exactly.
-j

[TitanJeff]

I don't know what I'm doing wrong. I'm getting error codes each time I try to overwrite with the modified code. Would you mind posting you entire code? Thanks.

[joelozito]

I'm not sure if there are legal issues around posting the entire code, so here are the details: In the XML file, there are two code blocks surrounded by <phpcode> ... </phpcode>. In both those code blocks, you need to do the following:

Replace
<phpcode><![CDATA[
global $vbulletin;
...

With
<phpcode><![CDATA[if(!SKIP_SESSIONCREATE)
{
global $vbulletin;
...

And replace
$return_value = false;
}
]]></phpcode>

With

$return_value = false;
}
}]]></phpcode>

[lisss001]

I will add this to the mod once I have tested it and update for you guys ;)

[BucWiLd]

installed, ty much

[TitanJeff]

I'm not sure if there are legal issues around posting the entire code, so here are the details: In the XML file, there are two code blocks surrounded by <phpcode> ... </phpcode>. In both those code blocks, you need to do the following:

Replace
<phpcode><![CDATA[
global $vbulletin;
...

With
<phpcode><![CDATA[if(!SKIP_SESSIONCREATE)
{
global $vbulletin;
...

And replace
$return_value = false;
}
]]></phpcode>

With

$return_value = false;
}
}]]></phpcode>

Thanks for detailing that info for me. I've got it in place now so I'll give it a go.

[TLCTugger]

Installed. Exactly what I needed, thanks.
-Ron

[TitanJeff]

The RSS works but this hack does not on my board. Must be a conflict with something.

[baktabul]

Thank you excellent!

[Rebecca217]

This is exactly what I needed. Thank you! :)

Rebecca

[Octane1]

Does this hack work for private messages also?

[ZombieAndy]

Anyway to exclude specific members or usergroups? would be great! thanks

[Chadi]

FYI - This mod is not preventing images/links from being posted in 3.7's social groups.

It might or might not be working for profile visitor comments - I'm not sure yet (haven't tested).

This is a feature that should be implemented. Its a great idea.

[hjogi]

Anyway to exclude specific members or usergroups? would be great! thanks

for member exclusion, I think that the simple way is to edit the XML in this way:

Replace
if (($vbulletin->userinfo[posts] < 10) and

with
if (($vbulletin->userinfo[posts] < 10) and ($vbulletin->userinfo[userid] <> XX)

where XX is the ID of the user that you wish to exclude from this check.


for the group exlusion, edit the XML in this way:
Replace
if (($vbulletin->userinfo[posts] < 10) and

with
if (($vbulletin->userinfo[posts] < 10) and (!is_member_of($vbulletin->userinfo, YY))

where YY is the ID of the group that you wish to exclude from this check.

I will try
hjogi

[lisss001]

Certain members have been suggesting code edits for this modification. I have tried them and they just make this product stop working. Please do not attempt any manual code edits as it may stop the product from functioning. I am open to suggestions and improvements for the further development of this modification.

Please send me any code you would like included via P.M, DO NOT post it here. I can do testing and you will be credited if your code addition is added.

Feel free to offer support, suggestions and installation advice.

[Keyser S?ze]

i just got an email saying this was updated but i dont see thaat it was

** DO NOT REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE **

* Manual Update Notification *

The following modification has been updated (by lisss001) ;

Forbid Users from Posting Links or Images if They Have Fewer than 15 Posts
https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?threadid=178611

Reason ;

[lisss001]

I just sent out a message stating that any users that have modified the code should immediately re-install for security reasons as the mod will not work. It's a matter of urgency. I done extensive code testing on it last night and all code modifications seem to stop it from functioning.

[douffle]

Is there a way to set the number of links to be made other than 15?

Thanks

[lisss001]

Hi, sorry this mod is designed for less then 15 only. This is all this mod is for, sorry.

[douffle]

Hi, sorry this mod is designed for less then 15 only. This is all this mod is for, sorry.

I changed it in the .xml from 15 to 5 and it seems to work OK.
Thanks, I'll mark it as installed.

[realmr]

Can we set it up for usergroup based permissions ? i.e Admins, mods, supermods and donors don't have the restriction

[realmr]

Certain members have been suggesting code edits for this modification. I have tried them and they just make this product stop working. Please do not attempt any manual code edits as it may stop the product from functioning. I am open to suggestions and improvements for the further development of this modification.

Please send me any code you would like included via P.M, DO NOT post it here. I can do testing and you will be credited if your code addition is added.

Feel free to offer support, suggestions and installation advice.


need permissions, such a way few usergroups could override the restriction

[TitanJeff]

Has the issue of this shutting down the rss feeds been addressed yet? I'd love to use this if it has.

[aldamon]

I changed this to less than 1 post because 15 is too high for our board. Thanks for the hack!

[kevcj]

Does this add an extra query to the database or any extra server load?

[CtrlAltDel]

Thank you, one of my forums got slammed today and the clean up was a PITA.

[Keyser S?ze]

would it be possible to add a block to whats called ed2k links, i had this one little bastard flooding my forums with them to things i wont mention here

most of an ed2k link is gibberish but u can also see letters inside the gibberish and all ed2k links start out like "ed2k://"

[Charlie98902]

I am wanting to use this but I want to change the amount of posts before you can use either is this possible?

[Keyser S?ze]

I am wanting to use this but I want to change the amount of posts before you can use either is this possible?

yea i did the same, i changed it to fewer than 3 posts, just to take care of bots

admincp>plug-in manage>edit the plaug-n, i think ull see it the setting is clearly there and right near the top

[Charlie98902]

yea i did the same, i changed it to fewer than 3 posts, just to take care of bots

admincp>plug-in manage>edit the plaug-n, i think ull see it the setting is clearly there and right near the top

If I am right it is this that needed editing? Where it says 15?

global $vbulletin;
$pagetext =& $this->fetch_field('pagetext', 'post');
if (($vbulletin->userinfo[posts] < 15) and (stristr($pagetext,'[url') or stristr($pagetext,'[URL') or stristr($pagetext,'www.') or stristr($pagetext,'http://')))
{
//eval(standard_error(fetch_error('error_nourlallowe d')));
$this->error('error_nourlallowed');
$return_value = false;
}

[Charlie98902]

Okay that works but I can't find where I can edit the default message. If I try to post links or a pic the first time posting it says :

1. You are only allowed to post URLs to other sites after you have made 15 posts or more.

I need to be able to edit that. Anyone know how? Thanks

[Keyser S?ze]

yea, the msg go to lang & phrases, its in global i think but i dont recall the exact name

[Charlie98902]

yea, the msg go to lang & phrases, its in global i think but i dont recall the exact name

Couldn't find it that way but used the phrase then replace with option below the search and that did it thank you again.

[bluidkiti]

Fantastic! I love it and have installed it! I did change the post count and it seems to work fine. Thanks a bunch! :-)

[Keyser S?ze]

i think my question got missed, in a future release can u make it also block edonkey links?

ed2k://

[reggiemental]

Hope someone can advise. I normally have to employ a programmer to update my site etc. but my small budget is once again exhausted. (I run a not-for-profit music forum).

I've been too frightened to try and install anything myself for fear of screwing up the forum but I need to do something about the spammers, who are taking all my time up at the moment.

Is this plug-in just a case of going to: Plugins & Products > Manage Products and then uploading the XML file? Or, is there more to it than that? I notice the authors of plug-ins always ask for people to click on 'installed' but not sure where, or how this is done.

I'd appreciate any advice you can offer as I feel like a fish out of water in this forum. :rolleyes:

Paul

[Artes_Marciales]

Simple but Great MOD!!

[Delphiprogrammi]

the code in this product will NOT stop images ...

[komirad]

To block images (I also changed the post needed to 3):

Line 18
if (($vbulletin->userinfo[posts] < 3) and (stristr($pagetext,'[url') or stristr($pagetext,'[URL') or stristr($pagetext,'[img') or stristr($pagetext,'[IMG') or stristr($pagetext,'www.') or stristr($pagetext,'http://')))

Line 29:
if (($vbulletin->userinfo[posts] < 3) and (stristr($pagetext,'[url') or stristr($pagetext,'[URL') or stristr($pagetext,'[img') or stristr($pagetext,'[IMG') or stristr($pagetext,'www.') or stristr($pagetext,'@') or stristr($pagetext,'[at]') or stristr($pagetext,'http://')))

and Line 40, change the error message:
<phrase name="error_nourlallowed"><![CDATA[You are only allowed to post URLs or images you have made 3 posts or more.]]></phrase>

[komirad]

Hope someone can advise. I normally have to employ a programmer to update my site etc. but my small budget is once again exhausted. (I run a not-for-profit music forum).

I've been too frightened to try and install anything myself for fear of screwing up the forum but I need to do something about the spammers, who are taking all my time up at the moment.

Is this plug-in just a case of going to: Plugins & Products > Manage Products and then uploading the XML file? Or, is there more to it than that? I notice the authors of plug-ins always ask for people to click on 'installed' but not sure where, or how this is done.

I'd appreciate any advice you can offer as I feel like a fish out of water in this forum. :rolleyes:

Paul

Yea, just add the product using manage products for this.
There are other mods which require you to upload files through FTP or some other file manager, but not this.

Clicking installed is below their top post.
You will recieve updates about the mod if you click on it.
The install count is probably use to track the popularity of the mod as well.

[giorgioarmani]

Can it be configured to a different number of posts?

[Delphiprogrammi]

To block images (I also changed the post needed to 3):

Line 18
if (($vbulletin->userinfo[posts] < 3) and (stristr($pagetext,'[url') or stristr($pagetext,'[URL') or stristr($pagetext,'[img') or stristr($pagetext,'[IMG') or stristr($pagetext,'www.') or stristr($pagetext,'http://')))

Line 29:
if (($vbulletin->userinfo[posts] < 3) and (stristr($pagetext,'[url') or stristr($pagetext,'[URL') or stristr($pagetext,'[img') or stristr($pagetext,'[IMG') or stristr($pagetext,'www.') or stristr($pagetext,'@') or stristr($pagetext,'[at]') or stristr($pagetext,'http://')))

and Line 40, change the error message:
<phrase name="error_nourlallowed"><![CDATA[You are only allowed to post URLs or images you have made 3 posts or more.]]></phrase>

correct but thehack should not be advertised as it blocks images while it does not ....

[Delphiprogrammi]

Can it be configured to a different number of posts?

you would have to edit the plugins


if($vbulletin->userinfo['posts'] < number_here)

[Hidden_Gamma]

I have just installed this on my own personal forum which only has a few members and very low visibility, traffic, but I'm also moderating another forum where this is installed and it is just not working to stop the spammers. Somehow, spammers are signing up, and posting threads with dozens of links even on their first post. If it's a bot, then it is even circumventing vBulletin's built-in human interaction precautions to signup.

[joelozito]

I'm having the same issue. Spammers are posting images and links in their first post. Anyone know of a way around this?

-joe

[BucWiLd]

if you guys know , please let me know. i have the same issues

[BucWiLd]

here is what i did, i added that forced intro on new registers and so far so good

[joelozito]

Just ran some tests. It looks like the original mod works, but it doesn't allow automatic RSS feed updates.

If you update the mod using the TitanJeff hack, the mod no longer functions (massive spamming).

Is there anything out there that prevents spam but still allows RSS importing?

Thanks,
Joe

[thenewuser]

Nice, Thanks!

[douffle]

This is a great mod however,....
I installed this on a new site and then tried to add some content that has an image in it. The full url to the image is required and it won't let me do that. Is there no permissions for the administrator to by-pass this?

Thanks.

[aldamon]

This is a great mod however,....
I installed this on a new site and then tried to add some content that has an image in it. The full url to the image is required and it won't let me do that. Is there no permissions for the administrator to by-pass this?

Thanks.

Change the post count on the account in User Manager.

[grandeur_69]

RSS feed hack

I'm not sure if this is 100% fool-proof, but it's what seems to work so far ...

I changed the code in the plugin to add && !$vbulletin->GPC['varname'] && !$vbulletin->GPC['cronid']

so, the original looks like this if (($vbulletin->userinfo[posts] < 15) and etc, etc, etc

and the new code looks like this if (($vbulletin->userinfo[posts] < 15 && !$vbulletin->GPC['varname'] && !$vbulletin->GPC['cronid']) and etc, etc, etc

... this variables are used by manually running a cron and by the cron running on it's own (which is what runs the RSS feeds). It's the best I can come up with without spending a lot of time on it.

.... i've added an attachment with this change ... no idea if it's perfect or not ... it's been successful so far.

[TitanJeff]

Thanks, Grandeur. I'll try it out.

Update: I didn't work for me. RSS shut down again when I installed it. Thanks for trying. If it worked for you, maybe it will for others.

[momo2]

Very stupid mod, no adjustments for less than 15 posts ? removed..

[Mongez]

Very Nice mode, This is exactly what I needed

but can i exclude my local site links ?

[Daisyboo]

I can still post email addresses, how can I change that?
Thanks.

[koolasia]

does this work with private message also ?

[welovehiphop]

great mod thanks

[njoker555]

i installed it on 3.7.0 - works fine, tested it out, added the email links to be blocked and changed it to 10 posts without a problem.

Actually I like this better:
https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?t=173490

just read the post, looks pretty good, might try it out later on but I'll give this current one a chance first

[realmr]

does this work on 3.8 ?

[aldamon]

does this work on 3.8 ?

Yes.

[magnaromagna]

so, is not possible to reduce the minimum number of post from 15 to, for example, 3?

[aldamon]

so, is not possible to reduce the minimum number of post from 15 to, for example, 3?

Yes, just change it yourself. Ours is set to 1.

[magnaromagna]

thanks,
where? There is a option or need to modify the xml?

[Nightmare-GameZ]

For me, main purpose would be to stop spambots right? Well, spambots only register and post stuff right away.

Can you like lower the 15 post limit to about 3 or so? My forum is for a game and some of my players only use the forum for reporting and for asking questions. Most reports in there require screen shots. So basically they cannot post links and images when they need help. btw i tried editing the post limit to 3 and saved it. Once i upload i got an error that says "XML Error: xml declaration not at start of external entity at Line 1"

Other than that, Installed! xD

[gorentals]

Anyway to get this to block links in signatures. This mod works great for the forum. But I see some bypass it and put it in their signatures.
Thanks

[RikiB]

yeah same here. They found a way quick to bypass this with the signatures.

[Nightmare-GameZ]

changed the settings to 5 posts. Anyways, bots have stopped posting links alright. Now they talk gibberish. lmfao!

[sharemee]

great mod, please can someone tell me if the mod can be altered so it is 5 posts before a link can be posted

Thanks
Andy

[Hostboard]

great mod, please can someone tell me if the mod can be altered so it is 5 posts before a link can be posted

Thanks
Andy

Yes but you need to alter the XML file. Just chnage the two instances of 15 to what ever suites you.

I really wish this had its own ACP options:

1. turn on/off
2. Set for user groups
3. Configurable amount of posts necessary to post by user group

[aldamon]

changed the settings to 5 posts. Anyways, bots have stopped posting links alright. Now they talk gibberish. lmfao!

I've found that this mod works best together with a few Human Verification questions instead of CAPTCHA. The bots can't answer simple questions to register (I rotate a handful of simple math problems) and the human spammers can't post links even when they do register.

[mach-o]

I have "for sale" forum on my site. how do I forbid users from posting in a particular forum if they have fewer than 15 posts...
is it possible?

[globalinsites]

I have this mod installed on vB 3.7.4 without modifying anything, but I just noticed that someone was able to post his e-mail address in his 4th post..

[pappocapo]

Nice, thanks

[JasonGreen]

I set the settings so that users have to have 15 million posts to display urls, etc. This is because I am on a public support forum and don't want customers to display their email address, contact info, etc., and should open up a Help Ticket that I have installed. The problem is, I cannot (as the admin) direct users to urls to help in the support forum. Does anyone know a fix in the code that will ignore the Admin for this mod?

[Daisyboo]

Bump - this doesn't work for email addresses,

[bluej]

anyone know if this works with 3.8.x?

this sounds like a great mod, hope someone updates it :)

[princeedward]

anyone know if this works with 3.8.x?

this sounds like a great mod, hope someone updates it :)work to the very latest v3.8.4 PL1

thanks and best regards

:p:up:

[TitanJeff]

Is there a product out there which does not allow someone to post a new thread until they have a specified post count?

[princeedward]

Is there a product out there which does not allow someone to post a new thread until they have a specified post count?try to click and use this Cyb - Advanced Permissions Based on Post Count (https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?t=201285)

you can set any usergroups for that....

goodluck and best regards

:p

[Fivestones]

got new site and added it back thanks