Loads of spam users lately.

[Danny_HR]

Hey there,

i run a small gaming community website with forums. All based on vB.

Up until recently i have not had any problems with spam users cause i installed everything that was necessary to keep the bots out. But lately, i seem to get loads of new users who either post nothing or post spam, like links and stuff like that.

I seriously doubt they are bots cause i have that random question module that people need to answer when registering. Again, i have not had this problem until last week. And it is quite annoying.

Anyone had the same problem or knows what to do about it?

Cheers.
Danny

[Dismounted]

What modifications/steps have to taken to prevent it?

[fonzerelli_79]

Hi Danny,

I'm getting this as well. I use the nospam! plugin too but it doesn't seem to be stopping them.

Are they finding a way round the nospam plugin?

kevin

[Danny_HR]

I have NoSpam! installed along with the included preventions included with vBullentin.

Again, not had that so far, for about a year, and in the last week, like 15 users like that.

They all activate their account over e-mail and post, even fill out all the fields like websites, xfire, avatars, signatures.

[SimvD]

We're having the same problem. 14 spammers reported banned while I was sleeping last night.

I have No Spam! installed and I changed all the questions and answers a few days ago. We use email verification too. Many of them upload avatars as well.

We've been banning IP's as it happens, along with some wildcards for the worst offenders who post porn from similar ip's.

Help? My forum is drowning in this garbage, I had to add 5 new mods to handle the influx.

We had minimal spam problems over the last year, suddenly dozens and dozens in the past week. and they don't seem to be bots.

Is there a way of moderating posts for new users already somewhere in the ACP or do I need to set up new usergroups and install hacks/scripts to achieve that? It would be handy to be able to moderate all new posts from new users, then once one of their posts was approved as being legit, they would automatically move to the unmoderated group. Possible?

I'm looking at the anti spam hacks here but one is in the graveyard and the other doesn't seem to be the solution I need. Suggestions for others I might be missing?

EDIT: I see the Moderate New Members option in the Registration options.... playing with that now, will report back. Can someone please tell me the best settings for the "Users Awaiting Moderation" usergroup to optimize this?

[kevcj]

Enable ReCaptcha through the VBulletin human verification options.

A lot of the new spam bots have broken the classic captcha phrases. Even with email verification turned on, the new bots will still register. ReCaptcha will stop just about all of the spam bots. Nothing is going to stop human spammers. But if your getting 15 new members a day, thats more then likely spam bots.

[Dismounted]

ReCAPTCHA/Q&A are the most effective solutions (IMO). However, Q&A is only effective when you have a lot of questions.

[Danny_HR]

Sorted re captcha now. We'll see.

Thanks everyone.

[Alfa1]

CHECK4SPAM catches everything that comes trough recaptha, Is Bot: Registration Time Check (https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?t=135094&highlight=ISBOT), vbStopForumSpam - known spammer lookup for new registrations (https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?t=176481&highlight=vbstopforumspam) & Cyb - Advanced Forum Rules (https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?t=201312&highlight=advanced+forum+rules).

[utvunderground]

I too am experiencing the same thing........it sucks..........

[JoeBOBBillyTed]

Here are a couple of ideas.

#1 change the questions in the to be something that is more difficult to guess, and change the questions often. Try something like What is larger a bus or a car. Don't do things like math questions as these can be created.

#2 Make sure you require email validation, some of these bots do not do email validations

#3 For new users, put there messages in a queue that you have to approve. This will not stop the problem, but will hide it from non-staff.

#4 Check for patterns in the registrations, for instance I had an issue with someone and they put TEST in some fields, this could be stopped by blocking registrations with TEST in any field.

#5 Require that accounts be authorized to post

#6 There is a hack that allows for you to prevent people from posting links / images until so many posts. Install this and set to a low number like 4-5.

#7 add their urls to bad word filter :)

That is a good start, if you do that, they will give up.

[Danny_HR]

Actually today was a very clear day for me. Since the enabling of reCaptcha i have had none spammers registered.
Thanks to everyone for their replies.

[Dismounted]

Also, see Forum Robot Spam Prevention Recommendations (http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/showthread.php?t=288234).

[SimvD]

Here are a couple of ideas.

#1 change the questions in the to be something that is more difficult to guess, and change the questions often. Try something like What is larger a bus or a car. Don't do things like math questions as these can be created.

#2 Make sure you require email validation, some of these bots do not do email validations

#3 For new users, put there messages in a queue that you have to approve. This will not stop the problem, but will hide it from non-staff.

#4 Check for patterns in the registrations, for instance I had an issue with someone and they put TEST in some fields, this could be stopped by blocking registrations with TEST in any field.

#5 Require that accounts be authorized to post

#6 There is a hack that allows for you to prevent people from posting links / images until so many posts. Install this and set to a low number like 4-5.

#7 add their urls to bad word filter :)

That is a good start, if you do that, they will give up.

1). OK I did that :)

2). Done.

3). I've set up all new registrations to go into moderation, but they can't post for us to approve them. I've gone through the settings several times for the Users Awaiting Moderation usergroup, and I have no idea why thats not working. What are the settings to set this up properly? This seems like exactly what we need, but my settings are obviously not right.

4). OK looking into that.

5). What do you mean by this? Similar to moderating new users?

6). Where can I find this for v 3.6.8?

7). Yes, I've been doing that along with not allowing certain words in usertitles, and that sort of thing...

All great suggestions. If anyone can help me with getting new posts into a moderation queue, I would appreciate it!

Also, Are there any ReCaptcha/human verification options available for v3.6.8?

Thank you all!

[Dismounted]

reCAPTCHA was not included in the standard package until 3.7. However, there is a modification that adds this functionality in 3.6. Use the search feature.

[Danny_HR]

When you are in vB control panel, go to vB options, and then to Human Verification Options.

You should have several options there:

Disabled
Image Verification
Question & Answer Verification
reCAPTCHA™

Pick reCAPTCHA and you are almost set.
Go here, http://recaptcha.net/api/getkey?app=vBulletin and register for the key and that is it.

Havent had any spam since.

[JoeBOBBillyTed]

https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?t=123002

Install that to prevent them from posting links :)

I did the queue with usergroups and promotions.

I made a usergroup called New User. Set it to put all threads/posts into a queue.
I made another group called User.
I then made a promotion

I believe that is all available in the admin area by default, but it may be a hack I have installed.

On the users not being able to post, make sure you check the box yes for Can Post Threads. And then lower you will see Follow Forum Moderation Rules put NO for that one.