Allow URLs in posts only after a minimum number of posts (to reduce spam)
 

With the recent increase in CAPTCHA-beating bots spamming their URLs, I have a feeling this mod will be very useful. Inspired by this vBulletin 2 plug-in.

To install, first upload "bitfield_restricturls.xml" to "includes/xml", and then just install restricturls.xml via the product manager in the AdminCP. The plug-in should automatically rebuild the bitfields cache - as long as you upload "bitfield_restricturls.xml" first.

The amount of posts required is configurable in the usergroup manager, simply look for the group of settings with the header "Restrict URLs". The default is set to 5, however most bots tend to only make one or two spam posts at the most.

For obvious reasons, moderators and admins don't have this restriction, but if you want to add it, you can remove the group id from "bitfield_restricturls.xml".

If people find this useful, I may also update this to make an option so the posts containing URLs are set to be moderated rather than just completely restricted.

Enjoy :)

Update (13th Dec): Added code to rebuild bitfields, just re-install the .xml file. Also fixed a major bug. If you already have this installed... re-install it!

Note: This works by detecting the [url] tag and so it relies on vBulletin BBCode enabled and vBulletin to automatically parse URLs in to BBCode. If you have either of these disabled it will not work.


You're free to do what you like with this code, although credit is appreciated, it's not required.

Brought to you by eXaltic - vBulletin skins.

Update: If you're looking for a more advanced version of this, I recommend this or this. Because of these, this plug-in will no longer be updated unless needed. I recommend you use either of the first 2 if you're looking for more control.

Just saw the screenshot, this is a really cool addon to stop spam

Thanks for the hack Xoligy

*installed ;)

thank you....

Nice but i have an advanced version of this installed :D

Care to elaborate?

PM'd ;)..

I agee

didn't rebuilt bitfields for me.

This sounds very usefull indeed. Will give it a try...

Thanks, I'll look in to it. What version are you using?

EDIT: Fixed.

Thank you, installed but I'm curious as well for my forum, what is an advanced version of this. Is there another product similar to this one out?

Updated main post with information about better plug-ins. Unfortunately I didn't know about them until Distance notified me and I stumbled across the other.

If you're looking for more control, I recommend you use one of the 2 mentioned.

Sounds like a great hack, Installed it. Set registered group to 25 post prior to be able to post links. Logged in with a test account no post on it and it was able to post links. I uploaded the bitfield first then imported. What could be the problem?

You're right, I made a mistake. Now going to upload the fixed version.

Thank you, I prefer your version as it gives them a message telling them why they cannot post url The other mods simply place the message as a moderated post. Then we would have to manually remove the crap and explain to them why.

Think you should continue to develop this mod as the others don't really interest me, too many features when this is all that's needed.

BTW, has it been fixed yet?

yes it was fixed. This mod is just what the doctor ordered. Would be great if a message would come out in a block to tell a user why they cannot use links, As posted on the picture on the first post.

I thought the error message was standard with this mod?

The error message is below the navbit, basically it returns you to your post. It is fine, but I thought that the message would be something more noticeable, like when you try to access a private forum and you get the boxed message telling you that you do not have permission.

It is still cool as it is.

Well if you want me to continue developing it, I will.

Installed and running well. Regards

Can you post a screenshot of what the error message looks like? Is it anything like this one:
https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/attachmen...0&d=1034857031

I'm assuming you can customize the message the user sees?

It would be cool if you did. Being able to customize the error message a user sees would be a nice addon.

It's the same type of error message you get when you try and post an empty message. You can change the error via the phrase manager.

Shouldn't there be a separate phrase for this? Or does it use the same phrase as the empty message or did I misunderstand you altogether?

I mean, it appears in the same place as other posting errors do (for example the empty post message) but it uses its own phrase. Sorry for not wording it clearly :P

Please do continue developing, this is a nice hack. Prior to it I was having spamers registering and posting four or five links and then never seen again.

Thanks. When I have free time and I've finished the other plug-ins I promised, I'll add some extra functionality such as limiting sigs etc.

Continue to develop as is, no new features are needed, except being able to cusomize the error message right from the setting. I hate searching for phrases. What we need is a reliable means of limiting what spammers can do, and only allowing url's after x number of posts is a good start. There are other modifications available here that take care of limiting sigs and such. Just my opinion.

Heck, in addition to not allowing url's, how about not allowing .com,.net, etc. because spammers could just type in spammer.com or spammer.net and it would still show.

i've installed, and all my members couldn't post anything, weird.. even though it's about url, but restricted everything as well..

Make sure you're using the latest version. Do you have any other mods installed?

I see no logical reason why that would happen, since it requires '[url]' to be in the post before disallowing it.

Just installed it. Works fantastic!

I've been having a few annoyances where a user would register and spam 20 porn links. They'd get banned, but it would still be annoying to see. This solves my problem perfectly.

Thanks for taking the time :)

Doesn't work for me.

Only other product installed is the welcome headers:

https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?t=119572

Using the legacy postbit if that matters.

Are you sure you uploaded the bitfileds file before installing it?

Looks good, but i found when you post once with a URL, it'll give you an error, click post after you get the error and it lets you.

I'll look in to that. But don't forget, the bots aren't going to then click submit, so it's still effective.

It isn't working at all for me and I upped bits xml ect... correctly..... installed and set to 5 posts. I have spammers galore... I also took out allowing bb code urls.

they are still posting full url links as are new legitimate members in their 1st post.

The reason it isn't working for you is because it relies on vBulletin automatically parsing the URL in to BBCode. Enable BBCode again and it should work. I'm now looking in to the other bugs.

[quote]Looks good, but i found when you post once with a URL, it'll give you an error, click post after you get the error and it lets you.[quote]

I'm un-able to replicate this.

OK, I found something that would be a great fix.

I installed this mod thinking my troubles were over (and mind you, they lessened), but I found I was still getting porn links, etc being posted.

It does not restrict them from making posts with (though without the space between the url and "=")

So if they cover the url tags with a word(s) like this: Allow URLs in posts only after a minimum number of posts.. Then it allows the member to post.

Good point, I'll fix than and re-upload.

EDIT: Fixed.