Dealing with spam
 

My forum is no older than about a month old, I haven't done any advertising or anything that will bring traffic to the site, but already it's gathering spam posts. Also, becuase there aren't many posts on it, the spam messages stand out.

What sort of mods are available to deal with this, if there aren't any, what sort of effective methods can be used?

<i>You don't needs mods. Moderate new registrations, and don't allow guests to post.</i>

Good suggestion. I have already done it, yet spammers are showing up and registering. Shhesh!

EB

The username on some registrations seem genuine, so it's hard to know they are spammers until they actually post. Is there any way to approve of the post of new registrations? And then once I establish they are not spammers I can make them proper users.

My settings don't allow guests to post.

That is exactly my problem. I like idea to have sort of "quarantine" for new registrants posts. :)

EB

First steps that help to combat this (does not stop it) is to have email verification enabled at registration.

In the ACP -> vBulletin Options -> vBulletin Options ->Human Verification Options -> Verify at Registration = Yes
Now go to -> vBulletin Options -> vBulletin Options ->User Registration Options -> Verify Email address in Registration = Yes

Now in the ACP -> vBulletin Options -> Human Verification Manager
Set your verification options for -> Image verification

Consider turning off the Memberlist for all until you get things settled.

You can strengthen this by adding a question at Registration.
http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/showthread.php?t=205214

These thing only help to deter spammers, they do not stop them.
Applying the above will almost certainly reduce the amount of spammers, however Moderators who quickly delete spam posts will send a message to all.

After applying above, you can find MOD's that restrict members from posting links and the likes in the MOD section.

Indeed, first follow what "Agitated" stated above. We then use two usergroups for users who have already been verified by return e-mail:

1) Registered Users - Moderated
2) Registered Users - Unmoderated

All users in the first category have ALL of their messages moderated by someone until its decided they are not spammers and then they are moved into the 2nd category where they are no longer moderated.

Most spammers "hit and run." After the first post you no longer see them. They won't sit there waiting for you to approve their first and likely only post. After all, most are automated bots.

On top of the above, you can run a mod like CHECK4SPAM available on vbulletin.org that will prevent new users from posting messages containing e-mail addresses or URLs anyway. -- Rik

Thanks for those tips, I have those options set already though. By the way, are those for 3.7.x? I'm running 3.6, but still have the options set for the user to verify his email address before he can go ahead and post.

--------------- Added [DATE]1220111302[/DATE] at [TIME]1220111302[/TIME] ---------------

Right, I have made the new Registered Users - Moderated usergroup, but how can I tell vB to send all new members to this usergroup first?

I believe there isn't any difference (I'm using 3.7.x).
Make the moderated usergroup your default usergroup after the user is confirmed by e-mail. You just change the permissions for the default usergroup so that all messages are moderated.

After new users prove themselves to be good users, then promote them to the unmoderated usergroup. We promote them to unmoderated status manually, but you can also do it in automated ways (I hope others will advise here) via a promotion system.

Hope that helps! -- Rik

I appear to be having trouble finding the option for creating certain usergroups as default ones...

Where are they?

Add some profile fields that new registrants need to fill in. If your questions are specific, then it will become easier to pick the bots from real people.
Another great hack to add is the 'advanced forum rules' It will stop a lot of bots.
ISbot and vbstopforumspam work nice as well.
EZbounced is a must.
For me the king of spam control is Check4SPAM.

Admin Control Panel (admincp) -> Usergroups -> Usergroup Manager

There should already be a default group named Registered Users. Below it should be an area for Custom Usergroups where you would create a new usergroup such as: Registered Users [Unmoderated].

Then edit the permissions in both the default "Registered Users" (I have renamed that usergroup "Registered Users [Moderated]") and Registered Users [Unmoderated] in the Usergroup Manager so that the first one has its messages moderated and the 2nd one does not. Of course, you can name them whatever you like.

Cheers! -- Rik

I have created those new usergroups, but in 3.6 I don't think there is an option to actually select the usergroup to make it default. So, i installed this: https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?p=1546573 and now all new users are put into moderation.

BUT, now what happens is that vB tells the users that an email has been sent out to be validated, and when they click on that click, it tells them that their account is already validated, so they are already put into that moderation group - but I think this is to do with the actual plugin.

If a user makes 3 posts which are not approved by the admin, does the promotion system still promote them to another usregroup, or do their posts need to be approved first, which are then essentially added to their post count?

An easy way to stop spambots, just 1 file to install and it works:

https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?t=178611

Vb's stock "Registered Users" usersgroup is the default usergroup a new user is automatically (I believe) placed in once their e-mail registration is confirmed. You leave that part alone. You just change the permissions on that usergroup so that its messages are moderated. Then you create a custom usergroup to promote good users to as indicated above.

Hope that helps. -- Rik

Right, it's done.

From what I've discovered there isn't even a need to create a new usergroup. In the vB options there is a setting where you can tell vB to moderate NEW users before they can post, this option also regulates the whole account. So in the meanwhile before they are moved to the main group they are kept to the Awaiting verficaition group.

But I am still discovering how to use the promotion system with this, I just need to know if the promotion system sees UNVERIFIED posts as valid ones.

But the problem with the above method is that it can put users of, becuase once they register and verify their email address, they get Thank you for registering, Test. Your account has been submitted for moderation by an administrator and will be activated shortly. You will be notified by email when this happens. To return to the forums, click here. So it just appears to be an endless set of verification for the user, and it still carries on even after the user has made their first post.