[pedigree]

Originally Posted by Wired1

I realize a lot of these suggestions are dependent on a better API / submission system from StopForumSpam.com

Suggestion: Once a submission function is built in, perhaps add an additional layer of analyzing to it? Example:

User1 / Email1 / IP1 was found to be a spammer via IP today. 3 hours later, they attempted to register again. User1 / Email1 / IP2.

So, if someone that's attempting to join passes, a last check would compare their user name and/or email and/or IP to previously blocked registrations. This way, they could be shut down from registering under slightly different credentials. An option in the adminCP could be added so the Admin can say how many days back in the log file to check (if not the whole thing).

Suggestion: If a submission is blocked, grab the rest of the offending info from the StopForumSpam site, and compare against the suggestion. If it doesn't all match, submit the submission's info so the StopForumSpam site is more complete.

StopforumSpam.com doesnt have the functionality to pull all the other details for spammers based on just one field. We cant get a list of IPs that SpammerX has logged in from. I can however, put all the details for a failed registration into the database. To be useful over a 24 hour period, I might think about changing the local cache from 90 minutes to 24 hours.

Suggestion: Also, perhaps a function that would compare only allowed registrations to the StopForumSpam site. After all, some spammers make a login, and then don't spam for days. If another forum has caught them and flagged them, now you can be aware of this "sleeper" member and ban them. Notice could come via PM or New Thread post (akin to the Multiple Login AE mod here).

When I get all the template code working, there will be options for mods to examine users, refresh SFS.com data and act on that. In order to run proactive scanning against all the users against all SFS.com data, would require more work both on my time (I have a baby due in 6 weeks) and in cron execution time. Unless you have the Ajax cron mod installed, running a job like that would kill so poor users session. Maybe in v1+ Ill be able to add an automated pull from SFS.com of their IP lists. Anything more would be a lot more code. I want to get the next version out, working before baby is born because after that, well, I wont have much more time until I go back to work.

Not sure what would be best: checking on a CRON (or something similar), or only checking via a manual button. Perhaps an additional table column, so that if an allowed registration was checked 3 times after the account was created, it won't be checked again (so as to limit bandwidth and resources, both on the forum and StopForumSpam's site). Also, an option for the admin to manually OK an account, so it's bypassed in this check (or automatic, e.g. 20 posts in the forum, or in a certain group, or whatever).

Suggestion: A search for the log would be nice as well

Ill add a search to the logs after I get all the new code working

Suggestion: Once the manual / auto submission tool (and possibly some of the others I've suggested) are in place, color code (or whatever) the log? Example: Spammers I've submitted in red, (easily customizable by admin via FFFFFF), or mark by symbols (searchable of course), ones thoroughly checked in green, etc.

Auto submit can be sorted and logs updated to reflect that, its not a big, as long as you have cURL installed. Without cURL, automated submission will be extremely difficult, something that can be done but something that Im not really wanting to code for.

main goals for the next couple of weeks, is to get the core rewrite sorted, the 2.6 and 3.7 template changes sorted so that they rewrite templates on the fly, allowing mods to view all the data about the user, do whois/google searches, updating SFS.com data and submitting them manually, better loggind support and statistics reporting. Auto submitting user data to SFS.com might sneak in there but any companion, posting, PM etc will have to wait until all that is stable.

I spend 4-5 hours a day on a train to/from work so my time is a bit limited but Im trying to get it all sorted and out asap.