New Posting Features - 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.

[grecostimpy]

Originally Posted by Xoligy

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

EDIT: Fixed.

Thanks alot! I'll re-install.

[grecostimpy]

OK...one last thing. I see you changed it to look for [ /url] (without the space obviously)

Problem is, if the bbcode is uppercase "[ /URL]", then it lets the post go through.

Any way it can look for both upper and lowercase?

Thanks!...sorry for being a pain.

[Xoligy]

Good point, I'll use preg_match

[grecostimpy]

Originally Posted by Xoligy

Good point, I'll use preg_match

Awesome...thanks.

Please let us know when its updated. I think this is one of the best mods to date.

[grecostimpy]

Originally Posted by Xoligy

Good point, I'll use preg_match

Any news on an update with this? Thanks!

[ricoche]

Perhaps the preg_match is what I need as well. I have this installed, but am still getting porn spam links galore. Something isn't working and I'm sure not yet. Thanks.

[Sadie Frost]

I've been using this one by amykhar https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?t=96018 and it seems to work okay - does anyone have any insight as to whether I should switch to this one? Thanks

[grecostimpy]

Bump for preg_match. Thanks.

[Xoligy]

Oops, looks like I forgot to upload it, sorry!

Updated.

[phreak2010]

Hi,

Your plugin is great and works fine apart
from one bug that i found today.

If you post a message and then edit it afterwards you
can get past the plugin. Would it be possible to make it
check when a message is edited to?

Cheers