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.

[MrPHD]

Installed and running well. Regards

[Smoothie]

Originally Posted by fxs158

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.

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?

[Smoothie]

Originally Posted by Xoligy

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

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

[Xoligy]

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.

[Smoothie]

Originally Posted by Xoligy

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?

[Xoligy]

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

[fxs158]

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.

[Xoligy]

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.

[Smoothie]

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.

[xadoa]

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