Miscellaneous Hacks - Stop the Registration Bots

Control your vBulletin forum registration process and stop the registration bots.

This mod will check the the time it takes for a vBulletin registration form to be submitted. If the form is submitted faster then humanly possible, the registration will be denied and the admin contact will be emailed about the event. The time is settable

We will start the registration on the forum rules page in two ways. First we will add a custom hidden field with a hash. Second we will insert a randomly named hidden field with a random value. This should make it a bit difficult to program a bot since the field names on all sites will be different as well as the values.

We will use a second set of random hidden fields on the form page as well to add to the confusion.

Time stamps to check the time spent on registration submission are stored in a DB table and private.

A registration will have to come through the Rules page and the form. Every Site will be different.

Installation is very easy.

There are two templates to edit.
One database table is added.
Three hooks are utilized.
Includes uninstall code.
Adds to vBulletin options.
Set time frame option.
Includes Phrases.
Sends Mail to Admin.
No files to upload.
XML product install.
Instructions attached in zip.

Demo usage and view source at http://www.riderinfo.com/

Compatibility
This hack is known to work on vBulletin 3.6.11 PL1 and will likely work back a few versions in the 3.6.x vBulletin series. Of course it works on 3.7.x as posted too.

HISTORY
1.2.2
added admin email on/off setting
moved hook code to files to reduce overhead.
1.2.1
Added Enable/Disable setting.
Fixed coppa includes file probem
Added file upload instructions to readme file.
1.2.0
Added JS timer to registration button.
Added enable/diable for email.
Removed ACP settings for random fields on rules and reg form pages and automated.
Reworded Pharses in ACP.
Recoded rules form and reg form edits.
Renamed variables for better code following.
Added more DB fields per user reg for tracking random automation.
New Hook on start_registration for functions.
Added new functions file. includes/stb_functions.php.
1.0.3
Changed input user name on rules form to random named hidden field with hash value.
Removed \n chars from email phrases.
All changes to registration are transparent to the folks registering.
Renamed DB username field to hash.
New hook on register_signup.
1.0.2
Added new Pre Reg Name hidden field to register form edits and ACP.
Added code to deal transparently with user deciding to change name after pre submitting it.
1.0.1
Fixed typo, changed 36000 to 3600 in product file.
1.0.0
Original Release.

[Ohiosweetheart]

Thank you!

[Ohiosweetheart]

Originally Posted by Vaupell

uhh uninstalled, had 3 people sending me mail / pm registration did not work for them.
the secound i disabled the mod it worked, they could register.

It always after forum rules said, missing field.

I'm afraid that I'm in the same boat. A clients' forum did the same thing.

When it's fixed, I'll enable it again. I've contacted noppid on his forum about this issue.

[noppid]

I just tested on two different forums on vB 3.7.5 and 3.8.1 and cannot duplicate the problem.

Missing field is usually a template edit that is not done or done incorrectly. If someone can link me to a forum with the issue I can look for clues. But I can't fix what I can't duplicate.

Holler back.

[noppid]

The zip file has been replaced in case it was perhaps damaged. I tested the code on both 3.7.5 and 3.8.1 and can't duplicate a problem.

Best I can suggest to try to download again.

If the problems continue, show me and I'll see what I can do.

[Ohiosweetheart]

I'm going to enable it after uploading the files again and checking my template edits. I'll let you know what happens.

Thanks noppid

[urducomm]

Great mod to stop registration bots

[noppid]

Originally Posted by Ohiosweetheart

I'm going to enable it after uploading the files again and checking my template edits. I'll let you know what happens.

Thanks noppid

I checked the one forum you linked me to. The default skin does not have the STB edits. However, style ID 2 does and STB works fine.

Check that you applied the template edits to all active styles.

[Ohiosweetheart]

I did and that was indeed the problem.

Thanks noppid!

[richTV]

Originally Posted by Vaupell

uhh uninstalled, had 3 people sending me mail / pm registration did not work for them.
the secound i disabled the mod it worked, they could register.

It always after forum rules said, missing field.
when i tryed registering alts, worked fine, but saw it on my laptop
didnt work. so not sure how or why, but disabled.

still love the mod.

just noticed this too after a couple emails to our Contact Form.

tried a test registration and got the missing field error.

i went ahead and removed the template edits, stb_functions.php, and uninstalled xml

i was using Stop the Registration Bots 1.2.1 and noticed that noppid updated to Stop the Registration Bots 1.2.2 so i upgraded to this one and it is working now.

not sure how long it was like this but might've occurred when we upgraded to vB3.8.1

all i know is it was previously working fine and when i uninstalled/removed the previous version, everything looked fine in terms of the xml, includes folder, and template edits!

wierd! lol

anyways, like i said, it is working now with v1.2.2

HTH

btw, didn't notice any email when this hack was updated?...i thought vbulletin.org sends one?

[Ohiosweetheart]

Originally Posted by richTV

btw, didn't notice any email when this hack was updated?...i thought vbulletin.org sends one?

I think the coder is supposed to send the notice?