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.

[noppid]

Originally Posted by OblivionMage

I also just installed this and got the 'You have left a required field blank' error when I try to register.

I've successfully used this mod before, so I'll check over the edits.

Note: I'm using 3.8.4

Edit: Apparently, instead of changing the code in 3b I just added stuff after it. Unfortunately, after correcting that I still receive the error on trying to accept the Rules.

I just tried your forum and was able to register. I guess you sorted it out?

[OblivionMage]

I just turned the mod off

I'm sure its just some strange error with my forum. MGC Chatbox also refuses to work. I used to have both of those mods on a related vBulletin forum, and they worked fine then, so it must be some sort of forum-specific error. Maybe a database / VBulletin file problem?

Thanks,

[noppid]

Originally Posted by OblivionMage

I just turned the mod off

I'm sure its just some strange error with my forum. MGC Chatbox also refuses to work. I used to have both of those mods on a related vBulletin forum, and they worked fine then, so it must be some sort of forum-specific error. Maybe a database / VBulletin file problem?

Thanks,

I don't know what is wrong from your perspective. But this mod worked on your forum when I registered. If you get anymore details on a possible conflict, please let us know.

[sean289855]

Any luck with mine.

[noppid]

Originally Posted by sean289855

Went thru all the steps and gets this .

After a new user tries to register.
You have left a required field blank.

My board is: http://www.faceoffhockeyshow.com/forum/

Using 3.7.1 and I think I followed everything.
Any help would be great.

I don't see the added random hidden fields in your registration page. Look at the template edits and that you edited the style you are using on your forum when you view it.

[OblivionMage]

Originally Posted by noppid

I don't know what is wrong from your perspective. But this mod worked on your forum when I registered. If you get anymore details on a possible conflict, please let us know.

You must have misunderstood . Once I realized it was returning the error, I disabled the product and registrations worked again (which is why yours worked). I don't think there is a conflict issue - both this mod and MGC Chatbox don't work whether or not the other one is enabled.

Its a rather strange issue >.>

[noppid]

I saw the timer, but never looked at the page source. Hard to say what might be wrong, I'd have to see the page source with the mod enabled.

[OblivionMage]

The mod is enabled again. The problem occurs when you try to accept the ToS.

[noppid]

Originally Posted by OblivionMage

The mod is enabled again. The problem occurs when you try to accept the ToS.

I see the template edits, but the values are missing. Got to think about this for a minute or two.

Check under vbulletin options that all the fields are filled in.

[OblivionMage]

Originally Posted by noppid

I see the template edits, but the values are missing. Got to think about this for a minute or two.

Check under vbulletin options that all the fields are filled in.

Yeah, they are all filled in:
http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o...rationbots.png

Thanks for all the help, its certainly a strange issue.