Add-On Releases - SpamBuster: Identify, log and remove spam posts on your forum

This is the v3.6 version of SpamBuster that I wrote for vBulletin v3.5.x This version is mainly bug fixes.

What does it do?
It spots posts that could potentially be spam then (depending on option settings) creates a thread alerting site admin/moderators about the post and/or hides the post from view.

How does it identify the spam?
All off the posts for users with a post count of less than 10 (configurable) have their posts checked against a number of rules. Each rule has a different "score". If the total score for the post exceeds a specified limit then the post is deemed to be spam.

Can I add my own rules?
The installer file has a default rule set with it, you may wish to customise the rules in the options section of the AdminCP. The rules system is fairly simple to add to, in simple terms each rule is a perl regular expression and a score.

How do I install it?
Import the product via the Product Manager in the AdminCP. The options group and plugins will be added to your system. Now would be a good time to click the install link on here to record the fact that you've installed it.

How do I configure it?
Head to the "SpamBuster" option group in the "vBulletin Options" section of your AdminCP. Fill in the relevant fields. Further documentation will follow but it should be obvious what each setting does for the moment.

How do I upgrade?
Just run a regular install. It's worth backing up your settings particluarly the rules before performing the upgrade. If you have any problems I recommend removing the product then installing it from scratch.

How can I test it?
Try posting a new thread/post with some trigger values in it. The string cialis should do the trick.

Help it's broken my forum!
Erm, that's not an intended feature. Disable all six of the plugins that are part of the product "SpamBuster" and post an error report to this thread. The forum will work fine.

Why doesn't it do x,y or z?
Because I've either not thought about it yet or I've not written it yet. Please drop a post into this thread with any (sensible!) suggestions.

Can I use it commercially?
You're free to use it for whatever purpose comercially/privately as long as you don't resell the code. It's released under the LGPL, see the link below for futher info. If you find this plugin useful and you'd like to make a donation please use the "donate" button below.


click to donate


This software is licenced under the CC-GNU LGPL.


Changelog

• 8th November 2007 - v1.1.2 - New thread redirect bug fixed
• 14th August 2007 - v1.1.1 - Multiple post bug fix
• 13th August 2007 - v1.1.0 - Important bug fixes, updated rules file
• 15th June 2006 - v1.0.1 - Updated list of rules uploaded as a text file
• 6th April 2006 - v1.0.0 - Stable release: code remains the same but the rules file has changed.

[BobbyBig]

Actually we feel very angry UK Jimbo, no support, no improvements.
Uninstalling.

[j4ck455]

Originally Posted by BobbyBig

Actually we feel very angry UK Jimbo, no support, no improvements.
Uninstalling.

While it would be nice if UK Jimbo could post a reply to previous posts at some point, I have to ask how much you are paying UK Jimbo to provide the support and improvements that you're angry about not receiving, also how much did you pay UK Jimbo to use SpamBuster?

My point being, that SpamBuster is provided free of charge, no need to throw a hissy fit bcos UK Jimbo has other things on his mind ATM.

[lazytown]

Originally Posted by j4ck455

I'm considering changing the following:

regexp:a_dotjapan:10:any:"/\.jp/i"

to this:

regexp:a_dotjapan:10:any:"/\.jp\b/i"

the same \b word boundary could be applied to the analogue problem etc.

Do you foresee any problem with using \b in some of the rules?

What does \b do? Did it solve some of your problems? I'm having problems with things like .no, .jp, etc where the user just forgot a space after saying .No way... And with jpegs.

-vissa

[lazytown]

By the way, this is a a great mod!

Are there any directions as to the regular expressions we can use and what they do? I know standard regexp syntax but this one looks different -- what standard is it?

Being able to speficy a word boundary would be really nice (or at least spaces).

-vissa

[archaosus]

I installed this (very easy) and within about 7 minutes it caught the first spammer - hid and moderator queued the thread, then added a message in my moderator forum about it. I love this product!

[webghey]

Originally Posted by jmottle

I installed the plugin, but when you try to make a new post that triggers the spam filter you get this message:

Invalid Thread specified. If you followed a valid link, please notify the administrator

If you reply to an existing post then it just goes back to that thread and does nto show the post as it has been hidden. Is there a way to perhaps have the message say that their post has triggered a spam filter and will be reviewed by an administrator before it is posted?

Cheers,
Jeff

quoted for identical experience. Is this intended this way? The previous spambuster did not throw the error - about invalid thread.

Have other members who are running this tested this / getting this error?
I uninstalled the 3.5 one completely and tried a clean install - same.

thanks for any info from others

[UK Jimbo]

Originally Posted by BobbyBig

How about this UK Jimbo: Message that a Thread/Post will be moderatated when Spam is found.
Actually the Users just see nothing and they keep trying to post which results in many unmoderated Posts + angry Users.

We need that badly.
regards

Originally Posted by webghey

quoted for identical experience. Is this intended this way? The previous spambuster did not throw the error - about invalid thread.

Have other members who are running this tested this / getting this error?
I uninstalled the 3.5 one completely and tried a clean install - same.

thanks for any info from others

Hi guys - this has been sorted now in the latest release. It looks like some changes with the code and also some in the 3.6 codebase prevented this from working properly.

Originally Posted by BobbyBig

Actually we feel very angry UK Jimbo, no support, no improvements.
Uninstalling.

Bye

[BobbyBig]

We allready fixed the redirecting bug for our forum 2 weeks ago
thx for the update anyways, but i hope you will make it even better it is now.

regards

[UK Jimbo]

Originally Posted by BobbyBig

We allready fixed the redirecting bug for our forum 2 weeks ago
thx for the update anyways, but i hope you will make it even better it is now.

I can't help feeling that it's a bit of a shame you didn't share this with the other users of this modification.

[Audentio]

Installed! Ill wait and see how good it works, I do indeed get spam at times on my board quite often so cant wait to see what this does .