Anti-Spam Options - Spambot Stopper - Prevent Spambots from Registering

What is it?
----------------------------
This mod rejects registrations where the form is filled out in less than a minimum time. You can configure one of the following actions to be taken when an automated registration is detected:

- Show a "No Permissions" page
- Display the "Successful Registration" message but without creating an account
- Redirect the user to any URL you choose
- Reload the registration page with an error message of your choosing

You can also provide a list of email addresses to be notified each time a registration is blocked.

Added for version 1.1.1: Time delay enforcer, maximum time option, time limits to cut down on email notifications, posting to a thread.

In the future, I'd like to add some simple logging and statistics, and a summary type of email notification (because people seem to quickly get tired of the single emails).

Note: I coded this myself from scratch, but I would like to acknowledge a couple of previous mods that used this same idea, by users Calorie and noppid, and maybe others. In any case, I believe this one adds some features that the others don't have.

Other advantages: no ads or links, no abuse of update notifications, no disappearing features, no threats to delete the mod (it will never be deleted, at least by me). Also, translations are allowed.

Installation:
----------------------------
1) If you have "Is Bot", "Stop the Registration Bots", "Spammers Suck!", or another mod that works on registration time, note any admincp settings for that mod then uninstall it.

2) Import the product XML file from the Product Manager.

3) Go to Settings > Options > Spambot Stopper Options and configure the desired settings.

4) IMPORTANT: try to register a new user to make sure that there are no problems with humans registering. If you want, you can also temporarily set the minimum time to a higher value (like 60 seconds) and test to see if the spammer rejection is working.



History:
----------------------------
1.1.1 (Feb 16, 2013)

• Added timer for enforcing minimum time
• Added maximum registration time limit
• Added time limits for email notifications
• Added posting notificatiosn to a thread

1.0.1 (Feb 01, 2013)

• Fixed bug
• Added check for fake timestamps

1.0 (Jan 31, 2013)

• Initial Release

[djbaxter]

Originally Posted by Lionel

And for those complaining about amount of emails they are getting, just create and outlook rule to send those mails to a specific folder, then delete the contents of that folder daily. You will be surprised how fast it gets filled up with banned notifications

That's exactly what I do. And once I verify the best range to set for identifying a spammer for my servers (currently 20 seconds but that's partly server-specific: 2 of the forums are on one dedicated server while the other 2 are on a VPS with a different host - those on the VPS are slower so that's where the 17, 18, and 19 second spambots are showing up), then I just disable the emails.

[Lionel]

I really think that this mod is the end for spammers

[djbaxter]

Originally Posted by Lionel

I really think that this mod is the end for spammers

Sadly, I doubt it. Every time one new hole is plugged, the bastards find another one. And this does nothing about human spammers, of course - just spambots. But it certainly makes a huge difference.

[Lionel]

another great mod was to send them a code by mail before registering and they had to enter that code to complete registration

[In Omnibus]

Much Thanks. It's a shame refusal to comply with site policy made this necessary.

[DAMINK]

Thankyou kh99 for taking the time to recode this.
I will be installing it now and removing the other mods i was using.

[djbaxter]

Increased time to 25 seconds. Getting spambots trying at 21, 22, 23, 24 seconds. No actual humans blocked yet. Total today for 4 forums is 500+ attempts.

May have to go back to 30 seconds which is what I used before but didn't actually test myself.

[chikuru]

I think there should be another anti spam integrated with this mod. something that will delay humans to register so that we can increase the time limit...

[kh99]

Originally Posted by djbaxter

Increased time to 25 seconds. Getting spambots trying at 21, 22, 23, 24 seconds. No actual humans blocked yet. Total today for 4 forums is 500+ attempts.

May have to go back to 30 seconds which is what I used before but didn't actually test myself.

Originally Posted by chikuru

I think there should be another anti spam integrated with this mod. something that will delay humans to register so that we can increase the time limit...

Yeah, can see where it's a problem if the bot time is approaching human time. The idea of delaying human registration would work, if I can figure out a way to do that. Or maybe one of the ideas that Lionel suggested would work to differentiate the bots from the humans.

[sadiq6210]

Is it working with this mod?
I mean can I use it both in same time?
Anti-Spam Options - KeyCAPTCHA - Interactive CAPTCHA with Social Features