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

What is it?
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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:
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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:
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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

[kisanjong]

Great mod , another mod / feature that should come as standard for vbulletin.

[Barcham]

I was using Spam Hammer but have just replaced it with this mod due to the fact that it has more options that the SH free version. I like being able to post the blocked attempts in a thread in my Admin section to show the moderators that we are being successful in blocking spammers.

But I doubt that this will be getting much work as Spam Hammer has not been needed to block any bots since I installed the hack to block spam bots by hostname or user agent from registering. But the way I look at things is better safe than sorry!

[ozzy47]

Believe it or not, this will still catch some, it does for me on my site.

[Max Taxable]

You're still going to stop alot of auto-registrations with this. The lists for the UA and hostname blocking mods represent only a tiny fraction of what's out there.

[Barcham]

Since I installed the UA/hostname blocker, I have only had one registration that was blocked by Spam Hammer and I have had zero false registrations get through both. I'm also running Proxy Alert which may be helping out but I have no real way of knowing how efficient it is because it does not generate any reports or email in the free version.

All I know is that my board is a lot cleaner with these running and that makes me happy!

[Max Taxable]

You're always happier when you know that you are smarter, more creative, better looking, and just overall superior to any botnet admin, spammer supervisor, or spammer alive.

[Max Taxable]

By the way I particularly like the option on this one to give no error message - no "gotcha" message - instead it can be set to give the impression the account was successfully created but it never was. Love that. I hate "gotcha" messages in anti spam Mods. What's the point of them?

[Max Taxable]

Plus it's just clean and simple without any BS and paid bumping of the thread, and endless "updates" that aren't really updates.

[Barcham]

It has exactly the options that are needed and no unnecessary padding that does nothing but make it more complex to set up and have more things to go wrong or conflict with other mods. I have no need of a bunch of reports as long as I can get an email or PM or forum post to show me that it is working as it should.

Right now I am using the following: Duplicate IP Report by BOP5; Hostname or Useragent Registration Ban; Multiple Login Detector; Proxy Alert; and finally - Spambot Stopper.
They are all quite simple to install and configure and all work perfectly fine together with no conflicts or other problems.

I previously tried Spam Hammer 1 Series which did a fine job but lacked the options of Stopper, and GlowHost Spamomatic which caused me a few problems right off the bat so I removed it.

I have yet to have so much as one spammer get through to register since setting up this final comprehensive group of blockers. And I have tested the mods I was able to test along with the help of my co-admin on the board and they all work as they should.

And I owe all of this to the link in your signature, Max! :up:

[Max Taxable]

Originally Posted by Barcham

It has exactly the options that are needed and no unnecessary padding that does nothing but make it more complex to set up and have more things to go wrong or conflict with other mods. I have no need of a bunch of reports as long as I can get an email or PM or forum post to show me that it is working as it should.

Right now I am using the following: Duplicate IP Report by BOP5; Hostname or Useragent Registration Ban; Multiple Login Detector; Proxy Alert; and finally - Spambot Stopper.
They are all quite simple to install and configure and all work perfectly fine together with no conflicts or other problems.

I previously tried Spam Hammer 1 Series which did a fine job but lacked the options of Stopper, and GlowHost Spamomatic which caused me a few problems right off the bat so I removed it.

I have yet to have so much as one spammer get through to register since setting up this final comprehensive group of blockers. And I have tested the mods I was able to test along with the help of my co-admin on the board and they all work as they should.

And I owe all of this to the link in your signature, Max! :up:

You missed two of the best mods on the list at Ozzy's site, "Ban Spiders by User Agent" and "Rename register.php?"