Anti-Spam Options - vbStopForumSpam

vbStopForumSpam

Mod of the month winner October 2009.... That cant be bad :up:

Apologies in advance, this is a copy of the 3.6/3.7/3.8 mod that has been verified to work in 4.0 (its so that I dont get a billion PMs asking if it works in 4.0)

This provides access to a RBL type system for forum admins, listing known spam IP / email / usernames. The RBL database is provided by www.stopforumspam.com. You do NOT need an API key from the website in order to access the database. only to submit data if you should wish to do so.

At the point of user registration, the mod checks if the IP number / provided username / email addresses appear on a block list and can block the registration.

Whilst this isnt the most perfect way to stop all forum spam, its another step that spammers have to overcome.

What it does

It checks with a remote database of known forum spammers. Their IP number, email address and forum username are tested and based on your configuration, you can reject / log / accept user registrations based on what you get back.

This version doesnt have
- whitelisting or the ability to submit users to the database but it will within the next week.
- automatic user deletion / post / PM purging. There are good tools out there already, this does something else.

Instructions are included in the installation.txt file - PLEASE read it first and dont forget to actually upload the files in the upload folder, otherwise it WILL kill your registration progress and you wont see the log file options in admincp.

Changes to vB
- 3 new database tables
- 2 database table alternations
- No new templates.
- 2 Hook (register_addmember_process & register_addmember_complete)

Ive tested it but had feedback that it works with versions as old as 3.6.2... Support should go back to older versions, as long as they have hook support for register_addmember_process / register_addmember_complete

For code to submit spammers to the database, check this post for code changes
https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showpost....&postcount=288

Reported to work
- 3.6.1, 3.6.2, 3.6.9, 3.6.10, 3.7.0, 3.7.1, 3.7.2, 3.7.3, 3.74, 3.80, 3.81, 3.82, 3.83, 3.8.4, 4.0beta3, 4.0 Gold, 4.2pl1,2

Installers should remember to refresh their ACP navigation window when they first install it so they can see the new log file menu item.

REQUIRES MySQL 4.1.1+

There is a small mod, coded by Wired1 that will allow you to submit spammer details to the database from the admin control panel, here https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showpost....&postcount=289 This relies 100% on javascript being enabled and makes no tests that it is enabled.

You need to have an API key from www.stopforumspam.com in order to submit data, its free and easy to get... You DONT need an API key in order to use this mod however, only to submit spammer data.

Issues are
- The usergroup permissions / view details etc DONT work. I jumped the gun and put the permissions controls in there before I put the code in. Please delete the includes/xml/bitfield_vbstopforumspam.xml file and rebuild your postbit

Installation
- Follow the instructions in the zip file, that includes the file upload the correct folders.

Please click Installed

The original thread is at https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?t=176481 where there is a wealth of knowledge about the mod, please ask questions in there.

[stationar]

I receive a lot of emails from users trying to register (including facebook registration). Turned the product off.

[DAMINK]

There has been no reply for months from the creator and its clearly failing.
Why is this mod not in the graveyard?

[kylek]

Because it works fine for most people.

[GamerPerfection]

Clearly failing? Don't be daft.

Are you sure you two don't use the "test username" option? Because if you do that's just as daft.

[MagiKelly]

Originally Posted by DAMINK

There has been no reply for months from the creator and its clearly failing.
Why is this mod not in the graveyard?

Working fine for me too. Getting new members without problem and dramatically reducing the amount of spammers. I simply can't imagine going back to the days before this mod.

[djbaxter]

Originally Posted by DAMINK

There has been no reply for months from the creator and its clearly failing.
Why is this mod not in the graveyard?

It's not failing. It's working fine for most people. And why on earth would it be moved to the graveyard?

[dmm2020]

Using it on 4.2 pl2 and it seems to work so far. Question though is where does log write to? Where do I read the log at?

[kylek]

Originally Posted by dmm2020

Using it on 4.2 pl2 and it seems to work so far. Question though is where does log write to? Where do I read the log at?

Go to your Admincp - down close to the bottom on the left side > Statistics & Logs > you should see vbstopforumspam logs.

[dmm2020]

Originally Posted by kylek

Go to your Admincp - down close to the bottom on the left side > Statistics & Logs > you should see vbstopforumspam logs.

Found it shortly after I posted the question. Thanks.

[GamerPerfection]

Originally Posted by semprot

Mark as installed on 4.2.0.

I use this setting :
Test IP address : disabled
Test User name : disabled
Test Email Address : enabled
Query Connection Errors : allow registration

Similar to my settings but I have IP test enabled and connection errors to block registration.

Is it recommended to allow registration if it times out?