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.

[kylek]

Originally Posted by radmoose

=) Sleep is a good thing. No rush, mainly posted it for information for others. Thanks for updating this mod.

One question.. is anyone getting valid usernames and/or email addresses in their log?

My log looks strange, but it is possible that they were using "Unregistered" and "EMAIL"...but strange that it is on ALL of the items in the log.

Unregistered    2009-12-24 08:32:14    EMAIL    202.116.160.89    Result on field ip - 202.116.160.89 - Spammer and rejected by policy
Unregistered    2009-12-24 07:40:14        64.191.50.99    Result on field ip - 64.191.50.99 - Spammer and rejected by policy
Unregistered    2009-12-24 01:34:41        80.250.48.21    Result on field ip - 80.250.48.21 - Spammer and rejected by policy
Unregistered    2009-12-24 01:19:34    EMAIL    78.159.32.218    Result on field ip - 78.159.32.218 - Spammer and rejected by policy
Unregistered    2009-12-23 23:23:46    EMAIL    60.217.248.135    Result on field ip - 60.217.248.135 - Spammer and rejected by policy
Unregistered    2009-12-23 15:30:20    EMAIL    95.28.51.170    Result on field username - Unregistered - Spammer and rejected by policy

Yup, getting the same, 294 in the log, none show any username, all unregistered.

Attachment 108381

[radmoose]

Originally Posted by halkum

Had to uninstall it as it stopped several trusted friends from joining.

Do you know why? Was it their usernames? their email address? their IP address?

If it was just the username, then I suggest disabling that check on your install.

If it was the other 2, they might want to check why they are in the Stop Forum Spam database.

If all of your trusted friends have now joined, you can also turn it back on as it only checks during registration.

[pedigree]

Originally Posted by halkum

Had to uninstall it as it stopped several trusted friends from joining.

How? IP, email, username?

[pedigree]

Originally Posted by kylek

Yup, getting the same, 294 in the log, none show any username, all unregistered.

Attachment 108381

Now that is strange, Ive not seen this before. Im going to have to wake up my friend so that I can test this further on vb4.

[radmoose]

I had the previous (3.x) version installed before upgrading but I did uninstall it.

It seems to be working better now, but still has some issues.

If you need me to test anything, please let me know (PM or Email)

Also if you want existing updated logs or anything, let me know how I can help.

[pedigree]

Strange, I just tried to register on a test forum and got

sjq234ssys 2009-12-28 10:15:06 wogold1454@gmail.com 192.168.0.10 Result on field username - sjq234ssys - Spammer and rejected by policy

Not unregistered or EMAIL

[pedigree]

The "Unregistered" username could be a misconfigured bot

http://www.stopforumspam.com/search?q=unregistered

They maybe annoying but they arent always smart

As I dont run a forum anymore, I would have to put one up and wait for them to try to register on mine. In the mean time, Ill try to see if vBulletin is inserting text into empty fields, when they shouldnt be

[petermclane]

hmmmm.... when I try and add/import product and upload the xml file cpnav_vbstopformspam.xml, I get the following:

invalid file specified.

Granted this the first time I've ever used vB 4....

Seems like an awesome feature. Can anyone help me with the hangup?
TY TY.

[Bluetiereign]

I love this MOD. I Finally get to turn off the Moderation of new members.

I can't believe vBulletin can't create an image verification system that actually works.

[Quarantine]

I was curious when I wasn't getting any new users registered for the past few days, when a user e-mailed us and told us that he could not register, as after ticking the checkbox to agree to the terms and conditions and submitting the form, he immediately got a blank page.

I started disabling my plugins one by one until I found out that this plugin is the cause. After enabling it, sure enough, the same problem surfaced.

Any ideas?