Automated Spam Bots with the Birth Date 3/28/1983

[Boss-Hog]

Hello,

Over the past several months, my forum has been overrun by automated spam bots that, once registered, start threads filled with lewd links or advertisements. It's obvious that it's automated based on the fact that the birth date is always the same (March 28, 1983) and have read two others posts from vBulletin users who have had this same problem, but no solution was provided. I've decided to temporarily require moderation approval on all new registrations, because if I don't delete the accounts before they're confirmed, the forum will have several new posts from these accounts. However, that's not what I'd like to have to do in the long run for all new legitimate registrations.


I'd estimate that we're currently getting about two signups a day with that birth date. I posted this on vbulletin.com and was informed that vB doesn't give the user the ability to ban by birth date, and that I'd have to take the problem over here. I'm not asking for custom code to provide this functionality; rather, I'm asking if anyone else has had this problem and how you alleviated it? My site currently requires image verification during signup, but I read that's no longer a road block to spam robots, as they can now interpret these. Any help on this issue would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[Adrian Schneider]

Try this to block registrations: hook: userdata_doset

PHP Code:

if (!isset($banBirthday))
{
    $banBirthday = array(
        'day' => 28,
        'month' => 3,
        'year' => 1983
    );
}

if ($fieldname == 'birthday' and $value === $banBirthday)
{
    exit;
} 


and to prevent them from posting more with the current accounts - hook: global_start

PHP Code:

if ($vbulletin->userinfo['birthday'] == '03-28-1983')
{
    exit;
} 


not tested, but im sure you could test it easily enough (create new acct).

[Liquid1ce]

I've been having the same problems
more to the point is this seems to be a automated program registering, how is it getting past verafie image ?

thnx for the code i shall try it out

Attached is xml file just import your all set

[EDIT] i tried this, but would there be a way to delete the persons account, as the account is still created then ban that ip thats used as its a proxy

[Boss-Hog]

Originally Posted by Liquid1ce

I've been having the same problems
more to the point is this seems to be a automated program registering, how is it getting past verafie image ?

thnx for the code i shall try it out

Attached is xml file just import your all set


[EDIT] i tried this, but would there be a way to delete the persons account, as the account is still created then ban that ip thats used as its a proxy

I successfully imported the attached XML file as a plugin but that's still not preventing users from registering with that birth date...the posting part seems to work, but not the registration portion.

[Liquid1ce]

then just delete members with 0 posts after x days

[Adrian Schneider]

I will try the code out in a day or two when I'm free.

[Liquid1ce]

bump

[CodeRed]

thanks for the code AJ...

i know we've had a ton of those bogus accounts register and im sure this will help lighten our moderator duties..

[JimmyN]

i just use a spam detection system, where keyboards are placed into a mod list.
Also the same with PM's so the whole board is protected.

[Vixje]

I cant find the hook: userdata_doset, where is it exactly so i can add the code? Thanks a lot in advance.