Anti-Spam Options - [GlowHost] Spam-O-Matic for vB 3.8 (StopForumSpam, Akismet, Auto-Moderation and more)

We have released a mod for your vBulletin 3.8 that should stop almost all forum spam on your vBulletin boards. It is basically an (anti)Social Networking RBL to keep your forums clean!

This version is BETA and was developed specifically for vBulletin 4. However we believe this should work on vBulletin 3.8 so we have put it here for you in case you want to try a more robust Spam solution than what is currently available.

BETA is not a good word, this is more of an "Unsupported Backport" for earlier versions of vB.

The "REAL" Spam-O-Matic system was developed for vB4. This version is for you guys and gals that need to spend less time managing the spamers on your board(s). We hope it helps! The important features should work.

The original mod for vB 4 is located here:
https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?t=248042

IF YOU RUN vB4, MAKE SURE YOU ARE IN THE RIGHT THREAD!
Look at the URL above,
(sorry for caps)

This version is for vBulletin 4.x though has been reported to work on 3.6+
We only offer support on vBulletin 4.x as the 4.x version will have features not possible in the 3.x series.

This module has the ability to submit new spammer details to the StopForumSpam or Akismet databases automatically, all without any new templates or manual template modifications! :up:

Just install the product in the product manager, upload a few files, configure the system and you are done. (Estimated time: 5-10 minutes)

How it works:
New registrations are checked against the known spammer database at StopForumSpam.com. If the email, IP, or username exists in their database, the user (or bot as the case may be) is denied registration on your forums. If they make it past the SFS check, they are checked against several Automatic Moderation rules, and are also checked against the Akismet service for known comment spam.

A) StopForumSpam:
The StopForumSpam Module lets you:

• Check a registrant's IP address.
• Check a registrant's email address.
• Check a registrants Username.
• Disable or enable any of the above checks.
• Block and log, or, allow and log known spammers.
• All registration attempts are logged for your viewing pleasure.
• Several other performance tuning options

If they are not found in the StopForumSpam database or are allowed registration by your rules, their registration details are passed to the built-in vBulletin registration system. (Human verification, etc)

It is completely invisible to humans who are registering that this process is taking place. Bots are stopped dead in their tracks.

If a spammer is able to sneak past the first line of defense, and manages to post, then there are secondary and tertiary protections.

B) Auto-Moderation:
Auto Moderation lets you:

• Define how many URLs a new member can post before being sent to moderation.
• Define keywords that will send a post to Auto-moderation (viagra, porn, meds, etc)
• Define minimum post count to avoid Auto-moderation.
• Excludes admin and moderators from Auto-moderation.
• Completely disable Auto-moderation if you don't want it.

B) Akismet Service
Spammers that make it past the StopForumSpam and Auto-Moderation will be checked against the Akismet service. If they manage to make a post, and then are found on Akismet, they can be auto-moderated.

The Akismet settings let you:

• Set the number of posts that Akismet will check from each user. After this number is exceeded, Akismet checking will be disabled for that user.
• Auto-Submit spammers that post on your boards back to the Akismet service so that other forums and blogs do not do not receive the same spam.
• Completely disable the Akismet service.

Punitive Actions:
If you find a spammer has made it past your 3 lines of defense, and has managed to post on your forum, then you can help the community...

The spammer's details can be sent to the Stop Forum Spam and Akismet databases automatically, preventing them from registering or posting on other forums. When other forums do the same, the protection is reciprocated.

Simply moderate a post and choose the option to "Delete Posts As Spam..." an then choose the option to "Ban User." Banning the user sends their details to either Akismet, StopForumSpam, (or both) depending on how you set it up.

The next version will add a "Spam-O-Matic" option to the Postbit Moderation Tools menu to better streamline the process and make it two-click process instead of the long and cumbersome way that vBulletin Ban options are presented now. This new menu option will be available only for vBulletin 4.x series.

API Keys:
API Keys are NOT required for this system to stop spammers on your forums.

A StopForumSpam API key is required if you want to contribute to the StopForumSpam blacklists by adding your spammers to their database. By submitting spammers you help keep other forums and blogs clean.

An Akismet API key is required if you want to enable any Akismet auto-moderation features in this module.

You can obtain a Stop Forum Spam API key which is free from stopforumspam.com.

Get your StopForumSpam API Key Here

You can obtain an Akismet API key from Akismet.com.
Akismet offers free and paid API keys so choose your version based on your situation.

Get your Akismet API Key Here

Why it is better than the other anti-spam solutions on vBulletin.org:

• Works with all of vBulletin 4 functions including Facebook automatic registration.
• Report spammers that you find to the Stop Forum Spam Database.
• Report spammers that you find to the Akismet Database.
• Built-in Auto-moderation.
• Auto-moderation rules based on post count.
• Auto-moderation rules based keywords.
• Auto-moderation rules based Akismet results.
• Enable or disable any actions that you do not want.
• Customizable "Registration Rejected" message.
• Consolidates 3 popular methods of spam prevention into one product.
• No Manual Template Modifications!
• Supported!

======================
Compatibility:

vBulletin 4.0.x - but for 4.x you should GO HERE instead.

vBulletin 3x versions that have been reported to work:

*vBulletin 3.8.4 Patch Level 2
*vBulletin 3.8.5
*vBulletin 3.8.6 Patch Level 1
*vBulletin 3.8.7
*vBulletin 3.8.7 Patch Level 1
*vBulletin 3.8.7 Patch Level 2 (with this mod)



(Add your version here by sending us a PM or post in the thread!)

Should you decide to install this on an vB3, we are interested in your feedback. Let us know if it works or fails miserably.

======================
Reported Conflicts or reproducible known issues:

None at this time for this release.

======================
Modifications:

2 table alterations

9 hooks used:

- register_addmember_process
- register_addmember_complete
- userdata_presave
- useradmin_edit_column1
- userdata_delete
- userdata_postsave
- newpost_process
- threadfpdata_presave
- postdata_presave

No new templates or template modifications!

Uploads:
4 files. (2 PHP, 2 XML)
1 Product Manager Upload
======================

=====================
Donations:

If you like this mod, sure, you can donate.
But the best donation would be to nominate us for MOTM, to tell your friends and others about this mod, and if you are in need of web hosting, order it from GlowHost.com to show your thanks.

We hope you enjoy the mod, spread the word to keep all of our forums clean. :up:

=====================
Installation:

1) Download the attached file
2) Mark As Installed
3) Extract the zip file, and view the readme file.

If you like this mod, please nominate us for Mod Of The Month

=====================


Original concept credits go to the authors of vBStopForumSpam and MonkeyStop

[Gladius2007]

Is there any way to see if this is working properly once it is installed? I've installed it last night but it hasn't slowed down the influx of website/signature spammer signups at all. I'm still getting dozens of spammer signups every day. I've tried practically everything and nothing seems to help.

I've still got Human Verification turned on in addition to this... does it need to be disabled by any chance? I'm using Spam-O-Matic in conjunction with KeyCAPTCHA but neither seem to make any difference as far as spammer signups go.

[GlowHost.com]

Originally Posted by ikorolis

anyone find this ad code? where?

sorry coder your mod is good but i am force to unistalled and reason is BETA stage , install stopforumspam mod , dont like comments say ad sense code.

Its not in beta, its the same as stopforumspam mod + additional features. Both mods are unsupported in the 3.x series of vB.

Regarding the adsense code, that is not part of this mod, that comes from stopforumspam or from mods downloaded somewhere else besides vbulletin.org.

Originally Posted by Gladius2007

Is there any way to see if this is working properly once it is installed? I've installed it last night but it hasn't slowed down the influx of website/signature spammer signups at all. I'm still getting dozens of spammer signups every day. I've tried practically everything and nothing seems to help.

I've still got Human Verification turned on in addition to this... does it need to be disabled by any chance? I'm using Spam-O-Matic in conjunction with KeyCAPTCHA but neither seem to make any difference as far as spammer signups go.

Yes, take a look at the logs and see if they have any information in them.

If any of you are running version 4 of vBulleting, try the 4.x version of this mod as development is still active and supported.

However SorentoUltimate has provided me with some source code for an update which is a port of the SOM 4.x, which I am still looking over and will probably release in this thread once analysis is complete.

There is no ETA on that but I expect in a couple weeks maximum, probably less.

[Gladius2007]

Ah, didn't realize there are logs. Yep, seems to be working, over 350 registrations barred in a day - but most of them are the same spammer trying to sign up over and over. However, 20 spam signups still came through in a day. :/

There are a lot of us still on 3.x so please don't drop the support for v3 of this mod - thanks!

[Gladius2007]

A question... since a lot of sig spammers still get through on my boards and I want to report them all to SFS, what do I need to edit to make the ACP profile area SOM window have the "Remove user" ticked by default as well as "Remove All Posts" and "Submit to StopForumSpam.com"? That way I can just hit the Submit button and save 3 clicks for every spammer, which would save me a lot of time.

[Gladius2007]

By the way, I see where the AdSense code is coming from... it appears on user.php?do=kill where an interim "Add a Spammer" page from StopForumSpam appears after a spammer is submitted. There is a 468x60 AdSense ad on top of that page.

I assume GlowHost could contact SFS and explain the issue and have them make a separate page with no ad code for plugin-submitted spammers?

[kh99]

I have a question for people using this: I started using this a couple weeks ago but today I checked the Spam-O-Matic log and I see lots of blocked registrations which is good, but I see "submitted to SFS" log entries for only 6 members when I know I used the box in ACP on the member profile page to ban and submit a lot more than 6. Looking at SFS in "my spammers" also shows I've only submitted 6. Anyone else having a problem like this?

[Voyager-S]

First of all, thank you for this plugin.

Is there any way to mass-submit and delete users? I have 11,000+ users than I'm confident about them being spammers (using same value in a custom profile field), but I can't find an option to mass-erase them and report them.

Thanks.

[Vinyljunky]

Originally Posted by imported_Veronica

First of all, thank you for this plugin.

Is there any way to mass-submit and delete users? I have 11,000+ users than I'm confident about them being spammers (using same value in a custom profile field), but I can't find an option to mass-erase them and report them.

Thanks.

I want to do the same :up:

[tyteen4a03]

Is there a way to use TypePad Anti-Spam instead of Akismet?

[kh99]

Originally Posted by kh99

I have a question for people using this: I started using this a couple weeks ago but today I checked the Spam-O-Matic log and I see lots of blocked registrations which is good, but I see "submitted to SFS" log entries for only 6 members when I know I used the box in ACP on the member profile page to ban and submit a lot more than 6. Looking at SFS in "my spammers" also shows I've only submitted 6. Anyone else having a problem like this?

I'm answering my own question (I realize support is only given in the 4.0 thread).

Anyway, in a couple of places in includes/functions_ghsom.php there's some code like this:

   if (!headers_sent()) if(!isset($_SESSION)) session_start();

but (on our server anyway) it was stopping the sessions from working, so if you tried to use the functions on the user edit page (in the ACP) nothing would happen (it would go to the ban or delete user page but wouldn't submit to SFS or delete threads). So I edited the code (in two places) to look like this:

   if (!isset($_SESSION)) @session_start();

the @ stops it from displaying an error that happens because the headers *have* been sent, but it seems to work in spite of that error.

BTW, I also commented out the part that deletes threads because the comment says "this is definitely ALPHA code" and I'm not sure if that's the right way to delete threads and posts.