Anti-Spam Options - Rename register.php by BOP5

Brought to you by BirdOPrey5 / Qapla.com

It's great when you stop spam bots during registration but this mod gives you a chance to stop them BEFORE they even attempt to register.

I have received multiple reports from people who say their "register.php" was getting hammered with spam requests- so much so it was like a denial of service attack. Even if they disabled registration they would waste so much resources their site was slow or worse- had to be taken offline.

What this mod does is allow you to rename the register.php file- my theory is many of the vBulletin spamming bots are hard coded to look for register.php. Using a unique name will throw them off, at least for a while.

To manually change the name of register.php would have meant dozens, maybe hundreds of manual edits to files and templates previously.

This mod makes it as simple as possible. At worst you will need to edit 2 phrases and 1 file, and some people don't need to edit anything at all.

Compatible with VB 3.8.x (and 3.7, and 3.6 probably too) and all VB 4.x.x versions.

Basic Instructions
1) Import XML File
2) Go to mod settings in Admin CP
3) Rename your register.php file via FTP or some other means- make it a unique value but only use basic letters, numbers, underscores, or hyphens. Something like "joeregister999.php"
4) In the mod settings, set the value of register.php to the new file name you chose.
5) If you require email verification during registration follow the next setting in the Admin CP and edit the phrases listed (activateaccount and activateaccount_chnage phrases in Email Body)
6) Finally, if you use Facebook Connect on your forum make the manual file edit of class_bootstrap.php as instructed.

Now enjoy your new filename for register.php, I hope it reduces server load and spam in general.

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Please "Mark as Installed" if you use this.
Donations always appreciated. :up:
Nominate MOTM if you LOVE it!

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Note- if having problems sending activation codes or other Admin CP related activities use the solution in post #197.

[ozzy47]

It is indeed set to inactive in the original files. I would not enable it unless BOP says to do so.

[Bubble #5]

Thanks for the response Ozzy :up:

[ozzy47]

Not a problem.

[BirdOPrey5]

Originally Posted by DemOnstar

Safer than sorry..

I think the mod was developed for a purpose..

It was developed for the purpose of renaming register.php. I am unaware of any exploit in register.php and even if there was, this would not fix it, just rename it.

[DemOnstar]

Yep, Joe, got it.....

I too use the mod for the purpose of renaming the register.php...
It does what it says on the tin!

[mefromspace]

Originally Posted by smirkley

I think that as unverified, and one persons report.

I think its an open relay on his server, but I could be wrong.

edit to add: I am wrong about the relay, host verified. But I am not yet suspect of the register.php module.

It is me who has a ticket regarding the host passing on logs to be investigated by vb and so far we haven't heard anything back.

Anyways let me clarify for this mod that the attack happened before installing this mod so it has nothing to do with "Rename register.php by BOP5".

This mod was installed afterwards and it is simple to install and works as its suppose to so don't worry about the mod as again it was installed AFTER the attack on register.php

[thenoob2012]

This was easy to install and works great! I also use Spam o Matic which works great also, but I was getting tons of threads I was having to review for moderation. Ever since I have changed the name of register.php, I have not had a single spammer bot register. MOTM nominated!

Thanks!

[DemOnstar]

Originally Posted by thenoob2012

This was easy to install and works great! I also use Spam o Matic which works great also, but I was getting tons of threads I was having to review for moderation. Ever since I have changed the name of register.php, I have not had a single spammer bot register. MOTM nominated!

Thanks!

I use the above mentioned also...and Spam hammer, I have had nothing at all register. no users, no bots, nothing....

I guess I should create more content?

Spam hammer does discard a lot of crap... It works...
Spam o Matic has proved that it works also..

BOP5 mods also do exactly what they are designed to do...

These folks protect and enhance...

[CAG CheechDogg]

I love this mod , believe me when I say that everyone should use this now ! ...thank you BOP5 !

[DemOnstar]

Originally Posted by CAG CheechDogg

I love this mod , believe me when I say that everyone should use this now ! ...thank you BOP5 !

I have to say that the idea is simple in itself and at the same time, quite brilliant..
It should hold them off for a while..:up: