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.

------------------------------------------------------

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

----

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

[too_cool_3]

Originally Posted by CAG CheechDogg

Block those IPs using htaccess ...

The IPs are always changing so it would be a lot of work to keep adding them. Usually always from .eu or .ru IPs. I could block all IPs coming from there but that would not be ideal.

Originally Posted by ozzy47

Did you follow all the instructions and change everything?

I followed them to a T.

- Renamed register.php to something unique and not with register in the name.
- Changed the two phrases as instructed.
- Edited my Tapatalk setting to reflect the new name.
- Even changed up my notification encouraging registration that displays for guests to reflect the new unique register.php name and removed the reference to register opting to hyperlink a different word.

--------------------------

There are still bots always on my new register.php, unfortunately. I have new registrations temporarily closed until I can get this resolved as they were getting through my Human Verification questions (which are pretty hard/unique and don't contain the answer in the question).

I'm thinking next step would be to re-open registrations but try the New reCAPTCHA if it's a better deterrent then Questions? Or try GlowHost Spam-O-Matic.

[ozzy47]

Nope, read this thread, and do as I suggest there, The era of Big Spam is over.

There is a couple of bot/spiders lists in that thread, make sure to use them in the respective mods.

[EasyEazy]

Installed and working fine

Thanks

[ozzy47]

Yeah this mod will work pretty good. In about 8 months, I have blocked 12,911 attempts with this mod.

[CAG CheechDogg]

I love this Mod myself ...I was getting hit "HARD" before I installed this, now I honestly don't get hit at all ...maybe 3 times in the last year lol ...no lie!!!

[ozzy47]

Yeah the mod is awesome, the count I posted earlier is just auto boys that are coded to go to a site and try and access register.php

I just have that file with some code in it to update the db when someone tries to access the original file.

[CAG CheechDogg]

Nice Ozzy..and just a tip for you guys who are planning on using this mod....DO NOT use the words register, sign up, new account, account to rename your new register.php...use something that is almost like a password .... the words register, signup, newaccount or anything similar will attract the spammers and bots ...

[ozzy47]

Yeah it can not contain any deretive of the word register, as well as the phrases can not contain the same.

[CAG CheechDogg]

You saw what I named my new register.php lol ..no one would ever think of that right? lol ... I got a "WIENER" !!!! LOL

[ozzy47]

I don't think anyone will guess it.