Miscellaneous Hacks - Stop the Registration Bots

Control your vBulletin forum registration process and stop the registration bots.

This mod will check the the time it takes for a vBulletin registration form to be submitted. If the form is submitted faster then humanly possible, the registration will be denied and the admin contact will be emailed about the event. The time is settable

We will start the registration on the forum rules page in two ways. First we will add a custom hidden field with a hash. Second we will insert a randomly named hidden field with a random value. This should make it a bit difficult to program a bot since the field names on all sites will be different as well as the values.

We will use a second set of random hidden fields on the form page as well to add to the confusion.

Time stamps to check the time spent on registration submission are stored in a DB table and private.

A registration will have to come through the Rules page and the form. Every Site will be different.

Installation is very easy.

There are two templates to edit.
One database table is added.
Three hooks are utilized.
Includes uninstall code.
Adds to vBulletin options.
Set time frame option.
Includes Phrases.
Sends Mail to Admin.
No files to upload.
XML product install.
Instructions attached in zip.

Demo usage and view source at http://www.riderinfo.com/

Compatibility
This hack is known to work on vBulletin 3.6.11 PL1 and will likely work back a few versions in the 3.6.x vBulletin series. Of course it works on 3.7.x as posted too.

HISTORY
1.2.2
added admin email on/off setting
moved hook code to files to reduce overhead.
1.2.1
Added Enable/Disable setting.
Fixed coppa includes file probem
Added file upload instructions to readme file.
1.2.0
Added JS timer to registration button.
Added enable/diable for email.
Removed ACP settings for random fields on rules and reg form pages and automated.
Reworded Pharses in ACP.
Recoded rules form and reg form edits.
Renamed variables for better code following.
Added more DB fields per user reg for tracking random automation.
New Hook on start_registration for functions.
Added new functions file. includes/stb_functions.php.
1.0.3
Changed input user name on rules form to random named hidden field with hash value.
Removed \n chars from email phrases.
All changes to registration are transparent to the folks registering.
Renamed DB username field to hash.
New hook on register_signup.
1.0.2
Added new Pre Reg Name hidden field to register form edits and ACP.
Added code to deal transparently with user deciding to change name after pre submitting it.
1.0.1
Fixed typo, changed 36000 to 3600 in product file.
1.0.0
Original Release.

[greenchicken]

MAN THIS THING WORKS GREAT

[Darkmaster92]

It seems to work also on 3.8.4
Nice mod, now lets see if it works well

[Ranger187]

Originally Posted by OblivionMage

You must have misunderstood . Once I realized it was returning the error, I disabled the product and registrations worked again (which is why yours worked). I don't think there is a conflict issue - both this mod and MGC Chatbox don't work whether or not the other one is enabled.

Its a rather strange issue >.>

I'm one of the tech's for the MGC mod...If you can't get MGC to work, it's usually the Mod_security issue on Apache....PM me if you need help. As I don't check this thread...

[Jamey]

Thanks...will try this.

[Peter Caparelli]

I've downloaded the "Stop-The-Bots" hack, backed up my vB database, made the additions and substitutions as per steps 1, 2 and 3 of the install file, but I'm stuck at #4:

"***Forth: Upload the contents of the upload folder."

I see the contents of the upload folder, but WHERE am I uploading them?

I'm eager to install this hack as it's been so well received, but can someone give me a push inb the right direction? Please?

[VB1r@n]

thanks
mark as installed

[PAKIDIL]

Originally Posted by rooban12

When I register I got this msg "You have left a required field blank."
Help me please

i know this sound gona strange to everyone but i was having this problem .i simple disable the hack then i try to register its work fine as i have install the hack so dont know what causing it . but its work (100%)

[richTV]

was getting the same thing so i uninstalled it under vB3.8.X as i figured it wasn't working correctly for this.

unless it is a conflict with https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?t=183329 ????

best to search in the vB3.8 section for a newer addon.

was a nice hack when it lasted, tnx for sharing it none-the-less.

[noppid]

This mod works fine under 3.8.4. We have found most problems are usually a step missed in the install process.

[cowboycoalition]

i have installed this and i still get a bunch of registration bots that register. am i doing something wrong?