Miscellaneous Hacks - NoSpam! - an alternative to CAPTCHA images

This hack is for vBulletin 3.6.x. For 3.5.x, please use the one provided in this thread. If you are using 3.7.x, you must use the one in this thread.

This simple hack is meant as a replacement for the default CAPTCHA system in vBulletin. There are two main reasons one might want to do this: firstly, new technology is constantly being developed to crack CAPTCHA images and make spam accounts anyway, and secondly, the more secure the CAPTCHA, the more difficult it is for genuine users to tell what the numbers in the image are. There is also the issue of visually impaired users, and the fact that not all servers are capable of generating CAPTCHA images.

So what does this hack do instead? It asks a question. Any question you want. That's the best part: YOU make up the questions, which means that every forum is unique, which means that it is impossible for spambots to be simply programmed to bypass it at all forums with the hack installed. You can make one or many questions - if you make many, the hack will pick one at random when a guest attempts to register, search, post or send mail through the Contact Us form. Their input is compared with your specified answer, and voil?, if they get it right they're pretty much guaranteed to be human. If they get it wrong, they're given an error message.

It doesn't have to be a complicated question. Heck, you can just make it "Please type 'blah' into this box." Or you can go with inserting a simple image with HTML and ask what is shown on the image. Or you can ask them to tell you two plus two. It's up to you. In fact, this can also be used as a means of forcing people to read the rules by asking for a certain password found there, or if your forum focuses on a specialized subject, ask a question concerning the subject that all your genuine users will be able to answer, but a random troll or "CAPTCHA-sweatshop-reader" will be scratching their head over.

It's simple to install, too: just one product to import, and that's it.


VERSION HISTORY:

3.0: Added functionality to allow users to specify which pages should use NoSpam!.
2.0: Extended the NoSpam! functionality to guest posts, guest searches and guest "Contact Us" in addition to registration.
1.1: Made template edit automatic (with thanks to Cole2026), added ability to have more than one answer to each question, and made answers case insensitive. To upgrade, I recommend undoing the template edit so you won't have to worry about it anymore (replace $nospamfield in the template register with $imagereg, or if you added $nospamfield above $imagereg, just remove $nospamfield altogether), and then reimport the product through the Admin CP (making sure that Allow Overwrite is set to On).
1.0: Initial release.


INSTALLATION:

Please download NoSpam!.zip, not product-nospam.xml, for the tested version. product.nospam.xml is NoSpam! 4.0 adapted blindly to 3.6, i.e. by editing the XML file for the 3.7 version without actually testing it on a 3.6 board. Theoretically it should work, but I cannot guarantee it at this time. If you download NoSpam!.zip and unzip it, it will contain another file called product.nospam.xml, which you should use.

1. Import product-nospam.xml through the Admin CP product manager.
2. Go to your vBulletin options in the Admin CP and select NoSpam! Settings. Once there, turn the system on and input your questions and answers according to the instructions there.

The system should now be functional and running.


UNINSTALLATION:

Just uninstall the product through the Admin CP.


SUPPORT:

Full support will be given here in this thread. All suggestions are welcome.

Thank you and please click "Mark as Installed" if you like it.


If NoSpam! is not working for you or you are looking for something a little different, you might want to check out Advanced Textual Confirmation.

[littlematts]

Originally Posted by antialiasis

Hmm, that's odd.

Try removing the if tags from what you added into the quickregister template.

wow dude.. that was infact a fast response.. thanks looooots..

and u know wat.. tat suggestion made a smile on my face when implemented.. i removed the if condition and kept the block as if it will get executed without checking any condition. and yes.. the message box appeared but smile dint last when i made out the question is no where to be found.. i think removing the condition helped me coz.. the no spam version i use is 2.0 and it doesnt have option

PHP Code:

$vbulletin->options['nospam_use_reg'] 


in vbulletin option menu so it is like the AND condition never get satisfied..

so buddy.. we have answer box with the message "answer here" is here.. but the question is not in sight.. is it the issue with version 2.0 wile i use the integration note for ver3.0?!

always thank you from bottom of my heart to your kind support you providing me..

regards
Matthew

[littlematts]

I dont know if i am right.. but is the error (Question not getting displayed) due to non caching of nospam for quick register form?

like:

PHP Code:

case 'register':
         if ($vbulletin->options['nospam_use_reg']) {
            $thetemplate =& $vbulletin->templatecache['register'];
            $nospamdo = true;
         }
         break; 


for register template..

do we need one such case for quick register to get it cached for the same too..

eeps! did i confuse u?! hope not
was jus trying to help to figure out along

regards
Matthew

[familyhistory]

Hi,

Just added this to my forum (better than CAPTCHA hopefully!)

Anyway, I have an issue with the search.
(I have logged out and cleared cookies)
When as a guest uses the quick search (top of forum) it comes up with:

You answered the NoSpam! question incorrectly. Please reevaluate your answer or, if you found yourself unable to answer it, you can refresh for another question if the administrator has enabled multiple questions. If you find yourself repeatedly unable to answer the NoSpam! questions, please contact the forum administration.

Yet, when as a guest, I click advanced search it works ok!

Another major issue is that when I try to register and click "complete Registration", I get a server error from .........../register.php?do=addmember

Any help please,
Regards,
Dave

[antialiasis]

blogtorank: I appreciate the effort to help, but using presets of any sort completely defeats the point of NoSpam!. If people start using math problems or "Please type [word] into the following box" in that exact format en masse, it allows spambots to just be programmed with the rule and then extract the numbers/word from the question to insert it. The strength of NoSpam! lies in the impossibility of mechanically predicting for any given forum that uses the hack what the answer to the question might be, which is the reason NoSpam! does not come with any default questions.

littlematts: Um, obviously you shouldn't be surprised if integration instructions for 3.0 aren't working when you're using 2.0. o_O Just upgrade the hack, and that's all there is to it. Not caching the nospam template had nothing to with it; for one thing, templates still work even if they're not cached (but require an additional query), and for another, the nospam template is not used for the QuickRegister integration.

familyhistory: If you want guests to be able to search without NoSpam!, turn off NoSpam! for guest searches in the Admin CP. If you don't, then there appears to be a problem with NoSpam!'s automatic disabling of Quick Search. Is your forum definitely running vBulletin 3.6.x? And what sort of server error are you getting when you try to register? Just saying you get a server error doesn't tell me anything.

[littlematts]

Originally Posted by antialiasis

blogtorank: I appreciate the effort to help, but using presets of any sort completely defeats the point of NoSpam!. If people start using math problems or "Please type [word] into the following box" in that exact format en masse, it allows spambots to just be programmed with the rule and then extract the numbers/word from the question to insert it. The strength of NoSpam! lies in the impossibility of mechanically predicting for any given forum that uses the hack what the answer to the question might be, which is the reason NoSpam! does not come with any default questions.

littlematts: Um, obviously you shouldn't be surprised if integration instructions for 3.0 aren't working when you're using 2.0. o_O Just upgrade the hack, and that's all there is to it. Not caching the nospam template had nothing to with it; for one thing, templates still work even if they're not cached (but require an additional query), and for another, the nospam template is not used for the QuickRegister integration.

familyhistory: If you want guests to be able to search without NoSpam!, turn off NoSpam! for guest searches in the Admin CP. If you don't, then there appears to be a problem with NoSpam!'s automatic disabling of Quick Search. Is your forum definitely running vBulletin 3.6.x? And what sort of server error are you getting when you try to register? Just saying you get a server error doesn't tell me anything.

thanks lots for the reply mate.. and sorry for any incon..

will make the upgrade now and be back with report..

keepin my fingers crossed..

regards
Matthew

[littlematts]

Hia dude..

I am back..

tried upgrade to 3 and now the answer box appear without removing the "IF" condition.. ie; integration works.. but still the question is nowhere to be found

I tried it with removing :

PHP Code:

<if condition="$vbulletin->options['nospam_onoff'] AND $vbulletin->options['nospam_use_reg']">
    <br />$nospamquestion 
  </if> 


to see if the question appear or if any space limit is blocking it.. but to no avail.. the question is not getting displayed even now.. but to say it works perfect with main register page

Matthew



also tried with the main page calling code in the quick register page
ie; changed the code of quick register to look like :

PHP Code:

<if condition="$vbulletin->options['nospam_onoff'] AND $vbulletin->options['nospam_use_reg']">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="$stylevar[formspacer]" border="0" width="400">
    <tr>
        <td colspan="2">$nospamquestion</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
        <td>
                        <input type="hidden" name="nospamnumber" value="$nospamnumber" />
            <input type="text" class="bginput" name="nospam" size="25" />
        </td>
    </tr>
    </table>
</if> 


but still the question is missing from displayed.. do we need any change to the integration code to get the question displayed in quick register form?

sorry to bug u ...
thanks lots for your cooperation buddy

Matthew

[antialiasis]

Can you give me the code of your "Generate and insert NoSpam! question" plugin on global_start?

[littlematts]

Originally Posted by antialiasis

Can you give me the code of your "Generate and insert NoSpam! question" plugin on global_start?

sure mate..

Here it is for the reference..

PHP Code:

if ($vbulletin->options['nospam_onoff'] AND !$vbulletin->userinfo['userid'])
{
   switch (THIS_SCRIPT) {
      case 'register':
         if ($vbulletin->options['nospam_use_reg']) {
            $thetemplate =& $vbulletin->templatecache['register'];
            $nospamdo = true;
         }
         break;
      case 'sendmessage':
         if ($vbulletin->options['nospam_use_contactus']) {
            $thetemplate =& $vbulletin->templatecache['contactus'];
            $nospamdo = true;
         }
         break;
      case 'search':
         if ($vbulletin->options['nospam_use_search']) {
            $vbulletin->templatecache['search_forums'] = str_replace(array('$imagereg</td>', '($imagereg)'), array('$nospamfield\n\n$imagereg</td>', '($imagereg OR ($vbulletin->options[\'nospam_onoff\'] AND $vbulletin->options[\'nospam_use_search\']))'), $vbulletin->templatecache['search_forums']);
            $nospamdo = true;
         }
         break;
      case 'newreply':
         if ($vbulletin->options['nospam_use_post']) {
            $thetemplate =& $vbulletin->templatecache['newreply'];
            $nospamdo = true;
         }
         break;
      case 'newthread':
         if ($vbulletin->options['nospam_use_post']) {
            $thetemplate =& $vbulletin->templatecache['newthread'];
            $nospamdo = true;
         }
         break;
      default:
         if ($vbulletin->options['nospam_use_reg'] AND $vbulletin->options['quickregister_active']) {
            $questions = explode("\n", $vbulletin->options['nospam_questions']);
            $nospamnumber = array_rand($questions);
            $qanda = explode(":",$questions["$nospamnumber"]);
            $nospamquestion = $qanda[0];
         }
         $nospamdo = false;
   }

   if ($thetemplate)
   {
      $thetemplate = str_replace('$imagereg', '$nospamfield\n\n$imagereg', $thetemplate);
   }

   if ($nospamdo) {
      $questions = explode("\n", $vbulletin->options['nospam_questions']);
      $nospamnumber = array_rand($questions);
      $qanda = explode(":",$questions["$nospamnumber"]);
      $nospamquestion = $qanda[0];

      eval('$nospamfield = "' . fetch_template('nospam') . '";');
   }
} 


waiting for your valuable reply

Matthew

[familyhistory]

thanks for the reply antialiasis,

The forum version 3.6, site is here: http://www.forum.familyhistory.uk.com

Maybe you could see if there is a problem signing up. Maybe it may be something to do with my cache or cookies.....

Thanks,
Dave

[Smoothie]

Originally Posted by familyhistory

thanks for the reply antialiasis,

The forum version 3.6, site is here: http://www.forum.familyhistory.uk.com

Maybe you could see if there is a problem signing up. Maybe it may be something to do with my cache or cookies.....

Thanks,
Dave

There's something up with your settings or templates because when you have enabled under vBulletin options-> "message searching options" -> Guest Search Image Verification, when a guest clicks search it redirects them to the advanced search page, there is no option when clicking search as a guest for the dropdown box to open when it's clicked. It has nothing to do with no spam settings.