Anti-Spam Options - vbStopForumSpam

vbStopForumSpam

Mod of the month winner October 2009.... That cant be bad :up:

Apologies in advance, this is a copy of the 3.6/3.7/3.8 mod that has been verified to work in 4.0 (its so that I dont get a billion PMs asking if it works in 4.0)

This provides access to a RBL type system for forum admins, listing known spam IP / email / usernames. The RBL database is provided by www.stopforumspam.com. You do NOT need an API key from the website in order to access the database. only to submit data if you should wish to do so.

At the point of user registration, the mod checks if the IP number / provided username / email addresses appear on a block list and can block the registration.

Whilst this isnt the most perfect way to stop all forum spam, its another step that spammers have to overcome.

What it does

It checks with a remote database of known forum spammers. Their IP number, email address and forum username are tested and based on your configuration, you can reject / log / accept user registrations based on what you get back.

This version doesnt have
- whitelisting or the ability to submit users to the database but it will within the next week.
- automatic user deletion / post / PM purging. There are good tools out there already, this does something else.

Instructions are included in the installation.txt file - PLEASE read it first and dont forget to actually upload the files in the upload folder, otherwise it WILL kill your registration progress and you wont see the log file options in admincp.

Changes to vB
- 3 new database tables
- 2 database table alternations
- No new templates.
- 2 Hook (register_addmember_process & register_addmember_complete)

Ive tested it but had feedback that it works with versions as old as 3.6.2... Support should go back to older versions, as long as they have hook support for register_addmember_process / register_addmember_complete

For code to submit spammers to the database, check this post for code changes
https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showpost....&postcount=288

Reported to work
- 3.6.1, 3.6.2, 3.6.9, 3.6.10, 3.7.0, 3.7.1, 3.7.2, 3.7.3, 3.74, 3.80, 3.81, 3.82, 3.83, 3.8.4, 4.0beta3, 4.0 Gold, 4.2pl1,2

Installers should remember to refresh their ACP navigation window when they first install it so they can see the new log file menu item.

REQUIRES MySQL 4.1.1+

There is a small mod, coded by Wired1 that will allow you to submit spammer details to the database from the admin control panel, here https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showpost....&postcount=289 This relies 100% on javascript being enabled and makes no tests that it is enabled.

You need to have an API key from www.stopforumspam.com in order to submit data, its free and easy to get... You DONT need an API key in order to use this mod however, only to submit spammer data.

Issues are
- The usergroup permissions / view details etc DONT work. I jumped the gun and put the permissions controls in there before I put the code in. Please delete the includes/xml/bitfield_vbstopforumspam.xml file and rebuild your postbit

Installation
- Follow the instructions in the zip file, that includes the file upload the correct folders.

Please click Installed

The original thread is at https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?t=176481 where there is a wealth of knowledge about the mod, please ask questions in there.

[deadlySniper]

Looks like the site is down.....

[djbaxter]

Originally Posted by deadlySniper

Looks like the site is down.....

Yes... for me too.

[AliMadkour]

Originally Posted by djbaxter

Yes... for me too.

I think that's temporarily

[djbaxter]

Originally Posted by AliMadkour

I think that's temporarily

Oh of course... I assume that's the case.

[fabs23]

Originally Posted by deadlySniper

Looks like the site is down.....

Hi,

I'm thinking about installing this addon too. What happens in this case http://api.stopforumspam.org is down? Is the registration process on my site still working or is it reliant on the availability of the api?

Thanks for replies
fabs

[Ski4People]

Originally Posted by fabs23

Hi,

I'm thinking about installing this addon too. What happens in this case http://api.stopforumspam.org is down? Is the registration process on my site still working or is it reliant on the availability of the api?

Thanks for replies
fabs

There's an option "Query Connection Errors" with two settings: Allow registration and Block registration, I think this is what you need, but it's rare that the site is down.

[fabs23]

Hi LukeNet,

thanks for that instant answer.

fabs

[Ski4People]

Originally Posted by fabs23

Hi LukeNet,

thanks for that instant answer.

fabs

In my opinion this is a great plugin, it blocks (for my site) from about 60 to 100 spammers registration in a day, but remember, to prevent false positives, to disable "Test User name" and keep just "Test IP address" and "Test Email Address" enabled!

[TheSupportForum]

Originally Posted by fabs23

Hi,

I'm thinking about installing this addon too. What happens in this case http://api.stopforumspam.org is down? Is the registration process on my site still working or is it reliant on the availability of the api?

Thanks for replies
fabs

http://api.stopforumspam.org is not default for this script, you will need to update the string yourself
otherwise it points to http://stopforumspam.com which is their old API

[fabs23]

Originally Posted by LukeNet

..., but remember, to prevent false positives, to disable "Test User name" and keep just "Test IP address" and "Test Email Address" enabled!

Originally Posted by TheSupportForum

http://api.stopforumspam.org is not default for this script, you will need to update the string yourself
otherwise it points to http://stopforumspam.com which is their old API

Hey,

I already changed these options after reading your previous comments. =) But thanks for the advices though.

fabs