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.

[Nirjonadda]

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

[BirdOPrey5]

Originally Posted by chikuru

Do you have vb3.8 version of this? Thank you!

This same mod is compatible with both VB 3.x and VB 4.x.

[smirkley]

I have been watching the hits on whos online for the last day, and today I have noticed that a couple of registration bots have hit the new url I implemented with this new mod. I verified the ip with stopforumspam and it is indeed.

My question is, are the bots programmed to use a variable that has the vb software identify the registration filename, through a phrase or something? Otherwise how could this bot know my new filename especially since it has been less than 24 hours since installation?

Gots me confused.

[Trevor Matthews]

Installed and working perfectly.
Many thanks.

[SwollenCranium]

I guess I'm missing the point here I suppose, but 48 hours in and I'm still getting the same amount of bogus registrations as before this install.

Ehh ... count me as a "nogo" into the otherwise solid "go" reports.

[BirdOPrey5]

I am sure there is some spam software that is smart enough to follow the "Register" link from the forum homepage regardless of the filename of register.php, but on the other hand I am sure there is spam software that is NOT that smart and looks for register.php to begin with.

It won't stop all spam but I strongly believe it stops some spam.

[faisaly.com]

I sware some people are just targets, my sites been up for 4yrs same server, and zero bots....

[smirkley]

Originally Posted by faisaly.com

I sware some people are just targets, my sites been up for 4yrs same server, and zero bots....

Over a million posts on your site, 25000 some odd members,...

AND NOT ONE SPAMBOT ??!!

Now THAT is impressive !

[Max Taxable]

Originally Posted by smirkley

I have been watching the hits on whos online for the last day, and today I have noticed that a couple of registration bots have hit the new url I implemented with this new mod. I verified the ip with stopforumspam and it is indeed.

My question is, are the bots programmed to use a variable that has the vb software identify the registration filename, through a phrase or something? Otherwise how could this bot know my new filename especially since it has been less than 24 hours since installation?

Gots me confused.

Do the image(s) related to the re-named register link still have the word "register" in their file names? The auto-spam programs do scan pages and can go to links.

Just a thought.

[Max Taxable]

Originally Posted by SwollenCranium

I guess I'm missing the point here I suppose, but 48 hours in and I'm still getting the same amount of bogus registrations as before this install.

End it with this.

https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?t=289463