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.

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

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

[djbaxter]

Originally Posted by Max Taxable

I figured it might be.

Alot of people don't realize the timer add-ons are all page load time dependent. Terrible proxies the botnets usually use, and other factors can contribute to slow load times thus letting some autospam bots get registered.

Spam fighting requires layers of defenses and vigilance by site owners, for sure. It's not a casual undertaking.

What version of the timer add-on are you using? I'm still on the original v1.1.

This is getting off-topic. However, to answer your question, I'm using Spambot Stopper, v 1.1.1. I think you're using that other one that keeps changing names and having hissy-fits.

[Max Taxable]

Originally Posted by djbaxter

This is getting off-topic. However, to answer your question, I'm using Spambot Stopper, v 1.1.1. I think you're using that other one that keeps changing names and having hissy-fits.

The other mod of the month one nothing's gotten through as yet. Yeah. Mainly because I paid to have it coded and released free to the community, and the first version of it was exactly as asked for.

[Max Taxable]

Back on topic and sorry for the derail... But BoP5 it might be helpful to mention this really works alot better if folks do NOT use the word "register" in the new name, and if one changes the name of ALL images that link to the registration page, and all that have the word "register" in them.

[djbaxter]

Originally Posted by Max Taxable

The other mod of the month one nothing's gotten through as yet. Yeah. Mainly because I paid to have it coded and released free to the community, and the first version of it was exactly as asked for.

Total BS. I had that one installed and bots still got through.

[Max Taxable]

Originally Posted by djbaxter

Total BS. I had that one installed and bots still got through.

It's not BS on this end, I should have been more clear. I personally haven't had one get through as yet and it's reporting anywhere from 40 to 100s of attempts daily.

[Speedy131]

Awesome!

Installed & nominated.

Thank you

[Speedy131]

Turns out I have some very smart bots on my forum ... they're still getting through every now and then despite the renamed register.php

[Max Taxable]

Originally Posted by Speedy131

Turns out I have some very smart bots on my forum ... they're still getting through every now and then despite the renamed register.php

This is going to be every bit as good as the renaming we do. See some of the earlier posts.

[smirkley]

Originally Posted by Speedy131

Turns out I have some very smart bots on my forum ... they're still getting through every now and then despite the renamed register.php

Your also going to get a smart bot or two, now and then. Expect that as a norm.

But as an admin,... get used to juggling a dozen methods of preventing spam.

Some last and never need changing,... some or good only for a month or two.

But stick with what works and dump what no longer does.

[BirdOPrey5]

Originally Posted by Speedy131

Turns out I have some very smart bots on my forum ... they're still getting through every now and then despite the renamed register.php

Making sure register in not in the filename will help.

Another big help would be editing the register phrase to something else without the word register. if "bots" get through without the word register anywhere in the link or text they're probably not bots. Not all spammers are bots.