Anti-Spam Options - Spambot Stopper - Prevent Spambots from Registering

What is it?
----------------------------
This mod rejects registrations where the form is filled out in less than a minimum time. You can configure one of the following actions to be taken when an automated registration is detected:

- Show a "No Permissions" page
- Display the "Successful Registration" message but without creating an account
- Redirect the user to any URL you choose
- Reload the registration page with an error message of your choosing

You can also provide a list of email addresses to be notified each time a registration is blocked.

Added for version 1.1.1: Time delay enforcer, maximum time option, time limits to cut down on email notifications, posting to a thread.

In the future, I'd like to add some simple logging and statistics, and a summary type of email notification (because people seem to quickly get tired of the single emails).

Note: I coded this myself from scratch, but I would like to acknowledge a couple of previous mods that used this same idea, by users Calorie and noppid, and maybe others. In any case, I believe this one adds some features that the others don't have.

Other advantages: no ads or links, no abuse of update notifications, no disappearing features, no threats to delete the mod (it will never be deleted, at least by me). Also, translations are allowed.

Installation:
----------------------------
1) If you have "Is Bot", "Stop the Registration Bots", "Spammers Suck!", or another mod that works on registration time, note any admincp settings for that mod then uninstall it.

2) Import the product XML file from the Product Manager.

3) Go to Settings > Options > Spambot Stopper Options and configure the desired settings.

4) IMPORTANT: try to register a new user to make sure that there are no problems with humans registering. If you want, you can also temporarily set the minimum time to a higher value (like 60 seconds) and test to see if the spammer rejection is working.



History:
----------------------------
1.1.1 (Feb 16, 2013)

• Added timer for enforcing minimum time
• Added maximum registration time limit
• Added time limits for email notifications
• Added posting notificatiosn to a thread

1.0.1 (Feb 01, 2013)

• Fixed bug
• Added check for fake timestamps

1.0 (Jan 31, 2013)

• Initial Release

[kh99]

OK, I find that it works with a new 4.2.1 installation. Did you enter anything for "Maximum Elapsed Time" or "Limit Notifications by Registration Time"? And what did you select for "Action". When you say it went ahead with the registration, did it actually create the user? If you chose "Stealth" for the action it will show you the message as if the user had been created even though it wasn't.

Edit: I'm sending you a PM...

[StJack]

Action is set to 'Show no permissions'
Minimum elapsed time is currently set to 30, have set it to 300 for testing myself.
Max Elapsed Time is set to 0
Limit Notifications is blank

Yes it created the user account and sent me the email verification email.

My assumption is that when this works the results of completing the registration form too quickly should be I get an error on the screen that displays the no permissions error, or if I select the return to reg page action it would display a message I enter in the box for them to see.

[kh99]

Those settings sound OK, and you're right, you should see the error if you turn off the button and register in less than 300 seconds.

[StJack]

Since I can do it without annoying too many people, I will remove everything, purge the database, and start from scratch. I only tried installing one other mod which was the spam hammer and it had issues with the php ini settings, which I have no control over. Didnt like the url get options or something. Anyway, will start fresh and see what that gets me.

[kh99]

That sounds like a good idea - I suppose it's possible that it didn't get fully uninstalled and is interfering somehow.

ETA: Thanks for letting me know (via PM) that after your reinstall this mod is now working for you.

[StJack]

Yep, since last night 104 have been blocked, and 0 new registrations have been successful. Thanks for the help and this great little antibot mod.

[motorhaven]

If you're getting that many blocked...

Look up each IP to find its IP range, then check to see if that range is a hosting company (ie, server farm where no legit users should be coming from). Block the range at the firewall level or using DENY in .htaccess. 2-3 weeks of doing this an the number of blocks you should be seeing will be a handful per day. The bonus is it will block a lot of other bad crawlers, decrease bandwidth the server users and result in faster site response time.

[Avros]

Thank you for a much needed addition to the arsenal or tools to combat those unwanted bots. I am also pleased as to how simple it is to use. Job well done!

[kh99]

Originally Posted by Avros

Thank you for a much needed addition to the arsenal or tools to combat those unwanted bots. I am also pleased as to how simple it is to use. Job well done!

Thanks, I'm glad you're finding it useful.

[Bonnie2009]

When I go to add this via products vBulletin is asking me to choose from a drop down list what hook to choose. Can I ignore that and just add the product?

I installed Spam-O-Matic the other day, which has been very successful, and when adding that program it didn't ask which hook to choose, so am confused now as I don't know which one to choose for SpamBot Stopper if any.

Any advice gratefully received.

vBulletin v4.1.3