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.

[john7911]

thank you

[BirdOPrey5]

Originally Posted by jkcerda

having issues here


clicking on "link to Edit e-mail body & phrases"

default product is VB,
$vbphrase[activateaccount]


I see no way of "editing:" it, above text is grayed out.

I'm sorry when I say "Edit" on a phrase I mean create a Translation (to English is fine) - The "translation" always overrides the original text.

So for your language(s) click the "Copy Default Text" button and then make the changes and save.

[jkcerda]

Originally Posted by BirdOPrey5

I'm sorry when I say "Edit" on a phrase I mean create a Translation (to English is fine) - The "translation" always overrides the original text.

So for your language(s) click the "Copy Default Text" button and then make the changes and save.

ok, so copy the entire text into the translation box, make the changes & save?

[BirdOPrey5]

Exactly.

Please also "Mark as Installed."

[jkcerda]

Originally Posted by BirdOPrey5

Exactly.

Please also "Mark as Installed."

Will do. Last question. Does the default product stay at vBulletin. Or do I change it from the drop down ?

[BirdOPrey5]

Keep it vBulletin.

[jkcerda]

getting a DB error

The Single String Archer database has encountered a problem.
Please try the following:
Load the page again by clicking the Refresh button in your web browser.
Open the www.singlestringarcher.com home page, then try to open another page.
Click the Back button to try another link.
The www.singlestringarcher.com forum technical staff have been notified of the error, though you may contact them if the problem persists.

We apologise for any inconvenience.

I did not get a "you have registered" message.
test users pop up in the "users awaiting e-mail confirmation".
I have not received e-mail for confirmation.

tried 2 different test users with different e-mails.

[BirdOPrey5]

This mod doesn't alter the database in anyway- it is likely a conflict with another mod.

I would need to see the text of the actual database error- it should be emailed to the tech address set in config.php or in your MySQL error log.

[jkcerda]

Originally Posted by BirdOPrey5

This mod doesn't alter the database in anyway- it is likely a conflict with another mod.

I would need to see the text of the actual database error- it should be emailed to the tech address set in config.php or in your MySQL error log.

I'll fish for it + & try again.

ok, regstered from my phone and it worked fine, not sure if things are cached on my PC or why things flew fine from the phone, going to try a different PC.

worked fine from different PC with a new user & e-mail.

SOME users are reporting errors.I'll update when I get the logs

[kisanjong]

Great Mod thanks BOP , this should be a standard feature in vb!