Miscellaneous Hacks - Ban Spiders by User Agent

What this mod does
With this mod you can enter User Agents to watch or ban, you can also recieve emails or have an Output.txt created and updated with time and date of visits. It doesn't just have to be spiders, you can watch, log or ban any useragent!

How to install
Simply import the product ban_spider, the mod is active by default but none of the other options are turned on.

What is a UserAgent?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User_agent

Understanding a UserAgent string
http://user-agent-string.info/parse

Genuine User Getting Blocked?
https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showpost....&postcount=105

Tools to help
http://whatsmyuseragent.com/SwitchingUserAgents.asp
http://www.botsvsbrowsers.com/SimulateUserAgent.asp

FAQ
https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showpost....&postcount=137

How does it work?
https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showpost....&postcount=381

What's a bot?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spambot

How do i ban a bot?
https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showpost....&postcount=318
https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showpost....7&postcount=51

Where's output.txt located?
https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showpost....&postcount=216

Bad bot lists
https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showpost....&postcount=259
https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showpost....&postcount=224
https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showpost....&postcount=281

Tested on vb3.7.x, vB3.8.x , vB4.x.x but should work on any version.

__________________________________________________ __________________
Special thanks to:
Lior
KH99
BoP5
for helping me sort out a few issues

...and beta testers
ForceHSS (Special thanks to Force for latest testing)
ozzy47
GreyHost

If you use this please mark as INSTALLED

History
9th June 2011 Orginal xml added
12th June 2011 Added both email notification and text file logging
22nd June 2011 Version 2.0.0, Added create thread on activity

1. Added match facility you can now use something like Yandex and it will match MOZILLA/5.0 (COMPATIBLE; YANDEXBOT/3.0; +HTTP://YANDEX.COM/BOTS)
2. Added clickable link to visited thread

22nd September 2011 added user redirect url selection
08th October Beta testing started for thread creation.
20th October Beta testing started for emailing.
21st October Beta testing complete Ver 3.0.0 uploaded
29th October minor fix added to cope with empty userid on thread creation
30th October Beta testing automatic redirection to spiders/bots IP
31st October New xml uploaded with automatic redirect to IP
25th November Minor fix for blank forumid fixed
26th November 2011 Fixed version check & create thread Off by default
17th December 2014 Version 3.1.0 uploaded, Hook changed extra logging and statistics added by Ozzy47 (Chris)
18th December 2014 Version 3.1.1 uploaded, prevented spiders being counted when mod turned off.
17th December 2014 Version 3.1.2 uploaded, due to rogue code from another mod
The Bad Bots list is now included in the product
Please prune out all those that you wish to be able to see your site (i suggest you definately prune out "DA" and "Custo" :

Support will now only be given to those who have this mod marked as INSTALLED

[Gadget_Guy]

Looking forward to Max's thumbs up!

Kudos to all the people collaborating on this thread!

I really is good to see people working together as a community for a common goal!

I for one could not have a successful site if it wasn't for people like yourselves!

D.

[ozzy47]

Yeah in the past 72 hrs, I have successfully blocked Baidu over 5400 times.

[Black Snow]

Can you share with us how you done this?

[ozzy47]

Simon has the changes, when he has time he will go over it, and if he wants, release a update.

[Simon Lloyd]

Ozzy47's xml has been uploaded and an update sent out, thanks Chris nice work!

[ozzy47]

Not a problem sir, glad to help make this great mod just a bit better.

[Gadget_Guy]

Installed and already working.

I will post a screen shot of WOL before and after in a little while... I want to have it in place for a little bit so it can start to really do it's thing.

Home page stats in 2 min is reporting 43 blocked

D.

[Gadget_Guy]

Working Brilliantly!

In less than 10min I went from 30+ Searchbots according to WOL to 14 and they are all the good ones (Google, Bing, Yahoo)

My server loads went from high 3 and 4 to 1.5 (ish)

Output file is showing Baidu being blocked among others. (most seem to be coming from Yandex)

You should all be commended on great work!

D.

[ozzy47]

Excellent, glad to hear it has worked so well so far.

[Simon Lloyd]

Version 3.1.1 uploaded, slight bug fix, stopped spiders/bots being counted when mod is off!