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

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

VB4.x Version of Ban Spiders By User Agent

Tested on vb3.7.x, vB3.8.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, Extra logging and statistics added by Ozzy47 (Chris)
18th December 2014 Version 3.1.2 uploaded, due to rogue process from other mod
18th December 2014 Version 3.1.3 uploaded, due to previous one being VB4 mistakingly uploaded

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

[DemOnstar]

Had this mod for a while now, forgot to mark installed..

Cheers, does the trick...

[Simon Lloyd]

Thanks for the feedback!

[waterart]

ok not sure what i am missing here but i dont see the screenshots that others are showing where it lists the area of setting the spiders to block etc... where do i go in the admin to manage this mod?

[Simon Lloyd]

Go to ban spiders by user agent in vbulletin options

And the pic was way back in the thread https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/attachmen...7&d=1329854992

[waterart]

thanks i saw the pic and i expanded the entire menu on the left search for ban or spider and it doesnt show up anywhere?

then i installed spam hammer which does show a menu item and shows a link for options and I ended up finding it there.

thanks

[Simon Lloyd]

it would have been found in vbulletin options, if you've added spam hammer uninstall my mod as spam hammer has added pretty much what this mod does to its code, you don't need both.

[SEAda]

Had a legitimate user blocked, removed mod and user still gets redirected.

[Simon Lloyd]

If you've removed the mod then its not this mods fault!, it doesn't keep any database....etc on which UA strings are blocked, if it blocked a legitimate user it's down to what and how you entered the string to ban.

EDIT: You've never downloaded this mod!!!!!

[SEAda]

Originally Posted by Simon Lloyd

If you've removed the mod then its not this mods fault!, it doesn't keep any database....etc on which UA strings are blocked, if it blocked a legitimate user it's down to what and how you entered the string to ban.

EDIT: You've never downloaded this mod!!!!!

Yes I did and I have a user who was blocked after installing this mod, and was redirected to the website that is in there by default.

Was hoping for help solving the issue.

[SEAda]

Just because someone is asking for help with your Mod does not mean that that are accusing you of wrong doing. Chill.