Miscellaneous Hacks - Enhanced Image Captcha - Stop bots from signing up!

Title : Enhanced Image Captcha

Version : 2.2b

VB Versions : Currently working and tested on 3.8.4 (as of Dec 2014)

Coder : Andy Calderbank & Jason Williams

Purpose : Add extra Image Verification to the registration process, using an alternative system to the Captcha system.

The Enhanced Image Captcha system is a unique system using images versus text to stop spammers signing up to your forum. The script automatically detects images and uses the filename as the title, making adding new images extremely simple. To further improve security, the images are passed through a script which means that none of the images on the screen have file names - and cannot be associated to the question by title alone - and cannot be viewed by trying to access the images directly.

Please note, there is a .htaccess file within the images directory, to keep security tight, this must be kept, without it bots are able to scan the images and make a match, I understand not every server can utilist .htaccess but cannot get around this.

Important : This has been tested on 3.7 and 3.6.2 - as far as I know this should be backwards and forwards compatible.

My thanks go to all the guys who have helped with this, all the suggestions and feedback, all has been take on board and where necessary included in this new version - members in particular are : King Kovifor, Danny.VBT, Lynne and RCK.

Also thanks to ogameclub for the Turkish translated version.

I must thank Opserty too for their hard work in making me understand where I was going wrong!!

New features from original 1.11 release!!

Admin settable options:

• Number of images to display
• Path to image directory (so you can change if you prefer)
• Resize image between 50% - 150% of original image
• Number of images to display before a line break (see History)
• Enable/Disable

Demo : http://www.steadiforum.net/register.php

I hope this is help to the VBulletin community as I know this is a growing problem. I don't fancy the thought of trawling through hundreds of new members deleting stupid usernames and spam posts.

Installation :

1. Upload show.php to your forum root directory (or wherever register.php is).
2. Upload the images/verification directory, this can be moved to the forum root or have the verification name changed, but needs updating in the Enhanced Image Captcha AdminCP options.
3. Import Product - product-enhanced_image_captcha.xml
4. Make sure that you check that the Images Path is correct in AdminCP -> VBulletin Options -> Enhanced Image Captcha.
5. You can also select how many images and what size from the original you would prefer.

Upgrading:

1. Import Product - product-enhanced_image_captcha.xml - overwrite if necessary.
2. Set any options you need in AdminCP -> VBulletin Options -> Enhanced Image Captcha.

Upgrading from v1.xx :

1. Remove the images/verification directory and all images inside.
2. Uninstall the product - Enhanced Captcha Image Verification - important for phrase and template removal!
3. Upload show.php to your forum root directory (or wherever register.php is).
4. Upload the images/verification directory, this can be moved to the forum root or have the verification name changed, but needs updating in the Enhanced Image Captcha AdminCP options.
5. Import Product - product-enhanced_image_captcha.xml - overwrite if necessary.
6. Make sure that you check that the Images Path is correct in AdminCP -> VBulletin Options -> Enhanced Image Captcha.
7. You can also select how many images and what size from the original you would prefer.

Requirements : GD Libraries installed

File uploads : 53 (including images)
Files to Import : 1
New Templates : 2
New Phrases : 15
Uses Hooks : 1
New Queries : 0

History :
v2.0b

• Original Beta release

v2.1b

• Added Enable/Disable Option
• Also added Turkish Translated version
• Added new image page

v2.2b

• Bug Fix : Opera browsers, any number over around 8 images disappears over side of screen, added number of images before line break function to stop this happening

Don't forget you don't have to use the provided images - you can customise these to any you wish - I've used ones that are hopefully universal and everyone will recognise.

[AdrianH]

Installed but have found an error.

Trying to increase the number of images above 8, the images no longer appear in a second row and therefore will not fit within the screen.

[Kirauni]

I use the previous version, but I will update my testforum to 3.7.1 and see if this new version works as well. But I sure think it will

Thanks for your efforts, I really appreciate this add-on!
Still I wonder if it's possible to use this mod as verification for guest users when they are granted posting permissions. It would be a nice addition, I think.

Oh and I can try contributing a German translation of this addon, if you are okay with it, Steadi. Just let me know and I'll try my best.

[steadicamop]

Originally Posted by CareyCrew

Installed but have found an error.

Trying to increase the number of images above 8, the images no longer appear in a second row and therefore will not fit within the screen.

Really?

I have tested with all 15 images showing, from 50% to 150% and it works fine, it just aligns them underneath one another, not sure why you're having this issue, will double check now on my forum.

Edit - attached is a grab from my forum, with all 15 images set, 3 rows of 5, if this problem doesn't resolve itself PM your forum details and I will take a look.

Jason

[steadicamop]

Originally Posted by Kirauni

I use the previous version, but I will update my testforum to 3.7.1 and see if this new version works as well. But I sure think it will

Thanks for your efforts, I really appreciate this add-on!
Still I wonder if it's possible to use this mod as verification for guest users when they are granted posting permissions. It would be a nice addition, I think.

Oh and I can try contributing a German translation of this addon, if you are okay with it, Steadi. Just let me know and I'll try my best.

If you can knock up a German translation that would be great I can add it to the Translated versions - as regards the guest posting, I'm not too sure how that works, will have a look and see if it can be converted over.

Jason

[AdrianH]

Originally Posted by steadicamop

Really?

I have tested with all 15 images showing, from 50% to 150% and it works fine, it just aligns them underneath one another, not sure why you're having this issue, will double check now on my forum.

Edit - attached is a grab from my forum, with all 15 images set, 3 rows of 5, if this problem doesn't resolve itself PM your forum details and I will take a look.

Jason

This is what it does for me.

[steadicamop]

Darn - what browser are you using? I don't think that could be it but want to rule it out, I suspect after that it's the style you're using ... might have to knock up some code to count out say 5 then insert a break ... I'll see what I can do today.

Jason

[AdrianH]

Originally Posted by steadicamop

Darn - what browser are you using? I don't think that could be it but want to rule it out, I suspect after that it's the style you're using ... might have to knock up some code to count out say 5 then insert a break ... I'll see what I can do today.

Jason

Ahh....... I use Opera and having just checked in FF the problem is not there in any of my styles.

[steadicamop]

This is where I hate Macs (I know Opera can be used on Windows though, but Macs seem to give me headache problems!!)

I'm going to work on creating some code that will count out how many to put per line, I think I can make it an admincp option too ... this will be coming out as soon as I can get it done!

Jason

[maidos]

i still get bots registering my site even if i installed this mod, they keep pm spam my members and their join date is after when i installed the script
have email confirmation active but tahts useless aswell

[steadicamop]

Originally Posted by maidos

i still get bots registering my site even if i installed this mod, they keep pm spam my members and their join date is after when i installed the script
have email confirmation active but tahts useless aswell

How many images do you have enabled? I suggest making it around 10, this can slow the bots down some, if that still doesn't work, it sounds like you have a lot of bots trying to register on your site, I know I get very few getting through, should have even less now.