Miscellaneous Hacks - NoSpam! for vBulletin 3.7

NoSpam! is back and better than ever! The automatic template edits should be smoother than they were in the previous version, in addition to the 3.7 support. Please note that this version will ONLY work for vBulletin 3.7!

NoSpam! is a simple hack that allows the administrator to specify a number of easy questions, a random one of which must be answered correctly in order for a guest to be able to register, post, search or use the contact form. Because you create the questions and they are unique for each forum, it is impossible for a bot programmer to preprogram a bot to be able to answer them without adjusting the bot specifically to one, and thus you will be rid of all spam posted by CAPTCHA-evading advertisement programs.

This functionality was added by default in vBulletin 3.7's Q&A human verification system, so why use NoSpam! for 3.7 at all? There are a few reasons why one could prefer it:

- I have heard reports that vBulletin's default Q&A human verification is faulty and lets bots through. Truth to be told, I would not have publically released a 3.7 version if not for this. I don't quite see how this could happen and have not experienced it myself seeing as I don't use vBulletin's human verification, but if those reports are to be trusted, NoSpam! will do a better job of keeping the bots out.
- It is much easier to add questions and answers in NoSpam! en massé than in vBulletin's default system. If you want a great number of questions, vBulletin's built-in system takes terribly long to add them all in with quite a lot of page loads in between, while a fast typer can add several dozen questions to NoSpam! in a matter of minutes.
- If you have previously used NoSpam!, a simple copy-paste will get all your previous questions into NoSpam! for 3.7, while to get them into the built-in vBulletin system requires a converter.

If the reports of vBulletin's default human verification system failing are incorrect, I will freely admit that most people will do fine with the built-in system. But if you prefer this hack, by all means use it.

NoSpam! can be used with or without default vBulletin human verification. In this version, the automatic addition of the question into the templates should be flawless and not induce the often-reported problem where the question didn't appear in the previous version of the hack.

VERSION HISTORY:

4.0: Redid the automatic addition of questions to be smoother and more or less foolproof. Released for vBulletin 3.7.
3.0: Added functionality to allow users to specify which pages should use NoSpam!.
2.0: Extended the NoSpam! functionality to guest posts, guest searches and guest "Contact Us" in addition to registration.
1.1: Made template edit automatic (with thanks to Cole2026), added ability to have more than one answer to each question, and made answers case insensitive. To upgrade, I recommend undoing the template edit so you won't have to worry about it anymore (replace $nospamfield in the template register with $imagereg, or if you added $nospamfield above $imagereg, just remove $nospamfield altogether), and then reimport the product through the Admin CP (making sure that Allow Overwrite is set to On).
1.0: Initial release.

INSTALLATION:

1. Import product-nospam.xml through the Admin CP product manager.
2. Go to your vBulletin options in the Admin CP and select NoSpam! Settings. Once there, turn the system on and input your questions and answers according to the instructions there.

The system should now be functional and running.

UNINSTALLATION:

Just uninstall the product through the Admin CP.

SUPPORT:

Full support will be given in this thread. All suggestions are welcome.

Thank you and please click "Mark as Installed" if you like it.

[ArnyVee]

Any issues with the "XXP" version that was posted in the 3.6 thread? Should I just use this and overwrite?

[KURTZ]

what issue Arny? :S

[tafreeh]

i think this is buil-in option in vb 3.7... iguesss

[Mike-D]

Jelsoft has made brilliant ways to stop such Spam things. Why to reinvent the wheel (German idiom)? I don't see any reason why publishing a second Spam Hack. Maybe someone can enlighten me

[KURTZ]

i've got the same thoughts Mike, but i think is impossible improve the captcha with the vB's default Q&A ... this hack give us the chance to have those things together ... correct me if i'm wrong ...

[Mike-D]

Hmm, yes. You're right. That's the other side how I didn't consider it. Thanks Christian

[goforex]

Originally Posted by Mike-D

Jelsoft has made brilliant ways to stop such Spam things. Why to reinvent the wheel (German idiom)? I don't see any reason why publishing a second Spam Hack. Maybe someone can enlighten me

VB's anti-spam features have never worked for me, but NoSpam! has worked brilliantly! Maybe there is some function on my board or server that isn't activated which allows spam bots to get through. Whatever it is, as soon as I upgraded to 3.7 without NoSpam! I started getting multiple spam posts and sign ups every day, just like I did before I installed NoSpam! I told VBulletin but they just bury their heads in the sand because 'it works for them'. I for one am extremely greatful for this hack so I will finally be rid of these blasted spam bots!!!!!!!!!!!

Cheers!

[antialiasis]

Um, guys, my initial post has a lengthy breakdown of why I decided to release this for 3.7 and why people might want to use it despite that vBulletin has built-in Q&A human verification. I'd really appreciate if people read what I've already taken the time to explain before asking about it.

Any issues with the "XXP" version that was posted in the 3.6 thread? Should I just use this and overwrite?

Judging by XXP's explanation of what he did, it should work just fine, but this one is more reliable and won't break when you make template edits.

[dannykilla]

will this replace the current Human Verification I am currently using and if so is there any chance I could have two working together i.e. Re-Captcha and your hack?

Dan

[ArnyVee]

Originally Posted by antialiasis

Judging by XXP's explanation of what he did, it should work just fine, but this one is more reliable and won't break when you make template edits.

Gotcha. Done and installed!

Thanks for the update!