Administrative and Maintenance Tools - MonkeyStop - Auto-Moderation of Spammer Keywords and URLs by postcount

Description
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A quick but effective hack that lets you set keywords that will flag posts and set as Moderated, requiring approval from a mod/supermod/admin before they're visible to users. You can also set the number of URLs to be allowed per post to stop flooding from spammers. Additionally, you can configure
the number of posts required to avoid the moderation, so the filter only effects new users to your forum.

Installation
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Import product-monkeystop.xml (ACP / vBulletin Options / Manage Products / [Add/Import Product])

Usage
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Configure the product in ACP / vBulletin Options / vBulletin Options / General Settings. (scroll to the bottom)
New threads and posts containing the offenses will automatically be moderated.
You can view moderated threads in ACP / Moderation / Moderate Threads. You should also see an icon in the thread postbit and forum display if the post is moderated (see screenshot).

Since most spammers register then spam your board while their post count is low, it may be effective to leave the default values (0 URLs allowed until post count is 3) or even up the post count requirement. If you wish to allow some links, change URLs to 1 or 2 for example.

!!! Warning !!!
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If you allow keyword auto-moderation, your users will receive an "Invalid Thread" message when they use a flagged word on new threads because it's a moderated thread. However this error can be customized here:
Admin Panel / Phrase Manager / phrase type: Error Messages / invalidid (page 15 or so of the errors)
I added:

<br/><br/>If you received this message immediately after posting a new thread, there's a good chance your message was flagged as spam. Please read this thread for more info.

... and supplied a link for my users explaining why their post was moderated.

Credits
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This is a hack of the "Auto Moderation by Keywords" mod by Andreas (https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/member.php?u=47102)
Thanks go out for his great mod -- if only I could PM or e-mail him to thank him directly! I only made minor changes to the mod to allow it to work with vBulletin 3.6.0 (by default it wouldn't work on new threads) and to auto-moderate posts URLs.
So give him credit if you think it's cool, but his PM box is full.
Dan "Tweak Monkey" Kennedy

History
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v1.0.1: Added minimum post count option
v1.0.0: Initial release

[Lionel]

I am very happy with this hack. I think it's the best spam stopper I've seen so far. Based on the principle that those spammers will register for the sole purpose to post a URL, I have been able to stop all of them.

Anyway I came here to thank you again, but I saw it was updated yesterday. I am curious to know what was changed, because it works for me.

[tweakmonkey]

I believe it says I updated it because I added a screenshot. Sorry for the confusion. I will do a mass-message if there are major updates. If you have any suggestions or run into problems please PM or reply here. Thanks and I'm glad you like it!

[kether1]

Hi Tweakmonkey!

I installed this mod (3.6.0) and am having a different problem and a similar problem as the one that adwade was/is having.

1st. the mod worked just like you said it would. So I too adjusted the error message. The only problem in my Admincp >Language & Phrases > Phrase Manager > Phrase Type: (I did not have the "phrase type: Error Messages / invalidid" as a choice) SO, to find the actual phrase that was coming up, I created a new thread and got the error message and then searched in Phrases and found the phrase to edit. (invalidid > *inside* Front end Error Messages [probably the place you meant for us to edit in the first place).

Anyway, so I make the change as you suggest. I test the mod with a new thread using a spam keyword. IT WORKS! Then I test with a url. IT WORKS 2! I get really excited as I think - "Finally the end of my spammer issue". BUT then, I test the 'Quick Reply" function and the mod works, but posts the message for the spammer to see, just not for other members or guests -- and the spammer doesn't get the error message. It just appears that the post worked. The other issue is that when I go to moderate the post, I cannot see it in the regular forum pages although in the New Post indicator it shows a new post - but when I click the link to the new posts, nothing shows up. I have to log into the admincp to moderate the post.

2nd. issue. So, the quick reply made me try the post reply function. It performed the say way as the quick reply.

So, long story short: This mod seems only to work on New Threads. It sort of works on replies, but not like you intended --at least for me.

If I have screwed something up, let me know. Thanks so much for this modification! Even with the two small problems I have with it, it will help slow down the spam problem.

Warm Regards,
Kether

[tweakmonkey]

Originally Posted by kether1

Hi Tweakmonkey!

I installed this mod (3.6.0) and am having a different problem and a similar problem as the one that adwade was/is having.

1st. the mod worked just like you said it would. So I too adjusted the error message. The only problem in my Admincp >Language & Phrases > Phrase Manager > Phrase Type: (I did not have the "phrase type: Error Messages / invalidid" as a choice) SO, to find the actual phrase that was coming up, I created a new thread and got the error message and then searched in Phrases and found the phrase to edit. (invalidid > *inside* Front end Error Messages [probably the place you meant for us to edit in the first place).

I can't really explain this. I just changed the value again to confirm and for me it's where I mentioned. Here's what I changed it to and what showed up:

If you are a new user and received this message immediately after posting a new thread, it may have to be approved before it shows up on the site. Please read this thread for more info.

I'm not sure why it's different for some people. I don't have a Front End Error Messages (I have a Front End Redirect Messages though). In Front End Redirect Messages I do not have an invalidid. Maybe it has to do with the upgrade path we've all taken since we first installed VB. I think I started with VB 3.5.2.

Anyway, so I make the change as you suggest. I test the mod with a new thread using a spam keyword. IT WORKS! Then I test with a url. IT WORKS 2! I get really excited as I think - "Finally the end of my spammer issue". BUT then, I test the 'Quick Reply" function and the mod works, but posts the message for the spammer to see, just not for other members or guests -- and the spammer doesn't get the error message. It just appears that the post worked.

The post should be a different color indicating it's been set to Moderated. I don't know how we can flag it differently -- perhaps we could style it by adding the word "This post was moderated for *** reason" or something? See below...

The other issue is that when I go to moderate the post, I cannot see it in the regular forum pages although in the New Post indicator it shows a new post - but when I click the link to the new posts, nothing shows up. I have to log into the admincp to moderate the post.

This sounds like another issue entirely with your Vbulletin installation. Although using the AdminCP is probably the best idea to moderate posts, you should definitely see moderated posts in threads if you're an administrator/moderator. If you set a specific reply to Moderated status (Unapprove Posts with the dropdown menu) with an administrator account does it disappear?

2nd. issue. So, the quick reply made me try the post reply function. It performed the say way as the quick reply.

So, long story short: This mod seems only to work on New Threads. It sort of works on replies, but not like you intended --at least for me.

If I have screwed something up, let me know. Thanks so much for this modification! Even with the two small problems I have with it, it will help slow down the spam problem.

Warm Regards,
Kether

I guess the best solution would be to style the moderated post so when a user's reply is moderated it flags it clearly to the user somehow (instead of just changing the color in the CSS or however you have it styled). This is more of an issue with Vbulletin than with this plugin though. I could add an option that only flags new Threads as moderated instead of posts - that might be more effective since spammers tend to always start new threads. A quick way to do this would be to Uninstall the plugin "Auto-Moderation by Keywords and URL: Replies". Threads will still be moderated.

[furst]

Originally Posted by tweakmonkey

Ah, so instead of moderating it, it would move it to say, a dump forum? I can probably implement that when I have time.

Thanks, I'll be looking forward to it

[adwade]

Originally Posted by tweakmonkey

Are you using the Phrase Manager or the Language Manager?

I changed the message here: Languages & Phrases -> Phrase Manager -> Phrase Type: Error Messages -> invalidid

Yes, that's where I was making the changes at. It saves the msg alright, but what is going on (I think) is the error msg isn't always displayed because it's not told to do so. For instance, here's how my board is acting...

Case #1 - A Spam type NEW THREAD is created using the URL feature (i.e. [URL]) and everything seems to work just fine. In that the posting of such a msg will ellicit an error msg and mark the msg for moderation.

Case #2 - A Spam type NEW THREAD is created containing a word in the keyword list.(i.e. 'www') Error msg is generated and thread is correctly moved into awaiting moderation status.

Case #3 - A Spam type REPLY will mark the msg for moderation, but will not give an error message IF for instance you enter a LINK w/o using the URL feature -or- if you enter a LINK with the URL feature. The reply is immediately hidden from the user and awaits moderation.

Case #4 - A Spam type QUICK REPLY will mark the msg for moderation, but will not give an error message, yet the QUICK REPLY is immediately shown to the one posting it. If he reloads the page, or revisits the thread later the QUICK REPLY msg does not show up.(as it's awaiting moderation)

So from what I can tell, the MOD always works correctly to move the msg to awaiting moderation status. It's just that if/when using reply (Case #3) or quick reply (Case #4) nothing trips the error msg to be displayed to the poster.

[tweakmonkey]

Originally Posted by adwade

Yes, that's where I was making the changes at. It saves the msg alright, but what is going on (I think) is the error msg isn't always displayed because it's not told to do so. For instance, here's how my board is acting...

Case #1 - A Spam type NEW THREAD is created using the URL feature (i.e. [URL]) and everything seems to work just fine. In that the posting of such a msg will ellicit an error msg and mark the msg for moderation.

Case #2 - A Spam type NEW THREAD is created containing a word in the keyword list.(i.e. 'www') Error msg is generated and thread is correctly moved into awaiting moderation status.

Case #3 - A Spam type REPLY will mark the msg for moderation, but will not give an error message IF for instance you enter a LINK w/o using the URL feature -or- if you enter a LINK with the URL feature. The reply is immediately hidden from the user and awaits moderation.

Case #4 - A Spam type QUICK REPLY will mark the msg for moderation, but will not give an error message, yet the QUICK REPLY is immediately shown to the one posting it. If he reloads the page, or revisits the thread later the QUICK REPLY msg does not show up.(as it's awaiting moderation)

So from what I can tell, the MOD always works correctly to move the msg to awaiting moderation status. It's just that if/when using reply (Case #3) or quick reply (Case #4) nothing trips the error msg to be displayed to the poster.

Ah, gotcha. I don't know a solution for this problem yet. Scroll up a bit to see my last reply to the other person that asked this question. The possible options I see are:
1) Change the way moderated messages are flagged to users if it's their own message (maybe style the CSS differently or something).
2) Disable the moderation feature on Replies (since most spammers tend to post new threads, at least on my forums). This can be done by uninstalling the specific plugin Auto Moderation for New Replies.

I'll try to think of a better way to implement #1. Adding another warning that a user's reply has been moderated would involve some serious code hack as far as I can tell. I only use the mod for low post counts and so far haven't run into this problem yet. My forum is relatively small though with around 110,000 posts / 280 active users (~1300 members).

[adwade]

Originally Posted by tweakmonkey

I'll try to think of a better way to implement #1.

Well, my Case #1 & Case #2 are working as I expect they should. So 'I' don't think (from what I understand so far) anything needs changing for them. It's only my Case 3 & 4 that can leave a poster in the dark as to what's going on from their point of view.

Adding another warning that a user's reply has been moderated would involve some serious code hack as far as I can tell.

Ohhh, that's bad news then. Sorry to learn of it...which is not to be confused with me understanding what you really mean.(i.e. complete newbie here)

I only use the mod for low post counts and so far haven't run into this problem yet.

Understand, and I too only plan to use it for low post counts as well.

Anyway, it's a TREMENDOUS MOD! I can't wait for Nov so I can nominate it for Hack of the Month. Can one nominate a Beta product for such??

[Neal-UK]

Is there a way to stop it moderating rss feeds?

[tweakmonkey]

Originally Posted by Neal-UK

Is there a way to stop it moderating rss feeds?

I wasn't aware it was moderating RSS feeds. I will have to look into this and get back to you.