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

[smstoolbox]

Hi Simon,

I have recently installed your mod and whilst testing options managed to block my home PC agent from accessing my site (Im new to this game sorry)! My question is after removing my agent details i still appear to be blocked from my home PC - How can i rsolve this any advice would be appreciated....

[Alibass]

Try clearing your browser cache and also cache from admincp/Maintenance

[Simon Lloyd]

It will be your browser cache, you can also try (on your pc) Start>Run>ipconfig /flush dns (the space is intentional)

[Max Taxable]

I'll caution on the above - you really don't want to enter any parts of user agent strings that might be common stuff - you have the potential of not only blocking yourself, but literally tens of millions of computers and/or other devices.

It's one of the best Mods there is for vBulletin but, USE WITH CAUTION.

[Simon Lloyd]

Originally Posted by Max Taxable

I'll caution on the above - you really don't want to enter any parts of user agent strings that might be common stuff - you have the potential of not only blocking yourself, but literally tens of millions of computers and/or other devices.

It's one of the best Mods there is for vBulletin but, USE WITH CAUTION.

Thanks for that, this mod was only ever built to stop bots eating up your bandwidth which is why i recommend using actual bot names found in the useragents

[smstoolbox]

Originally Posted by Simon Lloyd

It will be your browser cache, you can also try (on your pc) Start>Run>ipconfig /flush dns (the space is intentional)

Thanks Simon I will try this once I get back from work

[smstoolbox]

Originally Posted by Alibass

Try clearing your browser cache and also cache from admincp/Maintenance

Thanks for the advice!!

[smstoolbox]

Originally Posted by smstoolbox

Thanks Simon I will try this once I get back from work

:up: Sorted thanks again!!

[smstoolbox]

Originally Posted by Max Taxable

I'll caution on the above - you really don't want to enter any parts of user agent strings that might be common stuff - you have the potential of not only blocking yourself, but literally tens of millions of computers and/or other devices.

It's one of the best Mods there is for vBulletin but, USE WITH CAUTION.

:up: Thanks for the heads up on this!!

[WorldCraft]

Fantastic little mod. Works great! :up: