Anti-Spam Options - Spambot Stopper - Prevent Spambots from Registering

What is it?
----------------------------
This mod rejects registrations where the form is filled out in less than a minimum time. You can configure one of the following actions to be taken when an automated registration is detected:

- Show a "No Permissions" page
- Display the "Successful Registration" message but without creating an account
- Redirect the user to any URL you choose
- Reload the registration page with an error message of your choosing

You can also provide a list of email addresses to be notified each time a registration is blocked.

Added for version 1.1.1: Time delay enforcer, maximum time option, time limits to cut down on email notifications, posting to a thread.

In the future, I'd like to add some simple logging and statistics, and a summary type of email notification (because people seem to quickly get tired of the single emails).

Note: I coded this myself from scratch, but I would like to acknowledge a couple of previous mods that used this same idea, by users Calorie and noppid, and maybe others. In any case, I believe this one adds some features that the others don't have.

Other advantages: no ads or links, no abuse of update notifications, no disappearing features, no threats to delete the mod (it will never be deleted, at least by me). Also, translations are allowed.

Installation:
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1) If you have "Is Bot", "Stop the Registration Bots", "Spammers Suck!", or another mod that works on registration time, note any admincp settings for that mod then uninstall it.

2) Import the product XML file from the Product Manager.

3) Go to Settings > Options > Spambot Stopper Options and configure the desired settings.

4) IMPORTANT: try to register a new user to make sure that there are no problems with humans registering. If you want, you can also temporarily set the minimum time to a higher value (like 60 seconds) and test to see if the spammer rejection is working.



History:
----------------------------
1.1.1 (Feb 16, 2013)

• Added timer for enforcing minimum time
• Added maximum registration time limit
• Added time limits for email notifications
• Added posting notificatiosn to a thread

1.0.1 (Feb 01, 2013)

• Fixed bug
• Added check for fake timestamps

1.0 (Jan 31, 2013)

• Initial Release

[kh99]

Oh, yeah, that was asked a while back and I forgot to get back to it. Anyway, when a user requests the registration page, the mod adds the start time as a hidden value, and it also adds a check value so that the start time can't be faked. So if you get the message that it's missing or invalid it means that the check value wasn't submitted, it expired, or someone tried to fake it. My guess would be that it's either someone trying to submit a registration form without having requested the page first (like maybe some bots work that way), or else someone started a registration then left the browser window open and tried to complete it much later (like hours, but I don't remember exactly).

[Alibass]

Originally Posted by kh99

Oh, yeah, that was asked a while back and I forgot to get back to it. Anyway, when a user requests the registration page, the mod adds the start time as a hidden value, and it also adds a check value so that the start time can't be faked. So if you get the message that it's missing or invalid it means that the check value wasn't submitted, it expired, or someone tried to fake it. My guess would be that it's either someone trying to submit a registration form without having requested the page first (like maybe some bots work that way), or else someone started a registration then left the browser window open and tried to complete it much later (like hours, but I don't remember exactly).

Thanks for explaining this... :up:

[apleschu]

Originally Posted by 409industries

EDIT:

I forgot to ask. Does the latest version here in this thread need to be downloaded and installed to get gain this functionality?

This functionality is not yet part of the "mainstream" module. It is something I added to the module installed on my forum and sent the changes back to the developer of the mod. I am sure he will add this when he gets time to do it.

[mdawg]

How about making this for vbulletin 5 ?

[kh99]

Originally Posted by mdawg

How about making this for vbulletin 5 ?

I won't be doing that. I don't even have access to a vb5 license. But someone else who developed a similar mod (which has since been removed from this site) said that vb5 didn't have the necessary "hooks" (or whatever vb5 uses) to create this mod. I'm sure it could be done by modifying source files.

[mdawg]

Well, vb5 is the wave of the future! Eventually as it progresses that will be all people will be using. I was stuck in vb3 and vb4 for years but finally now upon upgrading to vb 5.1.6 I am glad that I did.

[MahdyE23]

So, from those who are using this -- Is this better than spam-o-matic?

[ForceHSS]

Originally Posted by MahdyE23

So, from those who are using this -- Is this better than spam-o-matic?

I use both

[X-or]

Originally Posted by kh99

apleschu has been kind enough to share his additions, but I haven't had a chance to release them yet. But I will.

hi

any news about this?

[kh99]

Originally Posted by X-or

hi

any news about this?

You know, I forgot about this because I had kind of thought that apleschu posted his version as an attachment already, but I don't see it so I'm not sure what I was thinking. I'll see if I can get to it soon, or at least post what he gave me.