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

[ozzy47]

What is in your list?
What is one of the users complaining useragent string?

[Gadget_Guy]

This is my list:

(Deleted)

What do you mean "What is one of the users complaining useragent string?"

Tell me how to get this info for you

D.

[ozzy47]

In your online.php, set User Agent: to Yes

Then copy the useragent string of one of the members that was complaining, and paste it here.

[Max Taxable]

Originally Posted by Gadget_Guy

What do you mean "What is one of the users complaining useragent string?"

Tell me how to get this info for you

D.

Helpful little template edit makes it shown all the time:


https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?t=306009

Remove this from your list:

Opera/9.80

[ozzy47]

Yep, that would do it.

You should also edit your above post and remove the list, don't need everyone to see it.

[Gadget_Guy]

Thanks Guys!

Many thanks!

My site is getting HAMMERED right now by bots.... need to get the server loads down...

Fingers crossed that this will do the trick.

(I also updated my robots.txt with some additional stuff)

- For security reasons... would either of you be willing to review it via PM?

D.

[ozzy47]

What is it you need reviewed?

[Gadget_Guy]

Just a sanity check of my robots.txt file I created.

D.

[ozzy47]

Sure, you can PM it to me, but TBH it's not gonna stop bad bots, as they ignore it.

[Simon Lloyd]

Remember that this mod will only ban useragents that have the word or entry you have entered in the ban list, you can quite freely put your ban list from the mod in a txt file and attach it to a post and we'll help you with it.