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

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

Usage
------------
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 !!!
------------
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
-----------
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
-----------
v1.0.1: Added minimum post count option
v1.0.0: Initial release

[tweakmonkey]

Hey guys,
Thanks for the great feedback on this mod. I'm glad it's worked for some of you. I use it every day still without any changes since I uploaded it here and it prevents almost all of my spam. The reason I created this mod was to make my life easier on a small-medium size (200 active member) forum. I haven't touched the code since October because I have other projects I'm more interested in and it works for my needs, but I will read all the replies and address issues when I get a chance.

The biggest thing it seems people want is a better way for them to notify the users that their posts have been moderated. I agree, this is one feature I should probably add to this plugin and I would like to add this. If anyone knows an effective way this could be done I'd give their suggestion a try.

[tweakmonkey]

A quick search turned up this link. I will take a look at it tomorrow because I'm about to get some sleep:
http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/showthread.php?t=199233

It may have the answer to your questions.

BTW, I accidentally voted "Terrible, 1-star" for my mod, which dropped the rating significantly.

[tweakmonkey]

This last link will fix the problem for *all* new replies, but I don't know where I'd select it for moderated threads specifically.

Since most of my problems occur on new threads, my solution was to change:
Vbulletin CP -> Languages & Phrases -> Search in Phrases -> invalidid as a search term with Phrase Variable Name Only.

This is the message a user will see when a thread is dead or moderated. I simply added a bit about the possible moderation of new threads.

Another good idea might be to make a thread stickied in your forum such as "New to the forum? Read this" and explain the various rules (including spam moderation, URL posting, etc.) and include a link to it on that error page mentioned above.

Unless VB has a way to inform users their posts were moderated when using Quick Reply (for example) I don't know an easy way to remedy the issue for replies made by newbies.

[Cyburbia]

LLet me repost this:

This is a great mod, but I'm finding that some spam posts with URLs slipping through. If it doensn't have the http:// prefix, it bypasses moderation and is posted immediately.


Spammers posting URLs without http:// are still bypassing moderation.

[tweakmonkey]

If a link is missing http or www, it won't work at least, right? The only other thing I can suggest is expand the spam protection keyword list as much as possible. I thankfully haven't had the problem you're mentioning yet.

[ZombieAndy]

I Am interested in this hack as we do have some porn spammers attacking my forums at the moment, but i have the AE detector installed aswell, very useful for members with more than one account.

However, i used to have this hack installed, but it stopped the AE detector from working and dispite being asked many times, the creator did nothing about this.

So i want to know before i download or install anything and get my members hopes up, your hack isnt going to mess with the AE detector is it?

[bplinson]

For some reason I do not have the Admin Panel / Phrase Manager / phrase type: Error Messages / invalidid in my control panel. Was this supposed to be created when the plugin is installed?

Also what are some good keywords to use? I put in nokia and xbox since that is what a lot of spam contains. What other keywords are others using?

[tweakmonkey]

I just put nokia,viagra,qtek,sidekick,.com,www,free

Notice I put www and .com, just to double-protect against spammers.

I also added a couple required fields for all new users to enter, such as "Are you a robot (enter no)?" and "Do you want to register? (enter yes)" to make it less likely for a script to register automatically. Between these filters and the plugin mentioned here, I probably haven't had spam on my forum for over 6 months. We still ban a couple users each day for signing up and attempting to spam though.

[xuddcd]

It's really nice, just one feature I think would be very good to add is instead of being able to just block a word, I think being able to block an entire phrase would be good. Sometimes after banning a user they will make another account and make numerous posts saying like "the admin sucks!" or something.

[Fox2k]

Very nice..thank you!