Add-On Releases - SpamBuster: Identify, log and remove spam posts on your forum

This is the v3.6 version of SpamBuster that I wrote for vBulletin v3.5.x This version is mainly bug fixes.

What does it do?
It spots posts that could potentially be spam then (depending on option settings) creates a thread alerting site admin/moderators about the post and/or hides the post from view.

How does it identify the spam?
All off the posts for users with a post count of less than 10 (configurable) have their posts checked against a number of rules. Each rule has a different "score". If the total score for the post exceeds a specified limit then the post is deemed to be spam.

Can I add my own rules?
The installer file has a default rule set with it, you may wish to customise the rules in the options section of the AdminCP. The rules system is fairly simple to add to, in simple terms each rule is a perl regular expression and a score.

How do I install it?
Import the product via the Product Manager in the AdminCP. The options group and plugins will be added to your system. Now would be a good time to click the install link on here to record the fact that you've installed it.

How do I configure it?
Head to the "SpamBuster" option group in the "vBulletin Options" section of your AdminCP. Fill in the relevant fields. Further documentation will follow but it should be obvious what each setting does for the moment.

How do I upgrade?
Just run a regular install. It's worth backing up your settings particluarly the rules before performing the upgrade. If you have any problems I recommend removing the product then installing it from scratch.

How can I test it?
Try posting a new thread/post with some trigger values in it. The string cialis should do the trick.

Help it's broken my forum!
Erm, that's not an intended feature. Disable all six of the plugins that are part of the product "SpamBuster" and post an error report to this thread. The forum will work fine.

Why doesn't it do x,y or z?
Because I've either not thought about it yet or I've not written it yet. Please drop a post into this thread with any (sensible!) suggestions.

Can I use it commercially?
You're free to use it for whatever purpose comercially/privately as long as you don't resell the code. It's released under the LGPL, see the link below for futher info. If you find this plugin useful and you'd like to make a donation please use the "donate" button below.


click to donate


This software is licenced under the CC-GNU LGPL.


Changelog

• 8th November 2007 - v1.1.2 - New thread redirect bug fixed
• 14th August 2007 - v1.1.1 - Multiple post bug fix
• 13th August 2007 - v1.1.0 - Important bug fixes, updated rules file
• 15th June 2006 - v1.0.1 - Updated list of rules uploaded as a text file
• 6th April 2006 - v1.0.0 - Stable release: code remains the same but the rules file has changed.

[FinalX-TeaM]

thanks!

[Remi]

is it posible to add the mail function found here to this hack

https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showpost....2&postcount=10

I have set my "Alert forum" to send an email incase of a new thread or post but it is not working with "spam threads/posts alerts"

Thanks

[BadgerDog]

Installed.... :up:

Tested and working great ...

Question: Why is it required to enter both a UserID and Username for that same ID in the AdminCP options for this mod? Is it just a check to make sure they match, or can a different Username be associated with the UserID one enters?

Thanks

Regards,
Badger

[UK Jimbo]

Originally Posted by BadgerDog

Installed.... :up:

Tested and working great ...

I love it when a plan comes together

Originally Posted by BadgerDog

Question: Why is it required to enter both a UserID and Username for that same ID in the AdminCP options for this mod? Is it just a check to make sure they match, or can a different Username be associated with the UserID one enters?

The way the data is stored in the database (and that you add a new thread/post to the system) both the id and name are stored (instead of looking it up from the user table).

I could add something to the code to derive the username so you'd only need to specify the user id but I was feeling lazy and figured it's not too much extra effort to specify it that once in the configuration settings

[BadgerDog]

Originally Posted by UK Jimbo

The way the data is stored in the database (and that you add a new thread/post to the system) both the id and name are stored (instead of looking it up from the user table).

I could add something to the code to derive the username so you'd only need to specify the user id but I was feeling lazy and figured it's not too much extra effort to specify it that once in the configuration settings

Understood...

Thanks.....

Another question: I set the post count to 3 since most spammers on our forums jump right in and make their first (and only) post a piece of spam. When your mod places the spam in moderation, does it count that as a post to the user record? I ask because I wonder if I could reduce the count to one (1) and therefore even if a spammer decided to bang out several quick spams in a row, he'd still be stuck at a valid post count of one (1) and therefore he'd never get out of moderation. Does that make sense?

Regards,
Badger

[UK Jimbo]

Originally Posted by BadgerDog

Understood...

Thanks.....

Another question: I set the post count to 3 since most spammers on our forums jump right in and make their first (and only) post a piece of spam. When your mod places the spam in moderation, does it count that as a post to the user record? I ask because I wonder if I could reduce the count to one (1) and therefore even if a spammer decided to bang out several quick spams in a row, he'd still be stuck at a valid post count of one (1) and therefore he'd never get out of moderation. Does that make sense?

It does, just!

Only visible posts count towards the post count so the posts moderated by spambuster will not increase the spammers posts count.

[BadgerDog]

Originally Posted by UK Jimbo

It does, just!

Only visible posts count towards the post count so the posts moderated by spambuster will not increase the spammers posts count.

Roger that .... :up:

Regards,
Badger

[croft]

installed and was hoping i finally will get rid of lots of spammers. But no such luck for me. When i try to post a test spam post nothing happens. The post isn't hidden and its not posted in my moderator forum either.

trigger level. tested everything from 1 up to 10
post count. 5
enable post reporting. yes
correct forum id. yes
correct user id and name. yes
remove spam threads/posts. yes

Shouldn't those settings find the spam posts and post a notice in my mod forum ?

[webghey]

Originally Posted by croft

installed and was hoping i finally will get rid of lots of spammers. But no such luck for me. When i try to post a test spam post nothing happens. The post isn't hidden and its not posted in my moderator forum either.

trigger level. tested everything from 1 up to 10
post count. 5
enable post reporting. yes
correct forum id. yes
correct user id and name. yes
remove spam threads/posts. yes

Shouldn't those settings find the spam posts and post a notice in my mod forum ?

does your screen resemble this?
obviously the user id and forum # would be based off your mod forum #.
it's working on my vb3.68 patch 2

[croft]

edit. It started to work after a while ??? strange thing.

On another note. Would it be possible to add a user group setting to this spam buster so it doesn't check for spam on certain groups ?