Anti-Spam Options - DRC - User must verify their site (prevent spam links in postbit & profiles)

This is an exact post of my vb3 mod, I saw no difference in the file so there should be no difference in this modification. Although I have NOT tested this on vb4.

Tired of users posting random ass sites as their site and having all sorts of links to garbage sites on your board?

Here's an easy solution, lets make them verify they own the site they enter as theirs!

This modification does require a file edit, I will port to a mod when I find time.

open profile.php and find:

PHP Code:

$userdata->set('homepage', $vbulletin->GPC['homepage']); 


Replace it with:

PHP Code:

if($vbulletin->GPC['homepage'] == '') {
    $userdata->set('homepage', $vbulletin->GPC['homepage']);
  } else {
    $home_paga = str_replace('http://','',$vbulletin->GPC['homepage']);
    $home_paga = str_replace('https://','',$home_paga);
    $home_paga = str_replace('www.','',$home_paga);
    $home_paga = str_replace('/','',$home_paga);
    if(@fopen ('http://'.$home_paga.'/YourOwnAnagram_site_verification_'.$vbulletin->userinfo['userid'].'.txt', 'r')){
      $userdata->set('homepage', $vbulletin->GPC['homepage']);
    }
  } 


Plain text breakdown of this code for people not code savey,
this will only take effect when users edit their details. When they submit their changes, the code does the following:

- if homepage url is blank
- set the field to blank
- if homepage url is not blank
- checks what's in the box and replaces bits of text to get the domain
- opens a connection to the site entered and looks for the file drc_site_verification_USERID.txt
- if that file exists, go ahead and change their domain

Edit YourOwnAnagram to be something unique that other sites wont be using also. example, I use drc

Then in phrases search for:

let_other_visitors_know_url

You can replace this phrase with anything you like letting your members know. I use:

This option will allow you to display a link to your site in all your forum posts.<br>
<br>
Before your site is displayed you must verify ownership, to do this you need to: <br>
Place an empty file with the name: drc_site_verification_<b>ID</b>.txt<br>
<br>
Where <u>ID</u> is your ID on our forum. <br>example: <i>http://domain.com/drc_site_verification_100.txt</i><br>
<br>
<i>If this file is not found, your homepage URL will not be updated!</i>
<br>

This is a method of spam prevention I have not seen on here before, so I hope you guys get some use from it =)

This will not effect any sites already entered by your users, if you need to clear all sites entered by users you can use the following query:

UPDATE user SET homepage = '';

[yilmaz]

It's a great idea. Good job.