How to stop forum spammers?

brainworker · 02-15-2009, 12:34 PM

Enough is enough.

I had to completely delete one of my PHPBB forum after it has become spammers heaven.

Now my SMF forum too has become spammers faradize

I've CAPTCHA and email id verification in place. However, spammers are posting their nasty porn, viagra posts on my forum with pics and videos!

Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks

Dan C. Rinnert · 02-15-2009, 12:35 PM

Charge a membership fee?

I bet even a minimal fee would eliminate 99% of the spammers.

Ivancho · 02-15-2009, 12:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dan C. Rinnert

Charge a membership fee?

I bet even a minimal fee would eliminate 99% of the spammers.

This is absolutlly briliant idea Dan. Even this forum should become a membership site...

dageniusmarketer · 02-15-2009, 01:06 PM

i gotta disagree with that stance. The warrior forum makes tons of money off this site as a free forum already, and im sure its free for a reason. There are areas on here that are paid already such as wso.

The warrior forum is spam free even though it is a mostly free model maybe to encourage newbies just stopping in for the first time to see whats going on in internet marketing, so obviously theres a bigger issue on your hands than just making your forum a paid forum and solving your problems.

You probably are a victim of some sort of spam spyware bots that you just don't have the software tools to combat, that maybe the warrior forum itself uses, and you should explore what you can get to fight the problem. Examine the cause and not just the symptoms and you may have alot more success rather than just saying "everybody pay me now if you want to use my forum".
Just my thoughts.

Paul Myers · 02-15-2009, 01:10 PM

Quote:

The warrior forum is spam free

Not at all. The stuff just gets cleaned up quickly, as members report it.

It's not kept out. Just shot down.

Paul

Michael Oksa · 02-15-2009, 01:26 PM

I agree with charging a minimum fee, and having the forum in a secure member's area.

I run a paid forum and have never had a problem with spam.

For spammers, it's a numbers game. They send out massive amounts f garbage, at virtually no cost, so any "hit" is a profit for them. The trick is to make it a numbers game they don't want to play - charging a nominal fee is a good start.

No spam on the Warrior Forum? Paul's right. There's plenty of spam here, either it gets shot down, or it doesn't look like spam and is allowed to stay.

As to what can be done about spammers...

Well, even though they are spammers, if I were to say what I really think about them, I just may get n/a'ed!

All the best,
Michael

dageniusmarketer · 02-15-2009, 01:51 PM

It seems i was wrong about the spam on here. My apologies. Then i guess you have to do as my fellow warriors suggested and just be vigilant in how you fight it. Only solution right now i guess.

Dan C. Rinnert · 02-15-2009, 01:53 PM

People spam because it's cheap and easy. So, if you want to stop spammers, you have to take cheap or easy out of the equation.

If you don't want to charge a fee, then your only other option is to take easy out of the equation.

Don't make the forum so easy to register and join that the sign-up process can be automated. CAPTCHA's can be overcome and eMail verification can be automated.

Here are some ideas:

Consider requiring an administrator to approve new users before they can post. That will delay the registration process, which will put off some spammers.

Consider a waiting period of x number of days before a new user can post messages.

Require that new users' posts be moderated until they have proven themselves.

Disallow uploads from new users.

Disallow links from new users.

Use filters that will look for keywords, such as "viagra", and send those messages into moderation, or automatically delete them.

Include essay questions on the signup form.

Require phone verification of new accounts.

Impose a maximum number of posts per day for new users.

Of course, some of these may discourage real users, so you've got to keep that in mind as well. Often, it's a matter of finding the right ratio of things to minimize spammers while also minimizing the number of real people you may turn away.

If your forum offers something of real value, people will be willing to jump through more hoops to get at it, whereas the spammers will just move on to an easier target.

Blondmoo · 02-15-2009, 02:00 PM

I think a lot of useless posts would not occur if they didn't restrict new members from emailing/pming members until the "magic" number!!!!

Blondmoo · 02-15-2009, 02:01 PM

Ooooh, one more to go, might as well do it here, thanks guys!

lgibbon · 02-15-2009, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brainworker

Enough is enough.

I had to completely delete one of my PHPBB forum after it has become spammers heaven.

Now my SMF forum too has become spammers faradize

I've CAPTCHA and email id verification in place. However, spammers are posting their nasty porn, viagra posts on my forum with pics and videos!

Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks

Do you have cpanel?
If so you can usually spot the spammers by the abnormal activity
through their IP numbers. Just check your stats.
Then you can block the offending IP's from accessing your site.
It works a treat.

Sam Rodrigo · 02-15-2009, 02:20 PM

Hi,
Another idea is to delay posting by putting qualifications such as 7 day Member to post, need to wait 'x' min. before posting again. etc., etc.

Wonder IF we Warriors can make a SPAM POSSE -- then go after the affiliate accounts/companies of spammers?

Just an idea,
Sam

timbor · 02-15-2009, 02:30 PM

The more that you can impose on new users before they are able to post or start new threads the hardier it will be for them to spam your forum.

Captcha is not enough anymore.. there are some really advanced software on the market that helps users post their messages very very easily.

Good luck

Black Hat Steve · 02-15-2009, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michael Oksa

I agree with charging a minimum fee, and having the forum in a secure member's area.

I run a paid forum and have never had a problem with spam.

For spammers, it's a numbers game. They send out massive amounts f garbage, at virtually no cost, so any "hit" is a profit for them. The trick is to make it a numbers game they don't want to play - charging a nominal fee is a good start.

No spam on the Warrior Forum? Paul's right. There's plenty of spam here, either it gets shot down, or it doesn't look like spam and is allowed to stay.

As to what can be done about spammers...

Well, even though they are spammers, if I were to say what I really think about them, I just may get n/a'ed!

All the best,
Michael

That's not very nice.

Paul Myers · 02-15-2009, 06:17 PM

Quote:

Captcha is not enough anymore.. there are some really advanced software on the market that helps users post their messages very very easily.

Some of it is called "brain."

Yes, there are captcha breakers out there, some of them really good. But there are also people getting paid to do this stuff. Some as a direct project, others as part of the development of the software.

Every week sees me more and more convinced that hard prison time is the answer for these clowns. Or rendering their fingers "unsuitable for the purpose."

Paul

BlackWaterBlog · 02-15-2009, 06:21 PM

Try reCAPTCHA instead of the regular captcha, its harder for spam bots to break.

Also, most spammers include a mass amount of links in their spam, so maybe disable links for people under x amount of posts.

Also increase the post time limit. Having a post time limit of 30 or 60 seconds is a good way to reduce the spam and be able to catch it faster.

JMB Marketing Group · 02-15-2009, 06:40 PM

What I have personally experienced, is whether or not I've provided my siggy or not, is that they'll send me a PM. Those types of people annoy me and I won't take seriously, let alone take a second look at!

Just my measly 2 cents worth!

JMB

P.S. Don't piss me off with your "skittish" offers! I will eat ya up!

02-15-2009, 12:34 PM	#1
brainworker HyperActive Warrior War Room Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: World Wide Web Posts: 353 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 18 Thanked 14 Times in 10 Posts Social Networking	How to stop forum spammers? Enough is enough. I had to completely delete one of my PHPBB forum after it has become spammers heaven. Now my SMF forum too has become spammers faradize I've CAPTCHA and email id verification in place. However, spammers are posting their nasty porn, viagra posts on my forum with pics and videos! Any help would be appreciated. Thanks
	Nonsensical links Affiliate Genie Master

02-15-2009, 12:35 PM	#2
Dan C. Rinnert I have a lame list. War Room Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: One Second into the Future Posts: 4,256 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 811 Thanked 2,176 Times in 1,003 Posts Social Networking	Re: How to stop forum spammers? Charge a membership fee? I bet even a minimal fee would eliminate 99% of the spammers.
	Click here for the MOST FUN PRODUCT CREATION GUIDE for Procrastinators since forever. Dan's content is irregularly read by handfuls of people. Join the elite few by reading his blog: dcrBlogs.com or following him on Twitter: dcrTweets.com but NOT by Clicking Here! ----------> [Free WSO] The Lamest WSO in the History of the Warrior Forum ☺ <----------

02-15-2009, 01:06 PM	#4
dageniusmarketer HyperActive Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 258 Thanks: 16 Thanked 15 Times in 15 Posts Social Networking Contact Info	Re: How to stop forum spammers? i gotta disagree with that stance. The warrior forum makes tons of money off this site as a free forum already, and im sure its free for a reason. There are areas on here that are paid already such as wso. The warrior forum is spam free even though it is a mostly free model maybe to encourage newbies just stopping in for the first time to see whats going on in internet marketing, so obviously theres a bigger issue on your hands than just making your forum a paid forum and solving your problems. You probably are a victim of some sort of spam spyware bots that you just don't have the software tools to combat, that maybe the warrior forum itself uses, and you should explore what you can get to fight the problem. Examine the cause and not just the symptoms and you may have alot more success rather than just saying "everybody pay me now if you want to use my forum". Just my thoughts.

02-15-2009, 01:26 PM	#6
Michael Oksa The Ethical Marketer War Room Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Wisconsin, USA Posts: 6,062 Thanks: 1,750 Thanked 3,026 Times in 1,340 Posts Social Networking Contact Info	Re: How to stop forum spammers? I agree with charging a minimum fee, and having the forum in a secure member's area. I run a paid forum and have never had a problem with spam. For spammers, it's a numbers game. They send out massive amounts f garbage, at virtually no cost, so any "hit" is a profit for them. The trick is to make it a numbers game they don't want to play - charging a nominal fee is a good start. No spam on the Warrior Forum? Paul's right. There's plenty of spam here, either it gets shot down, or it doesn't look like spam and is allowed to stay. As to what can be done about spammers... Well, even though they are spammers, if I were to say what I really think about them, I just may get n/a'ed! All the best, Michael
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02-15-2009, 01:51 PM	#7
dageniusmarketer HyperActive Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 258 Thanks: 16 Thanked 15 Times in 15 Posts Social Networking Contact Info	Re: How to stop forum spammers? It seems i was wrong about the spam on here. My apologies. Then i guess you have to do as my fellow warriors suggested and just be vigilant in how you fight it. Only solution right now i guess.

02-15-2009, 01:53 PM	#8
Dan C. Rinnert I have a lame list. War Room Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: One Second into the Future Posts: 4,256 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 811 Thanked 2,176 Times in 1,003 Posts Social Networking	Re: How to stop forum spammers? People spam because it's cheap and easy. So, if you want to stop spammers, you have to take cheap or easy out of the equation. If you don't want to charge a fee, then your only other option is to take easy out of the equation. Don't make the forum so easy to register and join that the sign-up process can be automated. CAPTCHA's can be overcome and eMail verification can be automated. Here are some ideas: Consider requiring an administrator to approve new users before they can post. That will delay the registration process, which will put off some spammers. Consider a waiting period of x number of days before a new user can post messages. Require that new users' posts be moderated until they have proven themselves. Disallow uploads from new users. Disallow links from new users. Use filters that will look for keywords, such as "viagra", and send those messages into moderation, or automatically delete them. Include essay questions on the signup form. Require phone verification of new accounts. Impose a maximum number of posts per day for new users. Of course, some of these may discourage real users, so you've got to keep that in mind as well. Often, it's a matter of finding the right ratio of things to minimize spammers while also minimizing the number of real people you may turn away. If your forum offers something of real value, people will be willing to jump through more hoops to get at it, whereas the spammers will just move on to an easier target.
	Click here for the MOST FUN PRODUCT CREATION GUIDE for Procrastinators since forever. Dan's content is irregularly read by handfuls of people. Join the elite few by reading his blog: dcrBlogs.com or following him on Twitter: dcrTweets.com but NOT by Clicking Here! ----------> [Free WSO] The Lamest WSO in the History of the Warrior Forum ☺ <----------

02-15-2009, 02:00 PM	#9
Blondmoo Active Warrior Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 54 Thanks: 9 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Social Networking Contact Info	Re: How to stop forum spammers? I think a lot of useless posts would not occur if they didn't restrict new members from emailing/pming members until the "magic" number!!!!

02-15-2009, 02:01 PM	#10
Blondmoo Active Warrior Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 54 Thanks: 9 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Social Networking Contact Info	Re: How to stop forum spammers? Ooooh, one more to go, might as well do it here, thanks guys!

02-15-2009, 02:20 PM	#12
Sam Rodrigo Senior Warrior Member War Room Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Universe, OH & NL Posts: 3,865 Blog Entries: 4 Thanks: 23 Thanked 22 Times in 21 Posts Social Networking Contact Info	Re: How to stop forum spammers? Hi, Another idea is to delay posting by putting qualifications such as 7 day Member to post, need to wait 'x' min. before posting again. etc., etc. Wonder IF we Warriors can make a SPAM POSSE -- then go after the affiliate accounts/companies of spammers? Just an idea, Sam
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02-15-2009, 02:30 PM	#13
timbor HyperActive Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 155 Thanks: 0 Thanked 16 Times in 7 Posts	Re: How to stop forum spammers? The more that you can impose on new users before they are able to post or start new threads the hardier it will be for them to spam your forum. Captcha is not enough anymore.. there are some really advanced software on the market that helps users post their messages very very easily. Good luck
	My Blogging Blueprint - FREE COURSE - Make 6 figures a year with simple niche automated blogs.... its that simple :)

02-15-2009, 06:21 PM	#16
BlackWaterBlog HyperActive Warrior Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 168 Blog Entries: 34 Thanks: 5 Thanked 11 Times in 10 Posts Social Networking Contact Info	Re: How to stop forum spammers? Try reCAPTCHA instead of the regular captcha, its harder for spam bots to break. Also, most spammers include a mass amount of links in their spam, so maybe disable links for people under x amount of posts. Also increase the post time limit. Having a post time limit of 30 or 60 seconds is a good way to reduce the spam and be able to catch it faster.
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02-15-2009, 06:40 PM	#17
JMB Marketing Group Public Domain Specialist War Room Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Beautiful BC, Host of Vancouver's 2010 Winter Olympics Posts: 367 Thanks: 105 Thanked 73 Times in 67 Posts	Re: How to stop forum spammers? What I have personally experienced, is whether or not I've provided my siggy or not, is that they'll send me a PM. Those types of people annoy me and I won't take seriously, let alone take a second look at! Just my measly 2 cents worth! JMB P.S. Don't piss me off with your "skittish" offers! I will eat ya up!