Spammer auto-ban system?

10metreh · 2009-08-20, 19:38

Recently (as I have mentioned in a few places), lots of spammers have been registering with usernames made out of four consecutive letters followed by a random-looking three-digit number (e.g. "vwxy322"). Also, spammers often have usernames including predictable terms like "wholesale". Would it be possible to auto-detect and auto-ban these forms?

jasonp · 2009-08-20, 20:14

In the last few weeks I've banned dozens of spammers, none of whose usernames are really predictable. Short of flagging the content of their posts, I don't see how banning them could be automated.

Right now we get ~1 spammer posting per day, which isn't overwhelming. When that becomes 20 per day we will have to do something.

henryzz · 2009-08-20, 20:30

Would it be possible for use to make the image verification protection harder for bots to read(but not too much harder for humans)?
I hate this sort of protection but i think it worth it here.

mdettweiler · 2009-08-21, 03:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by henryzz

Would it be possible for use to make the image verification protection harder for bots to read(but not too much harder for humans)?
I hate this sort of protection but i think it worth it here.

AFAIK, there is no widely-distributed software that can read the image verifications used by this forum; my guess would be that the humans behind the spambots are reading them themselves and then handing the account off to their bots.

cheesehead · 2009-08-21, 04:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by mdettweiler

my guess would be that the humans behind the spambots are reading them themselves and then handing the account off to their bots.

I've read that that is indeed how thousands of Chinese folks are employed -- interpreting captchas all day.

Uncwilly · 2009-08-21, 04:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by mdettweiler

my guess would be that the humans behind the spambots are reading them themselves

Why do it yourself, when you can have dozens of unsuspecting folks do it for you? My understanding is that some spammers are taking Captchas and making others solve them, so that they can get to porn. Then the spammer uses it to get into fora.

ixfd64 · 2009-08-24, 17:35

I know there are phpBB mods that automatically ban spammers if they perform certain actions. I would assume there are similar mods for vBulletin.

Of course, we could also use more forum moderators.

2009-08-20, 19:38	#1
10metreh Nov 2008 100100010010₂ Posts	Spammer auto-ban system? Recently (as I have mentioned in a few places), lots of spammers have been registering with usernames made out of four consecutive letters followed by a random-looking three-digit number (e.g. "vwxy322"). Also, spammers often have usernames including predictable terms like "wholesale". Would it be possible to auto-detect and auto-ban these forms?

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2009-08-20, 20:14	#2
jasonp Tribal Bullet Oct 2004 3,541 Posts	In the last few weeks I've banned dozens of spammers, none of whose usernames are really predictable. Short of flagging the content of their posts, I don't see how banning them could be automated. Right now we get ~1 spammer posting per day, which isn't overwhelming. When that becomes 20 per day we will have to do something.

2009-08-20, 20:30	#3
henryzz Just call me Henry "David" Sep 2007 Cambridge (GMT/BST) 2³·3·5·7² Posts	Would it be possible for use to make the image verification protection harder for bots to read(but not too much harder for humans)? I hate this sort of protection but i think it worth it here.

2009-08-24, 17:35	#7
ixfd64 Bemusing Prompter "Danny" Dec 2002 California 100101011000₂ Posts	I know there are phpBB mods that automatically ban spammers if they perform certain actions. I would assume there are similar mods for vBulletin. Of course, we could also use more forum moderators.