Forum Administrators and Spam

Linda3032 · Post by **Linda3032** » Fri Feb 09, 2007 2:04 pm

Would having to register have stopped you from posting?

While I appreciate the administrators allowing members to delete Spam, I still would like to see methods to restrict it even more.

I've just spent about 15 minutes deleting spam. More spam appears as fast as I could delete it.

I know we would hate to require registration before a "guest" is allowed to post, but it might be time to take that step.

A guest could view and search all they want. And a message could be posted that explains why registration is required to post.

I truly don't believe that having to registration would stop anyone once they read our great forum.

Just my opinion.
Linda

bookwrm63 · Post by **bookwrm63** » Fri Feb 09, 2007 2:11 pm

I agree. It's an easy step and shouldn't hinder any serious poster from doing so.

Lyza · Post by **Lyza** » Fri Feb 09, 2007 2:13 pm

Nope.

I hate other forums that don't allow you to lurk about and read/ research as a guest... but to post, I see no reason why you shouldn't have to register first.

Linda3032 · Post by **Linda3032** » Fri Feb 09, 2007 2:17 pm

Okay, I gotta go make dinner. Please be vigilant and delete those spams -- lordy there are a bunch today.

Sleepy-eyes · Post by **Sleepy-eyes** » Fri Feb 09, 2007 2:37 pm

Guess I'm lucky. I've had a computer now for almost 3 years and don't know what spam is! What is it and why do people get it?

TANSTAF1 · Post by **TANSTAF1** » Fri Feb 09, 2007 2:51 pm

I agree everyone should have to register to post, but should be able to read and search without having to register.

I haven't gotten any spam as a result of having registered here (that I know of). How is that happening? If you set your profile to "hide my email address" doesn't that prevent spam? Is the spam going to "private messages?

I have had more problems on this forum than most with it forgetting my automatic logon. I do not see that I am not logged in and my post is then done as "guest." I would much rather be prompted to login rather than letting the post go through.

jackr · Post by **jackr** » Fri Feb 09, 2007 2:55 pm

I run a forum myself and it would help a lot. However there are robots that can automatically register and post spam. The site I run is not as busy as this and we get only a spam or two a day. It is not a big deal.

Then I can ban theire email address and ip address and name so they cant sign back up under a different name.

They have to register, receive and email and verify.

Linda3032 · Post by **Linda3032** » Fri Feb 09, 2007 2:55 pm

The spam we are referring to is the guest spammers are opening old threads with spam.

Linda3032 · Post by **Linda3032** » Fri Feb 09, 2007 2:59 pm

Jackr, I understand what you are saying. However, I just deleted 20 to 25 spams which opened and brought to the top old threads. They overrun the recent posts. And each deletion is 3 or 4 steps to make it disappear. Not too bad if everyone chips in to do it, though.

jackr · Post by **jackr** » Fri Feb 09, 2007 3:11 pm

I would delete it if I ever saw one but I guess you guys are doing a great job clearing them out.

On my forum i have seen some incredibly nasty nasty stuff. There is a place on my forum for kids to post pictures of thier art work (although we dont have many) so it really bothers me.

DreamStalker · Post by **DreamStalker** » Fri Feb 09, 2007 3:28 pm

I'd help but I guess they don't trust my finger on the spam button

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Fri Feb 09, 2007 4:36 pm

jackr wrote:Then I can ban theire email address and ip address and name so they cant sign back up under a different name.

I've noticed the last waves of spam are using e-mail addresses for the guest names. All they'd have to do is block a post with the @ sign in it.

Den

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Fri Feb 09, 2007 4:40 pm

BUT......good luck getting their attention. I sent them an e-mail and a PM last weekend about my "notification problem" and haven't received an e-mail response and the PM is still sitting in my "Outbox".

?????????

Den

Liam1965 · Post by **Liam1965** » Fri Feb 09, 2007 4:42 pm

Yeah, but the problem is, spammers are evil geniuses. There's a whole underground science in finding ways to make posts seem legitimate to spam blockers, just so it can't be automatically nuked.

Until we have a good A.I. program that can actually figure out context, it's gonna come down to folks with the power to delete spam.

And as frustrating as it is to delete the stuff (I've done a batch myself, although I haven't seen as much recently, probably due to Linda's efforts), with all of these people here, if each person nukes two or three piece of spam a week, that eliminates us all from seeing ALL of it.

I agree that it's probably not excessively onerous to expect people to register in order to post, but I also agree that won't stop the spam bots.

Liam, actually a highely sophisticated 'bot himself.

pedroski · Post by **pedroski** » Fri Feb 09, 2007 5:00 pm

Sleepy-eyes wrote:Guess I'm lucky. I've had a computer now for almost 3 years and don't know what spam is! What is it and why do people get it?

Hi Chris,

I get mine from the supermarket.

Peter

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