Increase of Spam Bots at This Site?

[PrimalxConvoy]

I've noticed that, in the past few days, several spambots have infiltrated this site and have posted multiple spam threads in most of the sub-forums here.

Also, even if I block them (which I have), their posts show under the "latest post" description under each sub-forum.

Please could this be fixed?

 

[PrimalxConvoy]

Here's what I mean about the site "showing" ignored threads by Spambots.

1/ The main forum page shows the ignored spam threads in the "latest post" under each sub-forum.

2/ However, going to each sub-forum will then not show the spam posts by the ignored spambots.

 

[Zamuel]

Seeing AOL and BellSouth, I was wondering what time capsule the spammers had stepped out of.

 

[Deathy G1]

Maybe it's time for a required capcha to post?

 

[Princess Viola]

^ Honestly if these spambots are anything like the spambots who show up on other forums I'm active on, a required captcha to post won't stop them because they're not actually bots at all. They're just people in like India being paid pennies to spam advertisements all over the internet.

 

[Deathy G1]

That makes sense. What about blocking new accounts from creating new topics for a week? Most forum software has something like that built in (though I don't know if Allspark does).

 

[CoffeeHorse]

It's never time for a required captcha.

I don't know why this is happening right now but it'll pass. Just report the spammer accounts and don't click any of their links.

 

[PrimalxConvoy]

It's never time for a required captcha.

I don't know why this is happening right now but it'll pass. Just report the spammer accounts and don't click any of their links.

How do we report accounts? I could only see the option to report their posts and also the option to ignore them.

Perhaps we need more security to create an account? Possibly a captcha to create an account and then, as stated above, a time limit before someone can post and/or a minimum number of first posts/new threads that need to be checked by admin first before publication for new members?

 

[CoffeeHorse]

Do you not see a report button when you view someone's member profile?

 

[PrimalxConvoy]

Do you not see a report button when you view someone's member profile?

Nope.

I can only report posts.

 

[Steevy Maximus]

You need to go into their full profile, then you’ll find the report button. Not the pop up.

 

[CoffeeHorse]

That's what I thought. My interface is slightly different, so I had to ask.

I will say, I can't go into details for obvious reasons, but our account creation process actually does catch a lot of these. You only find out about the ones that slip through. So rest assured that Allspark's shields aren't down or something like that. Nothing broke. There's just only so much that can be done to stop a determined human from registering a spam account.

 

[PrimalxConvoy]

You need to go into their full profile, then you’ll find the report button. Not the pop up.

Oh, thanks. I have to tap first on the avatar for the pop-up and then the username to see the full profile. I wish the "report" option was at the pop-up though.

 

[Steevy Maximus]

Oh god, they’re BACK!

 

[PrimalxConvoy]

There are more. I'm not so sure your defenses are up to scratch?

 

[Zamuel]

With the timing, it leans towards the thought that it's people in another country's time zones as opposed to bots. They're posting in an early morning gap when most of the mods aren't up yet.

 

[PrimalxConvoy]

With the timing, it leans towards the thought that it's people in another country's time zones as opposed to bots. They're posting in an early morning gap when most of the mods aren't up yet.

I think they're bots that are operating in those time zones.

 

[Zamuel]

On the more constructive side, one idea is to limit new accounts to Welcome to The Allspark for a few hours. If they spam, it's only in one place. If it's an actual user, we get introduced to a new poster.

 

[Steevy Maximus]

With the timing, it leans towards the thought that it's people in another country's time zones as opposed to bots. They're posting in an early morning gap when most of the mods aren't up yet.

Good thing I work overnights on the weekends

 

[Dake]

Does the forum software not allow a mod to delete all recent activity when banning the spammer?

What about requiring post approval for all new members?