RenaissanceFestival.com Forums

R/F.com Updates => R/F.com Updates => Topic started by: DeadBishop on June 05, 2009, 11:58:51 AM

Title: ALERT: SPAMMERS ABOUND!
Post by: DeadBishop on June 05, 2009, 11:58:51 AM
To all members,

Recently in the last few days, there has been a large number of spammers hitting the forum.  They all have one thing in common; within the body of their post, at the bottom is a link to random websites for things like vending machines, acne meds, etc.  With this strain of spammers, it actually appears to be a real person posting rather than an automated bot.  This makes it a bit more difficult to detect at first because they are actually responding to the content or questions within the thread they post in.

If you see a new member with a post like this, report it immediately! Do not respond to their posts in any way.  One of the tip offs is that some of them post in really old threads that haven't been posted in for months at a time.  Others have been found in current threads.  The biggest tip off is the LINK that's at the bottom of every post.

If the spammer(s) are reading this....TAKE A HIKE!  We don't want your kind around here and I WILL DELETE YOU when I find you.


~DB
Forum Admin
Title: Re: ALERT: SPAMMERS ABOUND!
Post by: Lady Renee Buchanan on June 14, 2009, 08:26:52 PM
Huzzah, DB, for your constant vigilance in making this forum the great place to be.  And while I'm at it, thanks to John and the other Mods who do their part in the same manner.

Rum all around!   ;D
Title: Re: ALERT: SPAMMERS ABOUND!
Post by: Betty Munro on June 15, 2009, 09:10:52 AM
Spammers - bah!  Make 'em walk the plank!   >:(
I'll drink to that!
Title: Re: ALERT: SPAMMERS ABOUND!
Post by: Carpathian on September 29, 2009, 05:56:54 PM
Is there a way to lock them out?  I am not sure if there is or not, but if I see any, I will definately help to report them to you!   :P
Title: Re: ALERT: SPAMMERS ABOUND!
Post by: renfairephotog on November 23, 2009, 06:00:16 AM
Fresh attack today.
Title: Re: ALERT: SPAMMERS ABOUND!
Post by: DeadBishop on February 18, 2011, 03:13:39 AM
New wave of spammers coming through. In the last two months, there has been a SURGE of spam accounts nearing 10,000!  I deleted around half of them tonight over the course of about 6 hours.  I spend most of what little time I have on the forum currently doing this! 
Title: Re: ALERT: SPAMMERS ABOUND!
Post by: Lady Kett on February 18, 2011, 07:21:17 AM
DB - While I'm sorry you (and other mods of course) have to spend your board time doing that and not visiting, I would like to let you know how appreciated you really are.

Thanks for your efforts.
Title: Re: ALERT: SPAMMERS ABOUND!
Post by: Anna Iram on February 18, 2011, 11:47:21 AM
My thanks also, DB. I too wish you had more time here to play like the old days, and very much appreciate the time you put into protecting RF from these boobs.
Title: Re: ALERT: SPAMMERS ABOUND!
Post by: Carpathian on February 18, 2011, 05:34:25 PM
Good Lord!!!  I second the others and say Hazzah to you for doing that and keeping this place a great place for all of us.  Thank you, thank you!   ;D
Title: Re: ALERT: SPAMMERS ABOUND!
Post by: Rani Zemirah on February 18, 2011, 05:45:38 PM
It seems that they follow certain patterns with their forum names.  The last batch sandwiched what appeared to be a first and last name between a random letter at the beginning and ending, such as:

vranizemirahx

This latest batch seems to be inserting numbers between a first and last name, such as:

rani13zemirah

Or at least, I've noticed huge numbers of new members joining lately who follow those patterns.   

I know everyone appreciates the amazing efforts of all of you mods who put in so much time and effort to keep things flowing smoothly around here!  Thanks!!! 
Title: Re: ALERT: SPAMMERS ABOUND!
Post by: Celtic Lady on February 18, 2011, 06:32:25 PM
DB and the other mods I lift my goblet of mead in salute to you for all the hard work you do here. Thank you. I wish you didn't have to spend your time doing that but I'm glad that it gets done.
Title: Re: ALERT: SPAMMERS ABOUND!
Post by: Lord Dragonspyre on February 19, 2011, 01:59:12 PM
Something to consider, DB...

On my own forums, I have installed a plugin that automatically searches the Stop Forum Spam database (www.stopforumspam.com) for new registrants. I use MyBB as forum software, but a little research turned up this plugin for SMF software. (http://custom.simplemachines.org/mods/index.php?mod=1547)

With this plugin installed, every time someone tries to register, it compares their user name, email address, and IP address to the SFS database, and if there's a match, it automatically denies registration.

Also, should you come across a spammer that is not in their database, it's easy to add the info to their database to prevent others from having to deal with the crap.

It may not handle all of the problems, but it will definitely help.
Title: Re: Re: ALERT: SPAMMERS ABOUND!
Post by: Tom on February 19, 2011, 07:43:13 PM
Thanks for this, it looks like it's has been updated since the last time I looked at it. I'll check it out again.

Sent from my EVO 4G using Tapatalk.
Title: Re: ALERT: SPAMMERS ABOUND!
Post by: Merlin the Elder on February 20, 2011, 07:18:27 AM
I use that as well, Lord Dragonspyre.  I've also started blacklisting entire countries from even accessing the site. The site is very specific, low traffic, geographically concentrated, yet still, I fend off thousands of spammers a month using SFS plug-ins.
Title: Re: ALERT: SPAMMERS ABOUND!
Post by: Lord Dragonspyre on February 25, 2011, 11:53:26 AM
Still trying to figure out how to do it, but I heard that blocking proxy servers helps out a LOT.
Title: Re: ALERT: SPAMMERS ABOUND!
Post by: DeadBishop on February 25, 2011, 01:52:52 PM
The plugin has been a big help to flag spam accounts.  Easy to wipe them all out in one click.  Being able to block proxy servers would be a huge help too.
Title: Re: ALERT: SPAMMERS ABOUND!
Post by: Lord Dragonspyre on February 26, 2011, 02:10:24 PM
Let Me Google That For You (http://tinyurl.com/6hucngs)
Title: Re: ALERT: SPAMMERS ABOUND!
Post by: Merlin the Elder on April 09, 2011, 06:27:14 AM
LOL! The spammers are getting bold... posting in the spam alert thread!  REPORTED
Title: Re: ALERT: SPAMMERS ABOUND!
Post by: Rani Zemirah on April 09, 2011, 01:02:43 PM
No if THAT'S not a thumbing of the nose, I don't know what is!!! 
Title: Re: ALERT: SPAMMERS ABOUND!
Post by: Adriana Rose on June 15, 2011, 03:43:17 PM
New spammer! See the thread under this one, this guy is going crazy with the spammage
Title: Re: ALERT: SPAMMERS ABOUND!
Post by: renfairephotog on June 15, 2011, 03:43:37 PM
Ton of spam posts today. Clean up has begun.
Title: Re: ALERT: SPAMMERS ABOUND!
Post by: Rani Zemirah on June 15, 2011, 03:46:13 PM
Sweet... this guy is pretty bold!  I think we all need to flood their inbox with SPAM of our own...  ;)
Title: Re: ALERT: SPAMMERS ABOUND!
Post by: bookwench on June 15, 2011, 04:12:28 PM
Holy cow, we've been inundated!   :o
Title: Re: ALERT: SPAMMERS ABOUND!
Post by: Rani Zemirah on June 15, 2011, 04:22:19 PM
The mods are on it now, though, so crisis averted once again! 


HUZZAH for our awesome MODS!!!
Title: Re: ALERT: SPAMMERS ABOUND!
Post by: Muffin on June 15, 2011, 05:56:12 PM
Indeed!!  :-*
Title: Re: ALERT: SPAMMERS ABOUND!
Post by: Lady Renee Buchanan on July 22, 2011, 05:53:16 AM
Irony:

The spammer posts on a thread where members report spammers!   :o