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Author: Subject: Tired of reporting spam
froot
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[*] posted on 17-6-2014 at 22:41


Even better would be to have the button in each topic listing in the topic index, 99/100 one can identify spam by the alias and the topic title. This way a spam report event won't count as a topic view and it will be even less interrupting. You can restrict the button's functionality to users with less than say 10 posts safeguarding valid members and true contributions.

That will have spammers on the back foot, just a few clicks on the 'today's posts' page and they're dealt with without boasting even a single pageview.




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Brain&Force
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[*] posted on 18-6-2014 at 18:08


What is the goal of these spambots anyway? They're just putting up nonsensical text probably copy and pasted from random sources on the internet. It's not just link spam.



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[*] posted on 18-6-2014 at 18:45


Quote: Originally posted by Brain&Force  
What is the goal of these spambots anyway? They're just putting up nonsensical text probably copy and pasted from random sources on the internet. It's not just link spam.

See earlier in the thread - it's essentially Google-based advertisement exploitation. The more times they're mentioned on various websites, the more Google bumps them up in related searches. Therefore, spam = marketing. Unfortunately, Google caught wind of this recently, and are undertaking some anti-spam measures. So, these are now essentially pointless, though not quite as random as you might think.




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[*] posted on 19-6-2014 at 16:48


Not quite as random as you'd think? Here's my most recent catch:

Screen Shot 2014-06-19 at 7.43.39 PM.png - 205kB

Seems pretty random to me. Of course, there's links thrown in there too, but for the most part it's incessant babble and broken sentences. Actually kind of funny if you read it. "Pregnant boy mansion" WTF?




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Mailinmypocket
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[*] posted on 19-6-2014 at 17:06


Weeeeeeeird. Apparently we are suffering from another wave of this spam shit. Hasn't been happening for a while but now? Odd alphanumeric usernames galore and god awful posts with content so erratic and dumb you would pretty much have to be that erratic and dumb to click on its links!
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[*] posted on 20-6-2014 at 10:09


They're still not random even though they look so; they're calculated to shift search engine results. I don't understand why coherent text wouldn't work better, but maybe they're mathematically optimized.
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[*] posted on 20-6-2014 at 11:35


Yeah, mathematically optimized to look like insane babbling...



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[*] posted on 21-6-2014 at 21:40


Okay: Enough is enough.
Nearly every single subforum just got attacked by more of this stupid spam. There has to be a way to stop this. Maybe even implement some emergency precautionary measures (harking back to some of the earlier posts about simple chemistry questions or even just simple questions)? Maybe use a Captcha Code on the signup screen? There are way too many measures to prevent anything but humans getting on this board, and we're using none of them, and the forum looks annoying as a result. :(




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[*] posted on 21-6-2014 at 22:02


one thing that could be cool, perhaps extend the power to report posts for auto deletion by two or more trusted members, could be extended to even the newest members, but only good on posts say up to an hour old??? that way no one can get together and report a bunch of older and valuable threads for termination. but at the same time this stuff wouldn't sit here for days until the right people deleted/reported it? just a though.

I say this because I have noticed some times I have reported things to see them gone when I refreshed to the daily posts, and some times they are still lingering around for hours. not sure if my reports are of the damning nature and just need another trusted member, or just heads-up msg to mods ya know. but if it's a recent thread of babbel and gibberish, any one should be able to strike it down as an obvious trash post.

To be clear, I can't say I'm 100% sure how the report --> auto delete feature works, so I am just going from memory. sorry if I am mistaken.
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[*] posted on 22-6-2014 at 14:22


I have tweaked the reporting process, somewhat inspired by violet sin. Before spam had to be reported by two trusted members or one moderator before it was auto-deleted. Now it will be auto-deleted if it is reported by one trusted member and one 'semi-trusted' member. Everyone who has been registered at least 60 days and has at least 50 posts automatically becomes a member of the 'semi-trusted' group. This should reduce the waiting time for spam deletion, and means that any frequent user of the site can help stamp out spam.

Oh, and elementcollector1, this has been pointed out before, but: the spammers are human. Captchas do not work because these are not bots. IP banning doesn't work because they use different IP addresses. The only solution that stops the spammers and does not discourage genuine prospective members is to be vigilant about deleting spam when it appears.




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[*] posted on 22-6-2014 at 21:20


Ah. That would tend to put a damper on things.



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[*] posted on 23-6-2014 at 11:58


Just filed seven spam reports, although it appears that the spammer that posted them made 20 in one sitting… Sooner or later these spammers are going to start being credited with Hazard to Self.



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[*] posted on 27-6-2014 at 18:38


If you make a "spam" button, can you place it somewhere away from the "report" button? I always hit the "quote" button instead.



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[*] posted on 1-7-2014 at 06:56


And we DON'T want to be quoting spammers :P
I've noticed that most spam takes place at (my) nighttime. Messed up.




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[*] posted on 4-7-2014 at 00:15


Real spam!! http://www.sciencemadness.org/talk/viewthread.php?tid=31258
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[*] posted on 7-7-2014 at 06:56


The Ad-Hoc Commitee for the betterment of the sciencemadness forum and protection from spam attacks is now in session.....
If you see spam, report it. No matter what. It only takes 5 seconds.
Am I a trusted member? I've reported a lot of spam recently...?




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[*] posted on 7-7-2014 at 08:31


I have been reporting the $hit outta spam lately. even used my ipod touch to do so while the computer was in use. they have been brazen lately not even waiting for late night to post it. I did notice however, they have moved away from the annoying -throw it at the end of an old thread- mentality to starting a new one each time. makes it easier to find at least
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[*] posted on 8-7-2014 at 03:51


I've reported dozens just today. One bloke sent something like seventeen messages—all in Chinese—in about as many minutes.

Seems to me it would be helpful if first time posters weren't allowed more than one post, say, an hour for their first few posts. Or maybe just one post per 24 hour interval. That would discourage the more persistant spammers.

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[*] posted on 8-7-2014 at 05:07


Now it's Russian. I'm beginning to wear the letters the s,p,a and m keys.
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[*] posted on 8-7-2014 at 05:28


Quote: Originally posted by Gearhead_Shem_Tov  
Seems to me it would be helpful if first time posters weren't allowed more than one post, say, an hour for their first few posts. Or maybe just one post per 24 hour interval. That would discourage the more persistant spammers.


That is a clever idea that would probably not impact legitimate new users.




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[*] posted on 8-7-2014 at 10:50


Quote: Originally posted by Burner  
Quote: Originally posted by Gearhead_Shem_Tov  
Seems to me it would be helpful if first time posters weren't allowed more than one post, say, an hour for their first few posts. Or maybe just one post per 24 hour interval. That would discourage the more persistant spammers.


That is a clever idea that would probably not impact legitimate new users.

So, they only get 1 post per username, that's all. They'll just make more accounts.




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[*] posted on 8-7-2014 at 12:03


It makes it take a lot longer for them though. It's well worth it. I saw one one time that had posted in every sub-forum during the first ten minutes since it registered. That would be essentially impossible with this, and they would likely be caught and banned after their first post.



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[*] posted on 8-7-2014 at 22:37


This is the most aggressive spammer I have ever seen.

Screenshot_2014-07-08-23-29-50.png - 82kB

Thank you, Bert, for killing the thing.

[Edited on 2014-7-9 by Töilet Plünger]




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[*] posted on 8-7-2014 at 22:43


I think we need a more pro-active method. Reacting to spammers? Screw that. Let's HUNT these varmints... To extinction.



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[*] posted on 9-7-2014 at 11:04


Quote: Originally posted by Bert  
I think we need a more pro-active method. Reacting to spammers? Screw that. Let's HUNT these varmints... To extinction.

Indeed! We need a spam squad with ranks :P You can be our leader and admiral for killing the thing above :)

[Edited on 7-9-2014 by The Volatile Chemist]




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