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Author: Subject: Tired of reporting spam
watson.fawkes
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[*] posted on 15-11-2012 at 06:32


Quote: Originally posted by watson.fawkes  
I'll let you know at the next opportunity to check the new behavior.
Verified this over the last day. I checked out a case I wanted to ensure didn't leave dangling messages. When a spammer leaves multiple messages (four or five in a row last night from one of them), I reported two of them. Since all posts from a spammer are deleted upon first detection, I wanted to ensure that all the outgoing U2U report messages go away as well. They do.

Good work.

Another thing I've noticed about the spam messages is that there's a fair amount of repeat traffic pointing to the same domain names. A blacklist of such domains would go a fair way to cutting down the visible traffic even more. At the very least, the spam messages should be saved for future analysis (or future software development).
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Hexavalent
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[*] posted on 19-11-2012 at 11:18


Just reported a load of spam about Nike trainers.

The new code seems to be working well, kudos to you Polverone!




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[*] posted on 19-11-2012 at 12:04


I'm afraid I don't know much about this spamming problem annd correct me if I'm wrong - :(
- but is it not possible that a simple chemical question be answered at the time of registration?

A question regarding stoichiometry or balancing an equation would be most suitable, rather than a "fact" based question that a spammer could look up on Wikipedia.
I can't believe spammers or "bots" would be able to do this without going to great lengths.

It would also dissuade a few young k3wls from registering as a bonus!
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[*] posted on 16-12-2012 at 12:51


I have lately reported loads of spam and cook topics. Some are hilarious, such as 5807-81-8 2-Diphenylmethylpiperidine, copied and pasted from a web page (item number is 5807-81-8, and product 2-dimethylpiperidine). Awesome, really. He didn't even notice.



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Hexavalent
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[*] posted on 23-12-2012 at 09:17


Quote: Originally posted by Xenoid  

A question regarding stoichiometry or balancing an equation would be most suitable, rather than a "fact" based question that a spammer could look up on Wikipedia.


It would have to something moderately easy, though...perhaps we get some new members who are literally just starting out and haven't got to equations or stoichiometry yet.

Perhaps: 2Na + xH2O ---> xNaOH + H2

and they have to determine x to register? Not too difficult, and someone with an interest in chemistry should be able to decipher it even with only basic knowledge and understanding of the topic.


[Edited on 23-12-2012 by Hexavalent]




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Eddygp
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[*] posted on 23-12-2012 at 10:15


Spam bots can't fill in an answer for: "What is H2O?"
However, some people create accounts for bots...




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[*] posted on 23-12-2012 at 10:27


Or a simple "Remove the text in the following box: [Human]"... Saw this one on another website recently ;)
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[*] posted on 12-8-2013 at 03:06


Is the spam killing code still working? I've just reported a bunch of spam posts where others have mentioned they've done the same and they're still there. Either I'm not on the list or it's stopped working. If anyone posts a reply in these topics would those posts automatically disappear too or would they jam the code?



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[*] posted on 12-8-2013 at 06:00


Yes, the code is still working. The list could use revision, though. Replies are deleted, but there's no need to post "reported" in the topics, simply hit the report button and type "spam" into the box.



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Marvin
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[*] posted on 12-8-2013 at 08:06


Also replying to the topic to stop other people reporting it is self defeating, you need two people on the list to report.

It may be that the script is run periodically rather than triggered, so that no matter how many people report it, it won't get wiped until the script is next scheduled to run.

I'd be obliged if someone would check if I'm on the list too.
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[*] posted on 12-8-2013 at 08:26


If I recall correctly, the script is currently set to run on a 2 minute interval. And no, <strong>Marvin</strong>, you're not on the current iteration of the list&mdash;perhaps when it's updated. In the interim, I'm trying to check in as often as I can to remove spam. Please be patient, <strong>Polverone</strong> is very busy, and has much more important ('real life') things to attend to. Thanks.



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[*] posted on 12-8-2013 at 12:27


Marvin and froot now on the updated list. Thanks for reporting spam.



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[*] posted on 30-9-2013 at 12:53


Is there a way to control spam more efficiently? I mean, I usually see that some user whose name is "akh4pgxxd3" or something similar has posted in Chemistry in General his first post... this user is (almost) always a spam bot. So just to think about a new way (moderation of the first post seem a bit too over-the-top anyway) because reporting every single spam bot isn't difficult at all. In fact I do it whenever I can, but I have thought that maybe there might exist a better alternative. So any ideas?



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[*] posted on 30-9-2013 at 22:12


If a bot posts a string of spam topics the only report the oldest post for each bot, it will take care of all the other posts and it will save time.



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[*] posted on 1-10-2013 at 15:23


Make the website cost $10 to $100 to register on but have a giant button that says "click if you don't want to pay" if they click this then they don't need to pay. most bots could get throught it but a few would end up giving us money.
(stupid idea)




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Eddygp
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[*] posted on 3-10-2013 at 09:27


Quote: Originally posted by bismuthate  
Make the website cost $10 to $100 to register on but have a giant button that says "click if you don't want to pay" if they click this then they don't need to pay. most bots could get throught it but a few would end up giving us money.
(stupid idea)

They would probably analyse the JavaScript if it was a good enough bot and just clearly see that they could go through. Please make a question like "Is a cat a plant?", and SPAM BOTS (not spammers who are human, though) would not answer "yes" or "Yes" or "Yes." . Most spam topics are created by spam bots judging by their username.




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[*] posted on 3-10-2013 at 09:48


Ultimately, we need to migrate to a modern forum application.



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elementcollector1
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[*] posted on 9-10-2013 at 20:35


What is this, 10 spam posts in one day?!



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[*] posted on 10-10-2013 at 06:10


There were more than ten.



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watson.fawkes
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[*] posted on 10-10-2013 at 06:10


One modest thing that would eliminate some of the recurring spam is a URL blacklist. It wouldn't stop everything, but it would get rid of some of the SEO abuse that requires a particular URL to appear widely.
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[*] posted on 10-10-2013 at 10:33


It seems to be that the spam over the last few months has been about the same stuff -- Louis Vuitton fashion stores. Could we identify spam based on subject?



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[*] posted on 10-10-2013 at 11:05


how about that a members first, say 5 posts need to pass through a mod or semi mod first.
something like a new ''thing'' (damn, I can't find the word, like chemistry in general, orgo chemistry,...) that certain members can access. any new members first 5 posts get sent there pending approval, If its not spam a member can click on [OK] and if it is spam [DELETE].
I have seen this system on another forum and think it is probably the best, It will stop kewls too!
(notice how many kitchen ads there are lately)




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[*] posted on 10-10-2013 at 11:22


That sounds nice but what if a troll makes it through and begins deleting posts? Maybe inverted penis will come back.
crap I didn't mean to make that crude and horrible pun sorry.

[Edited on 10-10-2013 by bismuthate]




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[*] posted on 10-10-2013 at 12:07


well no, only certain members get access. like references and whimsy



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[*] posted on 10-10-2013 at 12:19


Yeah I guess I'm just paranoid because he was a troll who ( I Think ) breached our security and temporarily overcame a ban and became a super moderator. How many people would have access?




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