There has recently been a problem with spambots and an exploit/workaround/hack that is allowing spambots access to vbulletin powered forums. While once vbulletin was able to keep out spambots, now they are flooding forums everywhere.

 

To counter this I have installed a modification which will prevent any member posting links, images and email addresses until they have at least 5 posts to their name.

 

Im sorry if this inconveniences a few of our newer members but it is the best solution we have for the moment.

 

 

Thanks to Kindros for the link, it seems alot more stable than the one I was working on.

Edited October 3, 200816 yr by Soulassassin2

On a positive note, It will encourage our newer members to post more.

is that good thing? i cant be bothered reading everypost as it is

Seem to be doing a good job of it so far murdock

phpBB3

GSA did the same thing...

 

I noticed the MASSIVE flood of spambot posts they had, probably 30-40 posts in a few minutes. More then ive ever seen at one occasion.. I reported em all as always.

haha... thought this might be some commentry on some forum members and their ability to post useless dribble (mmmm..take that mirrror away from my face)

look im not really up to play with this new fandangled tech talk , but what is spambots .

a bot that spams.

 

-eg: a script (or whatever it is) that automatically keeps making useless posts in rapid succession and usually overwhelms the server to the point it lags out and crashes.

There purpose is advertisement usually porn/xxx, pills/viagra, electronics, phones and financial services. - and alot of the links have trojans/viruses

 

Youve had spam email right? They pretend to be someone else or someone you know and try trick you with links, specials discounts and free stuff, Same thing only its written in a script like reaper said, and it trolls forums, when the get in they go crazy posting email like spam every where.

hahahh ok . well ill stop posting then . still though i get that part but a bot ? is it an electronic artificial intel or something and how does it get in the forums . show me it and i will kill it lol /

Edited October 4, 200816 yr by Jthn

Its a program/script, its made to run a muck and spam, they use sign up scripts so it knows how to sign up and log in then make threads to spam.

 

Ever wonder why almost every website/forum now has random test boxes that are hard to read before sign up? To attempt to trick a bot as its hard to script it to read something that is so random/ hard to understand. Where is a person with a brain can work it out.

And now, due to the nature of most spam (posting links and/or pictures, email addresses, etc) they sign up, auto start a new thread, paste in the text which almost always includes those links and/or photos (depending on what they are spamming) hit submit reply and BAM! they cop an error message as their post count is less than five so they cant post links, images, email, etc. The script cant deal with it so thats the end of that.

Until the buggers fix that into their nasty little scripts, the people who are into this sort of stuff are the same people who attempt to create bot armies, these scripts can be designed to do all sorts of things.

I heard there was a group attempting to develop a skin F/Fox and Explore script, where when you load it up, it runs background windows and attaches hidden links to links on the screen your viewing so essentially when you click on a link they score a paid advertising click $, you dont see the ad or anything, but wonder why your internet runs like crap.

Go team F*** NUT seriously leave us alone you coder monkeys.

lol.. its all about money and greed. I know people in person who are into the coding/ scripting word of things.. Where they and there friends can pull $5-20k a month depending on views etc.