Page 1 of 1

Note for noiseguy on how to fix spammers

Posted: Sat Nov 10, 2018 3:13 pm
by eclark5483
Go to this URL and download this MOD:
https://www.phpbb.com/customise/db/exte ... s_captcha/

Extract and upload to the EXT folder
Image

Next go to Admin control panel under "CUSTOMIZE", look for "sortables captcha" AND ENABLE IT
Image

Next go back to the "GENERAL" tab, and look for "Spambot countermeasures", from there choose sortables captcha
Image

Next click configure and add new sortables questions and answers, would recommend the following:
Image

Viola!! NO MORE SPAMMERS!!

Example of captcha in action: https://www.newsucks500.com/ucp.php?mode=register

Re: Note for noiseguy on how to fix spammers

Posted: Sat Nov 10, 2018 4:19 pm
by noiseguy
Think that'll be better than the current Google image version we're using now?

Re: Note for noiseguy on how to fix spammers

Posted: Sat Nov 10, 2018 5:00 pm
by eclark5483
Yes, I have not had a spammer in years. Google captcha is too easy for bots to bypass. Most of these spammers are automated or foriegn and don't understand how it works. Works well on Cell phones/tablets too.

Re: Note for noiseguy on how to fix spammers

Posted: Sat Nov 10, 2018 5:02 pm
by eclark5483
I've been able to use the captcha so well, that I even have guest posting turned on and still never get hit.

Re: Note for noiseguy on how to fix spammers

Posted: Sat Nov 10, 2018 5:05 pm
by eclark5483
Example images of captcha with guest posting enabled

Image

Image

Re: Note for noiseguy on how to fix spammers

Posted: Sat Nov 10, 2018 5:29 pm
by noiseguy
I don't understand how spammers can figure out the Google one but can't figure out above... probably some automation thing.

I'm range banning the offending countries, will look into this in next week or so. I've been slammed recently with work so I've not been active on board. Email me if we have another one of these "events" so I can get it locked down, and I'll review your permissions to see what we can do about getting you an easier way to clean this stuff up.

Re: Note for noiseguy on how to fix spammers

Posted: Sat Nov 10, 2018 5:59 pm
by eclark5483
If you want, give me temp admin privledges and ftp info and I can install for you.

Re: Note for noiseguy on how to fix spammers

Posted: Sat Nov 10, 2018 10:39 pm
by eclark5483
You have an advantage here, if you figure out a way to enable guest posting. You are competing with facebook now, and nobody wants to mess with API's from Facebook giving out personal info. The spammers for the most part.. are very, very dumb. They are bots programmed to register names, click certain things, recognise shapes and letters, etc. But ask it a simple question, even give it the answer, it has to think, plus know how to manipulate the boxes to another space to solve it. And that is just technology that simply does not exist. For those that aren't robots, but 3rd world idiots out to make a buck, it requires they actually know english. What they are doing, is copy and pasting an english written.. usually poorly written ad. I'm tellin ya, you'll accomplish 2 things in 1 shot. No spam, and more discussion and participation.

Re: Note for noiseguy on how to fix spammers

Posted: Sun Nov 11, 2018 1:47 pm
by noiseguy
Ah, you're saying we should also allow guest posting here? Having anon users is really opening the board up for a lot of randomness... we up for that?

Re: Note for noiseguy on how to fix spammers

Posted: Sun Nov 11, 2018 4:11 pm
by eclark5483
Ain't my call, I'd like to hear other's opinion on the matter. You could always assign only 1 forum as guest/open. Without the threat of Spam, you encourage participation from people who found the site in google or whatever search engine but hate using the whole "REGISTER" process. Blocks them from participating in other areas, and encourages them to register an account for full access. Let's you turn the Wanted/For Sale section into a bigger commerce then what it is.

Re: Note for noiseguy on how to fix spammers

Posted: Wed Nov 21, 2018 2:13 pm
by noiseguy
Let's you turn the Wanted/For Sale section into a bigger commerce then what it is.
That part of the board is one of the biggest source of issues here... I can't imagine what it would be like with un-registered members. I like the idea of a guest place to ask Q's. I could actually set it to self-delete inactive posts every few months so it wouldn't build volume. One more thing for me to add to the to-do list.