Spammers posting

[gwenwhyvar]

Hey all, not sure what the procedure is on this, but there's a spammer posting in the aspiring jet's forum.

username: faozzie

post name: Brand new Unlocked Samsung Impression just at 300usd

I couldn't find out anyway to flag posts, so I thought I would mention it here. Sorry if this is the wrong place.

[gwenwhyvar]

And a BUY222 has also posted For Sell Brand New Unlocked Nokia N97 32GB For Just $280.

Just to add to the list.

[Jen]

Also, a user named BUYHERE ... it is getting very annoying.

[block7]

another one called wayne, posting in the AJET forum about Blackberry phones

[NatalieHiroshimaPA]

Okay, this is getting ridiculous. Is there no way to block the IP addresses or anti-spam or something?

[shanePC]

I do ban IP addresses, but most spammers use hardware to have their IPs constantly renewed. We are putting through a plan right now that will get us a new server and control of it ourselves so we can update the software - I have no idea how long it will take.

For the time being, 3 of us are clearing it out...weekends are gonna do this.

Unless, I turn off user activation, where every user has to wait for one of us to verify they are a JET before they are allowed to post. The problem with that is new users will have to wait until Japan working hours to be able to use the forum....any thoughts?

[NatalieHiroshimaPA]

Sorry I know nothing

[okayamathomas]

There are aspiring JETs who post here too - it'd be difficult to verify they are JETs...

[shanePC]

No this is true, but I meant I would verify everyone under the assumption that spammers wouldn't go through the bother of sending me an email, and then waiting for me to activate their account (meaning I'm on the forum and ready to delete their post as soon as they post it too).

[okayamathomas]

Now I understand - OK - I think thats a hoop most people would be OK jumping through, but I'm not sure what it would do to your workload?

[chibakenben]

That sounds like it would work but also be a bit of a pain in the butt for you, Shamus, as well as kinda harsh for people who gotta ask a question RIGHTNOWRIGHTNOWRIGHTNOW.

One thing that has worked reasonably well for Chiba's own forums (which are also phpbb based) was to add a required "security question" to the initial registration form that anyone associated with the JET program should be able to handle without difficulty, but random spammers usually can't be bothered to spend time looking up the answer to.

Ours is "What does the acronym ALT stand for? (Remember to capitalize the beginning of each word.)" and so far, only one person has ever complained of having difficulty signing up (and he later admitted to being a re-re).

[joshTochigi]

In order to add the security question, you need access to the server to add files and change things around. I think that's the part that shane has problems with at the moment. I don't think that he has access to the server.

That, and adding extra moderators that are not CLAIR staff would be against the rules.

There's not much to be done, just have to put up with it, I guess.

[chibakenben]

Oh, whoops. I see that now.

[sachaPC]

Hey guys, we do have access to the server and I made a change today that will hopefully reduce the number of spammers.

On the registration page, I added a two-word "reCAPTCHA" security question in place of the single-word (and apparently easily-breakable by spambots) "CAPTCHA" that was there before. Someone on the forums recommended this to us once before. Looking online, it seems that reCAPTCHA is quite strong at preventing spambot account creation, but we will just have to wait and see. If this doesn't work then I am quite keen to try chibakenben's suggestion above.

Cheers for your suggestions.

[joshTochigi]

Thanks Sascha!

Looking forward to not having to decide whether or not I really want that 100 dollar unlocked iPhone...