Spammers!

Discussion in 'Notices & Announcements' started by Yvonne Smith, Feb 19, 2016.

  1. Yvonne Smith

    Yvonne Smith Senior Staff
    Staff Member Senior Staff Greeter Task Force Registered

    Joined:
    Jan 21, 2015
    Messages:
    14,879
    Likes Received:
    27,859
    As some of you might have noticed, we seem to have a very determined spammer (who thinks we need breast-enhancements ?) , and he/she has signed in under several different names and left their spammy posts.
    I just reported the last two (she is Diedre now), and I am sure that @Ken Anderson will blast her/him out of here as soon as he sees the report.
    I just thought that I would let everyone know what is going on. They may keep trying to come back with different names; so when you see a new person has registered, it is good to look and see if they have made posts, and then read the posts and see if we have a wonderful new person to welcome to the forum, or a lousy spammer for Admin to boot out of here forthwith.
     
    #1
  2. Chrissy Cross

    Chrissy Cross Supreme Member
    Registered

    Joined:
    Aug 11, 2015
    Messages:
    19,089
    Likes Received:
    18,917
    Even though I could use the breast enhancement, I reported Diedre to Ken/admin.
     
    #2
  3. Bonnie Thomas

    Bonnie Thomas Veteran Member
    Registered

    Joined:
    Dec 29, 2015
    Messages:
    1,860
    Likes Received:
    1,929
    Today they are spamming in Health and Wellness.
     
    #3
    Ruby Begonia and Holly Saunders like this.
  4. Ken Anderson

    Ken Anderson Senior Staff
    Staff Member Senior Staff Greeter Task Force Registered

    Joined:
    Jan 21, 2015
    Messages:
    24,325
    Likes Received:
    42,608
    They'll get in from time to time. Our security seems to do a pretty good job of keeping the automated spambots out of the forum but anyone who will register for an account, and validate the email, will be able to make a post or two, perhaps more, depending on whether I am around or not, before being removed from the forum.

    I have a few ways of banishing someone from the forum. I can delete their account, which I sometimes do, but then they can simply register for another account. I can ban them from the forum but again, they can simply register a new account. I can also change their email address and password so that they cannot log back in under that name or retrieve their password.

    I can ban their IP number but the more troublesome ones, particularly those from Russia or China, are using proxy IPs so they would come in under a different IP number the next time. I can ban a whole range of IP numbers, which is often more effective, but that would prohibit anyone from that entire range of IP numbers from joining the forum, or from logging into their existing account, if they happen to use the same Internet provider. I have banned a couple of ranges of IP numbers from China because I don't imagine we'll have regular members of the forum from China, and because China accounts for the majority of hacking and spamming attempts we'd had to deal with.

    I could also require that someone make a specified number of posts before they can include a link in one of their posts, but this most often just results in a larger number of spam posts that will have to be deleted.

    I can also change their email address and password so that they cannot log back in under that name.

    The last spammers, probably the same person, were from Russia. I banned the first one, but he or she simply registered for a new account. Another option that I have is a feature of the Xenforo forum software that is intended to discourage unwanted members. When I opt to discourage them by their member name and IP address, it does not ban their account, but it generates a series of errors that makes it appear to the person who is trying to log in that they are unable to get a good connection with the forum. The idea is for them to get the idea that the forum isn't working, in which case they don't bother with it anymore. That is what I have tried on the last spammer.
     
    #4
  5. Holly Saunders

    Holly Saunders Supreme Member
    Registered

    Joined:
    Nov 16, 2015
    Messages:
    51,949
    Likes Received:
    17,919
    Yup I saw the spammer first thing this morning...I always report them as soon as I see them.
     
    #5
  6. Ruby Begonia

    Ruby Begonia Supreme Member
    Registered

    Joined:
    Nov 1, 2015
    Messages:
    3,360
    Likes Received:
    5,244
    I live under a rock. I noticed nothing.
     
    #6
  7. Holly Saunders

    Holly Saunders Supreme Member
    Registered

    Joined:
    Nov 16, 2015
    Messages:
    51,949
    Likes Received:
    17,919

    Are you one of the little cute Billy Goat gruffs? :D watchout for that Big Ugly old troll under that rock...:D
     
    #7
    Ruby Begonia likes this.
  8. Arlene Richards

    Arlene Richards Veteran Member
    Registered

    Joined:
    Nov 21, 2015
    Messages:
    2,002
    Likes Received:
    534
    :pI do NOT need breast enhancements. Trust me on that!!!!
     
    #8
  9. Ken Anderson

    Ken Anderson Senior Staff
    Staff Member Senior Staff Greeter Task Force Registered

    Joined:
    Jan 21, 2015
    Messages:
    24,325
    Likes Received:
    42,608
    I was thinking about it, but I can't afford it at this time.
     
    #9
  10. Chrissy Cross

    Chrissy Cross Supreme Member
    Registered

    Joined:
    Aug 11, 2015
    Messages:
    19,089
    Likes Received:
    18,917
    We can take up a collection for you on Facebook, Ken. :)
     
    #10
    Ruby Begonia likes this.
  11. Ruby Begonia

    Ruby Begonia Supreme Member
    Registered

    Joined:
    Nov 1, 2015
    Messages:
    3,360
    Likes Received:
    5,244
    I heard George Costanza might have an accessory if you do get one, @Ken Anderson .
     
    #11
    Chrissy Cross likes this.
  12. Krissttina Isobe

    Krissttina Isobe Veteran Member
    Registered

    Joined:
    Aug 28, 2015
    Messages:
    1,413
    Likes Received:
    1,496
    Thanks for the heads up! I like to think everyone is okay here and I didn't come across the breast enhancement topic or thread yet. Again thanks!
     
    #12
  13. Joe Riley

    Joe Riley Supreme Member
    Registered

    Joined:
    Mar 3, 2015
    Messages:
    13,933
    Likes Received:
    22,554
    Usually, you can spot them from post #1.
     
    #13
    Last edited: Feb 20, 2016
    Yvonne Smith and Ruby Begonia like this.
  14. Ruby Begonia

    Ruby Begonia Supreme Member
    Registered

    Joined:
    Nov 1, 2015
    Messages:
    3,360
    Likes Received:
    5,244
    I bet that works a lot better than this...

    0.jpg
     
    #14
  15. Yvonne Smith

    Yvonne Smith Senior Staff
    Staff Member Senior Staff Greeter Task Force Registered

    Joined:
    Jan 21, 2015
    Messages:
    14,879
    Likes Received:
    27,859
    They did it again ! Registered as Mary Ryan this time. Hurry and post that alarm picture, @Joe Riley ! !
     
    #15

Share This Page