Topic: My Suggestion for Stopping Spam Bots from Registering at the Forum

[Biollante]

This has obvioulsy become a problem here recently.  I used to have the same problems at IPB forums, but I added a mod that added a "Are you human?" drop down box on the registration page.  This effectively stopped all spam bot registrations, becuase spam bots aren't programmed to choose the second option on the drop down menu.  Anyways, I did find a version of this for SMF on an SMF mod page, so I would suggest trying this as a solution since the forum doesn't already have it isntalled:

http://custom.simplemachines.org/mods/index.php?mod=999

[Captain Hero]

I've seen that on other websites, and I'd be willing to go for it.

It'd sure beat reporting them every day!

[Oldiesmann]

This has obvioulsy become a problem here recently.  I used to have the same problems at IPB forums, but I added a mod that added a "Are you human?" drop down box on the registration page.  This effectively stopped all spam bot registrations, becuase spam bots aren't programmed to choose the second option on the drop down menu.  Anyways, I did find a version of this for SMF on an SMF mod page, so I would suggest trying this as a solution since the forum doesn't already have it isntalled:

http://custom.simplemachines.org/mods/index.php?mod=999

This version of SMF already has that built in, and I have it set to ask them one of four questions randomly. They also have to activate their account (so they can't sign up with a bogus email address). It's probably real users who are being paid to spam (that's a rather lucrative business in some countries).

I'm going to try the Anti-Spam Links mod instead. That should help, as it will allow me to prevent them from posting links if they've never posted before.

[Oldiesmann]

Mod has been installed. For now I've set it so they can't post links if they've never posted, and they need at least 5 posts for the link to actually be active. We'll see how that goes. I can adjust the settings some if needed.

[Biollante]

This has obvioulsy become a problem here recently.  I used to have the same problems at IPB forums, but I added a mod that added a "Are you human?" drop down box on the registration page.  This effectively stopped all spam bot registrations, becuase spam bots aren't programmed to choose the second option on the drop down menu.  Anyways, I did find a version of this for SMF on an SMF mod page, so I would suggest trying this as a solution since the forum doesn't already have it isntalled:

http://custom.simplemachines.org/mods/index.php?mod=999

This version of SMF already has that built in, and I have it set to ask them one of four questions randomly. They also have to activate their account (so they can't sign up with a bogus email address). It's probably real users who are being paid to spam (that's a rather lucrative business in some countries).

I'm going to try the Anti-Spam Links mod instead. That should help, as it will allow me to prevent them from posting links if they've never posted before.

I doubt they are real members.  That's like exremely rare.  If there was a real person, it was probably like one person.  I think you get too much spam for that.  Like when I was on the other night, there looked like there was 5 spambot acocunts viewing the forum.  The programs are just sophisticated enough that they can reply to registration e-mails and all that.  Notice how none of the spam is ever actually connected to anything on topic.  It's all just generic posts about products.

And I don't know specifics for why, but I just know the drop down menu questions (with the correct answer being after the first choice) are more effective for keeping them out than a random question where you type in the answer.  It has something to do with how the bots are programmed I think.  I really haven't had a spam bot post at my forums for three years since instittuting one of those.

Anyways, I hope the new thing you installed works out.