SPAMMERS again

[graham]

Hi all

I'm sure many of you might have seen the spam attack we were subjected to a few minutes ago, multiple posts in Chinese cluttering up the "banner shot" sub forum. Bill very kind banned the offender and I have removed the posts. The main problem is that if left unchecked, some of these wasters can clog a forum right up in just a few minutes and as mentioned a while ago, some of the links often contain malware, Trojans and the like

As always we value the members' opinions and we would like to propose that we move across to "closed" forum. Until now, any casual visitor can read the forum but can't post. A "closed" forum essentially means that anyone who wants to read the forum will now have to register, it takes about two minutes and needs doing just the once. Until now, non members have been able to read the posts but haven't been able to post without registering. We will also set the registering process so that Jeff, Bill and I will receive a message whenever anyone registers, and one of us will have to approve that request before they can see the forum.

Personally, I don't think it will deter casual users from signing up, but will deter habitual spammers when they realise we will no longer be an easy target.

Thoughts, opinions?

Cheers
Graham, Jeff & Bill

[rh226]

Graham, Jeff & Bill,

There will always be spammers who get through the net. If someone wishes to post spam, they will register anyway - whether they can view an "open" forum or a "closed" one. Scramble.nl and FighterControl (with a smallish restriction) are essentially "open" forums and they seem to have very little or no problems with spam.  So, I would like to suggest that moving to a "closed" forum will not make a lot of difference.

I think that what may be needed is a very tight control over the registration process - if that is possible with the limited amount of time available to you chaps.

It would appear (from my observation) that FighterControl moderators/admin are extremely quick off the mark to spot spam(mers) when they do get some.  I know that Graham is a member on there, so could I suggest that perhaps he could get in touch with their admin - Gary and/or Adam ("zymurgy661") would probably be best - to see what additional measures they might suggest in vetting new registration applications.

Yes, I am also aware that there are far more FC moderators/admin available, so that they can maintain a presence of at least one online for most of the 24 hours in a day.

Just my thoughts.

Bob

[bizfreeq]

The only way to stop this kind of thing happening is for new members to have no ability to post unless that post is cleared by a moderator, so when their joining application is received their individual settings are put at moderated. That is how it's done on e-groups, however I'm not sure if that is available on here!
If it goes to a closed group, which I in part agree with as the info on here is basically up there for any freeloader to use and post elsewhere with no credit, then perhaps the 'join here' interface should also contain a caveat that states only applications containing the real name of the applicant will be approved, and a little box for a short explanation as to why they want to join. That should stop most spammers, again though I'm not sure if that facility exists on this forum.
If it helps, I'm prepared to throw my hat in the ring and help with the forum's moderation etc.
Cheers
Mark

[rh226]

Didn't think about that last bit, Mark.

I, too, will join you in offering to help moderate the forum.

Cheers

Bob

[graham]

Thanks guys for the offers of help. We do have the facility on Proboards to vet each registration, it's just that we haven't needed to use it until now. Thing is, as fast as you guys are out of the traps to let us know if someone's running amok on the forum, if none of us three are around, then potentially, the forum could be overrun in a few minutes. I'll have a word with Jeff and Bill to see about having another couple of mods here.

Thanks again...;0)