Thread: Spam

There seems to be a lot of spam here recently. Has something changed? A signup CAPTCHA removed? Maybe there should be some new requirements/restrictions for new users. Maybe stopping new members from posting live links will curve the spam?

You're right Ben and it's becoming a right nuisance.
Some of the forum permissions seem to have changed recently, allowing a lot of dodgy n00bs to drop their shitty links everywhere.
We're working on it!

Great! So it wasn't just me going mad

Originally Posted by benjaminp

Great! So it wasn't just me going mad

You are not the only one, as you said all of the recent spam bombarding the forum truly is maddening! Drives me crazy!

Originally Posted by CountryBoy

We're working on it!

As CountryBoy has said:

We are working on it, and I just want to add, that your patience and diligence is most-appreciated while we work on getting the forum back in shape.

Much Thanks,

BiologyWebmaster

It's just getting worse, which is unfortunate, and has pretty much killed the forum (what was left of it).

I reported a member five days ago for spamming and the account is still active/posting.

http://www.webtalkforums.com/member....34-nifeemainee

While I realise moderation is often a thankless job, and it's impossible for you guys to moderate every post, this guy has posted another 300 posts since I originally reported him.

---------- Post added at 1:48 pm ---------- Previous post was at 1:46 pm ----------

This user has posted 1700+ posts today alone.
http://www.webtalkforums.com/member....8-DoctorCamila

I haven't actually noticed anything, but if I do, I'll definitely be reporting anyone/anything that does decide to spam. I don't see the reason they do, it's really pointless.

Honestly, 300 and 1700+ posts in one day? Really? What is the need.

How could you not have noticed? :O



http://www.webtalkforums.com/member....31-DoctorTomas - another one.

That is freaking ridiculous. Wow!

And I don't check each and every forum :P

I reply to mainly the ones that stick out.
That actually sucks though, something needs to be done.

Now they are up to 8000+ and still active.

This is honestly ridiculous. Someone do something about it? I saw what you meant last night.

One of the bots now has 22k + posts.

I guess this is the end.

Originally Posted by benjaminp

One of the bots now has 22k + posts.

I guess this is the end.

I haven't even been able to get on the site properly because the bots are spamming the server as well. The posts are just complete and utter spam and it's incredibly annoying, I'm actually frustrated that I can't use the site, it loads far too slow due to the bots.

Well back in the day when grim left I thought the new owner will invest some time on this forum and make it like the old days but I guess I was wrong. This is getting even worst.

@admin
If you are no longer interested in running this forum perhaps you should sell it many people will be interested in buying it including me.
Coutering spam on a forum such as this is difficult but not impossible. You can add custom captcha at registration and captcha when somebody posts a thread there are so many ways to stop this spam. Why aren't you doing anything???

I'm sorry but this is really getting out of control. I see the bot just posting nonsense everywhere in the forum.

Seems to me that this forum is no longer moderated accordingly... or they may have something big coming to once and for all combat this spamming activities. Maybe we can get help from some peeps in the forum itself to help you with this worry if its now becoming uncontrollable and under managed.

I am new here but it is also pretty safe to say I won't be sticking around for too long with an unsolved problem like this.

Shame seemed like an ok place

It is obvious to all of us moderators that the spam has become overwhelming here. Nobody is more disappointed than I am. What was a great forum, with such a faithful and friendly following, has become a bit of a joke. I will leave you to speculate on the reasons for that.

For the last couple of months some of the forum moderation tools haven't been working properly, meaning every spammy post has to be deleted individually. I would spend hours every day removing spam just for it to reappear twice as quickly. Not surprisingly my efforts and those of the other moderators were unsustainable. This issue has been raised several times in the Staff forum, but no cure has materialised. The filters that existed when the forum was under the stewardship of grim and Colleen have seemingly disappeared. I first mentioned my frustrations back in June and several of the others have echoed my concerns since then.

Even before the latest Admin change here the moderators have not been able to read or deal with Reported Posts. Apologies Ben if it looks like your efforts to report have gone unnoticed, but it wasn't by us.

About a month ago, when all this spam was getting me down, I asked for my moderator status to be removed. There has been inaction with that request too.

That makes sense. About a month ago I reported 50-60 posts in a two week period, when I first started using the forum again, after a little break.

Personally I can't really understand it. I presume the new admin/s paid a fair amount of money for the forums. Surely it would make sense to have these tools fixed and protect their investment?

I'm also sure I saw a post just a couple of months back where kalina/colleen offered to help out if she was needed. I might be wrong though.

I hope I'm not talking too prematurely, but the spam seems to have stopped in the past few hours. Appears Steve is tinkering with the forum.

Hopefully once all the spam has been cleaned up, the forums can return to their former glory.

Benjamin, don't jinx it haha.

Hopefully the problem is solved, I can't wait to use the forum properly again. Such a beautiful forum before the spam.

I'm guessing you got your tools back now. The forum is looking clean once more

It would appear so.
Hope some of the others come back after our temporary hiatus.

Didn't want to make a new thread for this, but I think there needs to be a minimum post count required before someone can make a blog post. Already the spammers are making themselves at home there.

yea we are going to get that fixed tomorrow. I will make it happen so the new features are protected from spam. Thanks for the heads up

Been awhile for me on this forum. Was gonna post about spammers and leaving their threads with link

PHP Code:

http://www.webtalkforums.com/share-your-website/150232.htm 


but after reading this...

Originally Posted by CountryBoy

meaning every spammy post has to be deleted individually. I would spend hours every day removing spam just for it to reappear twice as quickly.

Hoping things do get better

(not sure if thier links get indexed?)

the staff now has a feature that allows them to group all of the threads/posts and accounts and make them disappear with a few clicks.


It even bans all user names , emails , ips and other linked accounts. I'm sure it will get better and well be adding more Spam protectors. Time to get good updated content on WTF and grow our community.

Thanks for stopping by and checking us out

Originally Posted by benjaminp

It's just getting worse, which is unfortunate, and has pretty much killed the forum (what was left of it).

I reported a member five days ago for spamming and the account is still active/posting.

View Profile: nifeemainee - Webmaster Forum

While I realise moderation is often a thankless job, and it's impossible for you guys to moderate every post, this guy has posted another 300 posts since I originally reported him.

---------- Post added at 1:48 pm ---------- Previous post was at 1:46 pm ----------

This user has posted 1700+ posts today alone.
View Profile: DoctorCamila - Webmaster Forum

Thanks for reporting them , If you see anymore let me know. I'll eradicate those bastards. Working on it now and this shouldn't happen again. Sorry about it taking forever.

Originally Posted by victor128

I'm sorry but this is really getting out of control. I see the bot just posting nonsense everywhere in the forum.

yea it was bad

Originally Posted by firefoxie

Well back in the day when grim left I thought the new owner will invest some time on this forum and make it like the old days but I guess I was wrong. This is getting even worst.

@admin
If you are no longer interested in running this forum perhaps you should sell it many people will be interested in buying it including me.
Coutering spam on a forum such as this is difficult but not impossible. You can add custom captcha at registration and captcha when somebody posts a thread there are so many ways to stop this spam. Why aren't you doing anything???

Thanks for the suggestions and I'm on it.

Originally Posted by ThatMichaelKid

I haven't even been able to get on the site properly because the bots are spamming the server as well. The posts are just complete and utter spam and it's incredibly annoying, I'm actually frustrated that I can't use the site, it loads far too slow due to the bots.

Very sorry about that and we now have some of it under control. We will have new counter measures installed tomorrow.

Originally Posted by benjaminp

One of the bots now has 22k + posts.

I guess this is the end.

not at all. Im going to find these accounts and ban them all. Well get it under control

Originally Posted by ThatMichaelKid

This is honestly ridiculous. Someone do something about it? I saw what you meant last night.

I agree and its all on me. Working on it though

Originally Posted by benjaminp

Now they are up to 8000+ and still active.

woa crazy. Time to get the swatter out

Originally Posted by ThatMichaelKid

That is freaking ridiculous. Wow!

And I don't check each and every forum :P

I reply to mainly the ones that stick out.
That actually sucks though, something needs to be done.

agreed!

Originally Posted by benjaminp

How could you not have noticed? :O



View Profile: DoctorTomas - Webmaster Forum - another one.

Thanks I needed that.

Originally Posted by peptalk

Seems to me that this forum is no longer moderated accordingly... or they may have something big coming to once and for all combat this spamming activities. Maybe we can get help from some peeps in the forum itself to help you with this worry if its now becoming uncontrollable and under managed.

We have had some changes on the positive side but more should have been done when I took over. I just dropped the ball and will not let it continue. Sorry to the community and staff for not getting on the changes sooner.

Originally Posted by Zotty

I am new here but it is also pretty safe to say I won't be sticking around for too long with an unsolved problem like this.

Shame seemed like an ok place

Sory to hear that and I wouldn't blame you. Hopefully you can give us a second shot and see for yourself that were here to create a good think tank for web masters to advance. This place will get better , you have my word on that. Stick around and ride the ave with us.


Later guys!