Fighting the spam bots

[Bobster]

FYI:

We are in a daily battle with the spam bots. When we moved to this new site, we didn’t know the OBN registration default was set to allow anyone to register as new members and immediately begin posting. That’s why we suddenly started getting spam in the Off Topics section when that URL was discovered and targeted by spam bots. This is a problem a lot of forums experience. We corrected the situation by changing the OBN registration default to administrative approval. So they can register for membership but can‘t be activated to post unless we approve them. They show up as “Inactive users” on our member register. Recently, in searching through the OBN administrative features, I discovered a list of 5,100 such inactive users, all just since last October. I randomly examined IP addresses and email domains and all of those checked were out of the country and/or using IPs or email domains associated with spam sources (there are anti-spam bot sites that provide that data). I deleted all 5,100 and now check the newly registered inactive users on a daily basis. There are generally about 15 to 20 per day. I now review 100% of them and every one of them has been from an IP or an email domain associated with spam and most are from foreign countries.

We have the ability to ban specific IP addresses or email domains when we identify them as spam, and this is helping control the number of newly registered spam bots. But there is no end to them. Another option is to turn off the registration function altogether so that no one can register for OBN. But, of course, that would preclude the addition of new, legitimate posters. So that is not an ideal solution.

So if any OBN members know someone who wants to join this forum, please let me or Possum know and PM us with their username and email address so that we can distinguish them from the numerous spammers appearing on the new registration list daily.

[Doc]

After reading your post, this came to mind: https://youtu.be/Bq0H1p2zejg?si=wokBGaLs7j-HMIQ5

Good work, soldier.

[Bobster]

After reading your post, this came to mind: https://youtu.be/Bq0H1p2zejg?si=wokBGaLs7j-HMIQ5

Good work, soldier.

[Surgnbuck]

After reading your post, this came to mind: https://youtu.be/Bq0H1p2zejg?si=wokBGaLs7j-HMIQ5

Good work, soldier.

That's odd, this came to mind when I read the post:
https://www.google.com/search?q=youtube ... CuSU4,st:0

[Doc]

After reading your post, this came to mind: https://youtu.be/Bq0H1p2zejg?si=wokBGaLs7j-HMIQ5

Good work, soldier.

That's odd, this came to mind when I read the post:
https://www.google.com/search?q=youtube ... CuSU4,st:0

Of course you did.

[Surgnbuck]

After reading your post, this came to mind: https://youtu.be/Bq0H1p2zejg?si=wokBGaLs7j-HMIQ5

Good work, soldier.

That's odd, this came to mind when I read the post:
https://www.google.com/search?q=youtube ... CuSU4,st:0

Of course you did.

Luckily, we have Bobster:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9H4prE95LE0

[Bobster]

That's odd, this came to mind when I read the post:
https://www.google.com/search?q=youtube ... CuSU4,st:0

Of course you did.

Luckily, we have Bobster:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9H4prE95LE0

The Fembots will not be banned.

[Doc]

That's odd, this came to mind when I read the post:
https://www.google.com/search?q=youtube ... CuSU4,st:0

Of course you did.

Luckily, we have Bobster:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9H4prE95LE0

It's not too late to seek help.