Is there a way to protect my forum from spam bots?

garync
New Member

Posts: 3

Is there a way to protect my forum from spam bots? Feb 5, 2018 23:06:55 GMT -8

Post by garync on Feb 5, 2018 23:06:55 GMT -8

Forum URL: (private)

I don't have a problem yet because I'm just in the process of configuring my first forum, and it is not yet accessible to the public.

I'm looking for a plugin that filters for spam bots. I've searched the Plugin Library and can't find anything. I've also done an internet search and found Spam-O-Matic, which interfaces with the stopforumspam.com spammer database to block known spammers, but it was made for vBulletin forums & I haven't found any equivalent for Proboard forums. How are PB forums typically protected from spam bots? Thanks.

stevecureboi
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I know tomorrow's gonna taste like cake

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Is there a way to protect my forum from spam bots? Feb 6, 2018 0:23:16 GMT -8 Brian and Jaguar like this

Post by stevecureboi on Feb 6, 2018 0:23:16 GMT -8

PB are seemingly affiliated with stop forum spam.
If you set registrations to restricted then when they come in you can vet them individually.
As soon as you see the queue you can click on the IP &/or the email addy & that will take you directly to a stop forum spam search.
From there you can pretty much establish who or what is a genuine registration & who or what is trying to hawk removal services in Mumbai or cheap package holidays in Iran etc.

Tear out the pages with all the bad news

Craig Support Helper Posts: 208,867 Craig #eb7100 Male Support Helper 1480 cdsuffolk 0 1 Apr 23, 2024 4:10:18 GMT -8 Craig 208,867 Permanent Fixture September 2001 cmdynasty	Is there a way to protect my forum from spam bots? Feb 6, 2018 4:14:36 GMT -8 Jaguar likes this Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by Craig on Feb 6, 2018 4:14:36 GMT -8 Hi There are a number of checks in place to prevent spam posts and spam bots, which stop the vast majority of them. So it should be extremely rare that you see posts from spam bots.

Brian
Support Helper

Posts: 48,129

Is there a way to protect my forum from spam bots? Feb 6, 2018 8:39:37 GMT -8 mmhmm and Jaguar like this

Post by Brian on Feb 6, 2018 8:39:37 GMT -8

stevecureboi's solution is the most effective way of keeping spam out of your forum.

A plugin will only mildly inconvenience a spammer at best as it can only alter the page after it's been loaded. Plugins are not good tools for restricting forum functionality.

Help improve the Plugin Library!

garync
New Member

Posts: 3

Is there a way to protect my forum from spam bots? Feb 6, 2018 9:13:41 GMT -8

Post by garync on Feb 6, 2018 9:13:41 GMT -8

Here's a Spam-o-Matic report from another forum that I visit and I think it's been installed for about 5 years. I can't imagine that performing this job manually would be nearly as effective, nor desireable.

Spam-O-Matic Statistics:

486103 Spammers Denied Registration

634 Spammers Permanently Banned

838 Spammers submitted to StopForumSpam

878 Spammers submitted to Akismet

3969 Spammy Posts Automatically Moderated

But, if PB is performing that job behind the scene, can someone explain that process to me?
Thanks.

Brian
Support Helper

Posts: 48,129

Is there a way to protect my forum from spam bots? Feb 6, 2018 9:24:19 GMT -8 Jaguar likes this

Post by Brian on Feb 6, 2018 9:24:19 GMT -8

Exceptionally notorious IP ranges known for spam are blocked by our servers, preventing them from accessing our service at all. The same goes for many entries on Stop Forum Spam.

Like most sites we incorporate a CAPTCHA challenge upon registration. Unfortunately, most modern spammers are actually human so this only keeps out automated registrations.

Our software will usually end up flagging the stuff that does get through so that we can manually review it. The systems that control this are extremely sensitive to anything resembling spammer behavior so it's got an extremely good success rate when it comes to capturing spam content. I've personally deleted a multitude of spammer posts caught through this system.