Where is Administration openxtalk.org ??

[tperry2x]

Please delete users:
WilliamMealf, Victordht, BarryHatly, mojoheadz, worldescortspag

WilliamMealf [IP:46.246.8.51, Stockholm - Sweden]
I want to know if there's any pattern to this. They are registering anonymously. Can that be turned off?

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I will start listing their IP addresses when they post, just to see if there's a pattern (there probably isn't, as they are using a VPN in some cases)

moErype 70.34.248.91 (Poland)
Richardelera 46.246.8.133 (using VPN)

[tperry2x]

Seems like it'd be really easy to fix the spammers.
On a new install of phpBB:

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please delete user:
Jackievar, htaletbtzl

[OpenXTalkPaul]

That's already turned on, doesn't seem very effective.

The best counter measure so far has been the 'Answer Related Question' test, but probably these days an AI fueled bot could find the answer from Wikipedia article in a dataset.

I tweaked some 'newly registered users' permissions a bit, might help.

[richmond62]

Pause for 'tea and sympathy':

The LC forums are currently being swamped with Korean spam.

This makes my earlier question about how LC control spam look bloody silly.

Whatever else, I do feel sorry for them.

[tperry2x]

Please delete users:

Samuellames
KevintinTef

[tperry2x]

And these...

RobinGal
DanielkaHem
Kevintin Tef
Samuellames
Alfonzorfuh
Matthewalask

[tperry2x]

also:

Matthewalask (repeat posting because his account still exists)
MyronSoM

I'm happy to delete these accounts if I'm given the permissions to do so.

Do you have these settings on the phpBB version that runs this forum? If so, I wondered if it was worth trying them?

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I also regularly catch these spam bots while they are logged in. It would also be nice to be able to 'kick' them off.

We could add the ban hammer extension to do this:
https://www.phpbb.com/customise/db/exte ... 2233593617

edit: I've just installed banhammer on my test forum, and seems to give a few useful options:

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[tperry2x]

spammer-chars.png (21.15 KiB) Viewed 366 times

As the spammers use the char и a lot, we could probably filter posts containing that character too...

more to delete now:

Alfonzorfuh
MyronSoM (repeat posting)
FrancesaGob

[richmond62]

I would be careful about that и защото има 'и' в българска азбука. LOL.

You cannot automatically assume that a message written in a language that uses a variant of the Cyrillic alphabet is spam, anymore than one using a variant of the Latin alphabet.

Anyone wanting cut-price leopard skin posing briefs look no further than here.

Unfortunately things are not that simple.

[tperry2x]

I would be careful about that и ...

Perhaps, but without meaning to be restrictive to any genuine post, why would anyone post that char here in a forum that is using predominantly English? It doesn't have to be that character, it could be any one of them used in the spammers posts that a user wouldn't normally use.

Anyone wanting cut-price leopard skin posing briefs look no further than here.

Haha, very 1970's

Unfortunately things are not that simple.

No, but it would be a start or worth considering? There don't seem to be a lot of other methods working at the moment, as I've been deleting posts throughout the entire day yesterday and today.

I doubt I'll get a chance to tomorrow, will have to see how the day pans out.

Edit:
KevintinTef is back again. They've even started coming through with avatars now as they've been registered for a while without being deleted.

phpBB can also disallow posts by new users with multiple links, and since they've started posting multiple links, they could be filtered when making posts like:

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[OpenXTalkPaul]

It's pretty easy to tell which 'Newly Registered Users' are bogus, not just from Crylic although that's certainly one indicator. At this second I personally know who just about every person on in our user list is.
I made a few changes and I'm now bulk deleting spammer accounts and banning by address IP by range (123.123.123.*). Seems to be slowing down the tide now, but a few still appear every hour. Not sure if or when they'll give up. I may have to do something more drastic, like requiring explicit approval for new users.

[tperry2x]

I may have to do something more drastic, like requiring explicit approval for new users.

That wouldn't be the end of the world if you had to do that. I'm sure myself, Richmond and others would be more than willing to assist if you needed a hand.

[OpenXTalkPaul]

ELVIS IS ALIVE!!!

I got ahold of Seth on FB, he's going try to touch base with these forums this weekend.

Hopefully he won't be trying at the same time that I'm trying to update the software.

[richmond62]

Good news (even if, personally, I prefered Jerry Lee Lewis).

[tperry2x]

I have to give a shout-out to Paul here - how nice it is not to be fighting spam bots as of late. Brilliant stuff