Re: Spambots

[RiESC]

THIS IS AN ANNOUNCEMENT FOR ALL REAL PEOPLE USING THIS FORUM!

i'm getting a little tired of all the spambots that've been signing on to the forum recently, and i've begun deleting any accounts that have not shown any indication that they are, in fact, real people. If you have an account that you've made and have not posted anything yet (and have not filled out your profile information), your account will be erased. You hereby have one week to comply.

If you have already proven yourself to be a real, live person, then congratulations!! You have nothing to worry about.

[darakat]

Well at least I have proved myself to be a real-live.... uh... something... 

[Monki]

Well at least I have proved myself to be a real-live.... uh... something... 

Ditto 

[RiESC]

well, as long as you're not a spambot or a cabbage, then you're just fine with me!

[Zarabadoo]

So the spambots are registering but not posting?

[RiESC]

if anything, they'll make a "guest" post right before making the account, but yeah, afterwards they don't post anything at all. i know, they aren't really harming anything by just taking up space, but still, it annoys me.

[rantinan]

Dont delete them. Turn them into precious mao buttons and send them to the plains of leng!

[RiESC]

y'know, i'm beginning to think that these "spambot" accounts i've been referring to should more accurately be termed "harvester" accounts - in that i'm pretty sure all they want to do is gain access to the member list and all the e-mail address within. Just a theory, i know, but maybe making sure your profile settings are set to private may be a wise move (assuming that you haven't already done so!)

i've been taking steps in an attempt to further tighten security, but i'm sure i'm the only one bothered by this.
Ah well, i suppose it's a symptom of coming to a quiet forum all the time - i need to find something do to.
Of course, i could start posting more... 

[Zarabadoo]

They shouldn't be able to get the email addresses unless people allow them to in their profile.

I do need to upgrade this forum, though. I think there are some extra security things in there that we can use. Are there any special mods you have in this thing I should be aware of?

[RiESC]

nope.
i figure not enough people use this to have bothered adding in anything special beyond the template and smilies.
And we never did get that chatboard working...