Advanced question.. to stop bots signing up to the forum..

[Dan]

Basically iv'e just seen a bot signup to the forum, it seems with vBulletin CAPCHA and E-VER doesn't work with the software. However there is a modification which on the register page displays the easiest of questions such as

What is 2+2? if they say four or 4 then the registration is allowed, otherwise it is denied.

I have it on my forum and it decreases the bots, not one has signed up since.

So bear that in mind

[Pumazooma]

I've suggested this before. Non standard registration page fields requiring a very specific answer are difficult for bots to crack. I've had a similar thing on my phpBB forum and not had one bot sign up in the 8 months I've been running it.

Personally I'd go for a less obvious one than 2+2. You can actually be very simplistic just saying type into that box. Only the requested word lets you in. It's more than enough to stump them as they can't read what they have to do.

[harry]

This is the most common and most effective way for avoiding unwanted members for getting into your forum. You can also use image varification code method.for avoiding bots to signup your forums

[Dan]

They can get past the CAPCHA and E-VER though so that is the only solution.

[jon123]

I wrote a script a couple years ago for my guestbook that required you to type a certain word in a text field, it worked great for 6 months or so before they 'cracked it'. I also remember guestbook 123 added that feature to their script without success so I am not convinced. Also early phpbb mod used the same process but only worked for a while.

I did write another script that took a sentence, fed it to an array, and randomized one word from it but never 'road tested it' as I started using captcha which i have never had a problem with.

I think best way is captcha and email verification. If they get past that then I assume it must be manually entered spam.....or is it?

[James]

We are also going to try some methods to stop the bots from signing up to the forum.

[Cassie]

I use the "add a word" thing on my phpBB forums and haven't had a bot in quite a while. Before that I was getting at least 2 a day.

On one I require them to add a word which is desplayed on the entry page to the forum from the main website. On the other I ask a simple question that anyone wanting to post on a Knitting Yarn Forum would know the answer to. If they crack it you can change the word or question.

I for one am pretty fed up with coming on here and seeing lots of spammy posts - not your fault Admin or James - but it does lessen the enjoyment or usefulness of forums.

[James]

We have used image verification code.

Hope the spam frequency will reduce now.

[Dan]

Originally Posted by James

We have used image verification code.

Hope the spam frequency will reduce now.

I assure you that they will get past CAPCHA codes. It happened on my forum. The only thing i could do to stop them was create my own random code script.

[James]

Today only we have added the image verification code and let's see how it works or else we will try some other methods.

[Dan]

Originally Posted by James

Today only we have added the image verification code and let's see how it works or else we will try some other methods.

Ah okay, it's just the point of waiting now

[jon123]

Originally Posted by James

Today only we have added the image verification code and let's see how it works or else we will try some other methods.

I would be suprised if it works James. Don't get me wrong I don't want to sound negative but from my time here on this forum I haven't seen a lot of spambots, only human spammers.
But you are right, time will tell. Good luck

[kev woodman]

Yeah we generically call them spambots but they aren't bots really.

[Pumazooma]

I guess it didn't work

[Cassie]

Do these people really think we are going to visit their site - even if I wanted Replica Fashion Whatever I wouldn't click a link from someone who posts in a forum which it is obvioulsy not mean for.

They may look like human spammers but often they are not - not sure how they work - but plenty got through the image verification on our forums. They haven't got through the "ask a question" type yet. If they were human they would.