2000 AD Online Forum

2000 AD => Website and Forum => Topic started by: w3bz on 12 July, 2009, 01:22:35 PM

Title: Spam
Post by: w3bz on 12 July, 2009, 01:22:35 PM
I've limited the amount of personal messages any one person can send per hour to 3. This is to help stop someone signing up and sending out 20 odd as default and hour so we can ban their ass faster.

let me know if any of you run into problems with that limitation.
Title: Re: Spam
Post by: Peter Wolf on 12 July, 2009, 02:00:50 PM
Are they sending personal messages as well as posting spam ?

Never knew that as i have never had any personal messages from Spammers.
Title: Re: Spam
Post by: w3bz on 12 July, 2009, 02:13:25 PM
They are indeed  >:(
Title: Re: Spam
Post by: Dog Deever on 12 July, 2009, 03:25:00 PM
Hey! Not fair- I didn't get a PM from a Russian lesbian pornography site.
>:(
Title: Re: Spam
Post by: Bouwel on 12 July, 2009, 03:37:20 PM
Hey! Not fair- I didn't get a PM from a Russian lesbian pornography site

Give me a minute and I'll send you some..

-Bouwel-
Title: Re: Spam
Post by: Peter Wolf on 12 July, 2009, 03:50:58 PM
I clicked on the link provided by the Porno spammer and opened it in a window to have a look at it out of curiosity and when i wanted to click away from it i found that it was not possible to either click away from it or close the window completely and the only way to get rid of it was to restart the computer which i could only do by using Force/Quit and relaunching .

I got the feeling that it and the spammer was somehow malicious in nature.

Russian Pornography is linked to the criminal Russian mafia.

Avoid.
Title: Re: Spam
Post by: OpusAndBill on 12 July, 2009, 07:05:09 PM
Quote from: peterwolf on 12 July, 2009, 03:50:58 PM
I clicked on the link provided by the Porno spammer and opened it in a window to have a look at it out of curiosity and when i wanted to click away from it i found that it was not possible to either click away from it or close the window completely and the only way to get rid of it was to restart the computer which i could only do by using Force/Quit and relaunching .

I got the feeling that it and the spammer was somehow malicious in nature.

Russian Pornography is linked to the criminal Russian mafia.

Avoid.

Hi Peter, in a worst case scenario you may just have turned your computer into a bot. The function of a lot of the porn sites isn't to get you to buy porn, or even to look at it, it is just to get you to download malacious software.

You do this via clicking on the OK button in the pop-up dialogue box. In some of the really sneaky attacks you download the software by clicking on cancel, or even the X in the top right to close the window. If that has happened in this case, then restarting the computer may well have simply installed the software.

The safest way to get rid of pop-ups like this, I believe, is by using Task Manager.

If I was you I'd run a scan just to be on the safe side. Hope your scan engine is up to date.
Title: Re: Spam
Post by: Peter Wolf on 12 July, 2009, 09:01:43 PM
I am on a Mac that runs on the latest Mac software with all updates so the chances of some third rate Russian [i presume]hacker having the ability to corrupt Mac programming is thankfully minimal.

I dont think i have installed anything untoward because as far as i know the malicious bot or software wasnt able to find its way into my computer because it wasnt formatted to fit Mac software.

I dont doubt what you are saying is correct and the chances are you know more than i do but being on a Mac saved the day here.

I think it proves that my instincts were right though as i have not come across this scenario before.

The red X that is on the top left of my browser became non active when the porn  was opened in the window and thats the first time that has ever happened.

I havent noticed anything untoward since.
Title: Re: Spam
Post by: w3bz on 12 July, 2009, 09:29:24 PM
Hey PW, to be honest it was probably the site messing with ya, rather than your computer this time around. Addtionally, like you said, Mac's suffer less from pointless trojans and the like...sigh, still only got one mouse button though  :P
Title: Re: Spam
Post by: Dog Deever on 14 July, 2009, 12:03:26 AM
Is this a spammer?

http://2000adonline.com/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=50677 (http://2000adonline.com/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=50677)

Odd choice of username...
Title: Re: Spam
Post by: VinceBot on 14 July, 2009, 12:35:26 AM
Looks likely judging by the awful signature and email address, but I can't say they've posted yet. I still need to get an anti-spam mod sorted out.
Title: Re: Spam
Post by: w3bz on 14 July, 2009, 11:50:47 AM
Yeah not exactly as if we can add a mod to ban anyone with a silly username now can we  :P
Title: Re: Spam
Post by: Dog Deever on 14 July, 2009, 12:34:22 PM
Fuck, yes!
Title: Re: Spam
Post by: VinceBot on 14 July, 2009, 04:54:04 PM
Funny, when you crack open the users table of the database its suddenly really easy to tell who is and who isn't an advertising bot...

Tip: [spoiler]They're all bots apart from the ones that didn't enter details.[/spoiler]
Title: Re: Spam
Post by: Martin Jameson on 14 July, 2009, 04:58:13 PM
heh that looks my history
Title: Re: Spam
Post by: Trout on 14 July, 2009, 05:14:13 PM
"to have a look at it out of curiosity"

Perv! Busted!

;D

- Trout
Title: Re: Spam
Post by: Peter Wolf on 14 July, 2009, 08:05:37 PM
Quote from: King Trout on 14 July, 2009, 05:14:13 PM
"to have a look at it out of curiosity"

Perv! Busted!

;D

- Trout

Please dont tell my mum ....

I wouldnt normally do that kind of thing and i felt corrupted after looking at it.
Title: Re: Spam
Post by: Peter Wolf on 14 July, 2009, 09:01:09 PM
Quote from: VinceBot on 14 July, 2009, 04:54:04 PM
Funny, when you crack open the users table of the database its suddenly really easy to tell who is and who isn't an advertising bot...

Tip: [spoiler]They're all bots apart from the ones that didn't enter details.[/spoiler]

That looked interesting...


I wonder what the Spammer from Kyrgyzstan was selling.

Riding gear and Tack for Donkeys ?

Cheap Viagra from Moscow doesnt sound very tempting nor does another that is selling prescription pharmaceutical drugs.
Title: Re: Spam
Post by: VinceBot on 15 July, 2009, 03:13:24 PM
I've added an account blacklist check for new signups now, but if this actually works or not is anyones guess. Please report any spam you come across.

Note to moderators: Due to the account purge, expect spammer account IDs to be around the 50,000 mark.
Title: Re: Spam
Post by: VinceBot on 18 July, 2009, 08:25:47 PM
Good news, while there have been a bunch of suspicious member sign-ups its nothing compared to the number we were getting. Also if they are bots then they haven't figured out how to post yet.
Title: Re: Spam
Post by: Kerrin on 18 July, 2009, 08:37:23 PM
Fingers crossed, touch wood and all that, the spam situation seems to have shown a remarkable improvement, not wanting to tempt fate etc.

Nice one Vince.
Title: Re: Spam
Post by: Mike Gloady on 03 August, 2009, 08:04:02 AM
http://2000adonline.com/forum/index.php/topic,25725.msg443047/topicseen.html#new
http://2000adonline.com/forum/index.php/topic,25724.msg443047/topicseen.html#new

Spam or misplaced gibber about telly box-sets, you decide.
Title: Re: Spam
Post by: VinceBot on 03 August, 2009, 08:38:30 AM
Looks like spam, only two posts using the same formatting and absolutely no content or attempt to become a community member. Banned and posts deleted.

Thanks for the heads up.
Title: Re: Spam
Post by: Mike Gloady on 03 August, 2009, 11:29:31 AM
Thanks for the swift action ViNcebot.  So efficient I made sure I didn't call you "Vicebot" this time.
Title: Re: Spam
Post by: Kerrin on 10 August, 2009, 07:29:54 PM
I've been trying to report a spammer and keep getting told the database has fallen over. It's wonderful to see everyone welcome him so warmly but if you look at the posts Jetamplyer has made it's fairly obvious. Quite clever to post a generic message in the welcome thread first though.
Title: Re: Spam
Post by: Mike Gloady on 10 August, 2009, 07:38:52 PM
It DOES seem a rather generic "hey guys" message, and a tad Americentric too (which wouldn't show up as odd anywhere else on the web, but here I think we're probably mostly European - or at least European enough to not think liking Basketball is normal at any rate).

I think he's genuine, Kerrin, although obviously I can't be sure.  His signature is the thing that makes me wonder......
Title: Re: Spam
Post by: Jim_Campbell on 10 August, 2009, 07:44:35 PM
Quote from: mikegloady on 10 August, 2009, 07:38:52 PM
  His signature is the thing that makes me wonder......

Nah -- second post was generic, too. Reported as spam.

Cheers

Jim
Title: Re: Spam
Post by: Mike Gloady on 10 August, 2009, 07:46:28 PM
Well played Mr Campbell.
Title: Re: Spam
Post by: Kerrin on 10 August, 2009, 07:51:33 PM
Nice one Jim, I couldn't get the report thing to work for some reason, just kept getting the same "database knackered" message.
Title: Re: Spam
Post by: Dandontdare on 10 August, 2009, 09:49:53 PM
Quote from: Kerrin on 10 August, 2009, 07:51:33 PM
Nice one Jim, I couldn't get the report thing to work for some reason, just kept getting the same "database knackered" message.
oops, just posted this same thing on the "bugs and problems" thread, hadn't spotted this one. I am surprised how many people reply to the spam threads in the welcome topic without apparently reading them though!
Title: Re: Spam
Post by: Gavin_Leahy_Block on 10 August, 2009, 10:45:37 PM
Sometimes we can be a bit too friendly for our own good.
Title: Re: Spam
Post by: VinceBot on 11 August, 2009, 08:45:02 AM
Thanks guys, I've removed his posts and enacted a ban.

Like you guys I though maybe he was a legitimate user and runs the site he was linking, but after googling his second message I got results word-for-word from at least two other forums, so, banned.

Good to see you all being friendly though, last thing we want is people jumping on those with links in their first posts/sigs due to suspected spam.

As for the report button, I'll be taking a look and figure out why some of you aren't able to report while others are. Probably some permissions hangover from PhpBB.
Title: Re: Spam
Post by: The Legendary Shark on 11 August, 2009, 10:56:11 AM
Who would want to buy "cheap brand viagra" from Moscow? That's just asking for trouble...

*makes a note of the address*
Title: Re: Spam
Post by: Kerrin on 17 August, 2009, 07:28:17 AM
I still can't report spam such as that posted by urs289 in the welcome thread, keep getting an error report.
Title: Re: Spam
Post by: Jim_Campbell on 17 August, 2009, 07:39:49 AM
Quote from: Kerrin on 17 August, 2009, 07:28:17 AM
I still can't report spam such as that posted by urs289 in the welcome thread, keep getting an error report.

Fear not ... For, wherever SpamBots lurk, there shall you find me also!*

Cheers

Jim

*Translation = "Reported."
Title: Re: Spam
Post by: VinceBot on 17 August, 2009, 08:51:02 AM
Thanks guys, removed and banned, again. At least they're manual signups.

Kerrin, I still haven't been able to figure out whats up with your reports.. please post again next time it happens so I can see if theres any similarities with this instance.
Title: Re: Spam
Post by: VinceBot on 26 August, 2009, 12:33:22 PM
I've unbanned a few IPs incase these are tripping up legitimate visitors.
I've still got these previously banned IPs logged, so if we get any reoffenders then I'll perma-ban the IP and be done with it.