Lets help Ahmad look after our new forum

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KSan
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Lets help Ahmad look after our new forum

Post by KSan » 2013-01-29 08:06

This forum is a huge improvement over the LI option and I sure hope it is here to stay and grows over time.

Call for help here. I have been administrating a few forums for a while and have seen a lot of bad behavior over time. I'm sure others have similar experiences as well. Take a look at the Members list and you'll spot one concern of mine. Sleeper member accounts created by people with questionable intentions or bots. Website field pointing to sites with no reason to be here. Basic link building activity. Darkhat SEO 101 happening already. 102 is when forum spam from these sleeper account start. Lets all chip in and keep this at bay.

Let me roll the dice... I put the following 'members' on the spot. If I'm wrong about you I apologize. Just post here sensibly and let us know how you are involved with AppGini and we'll move on. If not consider this notice of eviction... Ahmad, over to you!

Cretguerm
Wougsdugs
PayoxiaPauppy
cipro
Wriseerhafe
bypeoptobby
Seerengiguemi
Aborryfloomma
parket
oceamnbrompep
Jousoriememex
Freptorce
Cryncchurne
Saxinancesina
venprence
addictinige
FumeSeerobe
IcecebemgoK
reiquezig
Houffipdurf
Diediaensueks
Bliguetle
eldenifyimmeK
ToohydrokyMuh
Urgecteta
bradcaduari
Bevevandept
ponviptiota
lellistUlcest
promolord
ExhinnaPioria
Accegitle
AboroAbnopync
sixTauspism
cheapbydre
lonanser
IceseGade
Cilespeanna
eshfmfzch
speessocasing
BespewHeits
ItagePellFege
reanypornomia
fluirtyundify
aginydyenly
Illusypesew
peemiundedE
Actippete
Owpqzlus
VelabrergeNed
Afforpfuh
Mendumdrinumb
stealiali
FiehookVobe
Erapskarp
pletcherdyu
ConorVE

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shasta59
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Re: Lets help Ahmad look after our new forum

Post by shasta59 » 2013-01-30 01:59

I have to agree. A lot of those names look, how to put this nicely, suspicious.

Also, I am wondering if it is possible for those who use a tip/solution/etc from this forum post a response to the topic that it worked for them. Just to let those who posted the tip etc know their efforts were not in vain in posting a solution or tip. Also, if it does not work for someone that would also be great to know. The tips I post do work for me and are tested before posting but individual situations may be different and as such the code/tip/solution may need to be refined to be more universal.

Also, if you took a posting, used it but modified it to work a bit differently that would also be great to know.

Thanks

Alan
Calgary, Alberta, Canada - Using Appgini 5.50 -

KSan
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Re: Lets help Ahmad look after our new forum

Post by KSan » 2013-01-30 04:53

shasta59 wrote:I have to agree. A lot of those names look, how to put this nicely, suspicious.
These are the names in member list with a website listed and often pointing towards a totally unrelated promotional site. ie Cipro sales, dating sites etc. Typical spammer playbook. Wait for 2nd phase... We need to weed them out.

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Re: Lets help Ahmad look after our new forum

Post by Tekno Venus » 2013-01-30 18:04

As a forum admin (Sysnative Forums -- http://www.sysnative.com) I thought I would chime in here.

Spam is a major issue for any forum, and the measures to prevent it need to be in place BEFORE the spam wave hits. There are systems to do this automatically so save you work as an admin. Whilst I don't use or admin any PHPBB forum, I have used the admin area and tried installing plugins.

The best anti-spam resource is StopForumSpam (SFS), found here: http://www.stopforumspam.com/search. This is a HUGE database of known spammer usernames, IP's, emails and more. There are plugins for forums that incorporate the SFS database at registration level. The PHPBB plugin is found here: http://www.lithiumstudios.org/forum/vie ... f=31&t=941
Current Features:
Akismet Integration
One Click Ban
Stop Forum Spam Integration
Spam word catcher (like word censor, except makes posts by authors with less than X posts need approval if the post contains any of the words in the list)
Disabling of certain profile fields until X number of posts (or require or always disable)
User Flag (Allows you to flag a user (and unflag after they've been flagged). Once flagged, actions performed by that user to their profile, or editing of posts, or adding posts gets listed on a log in the ACP.)
Spam Log
IP Search

All together, it has the power to completely stop phpBB3 spam.
I would HIGHLY recommend that Ahmad installs this plugin ASAP and sets it up. It will prevent a great deal of spam. We have a similar mod installed at Sysnative and it is effective, look at the stats:
9786 Spammers Denied Registration
10 Spammers Permanently Banned
16 Spammers submitted to StopForumSpam
16 Spammers submitted to Akismet
117 Spammy Posts Automatically Moderated
It shouldn't be too hard to install here, considering Ahamd obviously knows PHP! :)
Stephen Foulds

Admin, Sysnative Forums -- Sysnative Forums

KSan
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Re: Lets help Ahmad look after our new forum

Post by KSan » 2013-01-31 07:36

Great post TeknoVenus. I used StopForumSpam with great success on SMF. Also worth checking is https://www.projecthoneypot.org/ and related forum addons.

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a.gneady
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Re: Lets help Ahmad look after our new forum

Post by a.gneady » 2013-02-01 15:51

Thank you for the suggestions. The spam fighting suggestions sound great ... I'll give the StopForumSpam plugin a try.

Actually, the reason why a spam wave didn't hit the forum by the members mentioned in KSan's post is that the first post for every member must be approved manually before that member could post again ... I disapprove on average about 15-20 posts per day .. they are easy to figure out just from the post title so they take just 1-2 minutes ... This is very effective in preventing spam. However, I realize that as the forum grows more popular the spam posts would jump to 3-digit or even 4-digit numbers per day ... So, I guess the above tools will become really handy to fight spam. Thank you :)
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KSan
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Re: Lets help Ahmad look after our new forum

Post by KSan » 2013-02-01 22:43

Ahmad, great to hear you have things under control through the "first post needing approval" option. This will definitely get more time consuming in due course so looking at a preventive plugin will help you greatly. The other issue is that they are using your forum to create links to whatever they are promoting. This is not good so not letting these users get onboard in the first place using the plugin will be very good. Let us know if we can help in any way.

Johnk
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Re: Lets help Ahmad look after our new forum

Post by Johnk » 2013-02-02 05:23

If you're very busy Ahmad, Please consider a Moderator.

I'm not sure what you do when the first post is a dud, but in my forums I deleted the account as well. Some posters are cunning and post something like: "What a great suggestion Ahmad. I'll try that." These sorts of posts are just forum hogging and should be deleted anyway.

Tekno Venus
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Re: Lets help Ahmad look after our new forum

Post by Tekno Venus » 2013-02-02 14:57

a.gneady wrote:Thank you for the suggestions. The spam fighting suggestions sound great ... I'll give the StopForumSpam plugin a try.

Actually, the reason why a spam wave didn't hit the forum by the members mentioned in KSan's post is that the first post for every member must be approved manually before that member could post again ... I disapprove on average about 15-20 posts per day .. they are easy to figure out just from the post title so they take just 1-2 minutes ... This is very effective in preventing spam. However, I realize that as the forum grows more popular the spam posts would jump to 3-digit or even 4-digit numbers per day ... So, I guess the above tools will become really handy to fight spam. Thank you :)
Not a problem, SFS is very useful and powerful.

Loads more plug-ins are available for PHPBB here --> https://www.phpbb.com/customise/db/modifications-1/. It's worth looking around there

If you are busy, it might be worth promoting someone here, or someone else you know, to be a moderator or admin so they can help you with day to day running of the forum.
Stephen Foulds

Admin, Sysnative Forums -- Sysnative Forums

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a.gneady
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Re: Lets help Ahmad look after our new forum

Post by a.gneady » 2013-02-07 11:46

Thank you all for the tips and suggestions ... If someone would like to contribute a few minutes per day for moderation, that would be awesome ... If so please let me know. Meanwhile, I'll install StopForumSpam this weekend as well.
:idea: AppGini plugins to add more power to your apps:
  • DataTalk is an innovative AppGini plugin based on ChatGPT that allows you to interact with your AppGini database using natural language questions, without writing any SQL. Check the demo video
  • Mass Update plugin: Update multiple records at once and improve your workflow efficiency.
  • Check our other plugins and get a generous discount of up to 30% when buying 2 or more plugins.

Johnk
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Re: Lets help Ahmad look after our new forum

Post by Johnk » 2013-02-08 07:36

I have several years froum experience and currently read every new post. Happy to help unless someone feels more experienced or passionate.

John

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Reimar
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Re: Lets help Ahmad look after our new forum

Post by Reimar » 2013-02-09 16:57

First and one of the easiest would be to implement a Bad Word Filter.

We using that on SlateDroid for to get rid of Spammers and Spambots before they even could get public. With now more than 170,000 members, we still having an very clean forum with a lot activities and still quiet! There hardly is any accusing or insulting on the board. I'm Global Mod with Admin privileges there for now 2 years and the Forum is just a few month older!!

One thing every member should use soon he see something which didn't complies with the Forum Rules, the written and the hidden rules, is the use of the Report Button which is located on the left site of the Quote button.
Have a nice day and best wishes from LoS (Land of Smile)

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