Ad Postings in Our Forums

Eric · #1 12-01-2006, 05:03 PM

This is really getting stupid and pretty bad now that we have porn being posted on our forums. I guess guests are able to post without registering or something, but I guess its time to disable that and force them to register meaning they would have to go through some security measures like the image verification.

Pitrow · #2 12-01-2006, 05:43 PM

It doesn't help. On my forums they still get through the Image verification and post spam. The only 100% method is to have the admins verify each user before they're able to post at all, and that kind of defeats the purpose of the pre-sales forums.

twisty · #3 12-01-2006, 06:26 PM

I run a messageboard myself and the spammers use automated scripts which perpetually cycle through fresh anonymous proxy IP's (so banning IP's is entirely useless against them).

The scripts are also designed to register users (even with captcha systems in place - they're quite sophisticated).

What I had to do was hack/customize my own messageboard registration script in order to "break" theirs, since they rely on default behaviour in order to function.

Needless to say, allowing unregistered guests to post is just crazy nowadays. It's tricky keeping them at bay even when allowing registered only

esl · #4 12-01-2006, 08:47 PM

I don't think it would be the best idea to make users sign up to post on the Pre-Sales board as it may be a frustration to the new client, but I don't think it would be a bad idea to allow only text posts, no links or images, if possible. I think that would help keep some of the spam away.

#5 12-01-2006, 09:29 PM

We're working on a way to cut down on all the spam. But until then, please use the http://forums.hostgator.com/images/h...ons/report.gif icon to report the posts. We usually get to those pretty quickly.

Eric · #6 12-01-2006, 10:02 PM

I hear you all. I've been having this happen on my board too... amazes me how they're able to get the image verification correct.

esl · #7 12-02-2006, 09:11 AM

Well, I don't like to open spam messages, a waste of my time as far as I am concerned. I just tell live support and let them deal with it.

esl · #8 12-02-2006, 06:33 PM

Okay, maybe it would be a good idea to make everyone sign up before they post. I have seen ALOT of spam posted here within the past few hours.

gwyneth · #9 12-03-2006, 01:37 AM

At least in the HG announcements and network status, maybe restrict thread starting.

esl · #10 12-03-2006, 09:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gwyneth

At least in the HG announcements and network status, maybe restrict thread starting.

Yes, I think that would be a good idea.

gwyneth · #11 12-04-2006, 05:13 PM

Within the last hour or so, a really persistent one has been resurrecting old threads, so if a real-time human is doing it, that won't work, either.