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- Thread starter JHC
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Hi Colin,
Yes ... it is for that reason. Once we get the new version of vBulletin installed, we will have much better controls against spammers and will then be able to re-open profile changes to our faithful members.
I've sent you a PM on how we can accomplish this for you in the meantime.
Yes ... it is for that reason. Once we get the new version of vBulletin installed, we will have much better controls against spammers and will then be able to re-open profile changes to our faithful members.
I've sent you a PM on how we can accomplish this for you in the meantime.
JHC
Chief assistant to the assistant chief
Thanks Lars, I thought a pic of me in my one piece swim suit could have been offensive, so was not allowed, while I am in this intellectual mood a better selection of smileys wouldn't be amiss 
Can I ask if this "vBulletin" program is expensive?? I ask because some good forums run such crappy programs
Can I ask if this "vBulletin" program is expensive?? I ask because some good forums run such crappy programs
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Welcome, Colin :tiphat:
I think the cost for the vBulletin licensing is inexpensive compared to the bulk of other costs:
Frederik pays for all the operating costs for the two forums out of his own pocket. There is no profit gained from operating the two forums.
Oh, in case anyone was wondering, the forum staff are all voluntary positions.
I think the cost for the vBulletin licensing is inexpensive compared to the bulk of other costs:
- site licensing
- domain licensing (.dk, .com)
- a web hosting service
- server lease/purchase (both forums are on the same server)
- server maintenance agreement(s)
- add-ons that enhance forum features
- vBSO licensing
Frederik pays for all the operating costs for the two forums out of his own pocket. There is no profit gained from operating the two forums.
Oh, in case anyone was wondering, the forum staff are all voluntary positions.
Actually, those do, Bill.
But then the pages start to get very messy ... not to mention all the pop-ups that annoy everyone one other sites.
JHC
Chief assistant to the assistant chief
Lars, one thing I don't understand is why spammers would target our profiles?? surly they can only read them, they can,t make changes. they can leave messages but it is up to us as individuals to read or delete. Plus this approach would be very time consuming for them, much easier to make postings on threads which will remain until you remove them, so why our profiles? I have never seen a sign of spam on my profile page or any one elses for that matter so what are they actually doing?
Colin,
The spammers cannot target other members profiles ... what they were doing, after learning that we immediately ban for making spam postings, was to register, and then fill every nook and cranny of their own profile with spam links and such in hopes of circumventing the rules.
Robin and I were manually checking each and every new registration for spam within their own profiles ... and each field that contained spam, must be edited out/removed one at a time within that profile ... take that times 75 to 125 registrations daily, multiplied over two forums (MIMF & TC) and, well, it was becoming a very time intensive project for the forum staff.
We decided to temporarily turn off access to the profiles, and then required all new registrations to be approved manually. Robin or I have to "approve" each and every new registration, and we check IP's and eMails against an international site, StopForumSpam, and on this SpamBotSearch. We can also check for Blacklisted IP's if need be. As admins, we have "API" keys for entering data for any new found spammers on the Stop Forum Spam site ... I myself have added hundreds of IP/eMail addresses to that international list this year alone. Totaled, we have banned a few thousand spammers since January 1st this year ... this is all done transparent to the public side of the forum and keeps this forum mostly clear of spam.
We also have a "spam bot" that constantly peruses this entire site looking for spam postings (commercial links, etc). When it catches any, it places that post/thread directly into Moderation Queue, which removes it from view and off the public boards, but is quite visible to any forum staff member, at which point Frederik, Robin or myself can immediately deal with it and obliterate the spammer.
So, any spammers reading this post, know this: and heed our warning ... SPAMMERS: if your eMail or IP are on anyone of those lists, your account will either be banned or deleted without any notice or warnings. Rather pointless for spammers to even try registering ... :grin:
Every day of the week, we have been adding a plethora of IP addresses and eMail addresses to the 'blocked list'. When someone tries to register using a blocked IP or eMail, they are denied permission to join this forum (and our sister forum, Talk Classical) as the blocked lists for both forums is identical.
Eventually, the word will get out to these cretins ... these losers ... that this forum does not tolerate this kind of activity and they will go somewhere else ... many have already done just that.
Spam (the un-edible kind) turns my stomach ... now, fried spam (the real thing) is delightful on bread with melted cheese over the top. Yummy!!
The spammers cannot target other members profiles ... what they were doing, after learning that we immediately ban for making spam postings, was to register, and then fill every nook and cranny of their own profile with spam links and such in hopes of circumventing the rules.
Robin and I were manually checking each and every new registration for spam within their own profiles ... and each field that contained spam, must be edited out/removed one at a time within that profile ... take that times 75 to 125 registrations daily, multiplied over two forums (MIMF & TC) and, well, it was becoming a very time intensive project for the forum staff.
We decided to temporarily turn off access to the profiles, and then required all new registrations to be approved manually. Robin or I have to "approve" each and every new registration, and we check IP's and eMails against an international site, StopForumSpam, and on this SpamBotSearch. We can also check for Blacklisted IP's if need be. As admins, we have "API" keys for entering data for any new found spammers on the Stop Forum Spam site ... I myself have added hundreds of IP/eMail addresses to that international list this year alone. Totaled, we have banned a few thousand spammers since January 1st this year ... this is all done transparent to the public side of the forum and keeps this forum mostly clear of spam.
We also have a "spam bot" that constantly peruses this entire site looking for spam postings (commercial links, etc). When it catches any, it places that post/thread directly into Moderation Queue, which removes it from view and off the public boards, but is quite visible to any forum staff member, at which point Frederik, Robin or myself can immediately deal with it and obliterate the spammer.
So, any spammers reading this post, know this: and heed our warning ... SPAMMERS: if your eMail or IP are on anyone of those lists, your account will either be banned or deleted without any notice or warnings. Rather pointless for spammers to even try registering
... :grin:Every day of the week, we have been adding a plethora of IP addresses and eMail addresses to the 'blocked list'. When someone tries to register using a blocked IP or eMail, they are denied permission to join this forum (and our sister forum, Talk Classical) as the blocked lists for both forums is identical.
Eventually, the word will get out to these cretins ... these losers ... that this forum does not tolerate this kind of activity and they will go somewhere else ... many have already done just that.
Spam (the un-edible kind) turns my stomach ... now, fried spam (the real thing) is delightful on bread with melted cheese over the top. Yummy!!
Colin,
I know you weren't being critical ... I may have gone a bit overboard on my post above ... I loathe spammers, spamming and spam (the non-edible kind) that much.
Frederik also has a zero tolerance for spam, which is why our members see little, if any, spam crap. Once in a while, they sneak in between the cracks, but if Akismet (our spam bot) doesn't catch them, we will, soon enough.
That's what we had to edit out of spammers profiles ... so that when someone searched internally for their profile they saw absolutely nothing. We also have to be concerned about external searches ... there are many "spiders" and "data bots" who peruse our pages and its member lists thousands of times each day ... if the spammer has promotional url's in their profile, then they [the spammer] has accomplished its task having gotten free exposure and thus, free advertising, at our expense and using our resources (time and server space) for their own personal financial gain.
Hope that explains it better for you.
I know you weren't being critical ... I may have gone a bit overboard on my post above ... I loathe spammers, spamming and spam (the non-edible kind) that much.
Frederik also has a zero tolerance for spam, which is why our members see little, if any, spam crap. Once in a while, they sneak in between the cracks, but if Akismet (our spam bot) doesn't catch them, we will, soon enough.
That's what we had to edit out of spammers profiles ... so that when someone searched internally for their profile they saw absolutely nothing. We also have to be concerned about external searches ... there are many "spiders" and "data bots" who peruse our pages and its member lists thousands of times each day ... if the spammer has promotional url's in their profile, then they [the spammer] has accomplished its task having gotten free exposure and thus, free advertising, at our expense and using our resources (time and server space) for their own personal financial gain.
Hope that explains it better for you.
Alban Berg
Banned
Maybe I will be considered a spammer or a communist because I like Russian opera?
LOL
Martin
LOL
Martin
White Knight
Spectral Warrior con passion
I wouldn't lose any sleep over it, you know?
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White Knight
Spectral Warrior con passion
Yeah, really Teddy. I've been a huge John Cleese/Monthy Python fan for years and do enjoy the occasional bit of Russian Opera as well. But then again, I've been called a socialist{or worse} in my day, so I don't know anymore what to think of all this kerfuffle.
Contratrombone64
Admiral of Fugues
Kerfuffle and shenanigans can only mean risibility, eh?
White Knight
Spectral Warrior con passion
Absolutely CT, absolutely.