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solved Spam Spam Spam Spam!

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Dazed
Dazed
@dazed
6 years ago
1,022 posts
Monty Python anyone? Anyway this has been a thorn in my side lately and getting a little tired of it so I thought I would see if anyone has come up with a better way to prevent this?

Issue: Numerous profile accounts created daily for Limousine Companies, Marijuana Dispensers etc. These accounts get created with their Bio updated with links to their sites. Periodically they blog.

Preventative Measures Taken:
1. Akismet setup but since this is on the Bio, nothing is done
2. I banned all of India in my .htaccess (this eliminated a lot. Pakistan and Hong Kong are next)
3. Create a plethora of banned email addresses, ip's, user names etc.

Suggestions on how to combat?
updated by @dazed: 06/04/18 03:58:57PM
Strumelia
Strumelia
@strumelia
6 years ago
3,603 posts
My two cents: Add two or three sign up questions that might require a spammer to look up something online to answer... but that legit members might know and answer pretty easily. Then set it so new members need to be approved by you (admin). It only takes me a minute or two per day to look over and approve pending members. You'll see their answers to your questions before they get approved/activated.


--
...just another satisfied Jamroom customer.
Migrated from Ning to Jamroom June 2015
brian
@brian
6 years ago
10,148 posts
Anytime you allow users to add content your site that they are 100% in control of (say the Profile Bio) then you're going to get spammers. Make sure you're using the Spam Blocker module with "new user probation" enabled.


--
Brian Johnson
Founder and Lead Developer - Jamroom
https://www.jamroom.net
Dazed
Dazed
@dazed
6 years ago
1,022 posts
Thanks Strumelia and Brian. I have akismet enabled but that is not setup for the Bio so it has no effect. Brian I think you looked at it awhile ago and determined it was a rather large undertaking to code so you passed on it.

Also the "strip html" option I had enabled for awhile but it was killing valid url links to their band page or social media links. Does that just mask the data and I can approve the content or once it is masked it is toast?
michael
@michael
6 years ago
7,715 posts
What do you imagine the solution would look like? (I don't know the solution for spam)
Dazed
Dazed
@dazed
6 years ago
1,022 posts
Hey Micheal - a few ideas.

1. Integrate akismet with bio and all other profile areas. If it isn’t not looking in the right areas, it only offers a little ability not a full scale solution.

2. In the block ip area setup the ability to block ip ranges or even countries. I blocked India but I may add others soon.

3. Strumelia’s post about adding additional questions may be helpful. Most of the signups are actual users though so music questions might be a viable solution.

Anyone else have suggestions?
michael
@michael
6 years ago
7,715 posts
#2 already exists. You can block ranges. (pretty sure, from memory)
Dazed
Dazed
@dazed
6 years ago
1,022 posts
I blocked ranges from the .htaccess file but I did not think it worked from the ban area. I could be wrong though.
michael
@michael
6 years ago
7,715 posts
jrBanned module is the one you're after
banned.jpg
banned.jpg  •  301KB

Dazed
Dazed
@dazed
6 years ago
1,022 posts
Ok will grab that. Look out Pakistan, you are next!
brian
@brian
6 years ago
10,148 posts
Just an update that a couple weeks ago I finally got around to updating the Spam Blocker module so it's much easier for other modules to integrate into it's spam checking features. Since the profile bio is such a common target for spammers we'll get the profile module updated to check that field. This is something that was on my list for a very long time and it finally got done :)


--
Brian Johnson
Founder and Lead Developer - Jamroom
https://www.jamroom.net
updated by @brian: 02/26/18 07:07:11AM
Dazed
Dazed
@dazed
6 years ago
1,022 posts
Nice work Brian!

For now I set it to admin. Approval on signup which will help. Already killed a few but as they catch on to this, I am sure the names will become generic so it will be difficult to weed out spam accounts. The updates to bio will be extremely useful.
brian
@brian
6 years ago
10,148 posts
This should be supported now in the latest Profile and Spam Blocker module updates - update and let me know if that works better.

Thanks!


--
Brian Johnson
Founder and Lead Developer - Jamroom
https://www.jamroom.net