Spam threads disguised as birding info - Page 2

admin · November 7th, 2009, 06:38 AM

We've set a rule that you need to have posted 5 times before you can have a signature (where most of the spam links appear) as well as post links. We've also made the question you have to answer upon registration harder too. Let's see how we do. Of course, the problem that some forums have had, as a result of these sorts of rules, is that spammers do a lot of "me too" posts to get their 5 posts, so we'll have to keep an eye on it.

MichaelF · November 7th, 2009, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by admin

We've set a rule that you need to have posted 5 times before you can have a signature (where most of the spam links appear) as well as post links. We've also made the question you have to answer upon registration harder too. Let's see how we do. Of course, the problem that some forums have had, as a result of these sorts of rules, is that spammers do a lot of "me too" posts to get their 5 posts, so we'll have to keep an eye on it.

Brilliant, thanks!

admin · November 7th, 2009, 09:03 PM

We are amazed at how much effort they go to. Registering cannot be done by a spambot and takes effort answering a question that requires you to know what the website is about and also confirming your email address. Then these posters have to post a birding related topic to hide their spam. Is the revenue from this really worth their time?

MichaelF · November 7th, 2009, 10:03 PM

I fear for the wages they get paid in Russia, India, China, etc., to post spam, yes. The trick is to get the time/cost of posting spam in excess of the value. If it gets needed, perhaps another option is to go for 5 posts plus 5 days, that should defeat the simpler 'me too' ones.

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November 7th, 2009, 06:38 AM	#11
admin Administrator Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 508	We've set a rule that you need to have posted 5 times before you can have a signature (where most of the spam links appear) as well as post links. We've also made the question you have to answer upon registration harder too. Let's see how we do. Of course, the problem that some forums have had, as a result of these sorts of rules, is that spammers do a lot of "me too" posts to get their 5 posts, so we'll have to keep an eye on it.

November 7th, 2009, 09:03 PM	#13
admin Administrator Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 508	We are amazed at how much effort they go to. Registering cannot be done by a spambot and takes effort answering a question that requires you to know what the website is about and also confirming your email address. Then these posters have to post a birding related topic to hide their spam. Is the revenue from this really worth their time?

November 7th, 2009, 10:03 PM	#14
MichaelF Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 938	I fear for the wages they get paid in Russia, India, China, etc., to post spam, yes. The trick is to get the time/cost of posting spam in excess of the value. If it gets needed, perhaps another option is to go for 5 posts plus 5 days, that should defeat the simpler 'me too' ones.