It's really getting bad here now with all the spam bots attacking here.

I think what we should do here (that is if this out dated forum software can do it) is make all new users unable to post links until they reach 10 posts or more.

I have seen other forums do it so why not here also?

If the forum software can not do it than I think it's time to update your forum software.

It's gotten to the point that if I see too many spams, I just go to the next forum and come back here later.

Only problem is, I know I will miss some new posts or miss a reply that is directed to me.

There is even a simpler solution. It would have to be done by Chad. As I think he's the only admin. here. He would have to change new user accounts to be activated by the admin(s), not by the users. Problem is, he'd have to check every user (I don't know how often he is here) to see if they're a bot or not. Even if they're bots, they wouldn't be able to post because there accounts aren't active.

That's how its done on GBHQ and the GBI forums. It works well, we know because of similar attacks here.

My opinion is Chad should appoint a couple more admins and they along with him (no matter how often he's here) could activate accounts or mostly delete users because they're bots.

I know it would take a lot of time, with some more admins here, every account could be checked here. Part of the problem is mods can only delete posts, they might not be able to ban IP and email addresses. So the same types of bots come back. An admin could take care of it all.

Yeah, the tech forums I'm on use that technique, and so does the one I'm setting up,once I get some more mods… it's a really effective way to do bot checks. You could also require admin validation, and before activation, send an email to the user with a picture with 4 numbers in. The user has to reply to the email saying what the numbers are, then the account gets active. I suggest that because last time I checked, bots wernt advanced enough to check imaes for characters. It would be harder for them if it had text/numbers in the background as well.

Like Spengs said, it's a good system, one we use on GBI and GBHQ. It isn't perfect, though–I've deleted a person or two that I thought were spambots and they show up here as a real poster. That's why I ask new signups at GBHQ to put in there sig line “Dear Fritz I promise I'm not a spambot” or something like that :-)

Weren't a few other guys like Zack and TexasGB Admins, but Chad had disabled some of their Administration powers? That's how I remember it when I was Mod here.

ghostbusterben
You could also require admin validation, and before activation, send an email to the user with a picture with 4 numbers in. The user has to reply to the email saying what the numbers are, then the account gets active. I suggest that because last time I checked, bots wernt advanced enough to check imaes for characters. It would be harder for them if it had text/numbers in the background as well.

Having that sort of thing on the registration page might work best, as some ISPs strip attachments.

My god, now I see what you mean. A bot is spamming the entire board as we speak. He's posted in every section.

Welcome to what the site looks like when there are no mods around.