Spambots, spambots everywhere

[Zero!]

On one of my semi-yearly checks of this old place, I can't help but notice that it's been overrun by many accounts with gibberish names, posting things in a few boards that range from sort of making sense to just kind of being gibberish. Is there no one even left to clean up bots anymore? If PPT is truly at it's end, it should go honorably instead of being slowly buried in spammy garbage (but not before we say final goodbyes and share our Twitters and Tumblrs or whatever the kids are into these days). It just makes me a little bit sad.

[Jelani]

You think the forums have it bad.

Neodex deletion log

xx

[Siniri]

Blue stops by and cleans it up fairly regularly, but the spambots are multiplying. Adding some kind of confirmation for new members might make it a lot easier for the mods, but I think an admin would have to do that, and I haven't seen one of those on the boards in forever.

But there were a whole 4 of us participating in the GMC thread, so it's not all dead, just mostly dead. And when something's mostly dead, there's still hope. But it'll take a miracle. (And if you rush a miracleman, you get a lousy miracle.)

[Blue]

Both Combusken and I are cleaning up the spam on a nearly daily basis. You just happened to stop by on a uniquely bad day. Somebody in China got a new toy that allowed them to generate random names and post a spamload of junk. Each of their spams had exactly the same body. Their IP was banned, but it took a bit of time to clean up the posts because each post has a unique username. Kym was contacted about a stronger challenge for new sign-ups, but nothing yet.

[Siniri]

Thanks, Blue and Combusken, for all your hard work! Does it make it easier if someone reports them, or will you just see them anyway? I usually only report one and figure you guys will see the rest.

[Blue]

Feel free to continue reporting the spam posts. The reports make them jump out for us on the forums.

Thanks for the help

[Jacob]

But there were a whole 4 of us participating in the GMC thread, so it's not all dead, just mostly dead. And when something's mostly dead, there's still hope. But it'll take a miracle. (And if you rush a miracleman, you get a lousy miracle.)

You have won all my kudos for The Princess Bride reference. Take them! NOW!!!

[domo_hello_kitty]

Could we implement something where someone has to approve a new user, like at WGF? Or are there too many people joining all the time?

[Blue]

Could we implement something where someone has to approve a new user, like at WGF? Or are there too many people joining all the time?

Too many people joining. Not enough admins.

[Zero!]

Ah, it's cool that you guys are cleaning it up - I'll be sure to report any I see from now on to help y'all out.

[Siniri]

It seems like lately, whenever I go to report a post, someone else already has. Good teamwork, guys!