Spam Attack

Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP) · #1 02-02-08, 14:28

Bear with me here, people... we have had at least 50 attempts at entry into the MLU Forum by overt spammers in the last three days alone, with a dozen more last night while I slept. I'm going to leave their IDs up for a while in the hopes that they'll realise that they can't post without being approved and that they're not going to get approved.

What you have to do is ensure you do NOT click on ANY of the links found in their profiles, because the source of those links can be traced back to us, which will encourage them to redouble their efforts.

In the interim, this morning I'm going to start the ball rolling about upgrading this operation to hopefully eradicate them semi-permanently. So far we've been lucky in that they can't get here, but sooner or later someone is going to figure it out and find a way. We need to be even more secure than we are now, by then.

Rest assured we ARE aware of which "new member" is a spammer and which is not, regardless of name, and you needn't click on their filth to verify and give me a heads up, ok? If in doubt, ignore them or question me directly before following their links.

Thanks for your understanding and assistance in these trying times! We'll get the bastards yet!

Geoff

Alex Blair (RIP) · #2 02-02-08, 15:11

Quote:

Originally posted by Geoff Winnington-Ball
Bear with me here, people... we have had at least 50 attempts at entry into the MLU Forum by overt spammers in the last three days alone, with a dozen more last night while I slept. I'm going to leave their IDs up for a while in the hopes that they'll realise that they can't post without being approved and that they're not going to get approved.

What you have to do is ensure you do NOT click on ANY of the links found in their profiles, because the source of those links can be traced back to us, which will encourage them to redouble their efforts.

In the interim, this morning I'm going to start the ball rolling about upgrading this operation to hopefully eradicate them semi-permanently. So far we've been lucky in that they can't get here, but sooner or later someone is going to figure it out and find a way. We need to be even more secure than we are now, by then.

Rest assured we ARE aware of which "new member" is a spammer and which is not, regardless of name, and you needn't click on their filth to verify and give me a heads up, ok? If in doubt, ignore them or question me directly before following their links.

Thanks for your understanding and assistance in these trying times! We'll get the bastards yet!

Geoff

Jif..
Is there anyway to reverse engineer those low life by sending THEM a drippy oldstyle dose of the clap...???
That'id larn 'em..!!
Batman Al

Keith Webb · #3 02-02-08, 16:25

I killed a couple off yesterday - I can see one sitting there now which I'll ignore. The forum was unavailable for a time too.

Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP) · #4 17-06-08, 00:50

Just to let you all know, we've been busy here.... try 481 banned spammers since February alone? There are another two dozen on the pending list, basically because I have no idea who they are and what they want - they ain't gettin' in without sayin' so first.

Add that to almost 550 banned spammers off the last iteration of this software and well, you kinda get where I'm at. Just about time to deploy the Vickers Plt?

While you're at it, Sgt-Maj, call up the snipers if you'd be so kind, there's a good chap.

Ryan · #5 19-06-08, 04:11

My heart goes out to you Geoff. I thought they may have been on the increase. I did have several nights earlier this week when it took multiple attempts to open up MLU and one night when all attempts failed. I thought something was up.

Should we not hate the spammers and just shoot all those dickheads out there buying penis enlargements and amazingly cheap watches??

Tony Smith · #6 19-06-08, 08:14

While this only sounds like an adminstrative PITA for the Moderators, spare a thought for those genuine "recruits" waiting on the list to have their accounts vetted. The delay in processing new accounts is discouraging for someone keen to "Get on" and start to be involved in the forum. As an open notice to prospective new members, you will find the signing up to be much easier, and your welcome much friendlier if your ID is your actual name, not some anonymous tag. List a few interests too, and we'll all know what you're all about.

Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP) · #7 24-06-08, 19:12

Eight days later and we're up to 533 from 481... that's 52 in one week alone. Welcome to my world...

Having said that, there's a certain perverse fun in identifying and zapping these bastards. Unfortunately, 99.9% of the 'gibberish' registrations you see are from spambots, so the anoraks who run them really don't see their rejections. But it's fun anyway...

THIS would be more fun though: