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[Aqizzar]

Okay, it's time to seriously discuss this.  Anybody who's regularly online here has to have noticed that the rate of new automatic advertising accounts and threads has been wildly increased over the last couple months, compared to the past.  It's impossible to make hard numbers, since they're all deleted, but it's unmistakable.  There's even been a few cases of living human advertisers, and now there's rumors of people on Omegle and such trying to drum up a "troll Bay 12" movement or something.

Point is, the validation process we're using here is clearly easy to bypass.  I know the word-problem math thing and captcha code is supposed to help, but the three bots on the first page of General Discussion now all registered within the last day or so.  Perhaps it's due for the Adams' to consider some alternatives.


The only really effective one I've seen on a few forums is moderator validation of new posts, at least the account's first one or two.  It would certainly shut down the spambots, but of course is a pain in the butt for Toady and ThreeToe.  Then again, it's not really any more labor intensive than deleting ad threads anyway.

[Syreniac]

One thing that may help without adding too much extra work to anyone's schedule is adding in some random questions based on Dwarf Fortress.

Pro's:
Would cut back a little on spamming

Con's:
Pretty easy to bypass
People who want to join the forums but aren't interested in DF can't.

It's not a perfect or even particularly good solution, but it could help a little.

[Heliman]

That wouldn't fly. Our primary generator of users is those who are seeking help playing DF. They wouldn't understand our slang.

It comes down to a matter of this: Either the Capitchas and word formulas aren't working, or someone is making them by hand. Because all the Bots seem to be coming from multiple sources (Some posting, some in other languages, some silent, etc.) I'm assuming the latter.

hmm, what if we took their IP addresses and forced it to be one IP address per account?

[Darvi]

 Yeah no, some people here use more than one computer.

But I assume you meant one account per IP.

[Heliman]

yeah, that. >_>

[TherosPherae]

That wouldn't fly. Our primary generator of users is those who are seeking help playing DF. They wouldn't understand our slang.

It comes down to a matter of this: Either the Capitchas and word formulas aren't working, or someone is making them by hand. Because all the Bots seem to be coming from multiple sources (Some posting, some in other languages, some silent, etc.) I'm assuming the latter.

hmm, what if we took their IP addresses and forced it to be one IP address per account?

That might stop the flow for a bit, but I know of at least one large proxy network that could be used to get around it.

As for fully stopping the spambots, I can't think of anything but giving a few forum users (with more time to surf the forums than Toady) a couple of moderator powers, but we all know how well that idea has blown over in the past...

Or perhaps implementing a new/different/better captcha system?

[Simmura McCrea]

Yeah no, some people here use more than one computer.

But I assume you meant one account per IP.

Which would screw over people using libraries/internet cafes/the same building as others.

[Ultimuh]

Yeah no, some people here use more than one computer.

But I assume you meant one account per IP.

I have my own computer which I often use, the computer I use at work and sometimes I borrow computers from my family and friends.. Yeah, that would suck for me.

[Aqizzar]

That would definitely not be a good solution for people in dorm rooms, or multiple people using a wi-fi spot or something.

Likewise, I'm turning against my own suggestion for moderator approval of the first posts from a new account.  Whatever the spambot problem, as far as I can tell, most new accounts are real people coming with gameplay questions or comments.  Moderator approval would mean either Tarn/Zach checking the forum every hour for new posts (not a solution), more moderators (has its objections), or new accounts having to wait up a day or more to get their first question answered (which is definitely bad).

So yeah, I'm stumped.

[Vester]

Have you asked Toady about it? I mean, I just came back yesterday so I haven't seen the spamborts everywhere, but even a couple of years ago we were getting new ones every week or so...

[Heliman]

That would definitely not be a good solution for people in dorm rooms, or multiple people using a wi-fi spot or something.

Likewise, I'm turning against my own suggestion for moderator approval of the first posts from a new account.  Whatever the spambot problem, as far as I can tell, most new accounts are real people coming with gameplay questions or comments.  Moderator approval would mean either Tarn/Zach checking the forum every hour for new posts (not a solution), more moderators (has its objections), or new accounts having to wait up a day or more to get their first question answered (which is definitely bad).

So yeah, I'm stumped.

I have an idea: Allow appointed editors from the forum to check to see if first posts are legitimate. Toady and 3toe can be removed from the equation altogether.

ALSO, anyone who doesn't post has their account deleted ten days after activation if don't attempt to make a first post.

[Vester]

That would definitely not be a good solution for people in dorm rooms, or multiple people using a wi-fi spot or something.

Likewise, I'm turning against my own suggestion for moderator approval of the first posts from a new account.  Whatever the spambot problem, as far as I can tell, most new accounts are real people coming with gameplay questions or comments.  Moderator approval would mean either Tarn/Zach checking the forum every hour for new posts (not a solution), more moderators (has its objections), or new accounts having to wait up a day or more to get their first question answered (which is definitely bad).

So yeah, I'm stumped.

I have an idea: Allow appointed editors from the forum to check to see if first posts are legitimate. Toady and 3toe can be removed from the equation altogether.

Toady and ThreeToe have always done all the moderation themselves, except in specific cases like subforums. It's their thing.

[kaijyuu]

How bout making the "report to moderator" button hide the post and/or topic once a certain number of reports are made?

Won't fix them registering but will mitigate spam.

[freeformschooler]

Heliman, if I'm understanding you right, the appointed editors would be essentially subjected to a limited variation of the moderator problem that's come up so much.

Anyway, I have no idea what we should do. When I had my own forum, I just tightened captcha, and that stopped literally every non-human spambot.

Kaijyuu, there's also the problem of each spam account often making multiple topics. Otherwise I like that idea.

[Levi]

I vote for some more all powerful moderators who can smite the spambots with wisdom and vengeance.  Maybe all the people above this post.