Recent Spam

[reddevilggg]

I've noticed over the last 3 days spam posts being left by DrLinkmaul and Spamforyyy using undeciphable gobbledegook. After googling these names I find that both have since Tuesday joined a high number of wide ranging sites and on some of them left the same posts.

Is it just me that finds this kind of behavior disturbing. It's like graffiti with out the art.

Is there anything we/you/CH can do?

What is the benefit.?

[BC_Programmer]

Ban them, obviously 

but supposedly there are some issues with CH's E-mail Server so the moderators aren't getting their reported topic notifications and such in a timely fashion, as I'm sure your aware.


I cannot find any of these posts- have they been cleaned up yet?

[GlitchPC]

At GlitchPC...we use Akismet.

If someone registers and posts...Akismet scans the post for possible spam...and queues the post for moderation.  Subsequently, moderators can determine whether the post is actual spam...and if it is, delete the post as spam and ban the new member.

Registered members never see the spam.

More info on Akismet here:  Akismet

[Carbon Dudeoxide]

I cannot find any of these posts- have they been cleaned up yet?

Yep. You're welcome.

Ban them, obviously 

I thought Nathan had already done that. Hmmm....

[reddevilggg]

I just do not understand why people would choose to do this. What do they get out of it.

What is the point??

[evilfantasy]

They do it for the same reason a child acts out. For attention.

Never reply to a spam post. Instead report it. Even if it takes a few hours for a mod to respond and remove it, it will be removed.

Replying, even with a rude comment only gives them what they want. Attention. In addition it bumps it to the top of the forum and more people are likely to see it and respond as well. Which is a win for the spammer. Don't let them win

[Carbon Dudeoxide]

Precisely. A thousand points to you, Evilfantasy.

[macdad-]

They do it for the same reason a child acts out. For attention.

Never reply to a spam post. Instead report it. Even if it takes a few hours for a mod to respond and remove it, it will be removed.

Replying, even with a rude comment only gives them what they want. Attention. In addition it bumps it to the top of the forum and more people are likely to see it and respond as well. Which is a win for the spammer. Don't let them win

i'll keep that in mind..already got some spammers in the chat board:
http://www.computerhope.com/forum/index.php/topic,78735.msg518436.html#msg518436

[Dias de verano]

MacDad keeps answering them.

[macdad-]

that was the only one i answered...

[Dias de verano]

that was the only one i answered...

http://www.computerhope.com/forum/index.php/topic,78736.msg518437.html#msg518437

[evilfantasy]

We definitely seem to be getting an unusual amount right now. I have moved two in a row from different users.

[macdad-]

http://www.computerhope.com/forum/index.php/topic,78736.msg518437.html#msg518437

can't see it...blocked from view(not a mod)

but yea were getting a weird amount of spam..

[Calum]

Only admin can ban users.
I've been getting the reports all day, but have been unable to do anything as my college's IP is banned from this forum.
I just got rid of 2 more, and will continue cleaning up if any are left.

[Computer Hope Admin]

All recent offending spammers have been banned. I believe we have all the sudden started to get an influx of spammers because of the new setup I've got going to make the overall registration process easier. Unfortunately it appears the side effect has been an increase of spam. I'll be implementing some new mods that I believe will take care of any potential spam bots. Unfortunately human spammers are difficult to stop regardless of what method is being used, which is why we have moderators.

So thank your moderators, for their continued effort of keeping the forum clean and notifying me of attacks.