Spam...

One thing we do (as do probably all forums out there) is scan the first 10 posts from someone for keywords. If we match a string, the post goes into the queue to get approved.

We have a pretty extensive list, but if anyone has any suggestions for additions to the list, let us know. This would be strings in spam posts that have slipped past our checks.

Edit: as far as modifying reporting limit times, I think we'll probably leave the current limits in place since reg'd users could use that as an attack.
 


Rob said:
We have a pretty extensive list, but if anyone has any suggestions for additions to the list, let us know.
Click to expand...

I think we have some folks who overreact, as in they're legitimately outraged. (They're not even the ones who have to clean up the mess!)

Forum spam is a reality that we'll have to deal with - as long as we want people to be able to post in a reasonable manner and in a reasonable amount of time. Forum spam is as much a certainty as death and taxes. It's going to happen.

Sometimes, like recently, you'll see it come in waves. Again, it's going to happen. There's not a heck of a lot we can reasonably do about it. We can minimize it (and if folks saw behind the scenes they'd see how much that already happens here on this forum) but we'll never eliminate it.

It's like the only secure compute is a computer that doesn't work, encased in concrete and buried 20' in the ground.

The only secure forum is one you can't post to, which makes it not very much of a forum.

It's a pain in the butt and can mean spending time cleaning it that I'd rather spend elsewhere, but it's generally not too onerous. I don't like it, but I don't let it really upset me. When I sign off for the day, I no longer think about it - in other words. I'm not going to let spammers control my emotions.
 
Rob said:
We have a pretty extensive list, but if anyone has any suggestions for additions to the list, let us know.
Click to expand...
I can imagine how difficult it is to find spam dictionaries, because I've been looking for dictionaries for some other purpose a while ago and didn't find much.

On GitHub there is only one repo I could find that's really small:
github.com

GitHub - OOPSpam/spam-words: List of spam words in different languages

List of spam words in different languages. Contribute to OOPSpam/spam-words development by creating an account on GitHub.
github.com github.com

Regarding Chinese spam that was seen here, there are lists of Chinese letters and words, e.g.

Appendix:List of Commonly Used Standard Chinese Characters - Wiktionary, the free dictionary

en.wiktionary.org en.wiktionary.org
github.com

GitHub - jimmy-zhening-luo/pleco-mega-big-chinese-dictionary: Chinese language dictionary with lots of useful information like frequency ranks and percentile (Junda, Giga), Unihan metadata (stroke count), difficulty level (HSK), and suggested orderin

Chinese language dictionary with lots of useful information like frequency ranks and percentile (Junda, Giga), Unihan metadata (stroke count), difficulty level (HSK), and suggested orderings based ...
github.com github.com

Since it's English forum any Chinese post could be put on hold.

And same applies for any other language, maybe all that's probably need is extensive English dictionary to mark non English posts, at least this would limit spam to English spam only.

Maybe exchanging spam lists with other forum admins is an option too.
 
Also, I'll pay greater attention to the spam content (hopefully, maybe) and see if I can find some commonalities. I'll then share those results in our usual private space and you can do with them as you will.

I'll see what happens - but I make no promises. My eyes tend to just gloss over the spam.
 
ON one forum I was a mod on [a long time back] we had a swear filter, it worked by staff scheduling swear words into the filter, then if any member used one it was replaced by "swear",
As most of the Chinese ones all appertain to the same block of phone numbers, perhaps a similar thing could be done, changing the phone numbers to "Warning Spam" in bold red caps, it won't stop them but might be enough to make them think again.
 
and....it's that time of the day again, when taxes are due, and people die.....hopefully the current pita

Is the same moniker as yesterday ?....maybe with a subtle change.

Creative little ******
 
faster than a speeding bullet.....are our @Rob and @KGIII....

what spammer?....KAPOOF !

The creative little ****** didn't get a chance to draw breath. !

Good stuff, guys !
 
  • Haha
Reactions: Rob
When the general members, see your name in the Staff Online area, it lends confidence and certainty, and also lends a certain reassurance that the recent 'invasion' and intrusion by spammers is being looked at and acted on seriously and with a desired effect for all.

That one you just cleared in the queue may well have gone on to make an absolute mess of the place later in the day.

Thank you.
 
... and I am about to send bye-byes to maybe 5 or so new members (betting agencies)
 
Done, make that 6, the last one was still registering and I had him out of here before his feet could touch the ground.

Avagudweegend all

Wiz
 
Onya Chris !

omg !!!....what a team we have !!
 
Things are at a low today. Maybe the current group of spammers has realized that their posts don't stick around long enough to help them out.
 
KGIII said:
Maybe the current group of spammers has realized that their posts don't stick around long enough to help them out.
Click to expand...
spoke too soon
another new one [second this morning] tagged
 
I don't know what kind of a spam filter or combinations of words could catch spam such as this one below.

I was searching for dictionaries yesterday and word generators in hope to find something useful, didn't find anything useful, it's hard to find it because don't know what keywords to use for search engine, but even if somebody does find something useful, no such dictionary or generator can prevent this.

I guess, a new thread should contain a minimum amount of characters to be posted.
Not criticizing ofc. just saying, these dudes don't seem to be spamming but trolling, and as you know the trolls shouldn't be fed, which this thread here seems to do (assuming they read it).

I'd be curious to see what they would do with their post if you leave them be, will they edit it with spam or leave be a troll post?


Screenshot_20240925_150337.png
 
CaffeineAddict said:
I'd be curious to see what they would do with their post if you leave them be, will they edit it with spam or leave be a troll post?
Click to expand...
They edit their posts later with actual spam content.
 
Last edited:
from @AlphaObeisance ....

Spam = unwanted or intrusive advertising on the internet.

all of the nonsensical posts, eg fg, hz, etc etc, all progress to University adds.......which are both unwanted and intrusive

In particular , none of them have screw all to do with Linux.
 
CaffeineAddict said:
I'd be curious to see what they would do with their post
Click to expand...
you have missed it all week, they raise 10 t0 20 of these post across the forums, then come back with edit copy and paste with the main crap, it's a way of speeding up their delivery to the forums.
 
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