#1 2009-01-16 10:38 pm

rhyfedd

Member

Registered: 2009-01-16

Posts: 112

some questionsabout spam from a member new to the site

I'm new so I hope this is the right place and that this information isn't anywhere else.  I have a few questions...sorry.  I think this is a wonderful site. 

I've just been given Admin access to a small newish messageboard which had 5,000 'validating members' from spammers (170 real members).  One of the others removed thousands and I've been monitoring new ones for a couple of days, gradually building up the ban filters etc.  We seemed to be getting it from only a few places and it's already cut right down. 

First question
Validating members can't actually do anything except clog up the member list.  Is there a point to them or is it because this is all random? 

Second question
I noticed that the first 3 times I removed a biggish batch of spam members, something called Google.com* moved in immediately I cleared the last one and on the first two occasions spent hours, showing in various threads. The asterisk usually shows anonymous log-in but it wasn't forming a link as members' names do. 

Does anyone know what this would be and why?

Third question(s)
Before the membership validation was tightened up, three or four new 'members' posted some absolute porn with masses of links, about 8 threads in all - all on the same day (October 2) and from basically the same IP.  I haven't looked at all the threads, but the first has actual images from a video and it's really hard-core. 

The threads are still in the deleted threads area.

Can they still achieve their job, whatever that might be, sitting in a passworded area?  I want to delete them but the people who kept them aren't around to consult.  They are so bad I wouldn't save them on my computer.  I'm positive they would be against our Terms of Service - presumably kept before it was realized these were spammers and not just individuals making mischief. 

Last one...

Do you have any special system for this sort of porn, which I think is a different category from 'buy my medications' etc or whatever. I can't submit the details as we no longer have the email addresses, just the IPs, which are already in your list.

I hope this isn't too much!

SpamHammer

Member

Registered: 2008-10-14

Posts: 68

Website

Re: some questionsabout spam from a member new to the site

First question
Validating members can't actually do anything except clog up the member list.  Is there a point to them or is it because this is all random? 

Third question(s)
The threads are still in the deleted threads area.

Can they still achieve their job, whatever that might be, sitting in a passworded area?

To partially answer questions 1 and 3, many Admins are totally unaware of a type of spam called "Silent Spamming".  Basically, these are spammers who register with your board just to post links into their profiles.  They never need to post as search engine spiders can still read their profiles (even if they are in a validating group, a banned group, or if they do post, their posts are put into a deleted thread area).

All you need to do to beat this is remove links in their profile or posts, or better still, don't allow validating members the ability to add links to their profiles.

If you'd like to read more about silent spamming, you can do so at:

http://spamhammer.oxyhost.com/fight_back.html#silent

rhyfedd

Member

Registered: 2009-01-16

Posts: 112

Re: some questionsabout spam from a member new to the site

Thanks for the reply. I did read about silent spamming, perhaps after I asked here. Until they're validated, they can't make a profile - but I guess they don't know that so it's just random.

Thanks for confirming my worry about the links in the deleted porn threads. 

I think I may have seemed stupid asking about Google.com* as I was trying to cut my post down.  I hope it was clear I was asking about the coincidences! There are only 10,000 posts but it's virtually moved in.