Increased Spammers

[Raziel_MGS]

IS there anyway to deal with the massive influx of spammers? I know its a free signup to the forums, but Off Topic and a few other sections have just been getting hit really hard with spam...any comments would be helpful^_^

[Tiran]

I can't really offer anything, except to say that the faster you report something, the faster a mod can deal with it, if it has to wait for one of us to find it, it will take longer.

[VidelCoolGirl]

I find that I've been reporting an awful lot of spam recently. Usually around the time when they first appear. I'll do my best to help out.

[Jon]

This is up to th admin, but a picture verification could be added to the registration. It stops most spammers and is not really a hassle to people actually signing up for this board.

[Josh]

This is up to th admin, but a picture verification could be added to the registration. It stops most spammers and is not really a hassle to people actually signing up for this board.
We already use image verification.

[Jon]

We already use image verification.

Oh really? It's been a long time since I've registered, I just don't remember the image verification. Eh, there goes my idea ^_^

[Raziel_MGS]

I just have noticed alot more spam these past 2 months that ever before, usually Death or Video beat me to it

[Soluzar]

Uh... how exactly do spambots manage to get past the image verification, then? Like Jon, I thought that would be a decent enough barrier.

[VidelCoolGirl]

I thought so too. Most I assume are actual people, and they just go around doing all that kind of stuff. Although for bots, there might be some kind of alien program we're all not aware of that spammers use to get into our forums, then eventually our heads.

[Soluzar]

...then eventually our heads.
Careful. That line of thought leads to becoming Zuggy.

[Jon]

I thought so too. Most I assume are actual people, and they just go around doing all that kind of stuff. Although for bots, there might be some kind of alien program we're all not aware of that spammers use to get into our forums, then eventually our heads.
Or they are aliens!

[VidelCoolGirl]

Or they are aliens!

Probably. Those damn aliens and messing with out fourms!



Careful. That line of thought leads to becoming Zuggy.

Seriously? Damn! Undo! Undo!

[Soluzar]

Seriously? Damn! Undo! Undo!
Well... if you're thinking that the spammers can actually get into your mind... :naughty:

Zugzwang believes that I follow him around everywhere. It's so bloody funny. Just because I was able to take a wild shot at guessing that the Illuminatus Trilogy were some of his favourite books... it's not exactly a tough call.

He thinks that several other forum members and I share a group-mind, and spy on his every activity. Now this would be just regular amusing, except that I saw one of his posts (on another forum) for the first time in months today, and he's still spouting this crap about "Soluzar is watching me!!!", when in truth, I don't pay him the slightest bit of attention unless one of his posts is in front of me.

It then became a laugh riot.

:lol:

[VidelCoolGirl]

Nonetheless, the spam may be annoying, but all we can do is report it when we see them. It's been a bit bad lately, but the mods have been working hard to keep it spam free, so we all we can do is report and help them out that way.

[Smith]

Reporting a post/ user is the best thing to do. Don't "feed the trolls".

[Tiiba]

I tried looking at the registration process a few days ago and didn't notice any captchas. (I didn't take all the steps, though, so I wouldn't actually create an account.)

Either way, I've heard that character recognition programs are getting so powerful that effective captchas are becoming a pita for actual humans. Captcha recognition is also one of the features that the spambots are pushing in ther wares.

[Suki]

I think AN should go back to the no Yahoo, or Hotmail email verifications again.

[VidelCoolGirl]

Well, this happens every once in a while. We get the hoard of spammers and it gets annoying quick. This should blow over in a bit.

Hah, almost couldn't type that with a straight face, of course the spam will NEVER stop.

[Tidusauron12]

I think AN should go back to the no Yahoo, or Hotmail email verifications again.

When I first started using forums, that kinda' stuff pissed me off, cause I had to create a new account with someone else and all that...

[sailornyanko]

When I first started using forums, that kinda' stuff pissed me off, cause I had to create a new account with someone else and all that...

I don't even remember what things I had to do to Sign Up (well, it has been almost 5 years). I do think they allowed my Yahoo email account though.

[ryushe]

This is why I think AN should have something like having minimum to 10 or so post to create a thread.

[KatayokuのTenshi]

This is why I think AN should have something like having minimum to 10 or so post to create a thread.

Ah but that could lead to more spammy mesages as new users are forced to post things they don't want to say, to ask the question they want to.

Soluzar you just knocked me off my chair I was laughing so hard. Did anyone ever take Zugzwang seriously?

[Soluzar]

Soluzar you just knocked me off my chair I was laughing so hard. Did anyone ever take Zugzwang seriously?
Actually, I tried to reason with him for about a dozen posts one time, as I believe so did Desslock. If I'm being honest, it wasn't so much that I took him seriously, but a good game of 'prod the loony' is always fun, and I was giving him every opportunity to sound sane. :shifty:

I was asking him sensible questions about his 'theories' and beliefs, but then it all degenerated when I mentioned that he must have read the Illuminatus Trilogy.

I didn't even mean it as a flame, but he just took it as 'evidence' that I was part of the group-mind that was watching his every step. Otherwise, there's no way that I could know he was quoting right out of the damn book, now is there?

It was around that time that I finally became convinced that he was actually severely disturbed, and probably suffering from schizophrenia. Until that point, I had considered the possibility that he could be just acting insane for fun. I mean, I've seen that done before... to great effect.

I hope nobody minds me bringing this up... I know it's off topic, but what with Zugzwang's nth incarnation having just been banned, it's fresh in my memory.

[KatayokuのTenshi]

I hope nobody minds me bringing this up... I know it's off topic, but what with Zugzwang's nth incarnation having just been banned, it's fresh in my memory.

How can you tell it was him?
Looking at your post I feel a little guilty laughing at someone like that...theres realy nothing any of us can do though.
If the admins were to ban signing up by Yahoo or Hotmail it would make it eaiser to exclude repeat offenders, but then again I joined up with a yahoo account...

Still online Soluzar you're up rather late, [looks at self]. Ah.

[Soluzar]

How can you tell it was him?
His posting style is not hard to recognise. Even though he was a little more restrained this time, I knew it was him almost straight away. I wasn't the only one to recognise him either. I'd said nothing... and then someone else posted to say that they thought it was Zugzwang.

I find that most people who post a lot have a specific style that you can identify. Most of the time they aren't aware of the mannerisms that mark their posts like a fingerprint, but it's not hard to observe the style and then later recognise it. I kinda wish that I could browse this forum with usernames turned off, and see how many of you guys I can identify. :naughty:

Looking at your post I feel a little guilty laughing at someone like that...theres realy nothing any of us can do though.
You know, sometimes so do I... but as disturbed as he is, he invites ridicule by posting incoherent conspiricy theories on the internet. I'm not at all sure he deserves any sympathy. He's actively seeking out conflict by signing up at this forum time after time.

If the admins were to ban signing up by Yahoo or Hotmail it would make it eaiser to exclude repeat offenders, but then again I joined up with a yahoo account...
My own primary email account is considered a freemail account because of the domain name. The fact that I pay for email service makes that extraordinarily bizarre. I know that my domain do offer free email service, but that doesn't make my account a free (and therefore disposable) email account. >_<

On the subject of repeat offenders, it's not the first time I've known someone to become obsessed with the forum they were banned from. Some people make ban-evading dupe accounts, some make lame attempts at 'attacking' the forum they used to frequent, some just endlessly bug random members over IM programs.

Still online Soluzar you're up rather late, [looks at self]. Ah.
It's a bad habit, isn't it? I've been trying to get some writing done, but I really should get to bed soon. Forum posting helps to keep me from getting sick of writing. I write a little, I post a little. ^_^

[KatayokuのTenshi]

His posting style is not hard to recognise. Even though he was a little more restrained this time, I knew it was him almost straight away. I wasn't the only one to recognise him either. I'd said nothing... and then someone else posted to say that they thought it was Zugzwang.

I think the last iteration terrified me. He posted so pseudo-apocalyptic nonsense that had me really paranoid...until someone pointed out who he was.


I find that most people who post a lot have a specific style that you can identify. Most of the time they aren't aware of the mannerisms that mark their posts like a fingerprint, but it's not hard to observe the style and then later recognise it. I kinda wish that I could browse this forum with usernames turned off, and see how many of you guys I can identify. :naughty:

I wouldn't say I post a lot but I'm already noticing a few things. I tend to write like I'm talking using ... to pause for effect and writing exclamations like Ah (much more since I finished Azumanga Daioh). Also I've been writing actions in square brackets. It probably came out of a growing dislike of formal language after writing work for college and now uni.


You know, sometimes so do I... but as disturbed as he is, he invites ridicule by posting incoherent conspiricy theories on the internet. I'm not at all sure he deserves any sympathy. He's actively seeking out conflict by signing up at this forum time after time.

And we must do as nature dictates and report him to the mods.:naughty:

It's a bad habit, isn't it? I've been trying to get some writing done, but I really should get to bed soon. Forum posting helps to keep me from getting sick of writing. I write a little, I post a little. ^_^

I have to go to uni tomorrow-_-; and while there it is helpful to remain awake. [to self] Go to bed now... I din't think it'd work. All well I can sleep on the train.:P

On topic I suppose the onus is on us to report spam 'reporting spam saves mods' and do not feed the trolls.

[VidelCoolGirl]

I wouldn't say I post a lot but I'm already noticing a few things. I tend to write like I'm talking using ... to pause for effect and writing exclamations like Ah (much more since I finished Azumanga Daioh). Also I've been writing actions in square brackets. It probably came out of a growing dislike of formal language after writing work for college and now uni.


I do the same. Usually, I type as if I'm really talking. I'll use "Hah" Or "..." if I feel I need to. I tend to think I have a specific style I always type in, but I'm not sure. I would have to ask everyone else on here who has been posting on AN regularly.