The Spammers Have Landed onto WOV
Don't call them trying to change or arrange flights, hotels, or crypto deals.
Quote: rxwineI think the posting limit thingy needs to be adjusted for new signups. Or maybe we don't have that any longer. Or maybe it doesn't work the way I thought..
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Our strategy for handling spammers has always been Bop-a-Mole; ban the spammer and delete the thread/post. these are coming in so fast that they are overwhelming us, the actions required to Ban and Delete take longer than the time before the next spam post arrives. And obviously, Dieter, Wiz and I don't work 24/7 and can't persistently serve as a meat shield against this kind of attack.
We need new restrictions on creating threads for new members; the spammers are also creating multiple accounts from the same IP address - we need some kind of a software-driven automatic response to people that are doing that.
Quote: gordonm888
Our strategy for handling spammers has always been Bop-a-Mole; ban the spammer and delete the thread/post. these are coming in so fast that they are overwhelming us, the actions required to Ban and Delete take longer than the time before the next spam post arrives. And obviously, Dieter, Wiz and I don't work 24/7 and can't persistently serve as a meat shield against this kind of attack.
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(snip)
Remember when?
I used to go to the arcade/amusement park in The Mall with my kid sister. Some Whack-a-Mole game (I think it had chomping gators to avoid IP licensing conflict) was our absolute favorite.
We are good, but we are also mortals of finite capacity.
Quote: gordonm888Quote: rxwineI think the posting limit thingy needs to be adjusted for new signups. Or maybe we don't have that any longer. Or maybe it doesn't work the way I thought..
link to original post
Our strategy for handling spammers has always been Bop-a-Mole; ban the spammer and delete the thread/post. these are coming in so fast that they are overwhelming us, the actions required to Ban and Delete take longer than the time before the next spam post arrives. And obviously, Dieter, Wiz and I don't work 24/7 and can't persistently serve as a meat shield against this kind of attack.
We need new restrictions on creating threads for new members; the spammers are also creating multiple accounts from the same IP address - we need some kind of a software-driven automatic response to people that are doing that.
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I suggest all new signup have to pay a penny, or whatever the minimum amount that can be done through payment system. That will slow them down, or make a lot of cents. Or course, it should be explained why it is being done.
Otherwise, It's hard to imagine it's not going to get worse these days of smarter bots.
Quote: DieterQuote: gordonm888
Our strategy for handling spammers has always been Bop-a-Mole; ban the spammer and delete the thread/post. these are coming in so fast that they are overwhelming us, the actions required to Ban and Delete take longer than the time before the next spam post arrives. And obviously, Dieter, Wiz and I don't work 24/7 and can't persistently serve as a meat shield against this kind of attack.
link to original post
(snip)
Remember when?
I used to go to the arcade/amusement park in The Mall with my kid sister. Some Whack-a-Mole game (I think it had chomping gators to avoid IP licensing conflict) was our absolute favorite.
We are good, but we are also mortals of finite capacity.
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I feel like I'm defending Gondor from 100,000 CGI orcs straight from the bowels of Mordor. Well, I've just hand-deleted another zillion scam posts. Hazard pay?!? I think Wizard needs to give Dieter and I hazard pay.
Quote: DieterI hope everyone is smart enough to realize that the contact information the spammers are posting are almost certainly scams that will invite you to lose your money without recourse.
Don't call them trying to change or arrange flights, hotels, or crypto deals.
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Do you mean I shouldn't have sent $10,000 to that Nigerian prince?
Quote: EvenBobQuote: DieterI hope everyone is smart enough to realize that the contact information the spammers are posting are almost certainly scams that will invite you to lose your money without recourse.
Don't call them trying to change or arrange flights, hotels, or crypto deals.
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Do you mean I shouldn't have sent $10,000 to that Nigerian prince?
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No, you should have, so long as you understood that you're not getting it back.
There are plenty of dumb things to squander wealth on, and a good story from a deposed Nigerian prince is a fine trophy for a gentleman of your reputation...
Quote: EvenBobQuote: DieterI hope everyone is smart enough to realize that the contact information the spammers are posting are almost certainly scams that will invite you to lose your money without recourse.
Don't call them trying to change or arrange flights, hotels, or crypto deals.
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Do you mean I shouldn't have sent $10,000 to that Nigerian prince?
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C'mon,, I told you the check was in the mail. Just give it a few months. I'm in the remote part of Nigeria. Mail travels on turtle back.
Quote: odiousgambitthis is not simply spam, but primarily a Denial of Service attack
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I agree. Looks like there is some spite mixed in with it. Hard to believe anyone would think that was a profitable move, or that anyone would think anything good would happen if they call those numbers.
Quote: gordonm888Quote: rxwineI think the posting limit thingy needs to be adjusted for new signups. Or maybe we don't have that any longer. Or maybe it doesn't work the way I thought..
link to original post
Our strategy for handling spammers has always been Bop-a-Mole; ban the spammer and delete the thread/post. these are coming in so fast that they are overwhelming us, the actions required to Ban and Delete take longer than the time before the next spam post arrives. And obviously, Dieter, Wiz and I don't work 24/7 and can't persistently serve as a meat shield against this kind of attack.
We need new restrictions on creating threads for new members; the spammers are also creating multiple accounts from the same IP address - we need some kind of a software-driven automatic response to people that are doing that.
link to original post
If they're from the same IP address, can you ban the IP?
Someone could talk to miroslavlav see what he may do to upgrade this antiquated software with some more modern anti spam measures. I believe there is code written that rejects any registration that is entered in less than a certain number of seconds, as well as reCaptchas and such to slow down bot registrations, and then Akismet I understand keeps a list of suspect IP addresses and emails to block registrations from known spammers.
At the time Wizard created this website he could have bought a lifetime license for some established forum software and we could have even had app accessibility, and free UPGRADES over the years, but that would have cost a few hundred dollars. Cost might not have been the factor, maybe he wanted the WOV forum to somehow be seamless with WOO, and didn't realize that he could have had both and kept the forum running on a separate software.
In any case, WOO functions fine I suppose, but WOV is by far the old man out among forums. Forums in general I suppose are not as prevalent anymore as things like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, BlueSky, Reddit, WordPress, YouTube, TikTok, Snapchat and relative newcomers like Peertube, StreamLabs, Twitch and Kick, but for someone who just wants to create some kind of meeting place forum software or something like WordPress remains inexpensive versus trying to create a new TruthSocial.
When it comes to any website where content may be posted by visitors, you can't say you've arrived until you're getting spammed! Bots generally don't bother with dead traffic sites.
The Adventures of MDawg thread typically DOES attract spammers! but these new spammers seem to want to make their own mark with their own threads.
Quote: MDawgSomeone could talk to miroslavlav see what he may do to upgrade this antiquated software with some more modern anti spam measures.
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(trimmed decimatively)
Such conversations are surely happening.
It should be possible to port existing user accounts, threads and content to one of these installs. But if this software is unique a special tool might have to be written for that purpose.
Quote: DieterQuote: MDawgSomeone could talk to miroslavlav see what he may do to upgrade this antiquated software with some more modern anti spam measures.
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(trimmed decimatively)
Decimative trimming can be a felony in some states, depends on the judge you get. Try judicious trimming sometime, far fewer consequences.
https://www.tomsguide.com/news/live/16-billion-passwords-data-breach
Quote: billryanI'd put an 24 hour embargo on all new members, with the moderators able to waive that as they deem.
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How would we know to waive an initial delay period if new members can't message us?
Quote: DieterQuote: billryanI'd put an 24 hour embargo on all new members, with the moderators able to waive that as they deem.
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How would we know to waive an initial delay period if new members can't message us?
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Waivers should be few, and infrequent.
For example- maybe allow a member with at least 1 year and 100 posts to boot any member who is here less than 3 days or less than 5 posts, with the understanding that this power is only to be used on spammers and trash-talkers, abuse it and you lose it.
Or maybe a forum category for new members, introductions only, and admins can administer a Turing test there if they wish before letting them loose on the rest of the site. New posts in that category wouldn't be listed on the New Posts screen, so if someone spams it all up it's all in one place and it doesn't interfere with the usability of the site.
Quote: WizardWe're always accepting applications for moderators and secret moderators. Secret mods will have the same authority as regular moderators, but remain in blue. We could use some more to help with these bot attacks. PM me if interested in the position.
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It used to be to create a thread, you need 10 posts.
When was that rule eliminated?
And bring it back?
Quote: rxwineI think the posting limit thingy needs to be adjusted for new signups. Or maybe we don't have that any longer. Or maybe it doesn't work the way I thought..
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Speaking of broken, do we not notify for PMs anymore?
Quote: AZDuffmanQuote: rxwineI think the posting limit thingy needs to be adjusted for new signups. Or maybe we don't have that any longer. Or maybe it doesn't work the way I thought..
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Speaking of broken, do we not notify for PMs anymore?
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It's been working for me.
Quote: WizardWe're always accepting applications for moderators and secret moderators. Secret mods will have the same authority as regular moderators, but remain in blue. We could use some more to help with these bot attacks. PM me if interested in the position.
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What is the point of having secret moderators? I wasn't aware there were any here. Either someone is a moderator or they aren't. Pretending to be a regular participant but using your secret moderator powers on people seems rather cowardly, but I'm sure I'm missing some fine point.
Quote: KevinAAOne thing that could be done would be to require moderator approval of a new member's post or thread.
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About 6 years ago, a long time Poster made a VERY shocking, horrifying, and scary thread. I suggested that Admins put all of his subsequent threads and posts on a "Waiting for Admin approval before being publicly posted." My good idea went absolutely nowhere. You and I have similar good ideas except that your idea is for new Posters my idea was for someone who was already a long time Poster. 💡
Quote: billryanQuote: WizardWe're always accepting applications for moderators and secret moderators. Secret mods will have the same authority as regular moderators, but remain in blue. We could use some more to help with these bot attacks. PM me if interested in the position.
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What is the point of having secret moderators? I wasn't aware there were any here. Either someone is a moderator or they aren't. Pretending to be a regular participant but using your secret moderator powers on people seems rather cowardly, but I'm sure I'm missing some fine point.
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The Admins have said that Secret Moderators are used to bust and ban Spammers while the regular Admins are sleeping and don't know that the Spammers are there. . The Admins said something like,"If a Spammer got busted and banned at 2 AM while we were sleeping, thank the Secret Moderators for that. 😀
Quote: billryanQuote: WizardWe're always accepting applications for moderators and secret moderators. Secret mods will have the same authority as regular moderators, but remain in blue. We could use some more to help with these bot attacks. PM me if interested in the position.
link to original post
What is the point of having secret moderators? I wasn't aware there were any here. Either someone is a moderator or they aren't. Pretending to be a regular participant but using your secret moderator powers on people seems rather cowardly, but I'm sure I'm missing some fine point.
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Point is who cares. Not me.
Quote: billryanQuote: WizardWe're always accepting applications for moderators and secret moderators. Secret mods will have the same authority as regular moderators, but remain in blue. We could use some more to help with these bot attacks. PM me if interested in the position.
link to original post
What is the point of having secret moderators? I wasn't aware there were any here. Either someone is a moderator or they aren't. Pretending to be a regular participant but using your secret moderator powers on people seems rather cowardly, but I'm sure I'm missing some fine point.
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If you weren't aware of them, it sounds like the secret moderators have been doing it right.
Quote: billryanWhat is the point of having secret moderators?
it's quite obvious to me that the "Secret Moderators" (and btw there are also some "Top Secret Moderators") have the critical responsibility of reporting to the proper authorities any posts which may be deemed harmful to the operations of the U.S. Government
indeed________________:)
.
How awful. Link please!Quote: Nathan...made a VERY shocking, horrifying, and scary thread.
Quote: DieterQuote: EvenBobQuote: DieterI hope everyone is smart enough to realize that the contact information the spammers are posting are almost certainly scams that will invite you to lose your money without recourse.
Don't call them trying to change or arrange flights, hotels, or crypto deals.
link to original post
Do you mean I shouldn't have sent $10,000 to that Nigerian prince?
link to original post
No, you should have, so long as you understood that you're not getting it back.
There are plenty of dumb things to squander wealth on, and a good story from a deposed Nigerian prince is a fine trophy for a gentleman of your reputation...
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No, EB is getting a Nigerian cookbook by return mail.
tuttigym
Quote: DrawingDeadHow awful. Link please!Quote: Nathan...made a VERY shocking, horrifying, and scary thread.
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I don't want to risk getting into trouble for linking directly to the thread on here. I'll just PM you the link. 💡
Quote: AZDuffmanQuote: rxwineI think the posting limit thingy needs to be adjusted for new signups. Or maybe we don't have that any longer. Or maybe it doesn't work the way I thought..
link to original post
Speaking of broken, do we not notify for PMs anymore?
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I get PM'S all the time and can't remember the last time I got a notification. I just go there and check every couple days and there's usually a PM from somebody.
Quote: WizardWe're always accepting applications for moderators and secret moderators. Secret mods will have the same authority as regular moderators, but remain in blue. We could use some more to help with these bot attacks. PM me if interested in the position.
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Please I'm begging you if I apply to be a secret moderator do not give it to me under any circumstances. Evil Bob will take over and I will not be responsible for his actions. So for the safety of everyone do not consider making me a secret mod.
Quote: billryanQuote: WizardWe're always accepting applications for moderators and secret moderators. Secret mods will have the same authority as regular moderators, but remain in blue. We could use some more to help with these bot attacks. PM me if interested in the position.
link to original post
What is the point of having secret moderators? I wasn't aware there were any here. Either someone is a moderator or they aren't. Pretending to be a regular participant but using your secret moderator powers on people seems rather cowardly, but I'm sure I'm missing some fine point.
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Let's say you own the bar. And you like the bar, and you enjoy just sitting down and having a drink and talking with whoever is there. Do you tell everyone you're the owner?
When I'm on a forum I like all conversations to be on the level and having some special status changes that. Why can't I be a regular participant, just because a certain bit in my account has been set? Not trying to sound like some ascetic saint, but having power over others gives me no satisfaction. When you're a bit "on the spectrum," as they say, you never are sure if you are using that power the way others expect you to and that you're not disappointing anyone. For example: I don't recognize thread hijacking, if I'm doing it or if someone else is doing it. It all looks like the normal branching, progression and evolution of intelligent conversation to me. So I would not be the right kind of primate to have enforcing such a rule. On the other hand someone like that is perfectly capable of recognizing spam and spammers (objective vs. subjective) and performing a janitorial task on it.
Quote: AutomaticMonkeyQuote: billryanQuote: WizardWe're always accepting applications for moderators and secret moderators. Secret mods will have the same authority as regular moderators, but remain in blue. We could use some more to help with these bot attacks. PM me if interested in the position.
link to original post
What is the point of having secret moderators? I wasn't aware there were any here. Either someone is a moderator or they aren't. Pretending to be a regular participant but using your secret moderator powers on people seems rather cowardly, but I'm sure I'm missing some fine point.
link to original post
Let's say you own the bar. And you like the bar, and you enjoy just sitting down and having a drink and talking with whoever is there. Do you tell everyone you're the owner?
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When I had the bar in Santa Barbara I would regularly pay somebody in drinks to sit there for a couple hours and make sure my bartender was doing everything he should be doing and not stealing money. It's very easy to steal money if you're a bartender at least it was in those days. Somebody's bill is $15 and you ring up $5 and stick the $10 in your pocket. Cash only then, I'm sure it's much harder to do it now. You could say my spy was a secret moderator.
Quote: AZDuffmanQuote: billryanQuote: WizardWe're always accepting applications for moderators and secret moderators. Secret mods will have the same authority as regular moderators, but remain in blue. We could use some more to help with these bot attacks. PM me if interested in the position.
link to original post
What is the point of having secret moderators? I wasn't aware there were any here. Either someone is a moderator or they aren't. Pretending to be a regular participant but using your secret moderator powers on people seems rather cowardly, but I'm sure I'm missing some fine point.
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Point is who cares. Not me.
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Just what I'd expect from a potential secret mod.
