Bots on PPRuNe

[BrandiNettIB]

Thanks for the suggestions, guys. We'll see what we can do. Captcha logins are probably not worth the inconvenience to existing members (I know I would hate that), since all spammers need to do is just make it in once before they get banned.

[ross_M]

Could you hold first-time-post till a moderator approves content? Or would that be a avalanche of work? How many 1st time posters on this forum everyday, say?

[BrandiNettIB]

ross, manual moderation of first-time posters would indeed be an avalanche of work. The number of daily new registrants varies, but it's typically around the many dozens.

[mixture]

Another one for you Clee...

http://www.pprune.org/tech-log/48085...ml#post7105872

I think ? Unless "Add Content" is shorthand for something else ?

[Gertrude the Wombat]

This is the way with email spam anyways. Not sure if it works the same way with forum spam. With email spam, oftentimes each email has a slightly modified link all redirected to the same inviisible 1x1 image. That way they can know exactly which of their thousand spam Viagra emails has made it to human eyes.

A common technique for non-spam too, such as your motorbike club newsletter that you've signed up for and actually read sometimes - that tells them who has and hasn't read it. They can then play games like

- send to 10% of the membership with headline A
- send to 10% of the membership with headline B
- wait three days
- see which headline prompted more people to read the email
- send the remaining 80% with the more effective headline.

All of which comes with the mailing list software ...

[Bushfiva]

Another one for you Clee...

Shirley shome mishtake?

[Efe Cem Elci]

I use an add-on for Firefox call NoScript. Basically lets you authorize/deauthorize what scripts sites can run. Comes in really handy for forums, albeit initially cumbersome as you have to configure the add-on for each site you frequent (i.e. allow pprune.org, block google, etc.).

[KBPsen]

There are several of these "Add content" posts going back to July 2011. All seems to have been made by users that has been registered for years and made a high number of legitimate posts.

[dazdaz1]

I would like to propose a conspiracy theory.... I have often wondered after visiting a plethora of web sites and taking in to account of the ability of computers/software to read text when posted and reply!!!

My concern is this. How do I know that I'm the only 'real life' poster on this site?

Daz

[mixture]

dazdaz1

Ever heard of Eliza ?

Summary. Computers are dumb. You would soon notice robotic replies to your posts.

[BrandiNettIB]

http://www.pprune.org/tech-log/48085...ml#post7105872

I think ? Unless "Add Content" is shorthand for something else ?

mixture, I'm not sure about that one. That member's other posts look legit. I don't know what "Add Content" would be. Perhaps a placeholder never acted upon?

Please keep calling suspicious posts to my attention. This one by itself isn't enough to act on. Thanks!

[mixture]

Thanks Clee.

[stevep64]

LigonHester seems to be another one.

[BrandiNettIB]

Thanks, stevep64. We took care of that one.

[Bushfiva]

ytdjyty is a spamalope.

[BrandiNettIB]

Thanks, bushfiva. We banned that one and its Chinese IP address range.

[stevep64]

A couple more that seem dodgy Samanfotto and Elsie93. Not sure about Samanfotto. Both have posted "add content" in the same thread http://www.pprune.org/atc-issues/481808-skyguide.html but Elsie93 is cutting and pasting other peoples comments too.

[Efe Cem Elci]

Not sure if its people being hacked or a script that is posting in their name when they click but like stated previously, it seems to be legit members with post history that checks out posting small phrases like "Add Content"...

http://www.pprune.org/terms-endearme...ning-scam.html

[Bushfiva]

One of them's adding single-pixel links. They're link spammers. Looks like Indie Cent may have lost control of his account, too.

(Digs a bit more)

Well, either some people have compromised passwords, or there's another issue at play. Just searching "Add Content" shows some interesting stuff:

Subria023 14th Nov 2011, Spitfire Boy 14th Oct 2011, DADDY-OH! 3rd Jan 2012, The Cleaner 27th Feb 2012, PEGGY since 27th Jan 2012 and so on.

[BrandiNettIB]

Thanks, Bushfiva. I'll have the tech team see if they can find anything regarding cause and/or solution.