Dammit, it's offical, subsim's been pegged by spambots.

Ducimus · 11-10-06, 10:26 PM

Two user profiles are all you need to see this.

Spambot Number 1:
http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/sear...searchid=60852

Spambot Number 2:
http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/sear...searchid=60847

Son of a bitch. This is going to royally suck. Last online community i was involved with that got hit by this bull**** had to shut down new user regestration to put an end to it.

Syxx_Killer · 11-10-06, 10:30 PM

I had asked this in the spambot thread just below this one. Since that will probably be bye-bye in short order, I'll ask here: how do spambots work? I haven't seen a forum spam-attacked before.

Ducimus · 11-10-06, 10:39 PM

Im not sure exactly how they work. Im assuming its a bot honestly, but what they seem to do is find a forum, somehow script their way through the regestration process, and then post the same crap over and over again in random forums.

Ever see a forum or picture hosting place that, as a verification key to continue, puts up a PICTURE of a word? A script can't scan a picture, but it an scan for text. The picture of a word i think is one methord of trying to break the bot's scripted process, but this is conjecture on my part.

I remember though, they had to shut down new user regestration, and i think every friday the site owner would open it up again, and place bets as to how fast the bot would regester a new user account and place more spam.

Think of a form spam bot in the same way your email address gets into a spam list. Its basically the same thing, only instead of just spaming your inbox, it spams a forum.

Neal can try and ban the IP, or change the regestration process somehow. Only problem with IP banning is that whoever is responsibe for the bots, probably has a series of IP's to use. Not just a single C series, but a wide range of IP's. Many people who get infected with spyware or adware become unwilling hosts, with their machines launching "attacks" and not even be aware of it.

Ducimus · 11-10-06, 10:47 PM

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forum_spam#Spambots

The Noob · 11-10-06, 11:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ducimus

Son of a bitch. This is going to royally suck.

Yes.

I am on another forum where spambots are a problem too, and it SUCKS. Every 5 hours a new thread with 3 pages of stinkin' ads.

Pain in the behind!

Gizzmoe · 11-10-06, 11:53 PM

I think we had four or five spambots in the past 24 hours. This wasn´t the first time, we kicked dozens of them in the past 6 months or so.

HunterICX · 11-11-06, 04:54 AM

I hate spambots that attack Communities!
a similar case: My dad has a own Website where he shows his Tours. now you can make contact via email with that by filling in a simple form. but the spambots managed to send my dad over the 300 - 500 spam mails a day!. and he cant really get rid of it

the norton spam filter throws them in the Spambox and deletes after they all have been received. but its that the mail just come in , while its has been made for clients to fill it in.

AG124 · 11-21-06, 09:03 PM

I haven't seen any spam posts in the last week - have you managed to get rid of them all for now? :hmm: Or have you just been more efficient at removing the offending posts lately?

Gizzmoe · 11-22-06, 12:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AG124

I haven't seen any spam posts in the last week - have you managed to get rid of them all for now? :hmm:

No, they are still there!

Most of the time we can remove them very quickly.

AG124 · 11-22-06, 06:46 AM

Well, that is better than being stuck with them in the forum, I guess.:hmm: If I see any more, I will let one of the moderators or Neal know about it.

Gizzmoe · 11-22-06, 08:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AG124

If I see any more, I will let one of the moderators or Neal know about it.

Please use the "Report Bad Post" button (

). Thanks!

Onkel Neal · 11-22-06, 01:30 PM

Actually, it's easier to PM me with the title Spammer and all you have to put in the message is the spammer's username (spelled correctly). It's only two clicks to remove all his posts and delete his account. Then I can add his IP and main part of his e-mail to the ban.

bookworm_020 · 11-22-06, 07:01 PM

I think there back!!

I spot 2 already this morning, and have reported both.

AG124 · 11-23-06, 01:44 PM

There's another one named Pitasac or something in the general topics forum now.

I've reported him to Neal Stevens.

Now he's gone.

That was quick. Still, this forum is facing a lot of them lately.

Onkel Neal · 11-23-06, 07:18 PM

All from @web.de e-mails, I've blocked it for now.

11-10-06, 10:26 PM	#1
Ducimus Rear Admiral Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 12,987 Downloads: 67 Uploads: 2	Dammit, it's offical, subsim's been pegged by spambots. Two user profiles are all you need to see this. Spambot Number 1: http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/sear...searchid=60852 Spambot Number 2: http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/sear...searchid=60847 Son of a bitch. This is going to royally suck. Last online community i was involved with that got hit by this bull**** had to shut down new user regestration to put an end to it.

11-11-06, 04:54 AM	#7
HunterICX Rear Admiral Join Date: May 2006 Location: Malaga, España Posts: 10,750 Downloads: 8 Uploads: 0	I hate spambots that attack Communities! a similar case: My dad has a own Website where he shows his Tours. now you can make contact via email with that by filling in a simple form. but the spambots managed to send my dad over the 300 - 500 spam mails a day!. and he cant really get rid of it the norton spam filter throws them in the Spambox and deletes after they all have been received. but its that the mail just come in , while its has been made for clients to fill it in. __________________

11-21-06, 09:03 PM	#8
AG124 Sea Lord Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Canada Posts: 1,878 Downloads: 4 Uploads: 0	Spammers? I haven't seen any spam posts in the last week - have you managed to get rid of them all for now? :hmm: Or have you just been more efficient at removing the offending posts lately? __________________ DOWNLOAD GWX HERE: http://www.thegreywolves.com/index.html

11-22-06, 06:46 AM	#10
AG124 Sea Lord Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Canada Posts: 1,878 Downloads: 4 Uploads: 0	Spambots Well, that is better than being stuck with them in the forum, I guess.:hmm: If I see any more, I will let one of the moderators or Neal know about it. __________________ DOWNLOAD GWX HERE: http://www.thegreywolves.com/index.html

11-22-06, 07:01 PM	#13
bookworm_020 Navy Seal Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Sinking ships off the Australian coast Posts: 5,966 Downloads: 1 Uploads: 0	I think there back!! I spot 2 already this morning, and have reported both. __________________ "There is always one person in any organization who knows whats going on, That person must be fired"

11-10-06, 10:30 PM	#2
Syxx_Killer Admiral Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Michigan, USA Posts: 2,387 Downloads: 21 Uploads: 0	I had asked this in the spambot thread just below this one. Since that will probably be bye-bye in short order, I'll ask here: how do spambots work? I haven't seen a forum spam-attacked before.

11-10-06, 10:39 PM	#3
Ducimus Rear Admiral Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 12,987 Downloads: 67 Uploads: 2	Im not sure exactly how they work. Im assuming its a bot honestly, but what they seem to do is find a forum, somehow script their way through the regestration process, and then post the same crap over and over again in random forums. Ever see a forum or picture hosting place that, as a verification key to continue, puts up a PICTURE of a word? A script can't scan a picture, but it an scan for text. The picture of a word i think is one methord of trying to break the bot's scripted process, but this is conjecture on my part. I remember though, they had to shut down new user regestration, and i think every friday the site owner would open it up again, and place bets as to how fast the bot would regester a new user account and place more spam. Think of a form spam bot in the same way your email address gets into a spam list. Its basically the same thing, only instead of just spaming your inbox, it spams a forum. Neal can try and ban the IP, or change the regestration process somehow. Only problem with IP banning is that whoever is responsibe for the bots, probably has a series of IP's to use. Not just a single C series, but a wide range of IP's. Many people who get infected with spyware or adware become unwilling hosts, with their machines launching "attacks" and not even be aware of it.

11-10-06, 10:47 PM	#4
Ducimus Rear Admiral Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 12,987 Downloads: 67 Uploads: 2	http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forum_spam#Spambots

11-10-06, 11:53 PM	#6
Gizzmoe Silent Hunter Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Germany Posts: 3,668 Downloads: 4 Uploads: 0	I think we had four or five spambots in the past 24 hours. This wasn´t the first time, we kicked dozens of them in the past 6 months or so.

11-22-06, 01:30 PM	#12
Onkel Neal Born to Run Silent Join Date: Jan 1997 Location: Cougar Trap, Texas Posts: 21,383 Downloads: 541 Uploads: 224	Actually, it's easier to PM me with the title Spammer and all you have to put in the message is the spammer's username (spelled correctly). It's only two clicks to remove all his posts and delete his account. Then I can add his IP and main part of his e-mail to the ban.

11-23-06, 01:44 PM	#14
AG124 Sea Lord Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Canada Posts: 1,878 Downloads: 4 Uploads: 0	Another Spammer There's another one named Pitasac or something in the general topics forum now. I've reported him to Neal Stevens. Now he's gone. That was quick. Still, this forum is facing a lot of them lately. __________________ DOWNLOAD GWX HERE: http://www.thegreywolves.com/index.html

11-23-06, 07:18 PM	#15
Onkel Neal Born to Run Silent Join Date: Jan 1997 Location: Cougar Trap, Texas Posts: 21,383 Downloads: 541 Uploads: 224	All from @web.de e-mails, I've blocked it for now. __________________ SUBSIM - 26 Years on the Web