Comments for Web site spam: what can I do about it?

Comment from David A on 2008-10-17

2008-10-17T18:28:47Z

my very popular website (over 1 million viewers) is now getting sick sex postings (my site is a family site) how can I prevent it, my site is www.pennypincher.ca

The article you just commented on has my basic suggestions - they all involve modifying the website or website software to put up barriers to this type of thing. Unfortanately there's no simply answer that just works - it depends heavily on the type of software that's running the site.

- Leo
26-May-2008

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A comment on: Web site spam: what can I do about it?

Tech Questions? Get Answers! - Ask Leo! ... by Leo Notenboom
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Comment from Leo Notenboom on 2007-02-12

2007-02-12T17:49:46Z

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The article you commented on has my suggestions.

Good luck!

Leo
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A comment on: Web site spam: what can I do about it?

Tech Questions? Get Answers! - Ask Leo! ... by Leo Notenboom
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Comment from Holly Wild on 2007-02-12

2007-02-12T16:02:44Z

sorry the site is Http://www.ajlounyinjurylaw.com...help please.

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A comment on: Web site spam: what can I do about it?

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Comment from Holly Wild on 2007-02-12

2007-02-12T16:01:39Z

I get close to 100 spam e-mails from our comment forms on our site. How can I stop this ...we use frontpage. The site is Http://www.sjlounyinjurylaw.com its making us crazy!

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A comment on: Web site spam: what can I do about it?

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Comment from Mike on 2006-09-25

2006-09-25T17:59:16Z

Maybe we're going about this wrong? How does the spammers' automated form search spider determine a page is a form they want to spam? Maybe there is a way to make the form page NOT look like a form they want to submit to. Are they looking for one which posts to a .cgi? In that case why not make the cgi extension .xyz and change your server .htaccess to execute .xyz like a .cgi?

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A comment on: Web site spam: what can I do about it?

Tech Questions? Get Answers! - Ask Leo! ... by Leo Notenboom
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Comment from Greg Bulmash on 2006-09-06

2006-09-06T18:07:59Z

phpBB's built-in CAPTCHA has either been cracked by spammers or the human-created phpBB spam is on the rise.

The problem with phpBB is that even if you require answering an e-mail to activate the account, or even if you go so far as to require manual administrator approval to activate an account, the moment someone signs up (BEFORE they're activated), they end up in the member directory.

And if they've specified a homepage link in the form when they signed up, it's linked from two places in the member directory. So they can give a fake e-mail address and never activate their account, but get linky goodness from just barraging your phpBB board with fake accounts.

This is why I have removed all my phpBB installations.

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A comment on: Web site spam: what can I do about it?

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Comment from Mary on 2006-09-05

2006-09-05T20:38:00Z

Leo -
A few months ago I joined an online computer help forum sponsored by a major computer manufacturer. Within just a few days I began receiving (on average) 10 spam emails a day. Now it's up to 20 a day. I've got my firewall, antivirus, and antispyware programs current and running. The spam has been directed to my bulk folder so apparently the filters are working and not sending the spam to my inbox.

But how did the spammers get *MY* email address in the first place? In order to access the forum I have to first go to www.computer company.com and then sign in from there. If members want to communicate privately, they can send messages via a separate link provided on the forum site. We never see each others actual email address. (Similar to how eBay allows people to communicate.) It's not like my address is being posted by the computer manufacturer or the discussion forum... or is it?
Mary

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A comment on: Web site spam: what can I do about it?

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Comment from Jon on 2006-09-04

2006-09-05T02:49:55Z

We had a similar problem with the Guest Book page my wife has on her web site - spammers got in with advertising material. We solved this problem (so far) by siging up for an e-Guestbook (Google them) account. Annual subscription is very low. Posters have to type in a "magic" number which beats automated posters. You are advised when a new post has been sent, and can vet it before allowing the post. As I said, it works so far.

We had a similar situation with the site's discussion forum. We fixed this briefly be setting up a forum with phpBB, but recently, we started getting dozens of signups by "members" who are obviously pushing spam. More maintenance work to be done...

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A comment on: Web site spam: what can I do about it?

Tech Questions? Get Answers! - Ask Leo! ... by Leo Notenboom
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