Spam

[jdpjamesp]

Sorry about all the spam. For some reason I can't Spam clean it as usual so it would need every thread deleting by hand and the users would still be free to keep posting. @Chris Kelleher are you able to ban and clean the users more easily?

 

[PatrickTingen]

A lot of the spam seems to come from user "Gacor", can't you just kick him/her out?

 

[jdpjamesp]

Nope. I don't have that level of access.

 

[tamhas]

Same issue about cleaning up?

 

[Patrice Perrot]

You could try to ignore them

 

[Rob Fitzpatrick]

You could try to ignore them

Good call Patrice! That helps a lot until the posts themselves are deleted.

 

[jdpjamesp]

Same issue about cleaning up?

I can clean up each post but they're appearing as fast as I clean them up, and it's not the most user friendly interface either. Lots of clicks.

 

[Stefan]

I can clean up each post but they're appearing as fast as I clean them up, and it's not the most user friendly interface either. Lots of clicks.

Are there moderation tools for approving new users / first posts?

 

[jdpjamesp]

Are there moderation tools for approving new users / first posts?

Some seem to go into the approval queue, some don't. I've no idea what governs that. When a user is new, I can spam clean all their threads and delete the user with a button press, but as soon as they've made a certain number of posts that option goes away. So the forum is really bad software tbh. Without @Chris Kelleher 's level of access I doubt there's much I can do without lots and lots of clicks.

 

[jdpjamesp]

Ok I think the worst of it is gone.

 

[Stefan]

Check new profile posts and the members... and pfff what a spambot mess, maybe its time to close progresstalk.com down?

You really need some moderation tools, first seen and last seen within a week -> delete. I think you will be left with less than 1% of the current "members".

 

[jdpjamesp]

Check new profile posts and the members... and pfff what a spambot mess, maybe its time to close progresstalk.com down?

You really need some moderation tools, first seen and last seen within a week -> delete. I think you will be left with less than 1% of the current "members".

I've been on at Chris for a while (years) to say I need more access as ultimately he's not keeping this place alive other than when there's hosting issues.

 

[Rob Fitzpatrick]

maybe its time to close progresstalk.com down

I would hate to see that. Yes, the site could do with some more hands-on administration. But occasional spam aside, historically this site has had a very good signal-to-noise ratio. There is a lot of valuable content in all the posts of the regulars. It would be a shame to see that body of work disappear into the ether.

 

[Stefan]

I would hate to see that. Yes, the site could do with some more hands-on administration. But occasional spam aside, historically this site has had a very good signal-to-noise ratio. There is a lot of valuable content in all the posts of the regulars. It would be a shame to see that body of work disappear into the ether.

Luckily the spam hits the posts not too often, but hurray, let's welcome hotty new member Eisha - this new member spam stream is constant. This site has 15 thousand members. I doubt that even 5% is real.

 

[tamhas]

Don't forget that there are undoubtedly a very large number of read-only members, not to mention no-longer-working-with-Progress, and other reasons to no longer come here ... including deceased.

 

[Stefan]

Don't forget that there are undoubtedly a very large number of read-only members, not to mention no-longer-working-with-Progress, and other reasons to no longer come here ... including deceased.

Sure, but very large related to 15 thousand members? Doubtful.

The spam (sleeper) accounts are easily identified by various criteria:

- join date = last visit date
- join date and last visit date are at most a month apart
- zero posts
- member profiles with hyperlinks containing escort or keto or various other terms

 

[tamhas]

If they have zero posts, they aren't exactly a spam problem.

 

[Stefan]

Today a spambot that had been dormant for TEN years was activated and posted a first spam post. Grabbing some popcorn to see what exciting offers will be presented this weekend.

 

[Stefan]

If they have zero posts, they aren't exactly a spam problem.

Renato, another account that was created nearly ten years ago has been woken up and put on spam duty.

There are about ten accounts signing up to this forum every day. Of those ten, nine are obvious spam bots directly selling their goods on their profile, the others - are probably sleepers like dear Renato.

 

[jdpjamesp]

Thanks Stefan. I fear we're shouting into an echo chamber on this.