MyBB Community Forums

.
Current spam 'control' process...

1. registration set for 'admin activation', and on the registration screen have a message (added at php, with link to email) that requires 'user' to email with answer, within week, to a question b4 activate.

2. if dont get email, with answer within week, then ban awaiting user

3. after about 4000 such bans (automated to some extent), the spammers seem to have decided not to try to register... am wondering if it may be safe to change to use 'send email verification' ?

4. also have set all forums to 'moderate new posts', since spammers seemed to be able to post, even though they were not activated... should they be able to do that ?

Is 'admin activation' the only way to stop spam ?
It would be nice to have the forum more 'open', like the MyBB forums.
MyBB forums seem to be 'free' of spam... is it possible for MyBB to share how they do it (without giving out too much of the security process) ?

It's not free. I see spam here on a regular basis, mostly Kitchen spammers. Besides, the processes here at MyBB are AFAIK mostly at the server level, like blacklisting offending IP's (of which there are as of yesterday ~20,000).

Your system seems complex and will likely scare off honest members. Simple solution:

1. Install Registration Security Questions to stop bots from registering.
2. Install Spamalyser to stop bots that do register from posting.
3. Install Goodbye Spammer to destroy any bots that get past either of your defenses.

Quote:4. also have set all forums to 'moderate new posts', since spammers seemed to be able to post, even though they were not activated... should they be able to do that ?

That depends on permissions. [/quote]

Quote:1. registration set for 'admin activation', and on the registration screen have a message (added at php, with link to email) that requires 'user' to email with answer, within week, to a question b4 activate.

That will most likely cause a few members to leave.

If you get specific spammers, such as carding spammers, kitchen, etc then you can use this plugin.

.
Thanks to both for the suggestions/help.
Would like to make the forum as 'open' as possible, so your suggestions look good.
Only concerns with plugins is, when MyBB upgrades, the plugins may become susceptible... but guess thats the price ?

(2013-11-08, 04:13 AM)Seabody Wrote: [ -> ]It's not free. I see spam here on a regular basis, mostly Kitchen spammers. Besides, the processes here at MyBB are AFAIK mostly at the server level, like blacklisting offending IP's (of which there are as of yesterday ~20,000).

Your system seems complex and will likely scare off honest members. Simple solution:

1. Install Registration Security Questions to stop bots from registering.
2. Install Spamalyser to stop bots that do register from posting.
3. Install Goodbye Spammer to destroy any bots that get past either of your defenses.

(2013-11-08, 10:42 AM)Rymax99 Wrote: [ -> ]

Quote:4. also have set all forums to 'moderate new posts', since spammers seemed to be able to post, even though they were not activated... should they be able to do that ?

That depends on permissions.

Quote:1. registration set for 'admin activation', and on the registration screen have a message (added at php, with link to email) that requires 'user' to email with answer, within week, to a question b4 activate.

That will most likely cause a few members to leave.

If you get specific spammers, such as carding spammers, kitchen, etc then you can use this plugin.
[/quote]