Horrid spam

[Son of a gun-ner]

Thanks Terry

[jackalope]

Thanks Terry

Very welcome all.

[c.rainford73]

Yes indeed Terry your efforts are greatly appreciated

[wibblywobbly]

Just so that you all know, it isn't always possible to spot the spammers, they may attack just after a mod has logged off, and they know how to exploit the time zone weaknesses. If anyone spots spam then feel free to PM a mod, or all of us. One of us is likely to be awake, and we will get an alert that a PM has been sent in our email. At that point we can log in and deal with it.

No spam can exist for more than a couple of hours as one of us is likely to log in and check new posts.

The one thing that we would ask you not to do is open the links, or add to the threads that they create. Spammers are automated tech, not people. Posting comments is quite pointless as there isn't anyone at the other end reading any responses. It's a pc and a server.

If you add to a spam post, then when a mod clicks on View New Posts, they will only see that a post has been made by a valid forum member, the spam will be invisible until someone alerts us.

If you open a link then it sends a signal to the server that the spam post was a success, and they will consider the forum vulnerable, at which point they will send more. The best option is to ignore the posts, and get them deleted.

Thanks guys.

[Son of a gun-ner]

So, who was it that clicked on a link the first time then

When I logged on, there were only half a dozen unread normal posts, I read a private message, went back to unread posts and there were loads more. Waited for them to disappear, but when I saw Mr monkey leave, I knew how John felt, and sadly I didn't have a dead terrorist to throw out the window, so, I messaged all four mods and you Rob, by then it was up to three pages of new posts by three spam posters, one each in individual sections, then they stopped in vendors new items, and went away one by one after a long pause.

Quite an impressive program, with title etc changes.

[wibblywobbly]

You have to remember that spammers are not people, they are IT systems. They generate millions of spam messages a minute, and send them all over the globe. They have the ability to generate names, passwords, navigate through security checks, and create posts. Once the system detects a successful login it will read the forum topics, navigate through a forum, and post randomly. Once the system knows how to get through the new member security, it can keep doing it. If the security is changed, it will simply drop through its library of security system bypasses until it finds one that works. It will do this a thousand times, and when it fails, it only takes a human to access a forum manually, identify the security system, and add it to the library.

Unfortunately there is nothing that can be done to stop them without spending a million pounds on a foolproof new member login system. All that we can do is delete posts and ban the spam name....at which point the Spam systems just start again at square one. It is, and always will be a never ending battle. It goes with the territory.

[Pak36]

spam is a forum issue everywhere.
The important things to remember are:

1) Don't click on anything in it
2) Report it
3) Do NOT post in the thread

Active threads fropm spammers just confirm the target and invite more spam. Ignored threads are far less likely to attract more spam. As mentioned above, these are automated systems trawling forum sites, e-mail servers and anywhere where they are able to access anything. Activity attracts more attention. The quicker it's reported and removed the better. Clicking links, as well as potentially spreading virus nasties also confirms activity and will initiate further spam.

Spammers are like germs. Easily spread. Just wash your hands

[jarndice]

I would merely add that when you find "SPAM" of course do NOT click on any link BUT if you do not know if it has been reported to a Moderator then DO Click on the red exclamation mark at the top of the scam and depending of whether it tells you if it has or has not been already reported either DO report it to the Mods or go read some untainted mail.

[Son of a gun-ner]

3) Do NOT post in the thread

Yeah, is wrong for many reasons