Topic: Spam attacks the Forum (Read 14471 times)

vin_sun · « **on:** December 06, 2010, 12:12:41 »

Spam has started showing up in the Forum now. There is a possibility it is the same person registering himself with different identities but the common factor is that his country is always Afghanistan. I can't quite fathom how an Afghan would be involved with Ship Simulator when Afghanistan does not have a sea coast !!!

This is a nice and tidy Forum with a devoted interest in anything to do with commercial shipping. It is enough that our email applications are bogged with spam and the Forum should be the last place where we need it. I noticed it in the Dutch and French Forums but it has shown up in the English Forum too.

I have come across some other Forums who do not accept a registration immediately but only after auditing the applicant. If shipsim.com also adopts this method maybe we could succeed in keeping the "garbage folk" away. Though it would not be right to limit the Forum only to seafarers could we not limit it, in future, to only those who have legal versions of Ship Simulator ? That casual members have access to some common boards it only gives them the liberty to post spam there.

I am aware that moderators are doing the needful to delete "garbage" posts but if things go out of control it could become a major job for them.

Below is a self explanatory picture of a spam attack on a genuine topic.

vin_sun

Ballast · « **Reply #1 on:** December 06, 2010, 12:19:46 »

Hi Vin_Sun

Unfortunately the forum is already on MARSEC level 3..

Approving the members who sign up would be very unfriendly to them and scare new real members away. The people without a legal serial key are already limited to the public boards. If we seal it any further, the people who have questions about the demo will also be shut off.

The only thing can be done is keep on reporting them, the mods will send em to Davy Jones locker

vin_sun · « **Reply #2 on:** December 06, 2010, 12:27:12 »

Hi Ballast,

Thanks your prompt reply and I do understand your viewpoint.

You can count on me to report spam in the Forum.

Regards
vin_sun

sadsid (â€ 2016) · « **Reply #3 on:** December 06, 2010, 12:31:26 »

Hi vin_sun
Fred do'es a great job on these spambots but unfortunatly some are coming faster
than a speeding bullit

but we try thanks for you'r help

Eric

vin_sun · « **Reply #4 on:** December 06, 2010, 12:39:21 »

Quote from: sadsid on December 06, 2010, 12:31:26

...... thanks for you'r help
Eric

You're welcome Eric !

Regards
vin_sun

saltydog · « **Reply #5 on:** December 07, 2010, 11:48:32 »

I have noticed the same thing this morning..Already three meaningless topics which have just as fast been removed..
It's annoying.. Perhaps something the mods can keep an eye on..

ps: yes, also with Afghan flag, but a flag means nothing sometimes..

Denis · « **Reply #6 on:** December 07, 2010, 11:58:38 »

The mods actually keep an eye on, we remove them as fast as possible. If you see one of this message, and a few minutes later you see it has disappeared, that's because one of us removed them manually.

If it's annoying for you ... let me ensure you it's much more annoying for us

saltydog · « **Reply #7 on:** December 07, 2010, 12:04:52 »

Thanks Denis..Let's hope Spamalot betters his ways..

Ralphy · « **Reply #8 on:** December 07, 2010, 12:23:36 »

speaking of which, he has striked again

saltydog · « **Reply #9 on:** December 07, 2010, 12:40:53 »

Best to ignore him and let the mods deal with it..

Ralphy · « **Reply #10 on:** December 07, 2010, 13:05:35 »

yeh, whenever i find it i just report it

saltydog · « **Reply #11 on:** December 07, 2010, 13:24:59 »

He was here just a minute ago, called himself j454gfgfg@hotmail.com

Mad_Fred · « **Reply #12 on:** December 07, 2010, 17:50:05 »

Hi everyone,

'They' have obviously found a new way to circumvent the current security, at least, a few of them have.

Just so that you all know, we all very much appreciate your reports. As you can guess, there's lots of them coming in, so we simply don't have the time to write you all personal thank you notes.

But thank you all very much!!! You know how you all are, we're very glad you take the time to assist us in keeping the forum clean of such rubbish.

At the moment it's under investigation, with the help of the good SMF people, to get it all sorted. Up till then, we'll just keep on giving these silly spammers the boot. And your reports are an integral part of that, so thanks again everyone!!!

Kind Regards,
Fred

The Ferry Man · « **Reply #13 on:** December 08, 2010, 14:30:27 »

They're really having a field day today - been about a dozen postings today... $:-\$

vin_sun · « **Reply #14 on:** December 08, 2010, 14:33:59 »

You bet ! Have reported as many as I could.

I think they are using the Afghan flag as a "flag of convenience" ! In my opinion I think they are all originating from China.

ITF ! Help !!!!!

The Ferry Man · « **Reply #15 on:** December 08, 2010, 14:36:06 »

wytky7780 13:25:16 Posting a new topic in Ship Simulator Extremes.

here comes another one...

cr9fgyfD 13:26:09 Viewing cr9fgyfD's profile.

And here is one in waiting...

The Ferry Man · « **Reply #16 on:** December 08, 2010, 15:57:20 »

mark 14:55:41 Viewing hfgf899ggf's profile.
mark 14:58:09 Nothing, or nothing you can see...

Hasta lavista... Spammer

Please... don't come back

Mr Robville · « **Reply #17 on:** December 08, 2010, 16:14:43 »

the dude who's spamming most probably made a tool which automaticaly generates new email adresses and forum accounts, pretty stupid actualy to bomb a forum like this. a little optimism though, spammers always occur when a game/forum becomes more populair

this also happened on Mafascene (fansite for the game mafia) at the time Mafia II was going to release, the website had about 60 members each minute, the website was bombed by spammers, now the game seems dissapointing to most of the people, and the forum is quite empty now, and guess what? no spammers.

this is just a waste of his time in a sad attempt of keeping the mods busy. and if he's reading this and thinks "i only spent 2 minutes making that bot LULLLLZZZZZZZZZ!?!?!?" then it's 3 minutes of his time wasted

trying to give them a IP ban doesn't work either, they're most probably using a Proxy.

Captain Cadet · « **Reply #18 on:** December 09, 2010, 17:13:31 »

Quote from: Ballast on December 06, 2010, 12:19:46

Hi Vin_Sun

Unfortunately the forum is already on MARSEC level 3..

Approving the members who sign up would be very unfriendly to them and scare new real members away. The people without a legal serial key are already limited to the public boards. If we seal it any further, the people who have questions about the demo will also be shut off.

The only thing can be done is keep on reporting them, the mods will send em to Davy Jones locker

what do you mean by MARSEC level 3

TJK · « **Reply #19 on:** December 09, 2010, 17:16:05 »

read this http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MARSEC then you get answer on you question

saltydog · « **Reply #20 on:** December 09, 2010, 17:55:57 »

Quote from: mr robville on December 08, 2010, 16:14:43

and if he's reading this

If he really is from Afghanistan, it's possible he can't understand English at all, and is blissfully unaware of the hubbub about him..
So far all he has done is quote texts from commercial sites, and hasn't posted anything resembling comprehension..

The Ferry King · « **Reply #21 on:** December 09, 2010, 19:10:54 »

i hope the website stays carful more of these attacks
but just because a person is from afganistan doesnt mean that ALL afghans are bad

Captain Cadet · « **Reply #22 on:** December 11, 2010, 10:45:51 »

ive seen no spam

Mad_Fred · « **Reply #23 on:** December 11, 2010, 10:58:38 »

You're very welcome on behalf of the whole team.

Captain Cadet · « **Reply #24 on:** December 11, 2010, 13:41:51 »

Quote from: Mad_Fred on December 11, 2010, 10:58:38

You're very welcome on behalf of the whole team.

are you speeking to me
if so what do you mean

Author Topic: Spam attacks the Forum (Read 14471 times)

TJK