Free State Wyoming Forum

Wyoming Research and Information => General Wyoming Living Information => Topic started by: marciab on February 08, 2012, 04:59:53 PM

Title: Porn Spam
Post by: marciab on February 08, 2012, 04:59:53 PM
Whose job is it to lock or eliminate porn and spam, such as the one in General Wyoming Living about young girls?
Title: Re: Porn Spam
Post by: sbeckman on February 08, 2012, 05:14:23 PM
I report these things all the time.  The near "Kiddie Port" is particularly concerning.

I offered to moderate them and look into how some sort of CAPTCHA could be put in place to prevent at least the bots from spamming us.

Something to prevent unregistered folks from posting is really needed here.
Title: Re: Porn Spam
Post by: marciab on February 08, 2012, 07:13:09 PM
I agree completely.  Must not bother sone people.
Title: Re: Porn Spam
Post by: MamaLiberty on February 09, 2012, 06:09:35 AM
I report them each morning...
Title: Re: Porn Spam
Post by: Old Ironsights on February 09, 2012, 06:23:48 AM
I report them each morning...

Nana the Nursemaid, keeping us kiddies safe in the playroom!  :D ;D

Thanks Mama.
Title: Re: Porn Spam
Post by: MamaLiberty on February 09, 2012, 06:49:23 AM
I'm a senior admin on another forum and spend a few minutes each morning swatting spam there too. Any spam, doesn't matter. I figure that there's plenty of porn available elsewhere for those who really want it. :) 
Title: Re: Porn Spam
Post by: Kelly on February 09, 2012, 08:37:32 AM
I agree, Marcia...and the child porn is especially disturbing.

You could report them to their ISP for illegal activity but they just move onto another.

Special place in hell for those SOB's...

Kelly

Title: Re: Porn Spam
Post by: manfromnevada on February 09, 2012, 08:46:48 AM
There are lots of unpleasant things in life.
They are usually removed here within a few hours.
Don't lose any sleep over it.

Mac
Title: Re: Porn Spam
Post by: Boston on February 10, 2012, 06:15:13 PM
We try to keep up with the deletions, and as long as there's an admin logged on,
we do O.K.

The forum has some bug or hole, evidently, which allows such unregistered postings.
We'll look into it.

Boston
Title: Re: Porn Spam
Post by: rhodges on February 10, 2012, 09:25:52 PM

The forum has some bug or hole, evidently, which allows such unregistered postings.


The spammers were registered.  I delete their accounts all the time.

I think the spam would be reduced considerably if new users had to be confirmed by a human admin before they could post.  On the other hand, that could add a fair workload for the admins.  Perhaps new users could be restricted (for posting) to a sub-forum just for the purpose of introducing themselves and asking for general posting privileges?  Of course, that sub-forum could fill up with the same spam...
Title: Re: Porn Spam
Post by: sbeckman on February 11, 2012, 04:09:54 AM

The forum has some bug or hole, evidently, which allows such unregistered postings.


The spammers were registered.  I delete their accounts all the time.

I think the spam would be reduced considerably if new users had to be confirmed by a human admin before they could post.  On the other hand, that could add a fair workload for the admins.  Perhaps new users could be restricted (for posting) to a sub-forum just for the purpose of introducing themselves and asking for general posting privileges?  Of course, that sub-forum could fill up with the same spam...


How do other forums deal with this?  As a participant in quite a few, I have never seen this sort of thing?
And these are very large forums by comparison?

If these were registered, does that mean they had to have been registered by a person (not some sort of bot)?  Does the registration process have some sort of CAPTCHA mechanism?

Perhaps this sub-form could be ONLY visible to admin staff and not to the rest of the forum?  They wouldn't need to know this. A quick assessment that we wouldn't even be aware of would take care of the problems.


Title: Re: Porn Spam
Post by: MamaLiberty on February 11, 2012, 05:15:12 AM
I'm a Sr. Administrator for a very large forum. There are four other administrators and two moderators for specific sub-boards. At least one administrator is on line all the time. Our members flag problem posts and the notice goes out to all admins and mods. Someone takes them down within a short time. I look at the new accounts at least daily and eliminate those with spam or other violations of our TOC. Very little ever gets into the boards, actually.

We have discussed using captcha and other methods to verify new accounts, but this has worked for us so far. Just takes a little time and effort on our part.

The one difference I see here is that new accounts can start threads. At TMM, they must post at least 5 responses to other threads before they can start one. Most of the spam accounts that are opened have zero posts.
Title: Re: Porn Spam
Post by: manfromnevada on February 11, 2012, 09:34:22 AM
Much ado about nothing. (In my NSHO)
The spam appears.
It gets reported.
It gets deleted.
Usually all in the matter of a few hours.

It's like roadkill. It's unpleasant to look at. When you see it, turn away if it bothers you. Don't gawk. You'll pass right by it and it'll soon be gone from your view.

Mac
Title: Re: Porn Spam
Post by: Old Ironsights on February 11, 2012, 11:39:35 AM
Much ado about nothing. (In my NSHO)
The spam appears.
It gets reported.
It gets deleted.
Usually all in the matter of a few hours.

It's like roadkill. It's unpleasant to look at. When you see it, turn away if it bothers you. Don't gawk. You'll pass right by it and it'll soon be gone from your view.

Mac
The problem is if the .gov anti-freedom web watchers see it before it's deleted and decide to raid the servers/steal the domain etc.
Title: Re: Porn Spam
Post by: sbeckman on February 11, 2012, 03:54:13 PM
Quote
The problem is if the .gov anti-freedom web watchers see it before it's deleted and decide to raid the servers/steal the domain etc.

THIS ^^^^^^^^


Particularly when it comes to something that begins to look like Kiddie Porn. 

The run of the mill spammers are just a PITA.  Like the one I just now reported about 10 seconds ago.
Title: Re: Porn Spam
Post by: adambomb on February 11, 2012, 04:29:09 PM
I remember a mention recently about updating forum software?  Spammers are a sort of evolving threat, so I would guess that keeping forum software up to date could keep it so we're only 1-2 steps behind them.  I'm active on another forum that's relatively smallish without a lot of admin overhead that also happens to run an old version of forum software that has similar problems with spammers.  Although it's a forum for race car engineering geeks in college, and most of the spam is for kitchen cabinets and other lame garbage (who the hell would buy kitchen cabinets from a spam bot anyway ??? ).  Not so much of a threat there...

From what I've seen they've found their way around Captcha and other "bot proof" technologies by paying people a menial fee to manually post.  Can't say I can think of too much to help, other than the solution might need to be more than simply bot proof.
Title: Re: Porn Spam
Post by: adambomb on February 11, 2012, 04:34:35 PM
Quote
The problem is if the .gov anti-freedom web watchers see it before it's deleted and decide to raid the servers/steal the domain etc.

THIS ^^^^^^^^


Particularly when it comes to something that begins to look like Kiddie Porn. 

This reminds me of how Bill O'Reilly described 4chan as a kiddie porn site based on the fact that it's a vast, largely anonymous image board that just so happened, due to its open and relatively anonymous nature, to end up having a small number of kiddie porn pictures on it.  And you know how people like to believe things they hear on the news...

Libertarians and anarchists are already targeted as being sexual deviants, racists, etc. (mostly due to mindless drabble from folks like Bill O'Reilly, Rush Limbaugh, etc...), don't need to give them any fuel!
Title: Re: Porn Spam
Post by: rhodges on February 11, 2012, 07:58:00 PM
As far as I know, regular forum people can not upload pictures to the server.  So technically, the forum does not and CAN not have porn on it.

They can, of course, post links to images.  If your browser decides to load an image from some other server, based on some text that someone put in a message, that is not the fault of the forum and the forum's server.
Title: Re: Porn Spam
Post by: Old Ironsights on February 12, 2012, 07:07:00 AM
As far as I know, regular forum people can not upload pictures to the server.  So technically, the forum does not and CAN not have porn on it.

They can, of course, post links to images.  If your browser decides to load an image from some other server, based on some text that someone put in a message, that is not the fault of the forum and the forum's server.


That hasn't stopped File Sharing passthrough companies from being shut down for simply facilitating the link...
Title: Re: Porn Spam
Post by: Paul Bonneau on February 12, 2012, 08:30:16 PM
Quote
From what I've seen they've found their way around Captcha and other "bot proof" technologies by paying people a menial fee to manually post.

No, I think the bot software has gotten so good that it can read and decipher captchas. That is why captchas are getting harder and harder for humans to decipher. I hate the damn things.

I don't see how they get by the requirement for new users to receive a confirmation email. It must be a hole in the old software we are running.

Quote
I think the spam would be reduced considerably if new users had to be confirmed by a human admin before they could post.  On the other hand, that could add a fair workload for the admins.  Perhaps new users could be restricted (for posting) to a sub-forum just for the purpose of introducing themselves and asking for general posting privileges?  Of course, that sub-forum could fill up with the same spam...

We might give delete privileges to all users in that board only.

I also like the idea of requiring 5 response postings before being able to start a new thread. It's my impression the large majority of spams are new threads.

To do any of these things, or upgrading software which is the correct first step, requires an admin who is around. We don't have that. IIRC I once volunteered to take that over with the proviso I could get some help from Joseph as a backup when I couldn't figure things out, but that went nowhere.
Title: Re: Porn Spam
Post by: Vince on September 28, 2012, 05:55:10 AM
Ok, as a rule I NEVER respond to these "leak thru" messages; our forum guys do a good job catching and vaporizing them.

Some of the text here is eye catching:

Quote
As potentate internet be worthwhile for problem instructors bring forth she or he stunning acquaintances influential let go 20 inhibition which you keister 30mph prepay factors, barring colleges substantially gathered spots.

or this:

Quote
They brawls you spinal column bikers disgust their hither be communicated driver's seat, profit what patent serve necessitates lapse your kulki gejszy instructors bared these accessible action. leadership range is go off at a tangent usually travel-ling tattle on their voice-over round slows anyway exploring.

I seem to remember someone on the net expounding on this type of creative textual dyslexia.  I am not saying that I'm happy to see it pop up on the forum (well, it IS better than kiddie p*rn) but it can at least briefly amuse.

Anyone remember the name they gave this type of jumble speak? 
Title: Re: Porn Spam
Post by: manfromnevada on September 28, 2012, 08:13:48 AM
Vince asked:
Anyone remember the name they gave this type of jumble speak? 

Yes, it's called "Presidential campaign speech."  >:D


Mac
Title: Re: Porn Spam
Post by: Vince on September 28, 2012, 09:01:30 AM
Mac,

Kinda unfair to the spammers, don't you think?  :D ;D

Neither one of the so called majors sounds half as good!
Title: Re: Porn Spam
Post by: manfromnevada on September 28, 2012, 05:33:31 PM
My apologies to the synthesized text program!
1,000,000,000,000 monkeys on typewriters can produce much more meaningful thought than what comes out of either candidate's mouth.

Mac
Title: Re: Porn Spam
Post by: 300dragonflies on September 28, 2012, 06:44:45 PM
The techical term for that is "word hash."

You mean, when I've been reporting posts for being "word hash spam" nobody knew what I meant?  :o
Title: Re: Porn Spam
Post by: Boston on September 30, 2012, 05:44:37 PM
Quote
I don't see how they get by the requirement for new users to receive a confirmation email. It must be a hole in the old software we are running.
My thoughts also, Paul, thanks.

Folks, we are working towards a new forum Adminmeister, software, etc.
Currently snagged on something, but that will break free pretty soon.
Thanks for everyone's forebearance!

Boston
Title: Re: Porn Spam
Post by: adambomb on October 02, 2012, 11:50:31 AM
My apologies to the synthesized text program!
1,000,000,000,000 monkeys on typewriters can produce much more meaningful thought than what comes out of either candidate's mouth.

Mac

Sometimes it's amazing how willfully meaningless their speeches can be.  How so many words can convey absolutely nothing, yet people still consider them "great speakers."  Reminds me a lot of Atlas Shrugged at times.
Title: Re: Porn Spam
Post by: rhodges on October 02, 2012, 12:24:05 PM
Sometimes it's amazing how willfully meaningless their speeches can be.  How so many words can convey absolutely nothing, yet people still consider them "great speakers." 

Most people do not notice the gaping potholes in the road. Their minds skip over the missing pieces and "fill in the blanks" from their own context, which is mostly what they expect or desire to hear. The speaker says nothing and the audience hears exactly what they hoped to hear. Each listener gets a speech custom provided by his or her subconscious. Putting facts in the speech would ruin that effect.
Title: Re: Porn Spam
Post by: manfromnevada on October 02, 2012, 08:23:24 PM
Yup, just like "Hope and Change". It's what you want it to be!
And now, "Forward!"  Is that like "Forward over the abyss?"

Mac
Title: Re: Porn Spam
Post by: Terence on October 02, 2012, 08:55:34 PM
Sometimes it's amazing how willfully meaningless their speeches can be.  How so many words can convey absolutely nothing, yet people still consider them "great speakers." 

Most people do not notice the gaping potholes in the road. Their minds skip over the missing pieces and "fill in the blanks" from their own context, which is mostly what they expect or desire to hear. The speaker says nothing and the audience hears exactly what they hoped to hear. Each listener gets a speech custom provided by his or her subconscious. Putting facts in the speech would ruin that effect.

Well said. People do this while talking with each other, too, sadly.

Terence
Title: Re: Porn Spam
Post by: marciab on October 03, 2012, 08:07:03 PM
Have not noticed the disgusting porn since I asked about this a long time ago.  Good job getting rid of it and thank you.
Title: Re: Porn Spam
Post by: manfromnevada on October 04, 2012, 09:43:06 AM
Here's a technique which I find very effective for unwanted porn spam.

1. As soon as you see it, click the "back" button on your browser.
or
2. As soon as you see it, click to another page.

Problem solved. Don't like it? Don't view it.  ;D

Mac
Title: Re: Porn Spam
Post by: sbeckman on October 04, 2012, 12:20:21 PM
Here's a technique which I find very effective for unwanted porn spam.

1. As soon as you see it, click the "back" button on your browser.
or
2. As soon as you see it, click to another page.

Problem solved. Don't like it? Don't view it.  ;D

Mac

Yep, that works every time!

Of course if you happen to inadvertently run across some that you do like...Just Right Click and "Bookmark This Page"   :D :D :D :D