Anti-Bot Measures

TehBorken · May 27 07 07:41

Because we've seen a rise in the number of 'bots' ([a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_bot#Malicious_purposes"]automated robot posters[/a]) dumping spam into the forum, we'll be installing a simple anti-bot trap in the next day or so. It'll ask you to type a few letters/numbers into a field to post your message.

It's not a distorted graphic, it's just some simple specially-formatted text that bots won't be able to figure out but that people can see clearly. It won't stop human scumbags from posting their penis-pill junk, but every little bit helps.

TehBorken · May 27 07 09:10

[span style="font-weight: bold; background-color: rgb(17, 17, 17); color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"]UPDATE: Installed and running. Please let me know if you have any trouble at all with it. [/span]

P.C. · May 27 07 11:46

Will we have to punch this in with EVERY POST?

P.C. · May 27 07 11:50

Aaaaa.....I see that I do.

kitten · May 27 07 11:51

Hi, Princess of the paint brush! How is it going today?

TehBorken · May 27 07 11:52

P.C. wrote:
Aaaaa.....I see that I do.

I'm looking into ways to make it disappear after your first post of the day or not appear at all for registered users. May take a few days for that to happen. I hate doing this stuff but the pills, porn & mortgages spam was becoming more and more frequent.

kitten · May 27 07 11:55

It's going to be a bit awkward for us slower typists. It takes longer to shift up and down than it does for a one-word response. However, I think it is a very good idea to have it in place.KXCmcT

P.C. · May 27 07 12:00

lol....I just PM'd that very question TB.....to apply it to guests only.

Upper case, lower case....numbers, upper case. [img style="CURSOR: pointer" onclick=url(this.src); src="http://www.cheesebuerger.de/images/more/bigs/c025.gif" border=0]

....and I just noticed, that if I have to hit re-post if another message have been posted.....I have to type in another code.

kitten · May 27 07 12:03

I suppose it's worth it for the added security, but it will drag out the responses.

P.C. · May 27 07 12:06

Oy.

P.C. · May 27 07 12:08

I suppose on the up side, it will surely cut down on one or two word responses. It isn't worth the effort......lol

Orik · May 27 07 12:09

im not a fan of such a device...
damn them bot spammers, making life harder for us regular john q posters...

KbzGMf

kitten · May 27 07 12:12

But that would mean losing "Let's try a little..." and "I am a - z", two of my favourites.

P.C. · May 27 07 03:05

I shouldn't have come on so negative. I don't mean to be busting TB chops. I know he's got a ship load of that crap to deal with and it's time consuming as well as annoying. I have faith that he'll come up with a workable solution.

Sportsdude · May 27 07 04:52

Hmmm, This will really slow down the conversations, I think.