Spam Attack

[2E0JTP]

Most of it from PRC, automated and semi automated stuff... scourge of all forums of late. Some of it is really subtle.
Update the 'captcha''? Simple english language question to register? Ultimately, last resort ban gmail/hotmail and any PRC based addies... gmail seems the main choice from them.

eeep!

Once upon a time I would have thought that banning web mail addresses to be a good idea, but then my home PC crashed and took out my entire email client. I've also grown tired of changing email addresses each time I've changed ISP, so I have taken to using web mail services as a sort of 'off site' email back up. Gmail is particularly good as it allows you to download your email to a PC based client and check it from any web browser. Handy for this 'online' life style we all lead!

Long story short ... please don't ban web based email addresses from joining!

Add questions/math problems or just pre-moderate newbies! ;-)

[M0TZO]

eeep!

Once upon a time I would have thought that banning web mail addresses to be a good idea, but then my home PC crashed and took out my entire email client. I've also grown tired of changing email addresses each time I've changed ISP, so I have taken to using web mail services as a sort of 'off site' email back up. Gmail is particularly good as it allows you to download your email to a PC based client and check it from any web browser. Handy for this 'online' life style we all lead!

Long story short ... please don't ban web based email addresses from joining!

Add questions/math problems or just pre-moderate newbies! ;-)

OK, we actually use various methods, and seems to work.

We use a service which monitors around the web spamming IPs, usernames, and email addresses. We don't ban at the hostname level any email service, only this list which is updated regularly. If someone trys to sign up and are caught by this we are willing to help them, but's it's only happened once I sorted manually.

Newbies will also be moderated as well as requiring to complete a reCaptcha based query.

It seems to work, and only occasionally will moderated posts be delayed, usually due to working pattens or the admins of contest/hamfest weekends.

I would also like to point out that weekend of the 8th to 10th October various admin members will be at the RSGB HFC in Milton Keynes, so moderated postings maybe delayed longer than normal while we get drunk, erm, I mean attend lectures and socialise.

[2E0JTP]

I suppose the obvious question then, is exactly how long do you need to moderate a new members posts before you are happy they aren't trying to sell you penile enhancements? :-)

[M0TZO]

It's a low number, but I think the script isn't running properly. I would ask my Web man to look into the cron scripts as should have unmoderated you, but didn't, but he's in hospital at this time.

It might have been you posted again before the hourly script ran though. I'll monitor this closely today.

[2E0JTP]

I'm not knocking it. It's a very sensible idea. I'd much prefer to be a member of a well moderated forum, than a member of a forum that allows anarchy to reign. I've seen the results of poorly moderated forums.

[ei7gnb]

[snip]

I would also like to point out that weekend of the 8th to 10th October various admin members will be at the RSGB HFC in Milton Keynes, so moderated postings maybe delayed longer than normal while we get drunk, erm, I mean attend lectures and socialise.

I won't be, due to scholastic related logistical reasons, so as I've said on HamTests, I'll keep a closer eye here over Friday, Saturday and Sunday!

Jon, ON/EI7GNB