Anti-Bot Measures

[Sean]

Granted, I have no idea how the board software works, but I think it might be worth investigating if measures like these:
http://custom.simplemachines.org/mods/i ... p?mod=1134
http://custom.simplemachines.org/mods/index.php?mod=999

...Can be added to the registration process.

As of right now, a new registrant must know one of us from another forum, in order to let RJ know not to delete them with the hordes of spam bots. Not sure if phpBB has any options like the ones I linked to, but I think that the current system is costing us new members, as the number of new members that we know from elsewhere is small, and those who find us through other means have a high probability of being deleted.

I'm making this a public thread so that forum members who run their own boards, and anyone else with ideas can chime in.

[RJDiogenes]

I'll definitely take a look at those. Prospective members who don't know us have a 100% chance of being deleted at this point; we get a minimum of 80-something and sometimes more than 100 Bots in a day. Most of them are obvious, but there's no way I can investigate the iffy ones to determine their legitimacy. I'd love to have some screening system in place.

[Lupine]

What about establishing an E-mail address with Yahoo or whoever and having perspective applicants email that address? Would that provide some degree of screening?

[RJDiogenes]

That's a really good idea. I wonder if we could even establish an email address at nusseymagazine.com or renextbbs.com for that purpose.

[Lupine]

^That would work.

If it could be done.

[RJDiogenes]

I'll have to ask Elmo if we can set up something like that.

[RJDiogenes]

Somebody I know at Terran Posted this helpful info. Perhaps we can use this technique to keep out all of the Bots.

[Unicron]

I noticed today when I went to login, I got a message saying I'd exceeded the normal maximum. I was able to get in with no problems by following the security procedure, but considering I'm only on infrequently to begin with, that seems a little odd to me.

[RJDiogenes]

Yeah, that's happened to a couple of us lately. Luckily, it seems to be easily remedied.

[Renie]

I think it's easy enough to close the board to new registrants; that is, make registration invitation-only. I'll see if there's an easy mod for it somewhere...

On the flood message, I've gotten that, too. Fracking weird. I'll have to search for the issue on the phpbb boards.

Thanks for the vigilance, folks, like usual!!

[RJDiogenes]

Eternal vigilance is the price of Renaissance Next. Or something.

[mudshark]

Eternal vigilance is the price of Renaissance Next. Or something.

Not enough characters for it to be "swordfish" - hmph.

[RJDiogenes]

We could invite Halle Berry or Hugh Jackman....

[mudshark]

We could invite Halle Berry or Hugh Jackman....

Eh, I was thinking more of the source than of the recent title-as-allusion:

[RJDiogenes]

Heh. I don't know if I've seen that, but the picture alone is hilarious.