Question for admins re new accounts

kirkmc · #1

This has nothing to do with L19, but it's a phpBB question, and I'm wondering if anyone can help.

I run a forum for a charity, and it's getting inundated by spammers trying to set up accounts and post. I have new members in the mod queue, but there's getting to be tons of posts to delete. So I tried requiring admin activation for accounts, but there's scores of these every day, and with admin activation you have to receive an email for each new account. Is there any way anyone knows to limit new user accounts without having to weed through all the bogus ones?

Jordus · #2

AFAIK, there isn't a way to completely prevent spam account from being created, however many created do not post.

As for the captcha system, the latest update fixed it, but was cracked again in only a few days...

If you are running the latest version of phpbb3, I would recommend using the Q&A spybot countermeasure. Use a question that wouldn't be possible to generate an easy answer by looking at keywords from your site or a google search keyword...

Also, limit the amount of possible registration attempts..

*edit*
There is an easy admin shortcut for banning and deleting spammers through their profile... "administrate user" when you click that it takes you to the ACP and you can delete all posts from that spammer with the click of a button.

kirkmc · #3

Thanks for that. I know you can't stop accounts from being created, unless you require that potential users write something to the administrator about why they want to join. I don't know if there is a mod for that...

I'll look into the Q&A thing.

What do you mean "limit the amount of possible registration attempts?"

Re banning; yes, I know how to do that. As it is, new members are moderated until they have a post approved, so none of the posts actually get on the board. However, the other moderators (both women) are a bit skittish about some of the porn posts they have to moderate, as they often contain photos.

Jordus · #4

there is an option for how many attempts a user can make to register in one session (if the captcha answer is wrong)...

Jordus · #5

As for the photos, I think you can prevent this by editing the "newly registered users" group permissions. Disallow attachments... there may be other options too...

Make sure in user registration settings that you set it so new users are auto added to that group. You can set a post limit that will automatically move them into the regular group after so many posts.

kirkmc · #6

Thanks for the tip. I set up a Q&A captcha; I didn't even know that was there. It's a good idea, because this is a health-related charity, and everyone will know the right answer.

I found the registration attempts thing and set it to 3; that may be too much, I'll see what happens.

I do have new users set to be modded until one post is approved. It's easy to tell from a first post if they belong. As for attachments, I have that off, yet there are still pictures occasionally; I don't know why.

Thanks again for the help!

Question for admins re new accounts

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