Just in case

[temi]

I have often wondered why some people register without posting and just disappeared, I realised that just registering and completing you website url will give your site some PR, our members list page is PR4 (http://www.ukwebmasterworld.com/members/list/), I found some really vile websites I have unwittingly been linking to, I have removed such sites and disable the user account details of registered members who have never posted or who posted one a long time ago and disappeared. I a sure I have not tampered with active members details but if you account goes funny please let me know.

[OldWelshGuy]

Temi,

most of these will be bot automated submissions. Unfortunately it happens all the time with forums, it is a way of spamming .

[Duke]

How can bots register if there's a scrambled security code to enter? I thought that was the sole purpose of security codes.

[crowebird]

Exactly, the security code is not needed then, if bots can get past the security code then it is pointless and a new system needs to be developed. There needs to be a way, so if someone registers, signs up, then they must post at least 5 posts in say 2 weeks to a month of registering to keep their account, or to be able to display a website in their profile

cheers

[OldWelshGuy]

If there is a security code in place, then they are manual submissions. I check my forums manually and remove links from new members. If they are PRN links, then I delete the account, and block the IP.

[Duke]

Well you must run one hell of a popular website OWG.

I'm curious though, you started off talking about spambots and changed gears to manually registered human spam. Is there a way for a person to go through the spambot logs and actually register at the sites? Also, if it is a human registering from info gained from a spam bot, why is your site being targeted so much, don't they cruise the entire net or are they programmable to only crawl a pre-set theme of websites?

[OldWelshGuy]

all you have to do is search for +phpbb +register or +vbulletin +register then scrape the results and you have a set of sites to spam. If you want them on topic then add 'rugby' or music or whatever your looking for.

My site gets off quite lightly, I only get about 20 or so a week Aardvark forums get flippin hundreds. posters as well. Paul was telling me that he had thousands of spam posts across his forums in a single day.

My site is about rugby, and is not targetted often. but like Temi said, the profile page is a backlink and many people don't bother checking. As for going through the spambot logs etc, I guess they could, but as I don't do it I am not sure. Sorry.

[Paul_KY]

What are those people thinking? Do they really believe spamming the msg boards will enable them to have a successful, long term online business? :roll:

[Paul_KY]

What are those people thinking? Do they really believe spamming the msg boards will enable them to have a successful, long term online business? :roll:

[crowebird]

what is with the double post? haha your breaking my rules! admin...