Why so many spam message in the forum ?

[bangkok]

A question for the admins.

Since a few weeks, there is an increasing number of spam messages polluting the forum. It's really annoying.

On other forums, using phpBB software, I don't see so many spam.

I'm not an expert. How come it's possible for a robot to create so many accounts here ?

[Klaus]

Hi Bangkok,

I also think thai is a severe admin issue!

I usually spend 1 to 20 (on a very bad day like yesterday) minutes cleaning the spam here manually
and hope that the team will soon allow me to delete the evil users, so cleaning will become a bit faster.


Best

Klaus

[bangkok]

I usually spend 1 to 20 (on a very bad day like yesterday) minutes cleaning the spam here manually
and hope that the team will soon allow me to delete the evil users, so cleaning will become a bit faster.

I understand better now ! Indeed they should give you the rights to delete those damned fake accounts ! Or to do it themselves. It's becoming an emergency now.

Otherwise, what's the point ? Robots will continue to post, ad vitam aeternam !!!

[BvG]

One of the problems is that the forum software is almost 5 years old. Older web-service software has known holes, weaknesses and exploits. This makes the live of spammers extremely easy.

[Mark]

Hi,

Yesterday and today, about a dozen of spam messages were posted on the forum and so far there was no one to remove them. Things seem to get worse over time.

I would like to request the web master to update the forum software and change policies to combat spam. The spam doesn't enhance user experience and gives an unprofessional impression of the product LiveCode. Moreover, one or two days presence in a forum is exactly what those spammers need, so they keep coming back.

Additionally, approximately 95% of all registered users are spammers. This spoils all the fun features on this forum, such as checking out the members list and see if your friend has registered already and checking out people who have a birthday today.

Please think about it.

Mark

[kevin11]

I agree.

I want to know where I can get some cheap ugg boots but find these forums are filled up with postings about software issues.

Seriously though, I've reported the spam and two days later it is still sitting there,....

[Klaus]

...Seriously though, I've reported the spam and two days later it is still sitting there,....

OH MY GOD! Poor Kevin!

Please keep in mind that we do this (spam detection/deleting) on a voluntary (sic!) base
and I did not have the time to check the forum for the last couple of days!

Today I deleted at least 100 spam postings and banned about 20 spammers, and I really
could have done something better with my time!


Best

Klaus

[Mark]

Hi Klaus,

I really appreciate your work and it is great that you are willing to spend your time deleting spam, but I presume you get tired of this too, eventually, as I get tired of marking messages as spam. Therefore my appeal to RunRev to organise this differently. The least RunRev can do is update the forum software to the latest version. A company that makes a million bugs... I mean bucks every year should be able to spend a tiny amount of resources on this spam problem instead of relying on voluntary labour.

Kind regards,

Mark

[Mark]

Hey Klaus,

Why did you delete your "amen"?

I just wanted to say sorry, I'm not reporting any more spam today. It has become too much. I estimate more than 50 message have been posted during the past few hours

Best,

Mark

[Klaus]

Hi Mark,

Hey Klaus,
Why did you delete your "amen"?

Hmm, I didn't!?

I just wanted to say sorry, I'm not reporting any more spam today. It has become too much. I estimate more than 50 message have been posted during the past few hours

Well, I did not have the time to chewck the forum for the last three days. And that is the result!
And I am actually tired of spending at least 20 minutes to "search and destroy" spammers here!


Best

Klaus

[Mark]

Hi Klaus,

I really remember you writing something like that and it doesn't show up anymore.

Yeah, 20 minutes per day is a lot. Are you currently the only one doing any moderation? I thought there was a nice team already.

Best,

Mark

[mwieder]

From this post http://forums.runrev.com/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=9135 apparently Heather's in charge of the forum software now. I don't know wtf she's doing, but it certainly isn't minding the store.

[Klaus]

Hi Mark,

Hi Klaus,
I really remember you writing something like that and it doesn't show up anymore.

Yes, sure I remember that, but I didn't delete it!?

Yeah, 20 minutes per day is a lot. Are you currently the only one doing any moderation? I thought there was a nice team already.

Well, looks like I am the only one who spends a lot of time here and thus fight spammers bit more than the rest of the team.


Best

Klaus

[bn]

Hi Klaus,

thanks for deleting the spam messages.

Is it helpful to report the spam messages for you? That is the little I can help to get rid of them.

Kind regards

Bernd

[FourthWorld]

Well, looks like I am the only one who spends a lot of time here and thus fight spammers bit more than the rest of the team.

This last weekend I was out of town so I couldn't lend a hand. Most days I log in two or three times a day and delete all reported spam and any I come across along the way (except in a couple forums where for some reason I've not been given access to help with that).

This morning I saw the number of spams and took a different tack: it's no longer practical to expect assistant moderators to delete individual messages. And as others have pointed out, leaving spammer accounts active still leaves spam in their profiles, so limiting what I can do to messages only is simply not effective.

I've requested elevated permissions to enable me to delete spam accounts, and am awaiting Heather's reply. In the meantime, I may delete some spam as I come across it, but it isn't a practical way to solve the problem and going forward I probably won't be putting as much energy into such ineffectual methods.

I appreciate your diligence, Kalus, but for myself, if I'm going to help out here I need to do so in a way that will actually be able to make a difference. Hopefully I'll have those elevated admin privileges soon and we'll see the spam rate drop off dramatically.