IMPORTANT. PLEASE READ: Don't retort, post REPORT!

Gordon

Hi all. As a lot of you know, we're getting loads of spam. I'm also seeing lots of people reply to obvious spam threads, knowing that the OP is a spammer, but posting for the craic.

Please, when it comes to spam threads/posts; either take action or don't take action, but whichever you choose, don't reply to spam. If you want to do something about it: REPORT, don't retort! These spam bots aren't able to read what you reply, they don't check their PMs, they don't give a f*ck about what's going on around them, they are bots. There is no point in replying, it makes no difference to the bot, and actually makes things worse for us.

I've been sending out the below PM to people that I see doing this, it explains a little better.

Gordon wrote:

Hi there, I'm just sending you a wee stock PM to ask you not to reply to spam threads in future please.

By replying to a spam thread, you effectively raise it to the top of the forum, giving it more visibility to other people, who may also reply to the thread and do the same thing. This is a problem on 4 levels:

Firstly, some spammers will tend to insert hidden links that track their level of success, so if you bump a thread, more people will view it and the spammer will think that their tactic is working and will therefore pummel us with more spam as they see boards.ie as being a good target to get views.

Secondly, you're creating work for Mods and Admins. We rely on boards users to notify us of spam, this is how we catch it and stop it quickly. The more a spam thread is bumped, the more people will notify us of spam, this increases our workload as we have to sift through more duplicated reports.

Thirdly, you're making the spam more prevalent by bumping it. Bumping a thread up the forum gives people the impression that spam is always there, so it degrades the impression people will have of the site.

Fourthly, probably more importantly, giving spam more visibility may lead innocent parties to think that a link is genuine and click it. This may trigger viruses or phishing websites causing monetary or digital damage to a user.

Can I ask that instead of posting on a spam thread in future, you report it please? To report spam, just copy the link of the spammers profile, go here (Feedback forum, thread entitled Spammer Notification Thread) and click 'post reply'.

Cheers

I really don't want to go down the route of warning people officially, but if I keep having to send out PMs to people to point this out, I may have to.

Mods, would you be OK stickying this thread just for a day or so to get coverage? It only seems to be Afterhours posters that reply to spam at the moment.

Cheers!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=anwy2MPT5RE

biko

Stuck for a day or two.

chin_grin

The day the lulz died. Aw.

But yeah, makes sense...in AH of all places!

Gordon

chin_grin wrote: »

The day the lulz died. Aw.

If a great loss is felt from the withdrawal of lulzing at spam, we're all in trouble!

MagicMarker

I'm putting this on a t-shirt.

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar

why dos it make things worse for boards?

Gummy Panda

I blame Phasers!

She tried to make those bots her friends

The court has ordered me to call every person in town to apologize for my telemarketing scam. I'm sorry.

If you can find it in your heart to forgive me, send one dollar to :
Sorry Dude,
742 Evergreen Terrace,
Springfield.

You have the power!

Gordon

MagicMarker wrote: »

I'm putting this on a t-shirt.

Miniature flags too please?

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar wrote: »

why dos it make things worse for boards?

I explained that in the PM quote there.

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar

im not reading all that
but i'll bump the thread so other people might

Gordon

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar wrote: »

im not reading all that
but i'll bump the thread so other people might

Get the facts
Ask a question
Pointed to the facts
Don't read facts.
???
Profit

this dress is too sexy for my sister?

chin_grin

Gordon wrote: »

If a great loss is felt from the withdrawal of lulzing at spam, we're all in trouble!

Well "lulz'ing" at the replies of spam. That's what I meant. The actual spam can fupp the fupp right off.

some random drunk

I replied to the spam before reading this thread, sorry Gordon, won't do it again. In a way I'll miss the "dress too sexy for my sister" stuff though, it's kinda a boards meme now.

chin_grin

some random drunk wrote: »

I replied to the spam before reading this thread, sorry Gordon, won't do it again. In a way I'll miss the "dress too sexy for my sister" stuff though, it's kinda a boards meme now.

No way is it on par with getting kicked in the face, or snyper snyping.

Gordon

chin_grin wrote: »

Well "lulz'ing" at the replies of spam. That's what I meant. The actual spam can fupp the fupp right off.

I know what you meant, hence the comment

some random drunk wrote: »

I replied to the spam before reading this thread, sorry Gordon, won't do it again. In a way I'll miss the "dress too sexy for my sister" stuff though, it's kinda a boards meme now.

No probs dude FYI, that spammer that you responded to was one of the hidden link spammers, so they now have your IP address. It's nothing to worry about, but the more people that would have clicked on the thread, the more people the spammers see.

the groutch

bluewolf wrote: »

this dress is too sexy for my sister?

REPORTED! :pac:

some random drunk

Gordon wrote: »

I know what you meant, hence the comment

No probs dude FYI, that spammer that you responded to was one of the hidden link spammers, so they now have your IP address. It's nothing to worry about, but the more people that would have clicked on the thread, the more people the spammers see.

What do you mean by hidden link spammer? I didnt click on the link in the post, how would the spammer have my IP address? How does it work?

stupidusername

Oopsie. I would've been a serial replier but def won't do it any more. Soz and all.

Though I will really miss the lulz

Gordon

some random drunk wrote: »

What do you mean by hidden link spammer? I didnt click on the link in the post, how would the spammer have my IP address? How does it work?

Actually, my apologies, it wasn't that spammer I'm thinking of, please ignore what I said.

Maybe 'hidden link' isn't quite right to use in this case, 'hidden image' is more appropriate. Some spammers place hidden images within their posts, that are in fact scripts held on their server. If you open a thread with this image, they will see your IP address and timestamp it. They can't hack into your computer with this info (I think!) but the more info spammers have, the worse it is for everyone.

The hidden image may be a moot point in Afterhours though as images are disabled.

stupidusername

But if we open the thread to report it...

Gordon

You don't have to open the thread to report it, just copy the thread link if you like.

The Recliner

Gordon wrote: »

You don't have to open the thread to report it, just copy the thread link if you like.

Or click on the user profile of the thread started and copy that into the spammers thread in Feedback

phasers

Gummy Panda wrote: »

I blame Phasers!

She tried to make those bots her friends

It worked too, I have some wonderful Asian penpals now.


Letters are a bit repetitive though.

Sindri

Gordon wrote: »

Actually, my apologies, it wasn't that spammer I'm thinking of, please ignore what I said.

Maybe 'hidden link' isn't quite right to use in this case, 'hidden image' is more appropriate. Some spammers place hidden images within their posts, that are in fact scripts held on their server. If you open a thread with this image, they will see your IP address and timestamp it. They can't hack into your computer with this info (I think!) but the more info spammers have, the worse it is for everyone.

The hidden image may be a moot point in Afterhours though as images are disabled.

After I started reporting spam I got a call from an Indian lady asking me was I the main user of 'the' computer and now my computer keeps running really slow. It could be the porn but I dunno. May I have reparations from Boards please?

Dravokivich

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar wrote: »

im not reading all that
but i'll bump the thread so other people might

TLDR version:

Just don't do it

Micky Dolenz

Sindri wrote: »

After I started reporting spam I got a call from an Indian lady asking me was I the main user of 'the' computer and now my computer keeps running really slow. It could be the porn but I dunno. May I have reparations from Boards please?

What?? There's porn on the Internet

Dravokivich

Micky Dolenz wrote: »

What?? There's porn on the Internet

No it's all on Sindri's computer. Do try to keep up Micky.

Sindri

Not ALL :rolleyes: of it. Most of it.

Immaculate Pasta

Sticky thread at the top of After Hours!?!?

Don't be flash, Gordon.

Earthhorse

Got it.

So, from now on, when I see a spammer thread I will post "REPORT".

im invisible

Where am i going to get my LED shoelaces now?

Fighting Irish

No problems, would want to get an official warning O_o

Rabies

My sexy girlfriend tells me to do it.

I'll stop now

Born to Die

But without the spam where will we get humour in AH?

TeddyTedson

Some of the spam has been real people too don't forget. It don't respond to the *****.

cocoshovel

I know they are bots but I still sometimes respond to them (as well as report) if I see them in AH and its particularly stupid. I wont reply to them anymore though.

also I should point out that Aardvark completely failed. The Anime forum is still getting boatloads of spam, perhaps even more. I sometimes view it to see the entire first page with just spam threads, the spam often sits there for a good several hours before being removed too.

Gordon

cocoshovel wrote: »

I know they are bots but I still sometimes respond to them (as well as report) if I see them in AH and its particularly stupid. I wont reply to them anymore though.

also I should point out that Aardvark completely failed. The Anime forum is still getting boatloads of spam, perhaps even more. I sometimes view it to see the entire first page with just spam threads, the spam often sits there for a good several hours before being removed too.

I wouldn't say Aardvark failed. In the last week it's maybe had about 200 new threads created in it. It's a great honeytrap for spam, but no it doesn't stop spam, spam is unstoppable. It has reduced sitewide spam a bit though, I'm sure of that. If you could see the Aardvark forum with my view, it's absolutely chocka with deleted spam.

Maybe instead of reporting the posts, if it's obvious bot spam, can you post it in the link I've posted in the OP? If you report spambots as posts (wee exclamation mark on the left hand side of the post) it sends a message to the Mods of the forum, who in turn will delete and forum ban the user but more likely - post on the spam thread I linked to in the OP. If you report spam directly on that thread, a passing Admin will see the report and act on it faster, cutting out the Mods.

Vain

http://cdn.memegenerator.net/instances/400x/20298974.jpg

cocoshovel

Gordon wrote: »

I wouldn't say Aardvark failed. In the last week it's maybe had about 200 new threads created in it. It's a great honeytrap for spam, but no it doesn't stop spam, spam is unstoppable. It has reduced sitewide spam a bit though, I'm sure of that. If you could see the Aardvark forum with my view, it's absolutely chocka with deleted spam.

Maybe instead of reporting the posts, if it's obvious bot spam, can you post it in the link I've posted in the OP? If you report spambots as posts (wee exclamation mark on the left hand side of the post) it sends a message to the Mods of the forum, who in turn will delete and forum ban the user but more likely - post on the spam thread I linked to in the OP. If you report spam directly on that thread, a passing Admin will see the report and act on it faster, cutting out the Mods.

Ah ok, I didnt realize because I havent seen a single post on it in aaaaages.

TeddyTedson

Just out of interest Gordon, is there anything else in the pipeline to take stronger actions in preventing spam from getting through. It's a problem I imagine is only going to get worse.

starbelgrade

You know those spam e-mails you get promising you ways to get a bigger penis.. what's that all about?

Most men don't need a bigger penis. They just want a tighter vagina.

RobbingBandit

starbelgrade wrote: »

You know those spam e-mails you get promising you ways to get a bigger penis.. what's that all about?

Most men don't need a bigger penis. They just want a tighter vagina.

Quick hide the dainty women, Larry Murphy is about.

starbelgrade

starbelgrade wrote: »

You know those spam e-mails you get promising you ways to get a bigger penis.. what's that all about?

Most men don't need a bigger penis. They just want a tighter vagina.

I didn't know most men had any kind of vagina let alone a loose one

TeddyTedson

If Sarky was a mod here you'd all be banned:mad:

Abi

bluewolf wrote: »

I didn't know most men had any kind of vagina let alone a loose one

Me either =/



I report, then I retort.

I hate spammy fúckers, and I hate everyone and everything before I have my coffee in the morning, so my sexy sister dress job is one of my regulars. I wish death to spam and trolls equally.

Gordon

TeddyTedson wrote: »

Just out of interest Gordon, is there anything else in the pipeline to take stronger actions in preventing spam from getting through. It's a problem I imagine is only going to get worse.

I believe the devs' next challenge incorporates spam at some level, I think they're going to be working on the registration process. What that entails regarding spam, I'm not sure, but they've done fantastic work with mod tools and apis and loads of other bits and bobs, I've got great faith that they'll sparkle for us.

RachaelVO

OK Gordon, I understand, I haven't seen any for a while, but I have replied to them, and gosh darn it, I'm gonna miss replying to those spammy effers, cos it cracked me up, and some AHer really did come up with some funny retorts!

Question though, when you sign up it says that you have to have 25 posts before you can start a thread, is that not enforced?

Gordon

RachaelVO wrote: »

OK Gordon, I understand, I haven't seen any for a while, but I have replied to them, and gosh darn it, I'm gonna miss replying to those spammy effers, cos it cracked me up, and some AHer really did come up with some funny retorts!

I know it's fun, and I'd be the same if I didn't know how it affects us. It's not a great big deal on its own, but now that we're getting more and more spam, we need to tighten up in as many areas as possible, so cutting off their oxygen is a necessity.

Question though, when you sign up it says that you have to have 25 posts before you can start a thread, is that not enforced?

It doesn't say that you can't start a thread, maybe you're thinking of signatures?

RachaelVO

Gordon wrote: »

I know it's fun, and I'd be the same if I didn't know how it affects us. It's not a great big deal on its own, but now that we're getting more and more spam, we need to tighten up in as many areas as possible, so cutting off their oxygen is a necessity.

It doesn't say that you can't start a thread, maybe you're thinking of signatures?

I won't respond anymore Promies

It could well have been the signatures I was mixing up alright... maybe it could be an idea for some forums all the same... wouldn't work for them all (parenting and pregnancy springs to mind), but it could work for AH and cuckoos nest for example!

Spread

Well, I fucking like SPAM sandwiches. Have a rake of them made for the QPR/Man City match in the morning. Now the wine? ........ Um ......... Merlot will do grand. "I'm PINK therefore I'm SPAM", Descartes Anon