Changes due to spammers on Wetpixel

[echeng 0]

Spammers have recently started using Wetpixel as a destination for marketing links by putting unrelated content in newly created users' forum profile pages. This means that a spam message blasted out in an email somewhere out there might contain a link to Wetpixel, which would unwittingly have become a host for spam content.

 

Note that none of this affects you, the Wetpixel user, the content you have posted on Wetpixel, or your private information. The only issue here is that spammers are using their profiles to host spam content. I have a plan to try to combat this new form of spam. I made some changes tonight that will hopefully help us to win the battle in the long run.

 

example accounts used to host spam

 

**Changes**:

 

1. New members can no longer edit their user profile. This feature becomes unlocked after a new member's transition to a normal member.
   
2. BBCode, which is the language used to post images and links, is no longer allowed on profile pages. If you currently have BBCode on your profile page, it will still show up, but you will not be able to including BBCode if you modify it.
   
3. There is now a new, required anti-spam field in the registration area (only affects you if you're registering as a new member)
   
4. New users with "spammy" fragments in their usernames will be deleted automatically. If you're an established member with an unfortunate name, this will not affect you. However, new members with spammy names will find their accounts eradicated frequently (e.g. User "Mulva Nudesto" would be deleted for containing the word "nude").
   

If the spam continues, we may have to adopt more drastic measures. In the meantime, please let us know if you notice any spam content on Wetpixel! We know that spam content still exists in some of the new users' profiles, and it will be a daunting task to try to remove it all.

 

Best,

Eric Cheng

Publisher/Editor, Wetpixel

 

[Timmoranuk 10]

Very cool Eric. Good to know there's a steady hand on the (WP) wheel...

[echeng 0]

It is a constant, annoying battle.

[batray 0]

Eric,

Good luck with your spamer battle. I have had to deal with it on my forum as well.

I had to implement the use captchas for every post to stop the spambots. I had very little luck with text filtering.

 

Chris

[echeng 0]

Registration CAPTCHAS have not been working here. I'll bet they are using manual CAPTCHA killing -- I've read about companies in China that break CAPTCHAS for nearly nothing (using cheap labor). They are never going to work in areas that spammers really want access to.

[WanderingBob 2]

If the spam continues, we may have to adopt more drastic measures. In the meantime, please let us know if you notice any spam content on Wetpixel! We know that spam content still exists in some of the new users' profiles, and it will be a daunting task to try to remove it all.

 

Best,

Eric Cheng

Publisher/Editor, Wetpixel

 

 

Sorry you have to go through this hassle. What a shame. We appreciate your efforts ...

[Cerianthus 55]

Please allow me to spam once:

 

 

ok, embedding doesnt seem to work for me:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_eYSuPKP3Y

 

enjoy......

 

[edited by mod to embed youtube video]

Edited October 25, 2009 by echeng

[batray 0]

Registration CAPTCHAS have not been working here. I'll bet they are using manual CAPTCHA killing -- I've read about companies in China that break CAPTCHAS for nearly nothing (using cheap labor). They are never going to work in areas that spammers really want access to.

 

I use CAPTCHAS for every post, not just registration.

[echeng 0]

Chris - I just meant that CAPTCHAS have been broken by APIs with cheap labor solving them in the background. If someone wants to get in enough, a CAPTCHA will not stop them. It just isn't worth it for spammers to break a CAPTCHA to post a message -- yet... but that may change if it gets cheap enough!

[Balrog 5]

Here's one that needs sorting

http://wetpixel.com/forums/index.php?showt...mp;#entry227399

[echeng 0]

Thanks -- got it.