the dropped spindle

natalie · Posted: Tue Oct 03, 2006 9:14 am Post subject: The spammers have found us

I have just deleted nine new users with a variety of websites from the google search page, to sites selling diazepam and air conditioning in Russia!. No p**n, thankfully.
If anyone sees "unusual" website alongside usernames (and they may appear several days after a user registers), please can you pm me so I can deal with it asap.
If you are a user with a legitimate business, which is not fibre related please pm me when you join.... otherwise you may find yourself deleted!

I have visited several forums in the last couple of days where spamming has suddenly gone from being a small problem to being a massive one, with message notifications which lead to p**n sites instead of to the forum itself. Some forums have had to go offline to sort the problems out.

While the moderators and I administrate the forum, I think this is a community issue and would really value everyone's help in being vigilant in letting us know when there's a problem.

Many thanks
Natalie
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www.theyarnyard.co.uk

Kathy · Joined: 29 Jun 2006 Posts: 90 Location: Scotland

I noticed the problem seems to have escalated all over. I think theres a way that you can check a users registration before approval but, as you say, sometimes websites are put up later.

sally · Joined: 02 Jul 2006 Posts: 148

hang in there, you are right its all over at the moment. None of the 'real' users will stress if it takes you a while to get the little blighters evicted Cool

ClaireUK · Joined: 18 Aug 2006 Posts: 94 Location: Coventry, UK

Like Sally says, dont worry - it takes a while to de-flea a dog Very Happy

Claire UK

natalie · Posted: Wed Oct 04, 2006 8:15 am Post subject:

2 more today.
This is obviously going to be a morning chore.

n
Twisted Evil

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www.theyarnyard.co.uk

cledry yarner · Joined: 29 Jun 2006 Posts: 176

You're certainly on the ball natalie. I'm sat here with the edit tools set to full stun but none have got through your net in time to actually post anything Very Happy

Sterling work.

Stitchwitch · Joined: 01 Jul 2006 Posts: 7

I've had this on my Forums recently, but have solved the problems by utilising the following:

In the Admin tools, ensure that new users register, and that approval has to be given by Admin - tick the option on the furthest right; this will send an e-mail message to your e-mail, and you can check them out before you approve of their membership (can't remember if you do this already or not). If not approved, just delete the e-mail, and their name from the Forum.

Again, in the Admin tools, there is a "Permissions" option; go through this for each Forum section (takes a while but worth it) and opt for registered users only to post.

Mine have been fine for several days now, after I added the second step above.

Hope this helps.