Spam prevention

[Grumpyfredaevans]

Is there any info on the best ways to prevent spam posts? I know that minimum character lengths on posts is key to preventing spam but I can't find any info to confirm that. Any resources on that available?

Thanks in advance

[dashdbn]

Hi
There are a few ways.
1. Like you said set a minimum amount of words that a user must post. The only problem is that know one will be able to post one word answers.
2 there should be a setting in admincp called spam settings.
3. You can turn those on that will help.

Not sure if there is documentation for this. Have you checked the VB manual?

[Wayne Luke]

Minimum characters is a pretty basic method. vBulletin also includes flood control with a default of 60 seconds between posts. However you should be looking at the options under Spam Management which can check new registrations against known spammers, filter posts based on keywords that you decide on, check against the Akismet Anti-spam database.

If you need help and are a customer, then verify your account following this link:

http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/forum/vbulletin-sales-and-feedback/site-feedback/81568-why-can-t-i-post-or-download-files

Once done, we can help you get set up.

[Up2Vex]

What about adding someting like KeyCaptcha? or reCaptcha?

[Wayne Luke]

What about adding someting like KeyCaptcha? or reCaptcha?

We already support reCaptcha. KeyCaptcha is infuriating and annoying. Especially to blind people who use the internet frequently. Relying on Captchas is just a shell game anyway because today's computers are powerful enough to break any that are easily solved humans. The most complicated ones are just tackled by humans which post the most spam these days. Using filters and offender tracking is the best way to handle spam. vBulletin 5 offers both of these protections.

[Up2Vex]

Use KeyCaptcha for the register?

[Wayne Luke]

Use KeyCaptcha for the register?

There are no current plans to use KeyCatpcha at all.

[Grumpyfredaevans]

Minimum characters is a pretty basic method. vBulletin also includes flood control with a default of 60 seconds between posts. However you should be looking at the options under Spam Management which can check new registrations against known spammers, filter posts based on keywords that you decide on, check against the Akismet Anti-spam database.

If you need help and are a customer, then verify your account following this link:

http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/forum/vbulletin-sales-and-feedback/site-feedback/81568-why-can-t-i-post-or-download-files

Once done, we can help you get set up.

I am not a customer but there's a user that's trying to have minimum character counts reduced on a board I frequent so he can send a message like "PM sent". We keep telling him the counts are there to prevent spam but we can't prove it. Can you explain how the minimum counts prevent spam?

[Wayne Luke]

It prevents spam like "PM Sent" with the minimum characters at something like 10 characters. In the past people would reply with a . just to get notifications or bump a topic to the top. This prevents that. How individual Administrators handle the issue is up to them. They can reduce the minimum characters to 1 character if they wish.

[Grumpyfredaevans]

It prevents spam like "PM Sent" with the minimum characters at something like 10 characters. In the past people would reply with a . just to get notifications or bump a topic to the top. This prevents that. How individual Administrators handle the issue is up to them. They can reduce the minimum characters to 1 character if they wish.

As far as I'm aware on a forum with a lot of classifieds for sale, "PM sent" is not only the most common post it's also very rude NOT to post it to let others know you are engaged in negotiations.

The minimum character count seems like more of a tool to encourage useful contribution as you describe it rather than to prevent malicious use of the forum. What is the downside to reducing min character count from 10 to 6? Do you expect a noticeable increase in spam on an average forum?