Spammers Getting Around Image Verification

[RobAC]

All of a sudden, my two forum sites are getting slammed with spammers that are registering from different IPs and email addresses.

There is literally no effective way to prevent this and they are some how getting around the image verification. I've tried using both GD2 and ImageMagick but nothing seems to work.

What can I do?

[Steve Machol]

Verification does not stop human spammers from registering then turning over the posting to a bot.

Please see this: How to Reduce Spam and Registration Bots

[Lt. Dan]

Well, they've got plenty of time on their hands then. I've had 20-30 spammers show up on 5 of my forums in the last 12 hours. Its obvious that they finally found a way around the image verification because I haven't had a single spammer who managed to register since 3.7.x came out until today.

[jccrash]

They broke my shut out.


Spambot war.

[natbaines]

I also have had the exact same problem today, ive had no spammers with 3.7.x until now.

[RobAC]

Well, they've got plenty of time on their hands then. I've had 20-30 spammers show up on 5 of my forums in the last 12 hours. Its obvious that they finally found a way around the image verification because I haven't had a single spammer who managed to register since 3.7.x came out until today.

Same here!!!!!!!!!!

[HobbiesPR]

Over 30 SPAMMERS has registered today. much of them from .ru .md
3 or 4 posted sex SPAM, banned right away.

Also banned this ip's
89.208.*
92.243.166.*

[jcline]

same here... getting smacked by porn and ads.

[cbtrussell]

One of our clients went from 0 to 150 spammer registrations today. Somebody figured something out.

[Steve Machol]

Post #2.

[RobAC]

Over 30 SPAMMERS has registered today. much of them from .ru .md
3 or 4 posted sex SPAM, banned right away.

Also banned this ip's
89.208.*
92.243.166.*

Same here, however, most of mine are coming in with gmail or hotmail email accounts.

[ShadyNight]

MANY forums are getting this today.

I turned on ReCaptcha and moderate users (as did one other forum) and the registrations and spam have stopped.

Good thing too, my right mouse finger was getting sore.

[jcline]

yeah I turned on moderation and used the post Steve posted to add a custom field, so hopefully that will help.

[slcousin]

My Forum has been hit today too. I dont think these are human spammers.

[Steve Machol]

I recommend adding this: Add an extra question to the registration to prevent bot registrations