Banning gmail accounts or other options...?

[Kage2020]

I know that it is a bit controversial, but until I've figured out how to update the forum to the latest (more secure) version, something that I should have kept on top of previously, what do you think about banning Gmail accounts for new registrations?  That's where most of the spammers are coming from...

Or perhaps have a "request account" forum?  People who want to register must post there as a guest to request an account?

Again, I'm hoping that this is a temporary measure, but I'm getting sick of having to delete the spam accounts every time that I sign on (and when I post), etc.

Suggestions other than "upgrade the forum" (which I'm looking into) will be welcome.

Kage

[Studio Colrouphobia]

I'd rather see a "request an account" forum then. Most people I know use Gmail, both for personal aswell as work-related things.
I think that one of the main reason why the most spam come from gmail is precisely the sme reason- since most people use it, the spmmers will also use it.

Not sure that will help you though

[Dragonlover]

I'd go for the account request option as well, cos since GMail stopped requiring an invite, pretty much everyone uses it.

Dragonlover

[Kage2020]

I've seen other forums ban Gmail accounts for this very reason (strange since it is merely the new Hotmail, as it were, at least for spammers), but I thought that I would explore other options, hence the thread.

I'll look into that forum... Unless, of course, someone comes up with a better idea!

Edit: Set up the forum and deactivated registration, so here's waiting to see how it works out until I can figure out how to safely upgrade the forum.

Edit 2: While there are membergroup options, none of them are sufficiently elegant or simple to employ as this, erm, simple solution.

Kage

[Philip S]

I know that it is a bit controversial, but until I've figured out how to update the forum to the latest (more secure) version, something that I should have kept on top of previously, what do you think about banning Gmail accounts for new registrations?  That's where most of the spammers are coming from...

And many users...

I suggest Admin authorisation of each account.

Edit: Set up the forum and deactivated registration, so here's waiting to see how it works out until I can figure out how to safely upgrade the forum.

Isn't that going to get spammed too?

Perhaps if you do this you could give registered members 'queue moderator' privileges, so any registered member can blitz spam as it appears?

Again, Admin authorisation is the easiest for a small forum where new members who were probably invited - most of the members here were invited so it would not be hard to confirm new registations.

Vouch system: New registrations have to be admin approved - to get an account approved a current member has to vouching for them via PM or email . It would be hard to make this work; after all most here were invited. Even I was invited way back when by Zholud.

So if you invite someone over, tell them to have a look around and if they want to sign up you'll couch for them; if they tell you the user name they used you'll fire off a PM to confirm.

Nice and simple.

For those who wander in out of the cold it could be a little tricky, but I most can guess a registration is not genuine.

Can you add any notes to the registration? If so you could ask for other forum user names and contact them through that forum's PM to confirm?

Personally I think most of the members here are found on other forums. Other forums are like the recruiting ground for Anargo, as you need a bit of knowledge to really get to grips with the community - otherwise you'll be sitting on the side lines twiddling your thumbs...

Philip

[ripperjack]

Is there a way that when registering, a comment to the admin is required? Kind of like Yahoo Groups..

[Kage2020]

Yes, that also works, but I get sick of having to check my email account for all the spam sign ups that you get. All that I would be doing then is removing all the people that I have to delete from the forum now to emails that I also have to delete.

Kage

[ripperjack]

Good point. Another idea, I think there are some public "spam" lists with emails and such, is it possible to past emails from these lists to your ban log?

I dont know how much that would help, but it might at least remove some of the spam.

Also, is there a way to implement a search of posts on the forums that contact certain keywords that would trigger as spam. Maybe the forum can be setup to delete them or possibly put them as pending review. I dont know how much spam you actually get, I just started checking this board again last week.

If I can be of help in someway, just let me know.

[Philip S]

Yes, that also works, but I get sick of having to check my email account for all the spam sign ups that you get. All that I would be doing then is removing all the people that I have to delete from the forum now to emails that I also have to delete.

• How about a specific gmail account that you check once a week?Then you can scan through and pick the one's you like the look of.
• Or if you want to keep the account forum idea, check the account forum for new topci and cross reference with the gmail.
• As I say, most are introduced to this forum, so those new sign ups that no one has heard of are probably spam. So you will be alerted by other forum members rather than having to constantly check your email (I suppose you could let this gmail build up with spam requests and only check it when someone give you a heads up that they invited someone over - should save time)

Philip

[Kage2020]

I think that I'm going to keep the forum approach for the moment.  If it ends up getting too awkward then I'll leave it... Let's just face it, the other board (old one that is no longer even accessible) generates a few hundred sign up requests per week...

Kage

[CELS]

As the forum's resident cynic, I am also forced to point out that the people who can't be bothered going through a few steps to sign up are likely to be the people who never make a significant contribution anyway.

That's right, I am bitter about every single person who signed up and never posted. My scars will never fully heal. 

[Kage2020]

I hear you, CELS...

My next purge will be an homage to you... I will remove all zero post members.  Who cares if we're not a forum of thousands of members!

Kage

[Philip S]

Would it be possible to link the 'register' link on the menu to the 'Account Request Forum', or directly to the sticky in that forum?

Philip

[Kage2020]

To be honest, the forums are something that I see as a facility.  The people who want to be members are going to be members, regardless of the hoops.  The kind of people that are going to sign up and not post are going to, well, not post.

Since I don't want to spend too much time hacking this template, and since I would prefer to go to a more comprehensive system for "community"... For the moment, I'm comfortable having no new members.

Kage

[Philip S]

Fair enough.

What software are you alluding to for community?

No wait... if you have an answer can you post it in the other topic?

Philip