Author Topic: Anti Spambot idea. (Read 5057 times)

Clickbeetle · « **on:** October 31, 2008, 09:56:50 PM »

So I've noticed the spambots are still somehow getting through the image verification. They're getting too good at reading images.

But I saw on Topwebcomics.com that they have a pretty clever bot-stopper when you try to vote for comics. They have a picture of a comic character and you have to identify it. I think something like this might work on Gametechmods.

Like, when someone registers, you could have a picture of one of the stock AI bots (since everyone should know them) except not have the bot's name in the picture (maybe even have some random text to throw off spambots). Then you have to type in the name of the bot shown.

For example, you have a picture of Raptor, and ask "What bot is this?" and you have to type "Raptor" in order to register.

I don't see an option for something like this in the admin control panel, but maybe it's possible to do elsewhere?

Or else, simpler idea: ask the user to type in the text in the image backwards. It would take the bots a while to catch on to that at least.

All this is assuming, of course, that the spambots aren't just brute-force hacking their way in... in which case there's nothing more to be done.

goose · « **Reply #1 on:** October 31, 2008, 11:28:41 PM »

I added somthing to RFSHQ that stops them well.

it chooses from a pool of questions we create... "what is 1+1", "how many days are there in a week?", or anything else we add to the list.

I will add it this weekend

Madiaba · « **Reply #2 on:** November 01, 2008, 05:10:40 AM »

Cool, I just cleaned up another Spambot mess this morn...

Clickbeetle · « **Reply #3 on:** November 05, 2008, 09:31:36 PM »

Huh. That sounds like a much simpler solution. I guess I was over-thinking the problem.

Hope it cuts down on the spam level.

DuckRA2 · « **Reply #4 on:** December 04, 2008, 07:29:35 PM »

maybe we should make them do some research for the questions, -
-what 3d program do you use to make 3d files in Ra2?
-Name at least one admin on this forum.
-can everyone host online RA2 games?

roboman2444 · « **Reply #5 on:** April 04, 2009, 08:43:55 PM »

I think this is a great idea.
bots and people who haven't even play ra2 cant post anything

Somebody · « **Reply #6 on:** April 04, 2009, 09:24:05 PM »

Not posted in for 4 MONTHS TODAY.

Naryar · « **Reply #7 on:** April 17, 2009, 07:32:31 AM »

I was thinking, can someone do what Click put on the table ? We still have spambots and visibly they can bypass the "insert numbers here" system.

somestrangeguy · « **Reply #8 on:** April 17, 2009, 07:49:15 AM »

Actually, it doesnt matter what kind of question/answer system we have. Well made spambots just find the correct answer from the system database. Altough it is good to have something like that since many spambots cant do this.

Madiaba · « **Reply #9 on:** April 17, 2009, 08:09:55 AM »

Quote from: somestrangeguy;34457

Actually, it doesnt matter what kind of question/answer system we have. Well made spambots just find the correct answer from the system database. Altough it is good to have something like that since many spambots cant do this.

You hit on the head one of the main inherent problems...
It really depends on how much time+effort the spambot's author(s) have put into it.

.

Hydro · « **Reply #10 on:** May 05, 2009, 10:11:48 PM »

a bit of a bump, but the strange letters/numbers AND email verification keeps my brother's forum he runs spambot-free.

R1885 · « **Reply #11 on:** May 05, 2009, 10:17:15 PM »

Hmm, might work.
One thing that might work is to use odd questions("Whats the Square root of 4?" "What does LCD stand for?" "How old is the earth?" ect.)

Hydro · « **Reply #12 on:** May 05, 2009, 10:28:18 PM »

"who's the greatest spammer of all time?"

couldn't resist :-D

Sage · « **Reply #13 on:** May 05, 2009, 10:31:31 PM »

What's the complex conjugate of 2-5i?

How to you write the square root of negative 1?

Harder questions would be better :P

R1885 · « **Reply #14 on:** May 05, 2009, 10:36:23 PM »

Don't want them to be too complex, we want them to think that this is a RA2 website.

Hydro · « **Reply #15 on:** May 22, 2009, 10:53:53 AM »

. o 0 bump...

how about "what is the best motor in dsl for power?" ?

Urjak · « **Reply #16 on:** May 22, 2009, 11:31:50 AM »

Ummmmm.... the Dual Perm?

Hydro · « **Reply #17 on:** May 22, 2009, 12:18:51 PM »

thats a question for spambots, actually.

Reier · « **Reply #18 on:** May 22, 2009, 12:19:47 PM »

Or new members. What if some idiot wants to join the forum to post yet another DSL installation topic? =P

Urjak · « **Reply #19 on:** May 22, 2009, 01:19:33 PM »

Or someone without DSL wants to join?