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Another bot invasion?

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Jude
Post subject: Another bot invasion?
Posted: Mon 16 Feb , 2009 3:38 pm
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Have a look at the list of our latest inactive users:

loaddcheap
Zbunidze
AliseCarter
hoixecituetty
cheastekeydayKIM
Fluoneejoff
BuyCheapsCyalis
lolouiui
musiclover
DJkillos
DownloaddPHOTOSHOP
TopViagraCialisc
casino

... and a whole lot more, all registered in February.

A lot of these have "bot" written all over them, others are not so clear.

It looks like the bots have finally overcome our anti-bot defenses. What's our next step?

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Jude
Post subject: Re: Another bot invasion?
Posted: Mon 16 Feb , 2009 3:49 pm
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Well, not completely overcome, actually - they don't appear on the memberlist, just in the list of inactive users in the admin panel.

I just created a "test" username with a non-existent email address (test@test.org" target="_blank). Due to the non-existent email address, it of course can never be activated.

What's with the new user "Peeterlink"? A legitimate person, or a bot that managed to activate itself?

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Estel
Post subject: Re: Another bot invasion?
Posted: Mon 16 Feb , 2009 4:41 pm
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I thought that a member couldn't be activated without a ranger allowing it?


As for a bot invasion - do we have the ability to ask a question or series of questions that a bot wouldn't be able to answer? I'm thinking what Ang did when he set up the jury deliberation room - he asked the question "Are you human?" Maybe we could have a couple questions like that that would have to be answered before someone could become a member?


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Jude
Post subject: Re: Another bot invasion?
Posted: Mon 16 Feb , 2009 5:15 pm
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Estel wrote:
I thought that a member couldn't be activated without a ranger allowing it?
Just checked the User registration settings, and registration is by user.

I remember the "Are you human" thingie you mention, but it's not in our admin panel. My guess is it's a mod that would have to be installed. Maybe we should, if these continue.

And I see we have a new unregistered user since I created the "test" username earlier this morning. Friends, please welcome "DownlooaddPHOTOSHOP" to our fold. He's just like "DownloaddPHOTOSHOP", but with an extra "o".

I'm tempted to just go through the list and delete them all, but I guess this is a decision for the rangers.

The present botfest seems to have started 29 Jan, since when we have 39 of these vermin.

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Riverthalos
Post subject: Re: Another bot invasion?
Posted: Mon 16 Feb , 2009 5:56 pm
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I took 'em out for now.

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Jude
Post subject: Re: Another bot invasion?
Posted: Mon 16 Feb , 2009 6:02 pm
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And I just deleted my "test" guy.

I just noticed that there's an option to send a reminder to inactive users. Should we do it, and then delete them if they don't respond within a given amount of time?

There's quite a handful of inactive users from way back. I always meant to do something about them during my ranger term, but never got around to it.

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LalaithUrwen
Post subject: Re: Another bot invasion?
Posted: Mon 16 Feb , 2009 6:15 pm
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I noticed that, too, when I was a Ranger (the ability to send a reminder to Inactive Users). I think it's a good idea.

Don't we have some kind of security protocol thing, like where you would have to enter the text in this box before registering?

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Jude
Post subject: Re: Another bot invasion?
Posted: Mon 16 Feb , 2009 6:26 pm
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You mean that graphic image that contains letters and numbers? We have that, but it sounds like bot authors are getting more sophisticated (since more sites are using it).

I did notice today that we have the option to limit the amount of times a new registrant can attempt to fill in the visual confirmation thingie. At the moment it's set to 5. I wonder if reducing it would make it harder for the bots to get through?

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LalaithUrwen
Post subject: Re: Another bot invasion?
Posted: Mon 16 Feb , 2009 6:29 pm
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I would think so. I mean, it's worth a try. I would think 3 times is enough; sometimes those things are hard to decipher, but I usually get it by the 3rd time.

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tinwe
Post subject: Re: Another bot invasion?
Posted: Mon 16 Feb , 2009 7:00 pm
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I just want to say that "Another Bot Invasion" would be a great name for a band.

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Estel
Post subject: Re: Another bot invasion?
Posted: Mon 16 Feb , 2009 7:08 pm
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:damnfunny:


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LalaithUrwen
Post subject: Re: Another bot invasion?
Posted: Mon 16 Feb , 2009 7:31 pm
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:LMAO: That it would. <wonders if I could convince church band to adopt a new name>

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Crucifer
Post subject: Re: Another bot invasion?
Posted: Mon 16 Feb , 2009 9:54 pm
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Or for, say, a piece of contemporary music for prepared piano, string quartet and some wind and brass that I'm writing. ;) Unfortunately, I missed the submission deadline for the ensemble (college contemporary music ensemble), so I'm just taking out the prep. piano part and writing a normal piano part, and doing it next year, but thanks for the title, Judarco!

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theduffster
Post subject: Re: Another bot invasion?
Posted: Tue 17 Feb , 2009 12:20 am
Damn those Amish!!
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Aw, man, and I just tried to convince at least 2 friends from work to join. One's a huge Tolkien geek like me, and the other is a Virgin with a capital "V". Never watched the movies and is just reading the books for the very first time!! :Q

Watch one of them try to register with the name "freeporn" or something like that. :doh1:

*starts nervously checking out the new members list*

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Jude
Post subject: Re: Another bot invasion?
Posted: Tue 17 Feb , 2009 3:43 am
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If you let us know what name they've chosen, we can look out for them.

I don't recommend "freeporn", though. :D

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LalaithUrwen
Post subject: Re: Another bot invasion?
Posted: Tue 17 Feb , 2009 3:48 am
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As a username or just in general?

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yovargas
Post subject: Re: Another bot invasion?
Posted: Tue 17 Feb , 2009 4:10 am
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:whistle:


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Riverthalos
Post subject: Re: Another bot invasion?
Posted: Tue 17 Feb , 2009 6:17 am
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I'd like to contact a Ranger about the complete and utter loss of decorum in the...eh, frak it.
:cheers:

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Jude
Post subject: Re: Another bot invasion?
Posted: Tue 17 Feb , 2009 2:32 pm
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Three or four more today - I'm not sure about "musiclover", because an identical username was deleted yesterday. I deleted the three I was sure about, and changed the maximum Visual Confirmation attempts to 3.

Keep an eye on this, new rangers! :toast:

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vison
Post subject: Re: Another bot invasion?
Posted: Wed 18 Feb , 2009 1:47 am
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Um . . . . sure . . . :peek:

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