Forum bots Smash Bros and Noel Fielding

**MarioNintendo** · 03-22-2016, 12:00 PM

There has to be a way to stop these from being created... At some point, there won't be any username left :/

**_Zenith_** · 03-22-2016, 12:24 PM

Last I knew PrawnSkunk had blocked a domain that most of the bots were coming from but they did start reappearing in recent times and I'm sure he can make the same solution as before.

It does suck to see when all of the "Latest Profiles" are bots though.

**Red Blaster** · 03-22-2016, 02:38 PM

I always wondered why they use the avatars they use

**SKG_Scintill** · 03-22-2016, 03:00 PM

but I want uggs

**bmah** · 03-22-2016, 04:50 PM

Firstly, big thanks to Red Blaster for pretty much reporting every bot he sees. I subsequently ban those. A month ago I attempted to do mass bot banning by finding root IPs. I have since stopped doing that because 1) it is extremely time-consuming, 2) it takes time to pick out legit users within the crowd of bots and exclude them from being banned, 3) the bots seem to have many varying IPs, so even banning a range of IPs only goes so far. In the past, I used to be able to find many bot accounts linked to one or a few similar IP addresses. Now I'm finding one IP being completely different from another, each IP containing many other bots as well. Frankly, banning is a bandaid solution. We need to have registration include further measures to stop bots from registering. Bots can completely make up nonsensical email addresses to register.

And yes, it turns out that the creepy guy in the black and yellow pictures is actually Noel Fielding...

**MarioNintendo** · 03-22-2016, 05:24 PM

Really? Google images told me it was Noel Fielding, so that's the only clue I had. Out of curiosity, who is it?

I stopped reporting them recently because I didn't know if it was worth it, but I will start doing it again, then. I was wondering if we could use systems were accounts are moderator approved before they get deleted 7 days after creation, or something like that which I've seen a lot on other forums. Indeed, it would be yet another thing to code into the forums, but I'm just suggesting in the (very unlikely) case that no one had suggested this before.

Also, there's reCAPTCHA from google, which is a free and pretty successful avenue.

**Red Blaster** · 03-22-2016, 06:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bmah

Firstly, big thanks to Red Blaster for pretty much reporting every bot he sees. I subsequently ban those.

No problem!

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarioNintendo

I was wondering if we could use systems were accounts are moderator approved before they get deleted 7 days after creation, or something like that which I've seen a lot on other forums. Indeed, it would be yet another thing to code into the forums, but I'm just suggesting in the (very unlikely) case that no one had suggested this before.

Also, there's reCAPTCHA from google, which is a free and pretty successful avenue.

I don't know how hard or easy this would be to implement, but it sounds like a pretty sound method.

**bmah** · 03-22-2016, 10:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarioNintendo

Really? Google images told me it was Noel Fielding, so that's the only clue I had. Out of curiosity, who is it?

Some British actor/comedian guy. I don't really know much.

**Ghakimx** · 03-23-2016, 02:09 PM

Or maybe a mystery question like "how old is bmah" or "is bmah chinese" to see if they can get the answer. :P

03-22-2016, 12:24 PM	#2
_Zenith_ Accuracy Player Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Connecticut Age: 28 Posts: 4,628	Re: Forum bots Smash Bros and Noel Fielding Last I knew PrawnSkunk had blocked a domain that most of the bots were coming from but they did start reappearing in recent times and I'm sure he can make the same solution as before. It does suck to see when all of the "Latest Profiles" are bots though. __________________

03-22-2016, 04:50 PM	#5
bmah shots FIRED Global Moderator, User Support, Judge Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Edmonton, AB Age: 35 Posts: 8,448	Re: Forum bots Smash Bros and Noel Fielding Firstly, big thanks to Red Blaster for pretty much reporting every bot he sees. I subsequently ban those. A month ago I attempted to do mass bot banning by finding root IPs. I have since stopped doing that because 1) it is extremely time-consuming, 2) it takes time to pick out legit users within the crowd of bots and exclude them from being banned, 3) the bots seem to have many varying IPs, so even banning a range of IPs only goes so far. In the past, I used to be able to find many bot accounts linked to one or a few similar IP addresses. Now I'm finding one IP being completely different from another, each IP containing many other bots as well. Frankly, banning is a bandaid solution. We need to have registration include further measures to stop bots from registering. Bots can completely make up nonsensical email addresses to register. And yes, it turns out that the creepy guy in the black and yellow pictures is actually Noel Fielding...

03-23-2016, 02:09 PM	#9
Ghakimx Cutie&Handshaking Sounds Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Xingapore Posts: 1,594	Re: Forum bots Smash Bros and Noel Fielding Or maybe a mystery question like "how old is bmah" or "is bmah chinese" to see if they can get the answer. :P __________________ I AM ASHAMED OF MY STUPIDITY AND MUST COMMIT SEPPUKU. FORGIVE ME, FFR. Ninjas NEVER die. Now on a 30 kill streak.

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