Reporting Spam

[Tiassa]

hard delete vs regular delete - I guess I'm missing something with it - I normally just use the "spam" function, as I was under the impression it hard-deletes... is that not the case?

Soft-delete equals "remove from public view".

Hard-delete equals "scrub from server".

The one is a reclassification of the data; the other is its destruction.

With the new software, I don't know what you see in subfora you weren't assigned to before, but you know those red titles showing a deleted thread?

I have a note somewhere in the memos; I'll link back to it there.

 

[Kittamaru]

Soft-delete equals "remove from public view".

Hard-delete equals "scrub from server".

The one is a reclassification of the data; the other is its destruction.

With the new software, I don't know what you see in subfora you weren't assigned to before, but you know those red titles showing a deleted thread?

I have a note somewhere in the memos; I'll link back to it there.

Ah, kk - I was under the impression it changed how regular members saw (or, I guess, didn't see?) the deleted threads Just wanted to make sure cause I know when I look at some of the forums after a spam-purge... yikes...

 

[Tiassa]

Follow-up​

Because I said I would, this is an example of what our staff is handling, and I would note that this is hardly the heaviest of messes the spammers can make.

Additionally, I should note that there were nine more waiting on page two.

(I'm always embarrassed when I forget to check every last subforum and this happens.)

 

[Daecon]

Sheesh. I don't envy your duties as a moderator.

I guess you've already thought about changing how people register, with the different types of captcha or having the registering person typing the answer to a question in a text box like some forums do.

 

[Ophiolite]

Sheesh. I don't envy your duties as a moderator.

I guess you've already thought about changing how people register, with the different types of captcha or having the registering person typing the answer to a question in a text box like some forums do.

A reasonably effective method is to prohibit the posting of links until a minimum number of posts have been made. Five is a common number.

 

[Kittamaru]

Sheesh. I don't envy your duties as a moderator.

I guess you've already thought about changing how people register, with the different types of captcha or having the registering person typing the answer to a question in a text box like some forums do.

A reasonably effective method is to prohibit the posting of links until a minimum number of posts have been made. Five is a common number.

If memory serves, the reason we no longer do this is because the current software doesn't allow it. Previously, we had a series of 3 questions that had to be answered (simple to find with a google search, but not something word-recognition software could answer) and a 10 post minimum to post links.

 

[exchemist]

If memory serves, the reason we no longer do this is because the current software doesn't allow it. Previously, we had a series of 3 questions that had to be answered (simple to find with a google search, but not something word-recognition software could answer) and a 10 post minimum to post links.

That's a pity, because just about ALL the spam contains links.

 

[Daecon]

The restrictions on posting links seems sensible, whether it be post count or time limit, and more newbie friendly than a sign-up quiz.

What happened to the software that made this no longer workable?

 

[Kittamaru]

The restrictions on posting links seems sensible, whether it be post count or time limit, and more newbie friendly than a sign-up quiz.

What happened to the software that made this no longer workable?

The forums had to be relocated to new software - the previous forum software was found to suffer from several severe security flaws that had allowed attacks to be carried out against the forums - unfortunately, the old software was no longer being developed. As a result, the forums were "transplanted" onto this new software which, while far more secure, doesn't have some of the nicer anti-spammer functions