Author Topic: OKAY, WHAT IS UP WITH THESE BOTS?  (Read 7694 times)

Winnie the Pooh

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OKAY, WHAT IS UP WITH THESE BOTS?
« on: April 27, 2009, 09:03:04 am »
SRSLY, it seems like the captcha is on vacation or something. Something must be done about these losers.
Quote
I also realize that this is the internet, but even more so this is the forum for a video game on an internet, then even beyond that this is TREMULOUS forums the Satan version of all video game forums for a video game that is ON the internet.

Kaleo

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Re: OKAY, WHAT IS UP WITH THESE BOTS?
« Reply #1 on: April 27, 2009, 11:31:51 am »
I don't think they are bots. I think it's no lifers who can't get a real job.
Quote from: Stannum
Thou canst not kill that which doth not live,
but you can blow it into chunky kibbles!
I has a cookie, and u can has a cookie, but i no givs u mai cookie...

Survivor

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Re: OKAY, WHAT IS UP WITH THESE BOTS?
« Reply #2 on: April 27, 2009, 01:55:23 pm »
Sorry guys, skynet is causing trouble from my toaster, added too much butter. Oh, and i'm still not dead.
I’m busy. I’ll ignore you later.

Asvarox

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Re: OKAY, WHAT IS UP WITH THESE BOTS?
« Reply #3 on: April 27, 2009, 01:57:53 pm »
GOOGLE WILL TELL YOU THE TRUTH
in next few days......................
I MINE FULL WEREWOLFES
NOT SUCH HIPPIE THINGS  >:(

Kaleo

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Re: OKAY, WHAT IS UP WITH THESE BOTS?
« Reply #4 on: April 27, 2009, 01:59:42 pm »
Sorry guys, skynet is causing trouble from my toaster, added too much butter. Oh, and i'm still not dead.

More active admins pl0x? :P
Quote from: Stannum
Thou canst not kill that which doth not live,
but you can blow it into chunky kibbles!
I has a cookie, and u can has a cookie, but i no givs u mai cookie...

Winnie the Pooh

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Re: OKAY, WHAT IS UP WITH THESE BOTS?
« Reply #5 on: April 27, 2009, 05:24:35 pm »
Yeah i guess admins are the only way to get rid of these bruisers.
Quote
I also realize that this is the internet, but even more so this is the forum for a video game on an internet, then even beyond that this is TREMULOUS forums the Satan version of all video game forums for a video game that is ON the internet.

Yahoo

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Re: OKAY, WHAT IS UP WITH THESE BOTS?
« Reply #6 on: April 27, 2009, 07:01:18 pm »
close registrations!

who needs new players anyway?

khalsa

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Re: OKAY, WHAT IS UP WITH THESE BOTS?
« Reply #7 on: April 27, 2009, 07:54:23 pm »
Don't think these are bots entirely. They are too easily getting past the "Are you Human" question I put on the registration page without there being more hits for choice "No" or "Unsure".
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Bissig

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Re: OKAY, WHAT IS UP WITH THESE BOTS?
« Reply #8 on: April 27, 2009, 08:49:06 pm »
Don't think these are bots entirely. They are too easily getting past the "Are you Human" question I put on the registration page without there being more hits for choice "No" or "Unsure".

On our forums I observed that the IP doing the account registration is in a completely different subnet/ISP as the humans or bots posting the spam.

They seem to have found a way to humanize the account registration and boterize the spam posting. On the other hand that would mean that the bots are smart enough to find topics/subforums close enough to their mindless spam posts... Who knows.

"Mechanical Turk Spam" via Amazon? Maybe?

khalsa

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Re: OKAY, WHAT IS UP WITH THESE BOTS?
« Reply #9 on: April 27, 2009, 08:54:58 pm »
Ah you're right, I've been banning both IP's though :(
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Winnie the Pooh

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Re: OKAY, WHAT IS UP WITH THESE BOTS?
« Reply #10 on: April 27, 2009, 09:02:57 pm »
Don't think these are bots entirely. They are too easily getting past the "Are you Human" question I put on the registration page without there being more hits for choice "No" or "Unsure".

Cyborgs?
Quote
I also realize that this is the internet, but even more so this is the forum for a video game on an internet, then even beyond that this is TREMULOUS forums the Satan version of all video game forums for a video game that is ON the internet.

Annihilation

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Re: OKAY, WHAT IS UP WITH THESE BOTS?
« Reply #11 on: April 27, 2009, 10:16:34 pm »
Sorry guys, skynet is causing trouble from my toaster, added too much butter. Oh, and i'm still not dead.
HOLY FUCK HI!
[11:33:20 PM] Kaine:
Quote from: KobraKaine
How do you perform goon-copulation if he doesn't play?
Quote from: PowerOverwhelming
We just get on VC and listen to camels dying until we orgasm

Archangel

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Re: OKAY, WHAT IS UP WITH THESE BOTS?
« Reply #12 on: April 28, 2009, 02:36:09 am »
@Khalsa/mod team: Try manual verification. I don't think trem.net gets that many (legit) people registering everyday, and you have enough moderators I'd think to go over registrations -- if not you can always setup an administration level that can do nothing but accept/deny users.

Bissig

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Re: OKAY, WHAT IS UP WITH THESE BOTS?
« Reply #13 on: April 28, 2009, 03:19:39 am »
From the forums stats:

"Average registrations per day:   3.83"

Four manual registrations per day should be managable.

khalsa

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Re: OKAY, WHAT IS UP WITH THESE BOTS?
« Reply #14 on: April 28, 2009, 03:54:07 pm »
So I enabled manual approval for a bit, but it quickly became apparent that it's pretty pointless as the "bot" registrations look completely like real registrations. They are from unique IP, using a gmail or other public email address, with innocuous sounding names. No way to tell the spammers from the humans.

I've temporarily made it so that users with less than 10 posts cannot post links.
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Archangel

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Re: OKAY, WHAT IS UP WITH THESE BOTS?
« Reply #15 on: April 28, 2009, 05:01:23 pm »
My forums are under manual verification. I typically check IPs via googling them and checking on DNSBLs. Perhaps there's some sort of DNSBL plugin for SMF ?

khalsa

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Re: OKAY, WHAT IS UP WITH THESE BOTS?
« Reply #16 on: April 28, 2009, 05:21:23 pm »
Of all the bots we've had on trem.net over the last several days,  only one of them have been on any DNSBL, Anti-Spam list, or anything else I've checked.

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player1

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Re: OKAY, WHAT IS UP WITH THESE CAPS?
« Reply #17 on: April 28, 2009, 06:04:26 pm »
Sorry guys, skynet is causing trouble from my toaster, added too much butter. Oh, and i'm still not dead.

Welcome back, Survivor. And speaking of toasters, have u ever thought of visiting the tropics?

Bissig

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Re: OKAY, WHAT IS UP WITH THESE BOTS?
« Reply #18 on: April 28, 2009, 07:54:46 pm »
So I enabled manual approval for a bit, but it quickly became apparent that it's pretty pointless as the "bot" registrations look completely like real registrations. They are from unique IP, using a gmail or other public email address, with innocuous sounding names. No way to tell the spammers from the humans.

I've temporarily made it so that users with less than 10 posts cannot post links.

Just look at the sigs they use.

khalsa

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Re: OKAY, WHAT IS UP WITH THESE BOTS?
« Reply #19 on: April 28, 2009, 08:16:58 pm »
You can't set a signature till after you're a member
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Bissig

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Re: OKAY, WHAT IS UP WITH THESE BOTS?
« Reply #20 on: April 28, 2009, 08:27:51 pm »
You can't set a signature till after you're a member


Sorry, my mistake!

Yahoo

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Re: OKAY, WHAT IS UP WITH THESE BOTS?
« Reply #21 on: April 28, 2009, 09:24:57 pm »
From the forums stats:

"Average registrations per day:   3.83"

Four manual registrations per day should be managable.
DIBS DIBS DIBS

Survivor

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Re: OKAY, WHAT IS UP WITH THESE BOTS?
« Reply #22 on: April 30, 2009, 05:06:09 pm »
Sorry guys, skynet is causing trouble from my toaster, added too much butter. Oh, and i'm still not dead.

Welcome back, Survivor. And speaking of toasters, have u ever thought of visiting the tropics?

Never been really gone. Just don't have time to immerse myself in this place like I used to. Usually it's a quick check for trouble and interesting topics.
I’m busy. I’ll ignore you later.

KamikOzzy

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Re: OKAY, WHAT IS UP WITH THESE BOTS?
« Reply #23 on: April 30, 2009, 07:03:22 pm »
Sorry guys, skynet is causing trouble from my toaster, added too much butter. Oh, and i'm still not dead.

Welcome back, Survivor. And speaking of toasters, have u ever thought of visiting the tropics?

Never been really gone. Just don't have time to immerse myself in this place like I used to. Usually it's a quick check for trouble and interesting topics.
don't call it a comeback, he's been here for years...

okay I'll shut up >.>
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