Go to Post So measure not by the masses, but by the sparks that you generate. - Kims Robot [more]
Home
Go Back   Chief Delphi > ChiefDelphi.com Website > CD Forum Support
CD-Media   CD-Spy  
portal register members calendar search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read FAQ rules

 
Reply
Thread Tools Rate Thread Display Modes
  #1   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 22-08-2010, 13:38
Joe Ross's Avatar Unsung FIRST Hero
Joe Ross Joe Ross is offline
Registered User
FRC #0330 (Beachbots)
Team Role: Engineer
 
Join Date: Jun 2001
Rookie Year: 1997
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 8,559
Joe Ross has a reputation beyond reputeJoe Ross has a reputation beyond reputeJoe Ross has a reputation beyond reputeJoe Ross has a reputation beyond reputeJoe Ross has a reputation beyond reputeJoe Ross has a reputation beyond reputeJoe Ross has a reputation beyond reputeJoe Ross has a reputation beyond reputeJoe Ross has a reputation beyond reputeJoe Ross has a reputation beyond reputeJoe Ross has a reputation beyond repute
Sneaky Spammers

I've noticed an increase in smarter spammers, over the past year or so. Instead of posting 10 links to a porn site which quickly gets deleted, they post a legitimate sounding post, and then have a link in their signature which is spam. Even more recently, there were some posts where the spammer initially had a blank signature, but days later (after the thread fell off the portal), went back and edited their signature.

One example of the latest method is still in the career forum. http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/sh...ad.php?t=86609 It was posted on the 16th with a blank signature, and the spam link was added on the 20th.

Other recent spam posts have had just one line that says something like "I agree with you", or have copied parts of previous posts so that if you skim it, it seems reasonable, but doesn't actually make sense. Others have asked legitimate (but unrelated to FIRST) questions, like this one (look a the link in the signature): http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/sh...ad.php?t=86607

These spammers don't even care if you click on their link. They just want as many links to their website as possible, so that they show up higher in search results.

One way to determine if a post is SPAM is if you notice something that seems odd, copy a part of the post and search Google for it (you can use up to 32 words), using quotation marks to enclose the quote. If it shows up in more then a few forums, most likely it's a single spammer operating across the internet.

One forum I frequent recently decided not to allow new users to post links in their signatures until they get 10 posts. Presumably, a spammer wouldn't post 10 times without someone catching on. That might be one way to limit the affects of this type of SPAM.

For those who may be new to chiefdelphi, if you see a post that is spam, you can use the report post button in the upper right corner of the post (it looks like a triangular sign with an exclamation point). This will report the post to the moderators so they can review and delete the post if necessary.

I don't think that Spam is a huge problem on CD, but I don't like to see spammers able to get away with anything.

Last edited by Joe Ross : 22-08-2010 at 14:28.
Reply With Quote
  #2   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 22-08-2010, 14:21
Dkt01's Avatar
Dkt01 Dkt01 is offline
Programming Mentor
AKA: David
FRC #1756 (Argos)
Team Role: Mentor
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Rookie Year: 2009
Location: Peoria, Il
Posts: 145
Dkt01 will become famous soon enough
Re: Sneaky Spammers

I find it unfortunate that a forum like CD is plagued by such a problem. I've found this forum a useful tool to solve problems and discuss ideas. Hopefully, together, we can limit or eliminate the spam.

Thank you for bringing the problem to our attention.
Reply With Quote
  #3   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 22-08-2010, 14:55
Unsung FIRST Hero
RoboMom RoboMom is offline
people expediter on Team Kluge
AKA: Jenny Beatty, no relation
no team (they are all my teams)
Team Role: Mentor
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Rookie Year: 2002
Location: Maryland
Posts: 3,067
RoboMom has a reputation beyond reputeRoboMom has a reputation beyond reputeRoboMom has a reputation beyond reputeRoboMom has a reputation beyond reputeRoboMom has a reputation beyond reputeRoboMom has a reputation beyond reputeRoboMom has a reputation beyond reputeRoboMom has a reputation beyond reputeRoboMom has a reputation beyond reputeRoboMom has a reputation beyond reputeRoboMom has a reputation beyond repute
Re: Sneaky Spammers

Steady influx of spammers asking to join NEMO forum too.
__________________
Co-Founder of NEMO (Non-Engineering Mentor Organization) www.firstnemo.org
Volunteer Director, STEMaction, Inc. www.stemaction.org
FIRST Senior Mentor: Nov. 2004 to June 2009: "Experience is that marvelous thing that enables you to recognize a mistake when you make it again"
This is How I Work: http://www.chiefdelphi.com/media/papers/2862
Reply With Quote
  #4   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 22-08-2010, 15:18
JohnBoucher JohnBoucher is offline
Blue Shirt
FRC #0237
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Rookie Year: 2003
Location: Watertown, CT
Posts: 2,927
JohnBoucher has a reputation beyond reputeJohnBoucher has a reputation beyond reputeJohnBoucher has a reputation beyond reputeJohnBoucher has a reputation beyond reputeJohnBoucher has a reputation beyond reputeJohnBoucher has a reputation beyond reputeJohnBoucher has a reputation beyond reputeJohnBoucher has a reputation beyond reputeJohnBoucher has a reputation beyond reputeJohnBoucher has a reputation beyond reputeJohnBoucher has a reputation beyond repute
Re: Sneaky Spammers

Brandon.. Do you apply "rel=nofollow" to url's?
Reply With Quote
  #5   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 22-08-2010, 18:11
Joe Ross's Avatar Unsung FIRST Hero
Joe Ross Joe Ross is offline
Registered User
FRC #0330 (Beachbots)
Team Role: Engineer
 
Join Date: Jun 2001
Rookie Year: 1997
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 8,559
Joe Ross has a reputation beyond reputeJoe Ross has a reputation beyond reputeJoe Ross has a reputation beyond reputeJoe Ross has a reputation beyond reputeJoe Ross has a reputation beyond reputeJoe Ross has a reputation beyond reputeJoe Ross has a reputation beyond reputeJoe Ross has a reputation beyond reputeJoe Ross has a reputation beyond reputeJoe Ross has a reputation beyond reputeJoe Ross has a reputation beyond repute
Re: Sneaky Spammers

Quote:
Originally Posted by JohnBoucher View Post
Brandon.. Do you apply "rel=nofollow" to url's?
Doesn't look like it. That would be a great way to cut down the benefits of link spam. It appears that newer versions of vbulletin have options to do it automatically, and there are plug-ins to do it for older versions.
Reply With Quote
  #6   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 23-08-2010, 18:38
DonRotolo's Avatar
DonRotolo DonRotolo is offline
Back to humble
FRC #0832
Team Role: Mentor
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Rookie Year: 2005
Location: Atlanta GA
Posts: 6,979
DonRotolo has a reputation beyond reputeDonRotolo has a reputation beyond reputeDonRotolo has a reputation beyond reputeDonRotolo has a reputation beyond reputeDonRotolo has a reputation beyond reputeDonRotolo has a reputation beyond reputeDonRotolo has a reputation beyond reputeDonRotolo has a reputation beyond reputeDonRotolo has a reputation beyond reputeDonRotolo has a reputation beyond reputeDonRotolo has a reputation beyond repute
Re: Sneaky Spammers

vB can also disallow links in signatures IIRC.
__________________

I am N2IRZ - What's your callsign?
Reply With Quote
  #7   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 01-09-2010, 13:30
Joe Ross's Avatar Unsung FIRST Hero
Joe Ross Joe Ross is offline
Registered User
FRC #0330 (Beachbots)
Team Role: Engineer
 
Join Date: Jun 2001
Rookie Year: 1997
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 8,559
Joe Ross has a reputation beyond reputeJoe Ross has a reputation beyond reputeJoe Ross has a reputation beyond reputeJoe Ross has a reputation beyond reputeJoe Ross has a reputation beyond reputeJoe Ross has a reputation beyond reputeJoe Ross has a reputation beyond reputeJoe Ross has a reputation beyond reputeJoe Ross has a reputation beyond reputeJoe Ross has a reputation beyond reputeJoe Ross has a reputation beyond repute
Re: Sneaky Spammers

Another thing would be to hide the members list to un-registered users. This would keep search spiders from crawling the members list and collecting all the spam links in signatures.
Reply With Quote
  #8   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 03-09-2010, 19:11
Joe Ross's Avatar Unsung FIRST Hero
Joe Ross Joe Ross is offline
Registered User
FRC #0330 (Beachbots)
Team Role: Engineer
 
Join Date: Jun 2001
Rookie Year: 1997
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 8,559
Joe Ross has a reputation beyond reputeJoe Ross has a reputation beyond reputeJoe Ross has a reputation beyond reputeJoe Ross has a reputation beyond reputeJoe Ross has a reputation beyond reputeJoe Ross has a reputation beyond reputeJoe Ross has a reputation beyond reputeJoe Ross has a reputation beyond reputeJoe Ross has a reputation beyond reputeJoe Ross has a reputation beyond reputeJoe Ross has a reputation beyond repute
Re: Sneaky Spammers

Here's something else I found interesting.

I used to think that as long as the posts with spam links were deleted in a timely manner, everything was ok. However, there are a lot of spammers that have spam links in their signature, but never post (and so the links stay there for years).

I recently ran a google search for something related to chiefdelphi. What I found were a lot of results that were spammers member pages, such as this one: http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/member.php?u=34231

There were also pages that contained links to member's pages, which had spam in the signature. By posting a link to a page that has a link to what the spammer advertise also helps them, and it looks much more benign on the other page. Running a google search shows that there may be millions of things doing that. I've cleaned up some of them, but there are still a lot left.

Just one more thing to watch out for.
Reply With Quote
  #9   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 03-09-2010, 19:51
DonRotolo's Avatar
DonRotolo DonRotolo is offline
Back to humble
FRC #0832
Team Role: Mentor
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Rookie Year: 2005
Location: Atlanta GA
Posts: 6,979
DonRotolo has a reputation beyond reputeDonRotolo has a reputation beyond reputeDonRotolo has a reputation beyond reputeDonRotolo has a reputation beyond reputeDonRotolo has a reputation beyond reputeDonRotolo has a reputation beyond reputeDonRotolo has a reputation beyond reputeDonRotolo has a reputation beyond reputeDonRotolo has a reputation beyond reputeDonRotolo has a reputation beyond reputeDonRotolo has a reputation beyond repute
Re: Sneaky Spammers

Fascinating.
I just got a spam PM from someone. While they were highlighting (hawking) their CD of CNC plans they're selling on feeBay - nominally of interest to someone who posted in a CNC thread - it was a clever bit of distasteful marketing.

VB has several ways to manage this, the best being people with fewer than X posts are in a different group than those with X or more. The first group can't use links in signatures, or PM, or several other things.
__________________

I am N2IRZ - What's your callsign?
Reply With Quote
  #10   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 03-09-2010, 19:59
Alan Anderson's Avatar
Alan Anderson Alan Anderson is offline
Software Architect
FRC #0045 (TechnoKats)
Team Role: Mentor
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Rookie Year: 2004
Location: Kokomo, Indiana
Posts: 9,112
Alan Anderson has a reputation beyond reputeAlan Anderson has a reputation beyond reputeAlan Anderson has a reputation beyond reputeAlan Anderson has a reputation beyond reputeAlan Anderson has a reputation beyond reputeAlan Anderson has a reputation beyond reputeAlan Anderson has a reputation beyond reputeAlan Anderson has a reputation beyond reputeAlan Anderson has a reputation beyond reputeAlan Anderson has a reputation beyond reputeAlan Anderson has a reputation beyond repute
Re: Sneaky Spammers

Quote:
Originally Posted by Don Rotolo View Post
Fascinating.
I just got a spam PM from someone. While they were highlighting (hawking) their CD of CNC plans they're selling on feeBay - nominally of interest to someone who posted in a CNC thread - it was a clever bit of distasteful marketing.
I received what is likely the same spam from the same Lindsy, on October 30. Perhaps it has taken that long for the spammer to make it through the alphabet from A to R?
Reply With Quote
  #11   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 30-12-2010, 00:10
Joe Ross's Avatar Unsung FIRST Hero
Joe Ross Joe Ross is offline
Registered User
FRC #0330 (Beachbots)
Team Role: Engineer
 
Join Date: Jun 2001
Rookie Year: 1997
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 8,559
Joe Ross has a reputation beyond reputeJoe Ross has a reputation beyond reputeJoe Ross has a reputation beyond reputeJoe Ross has a reputation beyond reputeJoe Ross has a reputation beyond reputeJoe Ross has a reputation beyond reputeJoe Ross has a reputation beyond reputeJoe Ross has a reputation beyond reputeJoe Ross has a reputation beyond reputeJoe Ross has a reputation beyond reputeJoe Ross has a reputation beyond repute
Re: Sneaky Spammers

Another tactic is for the spammer to ask a innocuous question, and then in a day or two register a new account to answer that question. Here's one example (at least until it gets cleaned up) http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/sh...365#post989365
Reply With Quote
  #12   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 30-12-2010, 06:12
gvarndell's Avatar
gvarndell gvarndell is offline
Software Engineer
AKA: Addi's and Georgie's Dad
FRC #1629 (GaCo)
Team Role: Parent
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Rookie Year: 2008
Location: Grantsville, Maryland
Posts: 350
gvarndell has a reputation beyond reputegvarndell has a reputation beyond reputegvarndell has a reputation beyond reputegvarndell has a reputation beyond reputegvarndell has a reputation beyond reputegvarndell has a reputation beyond reputegvarndell has a reputation beyond reputegvarndell has a reputation beyond reputegvarndell has a reputation beyond reputegvarndell has a reputation beyond reputegvarndell has a reputation beyond repute
Re: Sneaky Spammers

Quote:
Originally Posted by Joe Ross View Post
Another tactic is for the spammer to ask a innocuous question, and then in a day or two register a new account to answer that question. Here's one example (at least until it gets cleaned up) http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/sh...365#post989365
So, is 'Kirkbride' the spammer?
If so, he is still in business on CD.
http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/member.php?u=43766
__________________
Robots never, ever, ever, ever break -- The Robot Repairman (Backyardigans)
Reply With Quote
  #13   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 30-12-2010, 23:10
216Robochick288's Avatar
216Robochick288 216Robochick288 is offline
Hopelessly Addicted to FIRST
AKA: Abby Wilson
FRC #0216 (RobodawGs 216/288/244)
Team Role: Alumni
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Rookie Year: 2009
Location: Grandville MI
Posts: 166
216Robochick288 is a glorious beacon of light216Robochick288 is a glorious beacon of light216Robochick288 is a glorious beacon of light216Robochick288 is a glorious beacon of light216Robochick288 is a glorious beacon of light216Robochick288 is a glorious beacon of light
Re: Sneaky Spammers

Is it possible to have a thread that we could put suspected spammers in? Because "Jjohnson23" just joined, all he has are links in his sig and is OBVIOUSLY not a kid. Hes on team "0000"... yeah, auto Insurance is not a team, sorry. Just a thread of suspected spammers to make deleteing them easier?
__________________
216/244/288 for life

"I want you to lose [by] the most you can!" ~Mr. Hepfer at Breakaway Champs. [Curie Match 100]

RoboDawg Alumni, 2009-2012
FIRST mentor 2010-?
FLL 2010-2012,2015-2016 FRC teams 857, 2586, 5486, and 5989 2013-?

For lack of being allowed to put them up top here are all my kids!
Reply With Quote
  #14   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 31-12-2010, 00:00
PAR_WIG1350's Avatar
PAR_WIG1350 PAR_WIG1350 is offline
Registered User
AKA: Alan Wells
FRC #1350 (Rambots)
Team Role: Alumni
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Rookie Year: 2009
Location: Rhode Island
Posts: 1,188
PAR_WIG1350 has a reputation beyond reputePAR_WIG1350 has a reputation beyond reputePAR_WIG1350 has a reputation beyond reputePAR_WIG1350 has a reputation beyond reputePAR_WIG1350 has a reputation beyond reputePAR_WIG1350 has a reputation beyond reputePAR_WIG1350 has a reputation beyond reputePAR_WIG1350 has a reputation beyond reputePAR_WIG1350 has a reputation beyond reputePAR_WIG1350 has a reputation beyond reputePAR_WIG1350 has a reputation beyond repute
Re: Sneaky Spammers

youtubedownload

This spammer's profile is fairly new, it's been active as recently as today
once again, there are links in the signature that seem 'bad', but no posts have been made from the account, so it is probably linked to from elsewhere. Google search turned up nothing but a scary picture of just how many different spammers link to a CD profile page.
__________________
Reply With Quote
  #15   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 31-12-2010, 00:38
synth3tk's Avatar
synth3tk synth3tk is offline
Volunteer / The Blue Alliance
AKA: David Thomas
no team
Team Role: Alumni
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Rookie Year: 2007
Location: Ohio
Posts: 2,005
synth3tk has a reputation beyond reputesynth3tk has a reputation beyond reputesynth3tk has a reputation beyond reputesynth3tk has a reputation beyond reputesynth3tk has a reputation beyond reputesynth3tk has a reputation beyond reputesynth3tk has a reputation beyond reputesynth3tk has a reputation beyond reputesynth3tk has a reputation beyond reputesynth3tk has a reputation beyond reputesynth3tk has a reputation beyond repute
Re: Sneaky Spammers

There are plenty of ways to stop this spam, or at least decrease the amount. I'm sure it's just a matter of Brandon having the time to implement it.
Reply With Quote
Reply


Thread Tools
Display Modes Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
[wiki]: Spammers on FIRSTwiki Joe Ross FIRSTwiki 13 08-08-2009 11:34
pic: Sneaky at Gen Con roboticsguy1988 Chit-Chat 31 15-08-2006 15:45
Re: SPAMMERS MRL180YTL2002 Chit-Chat 48 20-01-2003 21:32
Re: SPAMMERS and the HW MRL180YTL2002 Chit-Chat 7 14-11-2002 20:12
firstrobotics.org taken by spammers SlamminSammy General Forum 6 06-10-2002 20:23


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:09.

The Chief Delphi Forums are sponsored by Innovation First International, Inc.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.6.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2017, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright © Chief Delphi