Adbots

[StoPCampinGn00b]

Hey everyone, yes, there are tens of adbots spamming the off topic, map development, dota 2, and site discussion sections. They are being banned asap and the threads should be cleaned up when the admins and co get online.

Thanks for the reports! There is no need to over do the amount of reports btw, don't hurt yourself

EDIT: Map development threads cleaned.

 

[Rex.]

I suggest you to banned newest users for this hour. It would be easier.

 

[StoPCampinGn00b]

I suggest you to banned newest users for this hour. It would be easier.

Are you talking about all new users, bot or not? If so, interesting idea but I don't think it's gotten that bad that that would be necessary.

 

[Wasabee]

Are you talking about all new users, bot or not? If so, interesting idea but I don't think it's gotten that bad that that would be necessary.

I also agree some real new users might be affected because of this.

 

[fladdermasken]

Typical new user behaviour!

Cleaned out Off-Topic for now.

 

[Winimasker]

Also, those spammed threads are not using English. I think they are Koreans.

I thought the bots will be automatically banned. Are they the bots? As you said, they are adbots. (I mean... Do they register themselves that they are bots?)

 

[StoPCampinGn00b]

They post pretty fast for humans. Whoever programmed these obviously made them able to get through.

 

[fladdermasken]

I thought the bots will be automatically banned. Are they the bots? As you said, they are adbots. (I mean... Do they register themselves that they are bots?)

There are many ways to circumvent CAPTCHAs, e.g. by having the spamming software retrieve the test and display it elsewhere where unsuspecting humans solve them to gain access to different resources.

Mostly, though, adbots are not actual bots, but people paid to spam advertisement.

They post pretty fast for humans.

The only human interaction needed is to pass the test, though.

 

[StoPCampinGn00b]

Flad said it well.

A notice, I found one of the "adbot's" current activity to be private messaging. Users should report these messages.

 

[Rex.]

Guys, check out Dota 2 forum! Enemy at 12o'clock!

 

[Ralle]

Cleaned a lot of stuff.

 

[Ash]

Hands down, best moderating team and userbase evar.

Incidents like this should be pretty rare come Hive 2.

 

[Cherrymage]

Another spambot is coming.

Sigh. Perhaps we should temporarily stop new users from registering here, until the problem is stopped for a period.

 

[Zwiebelchen]

Couldn't you just set up a quick script that auto-bans all users that use korean symbols for a while?

 

[Cherrymage]

But how about somebody who use it sparingly?

Just stop further registration for awhile and it's okay.

 

[Zwiebelchen]

But how about somebody who use it sparingly?

Just stop further registration for awhile and it's okay.

The official board language is english, no exceptions.
And you can always set the script up so that it counts the number of symbols and only acts if there are more than 5 per post.

 

[Cherrymage]

The official board language is english, no exceptions.
And you can always set the script up so that it counts the number of symbols and only acts if there are more than 5 per post.

Yes, I know this is an English only site.

However, sometimes though somebody has to express the Chosŏn'gŭl characters for legitimate or non-spammy purposes, such as in a RP Pastebin data someone just write the Chosŏn'gŭl name for their faction, etc.

Okay, if so, how about also add a big notification telling users to not post any Korean characters until the problem is gone? I'm sure spambots can't understand the notification and proceed to post in Korean, which will result in auto-ban? And make the ban apply only to future posts?

 

[Winimasker]

And you can always set the script up so that it counts the number of symbols and only acts if there are more than 5 per post.

I just fear that the users will post an image which includes other language's texts for spamming and advertising purposes and so this kind of solution wouldn't stop those of their purposes.
- - - - - - -
I will stop the robots from spamming and advertising by plugging off their plugins, taking away their electrical sources or breaking their weaknesses. No idea on how to stop the cyberbots from doing their purposes. This is madness...

 

[Roland]

This site sure needs improvements for security So as the upcoming Hive 2.0

 

[Ralle]

I am keeping an eye on the New Posts link with this http://www.refreshthis.com/. It seems that the spamming has stopped for now *crosses fingers*.

 

[Ash]

Likewise, I'll be taking over from Ralle and keeping my eyes on the new posts for a while now.

 

[Ralle]

After a day at my job peeking at the "New Posts" page from time to time I am finally home and have written code that detects this spam. Let's see how the bots react.

 

[Eagle XI]

Suffer not the Spambot to post.

 

[WhiteFang]

They seem to be gone now

 

[SeedinAethyr]

I think that the moderation team (not just talking about mods here) that dealt with this problem deserves big congratulations, especially SCN. He dealt with the problem very well, banning bots for about an hour straight, as well as creating this nice thread detailing the problem.

 

[fladdermasken]

Gotta give the bots some credit for trying. I, for one, am sad they're gone!

Never underestimate how relevant korean retail is to the WarCraft III playerbase.

 

[WhiteFang]

and they are back

 

[Moy]

Yep, they're back.

 

[StoPCampinGn00b]

Yep, they're back.

WC Discussion ones that popped up minutes ago are deleted. Will have to wait for the Site Discussion ones to be cleaned up though.

 

[Ralle]

I'm awake, I'm awake. It's cleaned up.

 

[Eagle XI]

Never underestimate how relevant korean retail is to the WarCraft III playerbase.

Baba ji>korean retail

 

[Roland]

Never realized how these crazy Korean bots got here, Even FIFA Beggars always stumble here in this site