Possible unanticipated side-effect of r65.org

[Justin B.]

Since this forum was hot-linked from the old r65.org site I have 5 very suspicious new registrations.  There have been no posts from these addresses and I would imagine they are from a spam generation engine and don't have the ability to deal with the e-mailed password and registration confirmation process.
  
If anybody reads this that has registered in the past couple of days, and has used a seemingly random series of characters as a login name, please respond to this post or these "suspect" users will be deleted this weekend.

Sorry if this causes anybody any heartburn...

[msbuck]

I had noticed this as well.  Hoping this isn't the case, but we do have a plan, right?  :-/
At least no spam postings yet!  

[Justin B.]

Yeah, my "plan" is to whack 'em...   [smiley=shoot.gif]  Most of the time I am not very subtle when it comes to dealing with things that irritate me.  The older I get the less tolerance I have.  

[Bob_Roller]

Nuke 'em till they glow or bomb 'em back to the stone age!

[donbmw]

Justin

I would delet anyone that has not posted the first time in 5 to 7 days from them signing up.

Don

[Melena]

I noticed those too, Justin.  I was going to check them again and then mention it to you.  But I figured you'd catch it too.  I know there are some people out there that might not want to post right away and just lurk until they have something to say.  I think you'll be able to tell.  

Since this forum was hot-linked from the old r65.org site I have 5 very suspicious new registrations.  Yes, I had that idea too when I saw these.    There are ways other forums take care of screening new registrants, but I have no idea what they do.  I know one that says you can't post for some number of days after registering.  

[Rob Valdez 79 R65]

That is too bad.  It also explains why sloths' second forum was attacked so quickly.

I take it this is not a situation that those "secure passwords" would not eliminate?  I am referring to the field that has random numbers and letters that you (a real person) has to identify and copy in order for the registration to take place.

No doubt these new "spam" registrations are created individually by humans, rather than a computer program?

[Justin B.]

This forum software does not have that feature, Rob, that's why I chose for the system to e-mail back the initial password to a REAL e-mail address.  This gives some protection.

Gotta go to work...  

[MrRiden]

Another list / group that I visit requires a brief introduction in order to be approved for access. No intro=no admittance & no worries for the admin.

[NC Steve]

A new registrant today has a handle bearing an eerie resemblance to much of my junk email, and many television commercials for a popular erectile dysfunction medication.....

[Justin B.]

The suspects are now "history"...  [smiley=shoot.gif] [smiley=1drink.gif]

[Melena]

That is the perfect "smiley" for the situation, Justin.   [smiley=evil.gif]  

Thanks for your quick action on this.  There must be something we can do to make sure they are for real.  I like the idea that they have to introduce themselves and let us know about their (or significant other's) bike within in order to stay "registered".

What do you all think about that?

[Justin B.]

Sounds like you need to conduct a poll, Melena...  

[SCJJR65]

I say we do whatever we have to do to ensure the integrity of our site.  I wouldn't say no to having a new member's application "reviewed" by a board (or rotating person, or something of that nature) before any new registrant is allowed to begin posting.

I just don't want to see all that spam nightmare crop up here.  If we had to cut the hot link we had established to do that, I'd say "full steam ahead!"  [smiley=thumbsup.gif]

[Justin B.]

I've been looking through all of the settings and found that I could tighten things a notch or two more, BUT I don't want to make it a total PITA to register.  I think as it stands right now the current level seems to be keeping any spam from posting and it makes me feel good to go on a weekly "spammer hunt" and kill a few off!  

Until the time that one of these cretins actually posts something I am inclined to stay with the status-quo.  I would think that this picked up after the linking due to r65.org being more visible and the same thing would likely have happened if we had picked a new url.

We'll see...