The Spam Tsunami
The Spam Tsunami
In the last week or so we have seen an unprecedented level of spam in the form of automated software bots and human posters infiltrating this (and HuaHinMedia.com partners') forums and websites. Some will even post a bunch of text to manipulate the Google ads that show up on each page.
Fortunately this forum's software has been modified to prevent new posters inserting links else we would have been flooded with spam by now.
We have also seen viral attacks on Hotmail accounts, hacking attempts on partner websites, and a generally elevated level of spurious internet spamming activity. (Conspiracy nuts aside)
This thread has been started primarily to apologise on behalf of forum Admins and owners for the incursions and to warn all members to be on their guard against bogus emails (with attachments) that are engineered to spread the infection and spam bots across networks.
If anyone has any concerns or questions on the above please post them here, we all need to be a little more vigilant with our computers to slow and hopefully curb this digital pestilence.
Fortunately this forum's software has been modified to prevent new posters inserting links else we would have been flooded with spam by now.
We have also seen viral attacks on Hotmail accounts, hacking attempts on partner websites, and a generally elevated level of spurious internet spamming activity. (Conspiracy nuts aside)
This thread has been started primarily to apologise on behalf of forum Admins and owners for the incursions and to warn all members to be on their guard against bogus emails (with attachments) that are engineered to spread the infection and spam bots across networks.
If anyone has any concerns or questions on the above please post them here, we all need to be a little more vigilant with our computers to slow and hopefully curb this digital pestilence.
Who is the happier man, he who has braved the storm of life and lived or he who has stayed securely on shore and merely existed? - Hunter S Thompson
Re: The Spam Tsunami
Resolve dissolves in alcohol
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- Guru
- Posts: 785
- Joined: Tue Jun 26, 2007 5:03 am
Re: The Spam Tsunami
Not sure if it's related but I have noticed over the last few weeks how the forum start-up page is taking longer to download. Using IE8 and seems as if it's waiting longer than it used to for the Google-ads to load.
Re: The Spam Tsunami
Not related, where are you accessing from? Maybe some geo-targeted ads take longer to load.chopsticks wrote:Not sure if it's related but I have noticed over the last few weeks how the forum start-up page is taking longer to download. Using IE8 and seems as if it's waiting longer than it used to for the Google-ads to load.
Who is the happier man, he who has braved the storm of life and lived or he who has stayed securely on shore and merely existed? - Hunter S Thompson
Re: The Spam Tsunami
Everyone can help out with this as well. If you think a spam post has slipped by the mods, hit the exclamation mark at the bottom right in each post screen and report it. Pete
Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. Source
- dtaai-maai
- Hero
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- Joined: Mon Jul 30, 2007 10:00 pm
- Location: UK, Robin Hood country
Re: The Spam Tsunami
And on that topic, why is John612 still posting?
6 unrelated posts on different topics, some completely irrelevant, none followed up. Obviously some kind of spammer.
6 unrelated posts on different topics, some completely irrelevant, none followed up. Obviously some kind of spammer.
This is the way
Re: The Spam Tsunami
Just to advise, when we discover a spammer, and there have been subsequent posts - all posts will be deleted when we delete the spammer's thread. Apologies to those of you have posted, but without the OP, your posts would look nonsensical.
Championship Plymouth Argyle 1 - 0 Hull City
Points 51; Position 21
Consolidated - Championship Next Season
Points 51; Position 21
Consolidated - Championship Next Season
Re: The Spam Tsunami
Yeah, that one for meds got through and had a live button for a link as well. Seems they have found a way around the forum no link under 10 posts defenses. Pete
Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. Source
- redzonerocker
- Rock Star
- Posts: 4777
- Joined: Mon Apr 02, 2007 3:55 pm
- Location: England
Re: The Spam Tsunami
There's nothing nonsensical about Anna Friel , but i get your driftBig Boy wrote:Just to advise, when we discover a spammer, and there have been subsequent posts - all posts will be deleted when we delete the spammer's thread. Apologies to those of you have posted, but without the OP, your posts would look nonsensical.
Remember, no one can make you feel inferior without your consent.
Re: The Spam Tsunami
Yes, please don't reply to the spam threads as we'll delete the entire topic as soon as we can.
We may go through the database and clean up all the spam accounts also.
We may go through the database and clean up all the spam accounts also.
Who is the happier man, he who has braved the storm of life and lived or he who has stayed securely on shore and merely existed? - Hunter S Thompson
- Frank Hovis
- Legend
- Posts: 2081
- Joined: Sat Oct 30, 2010 11:47 pm
Spam Infiltrators
Has anyone noticed that a lot of new members are posting semi-relevant but generally glib posts?
Are they spam infiltrators, who think they can post 10 slightly on-topic replies and then they'll have the ability to post links and images to all manner of cack? Or just people desperate to get into the after dark forum (boy will they be dissapointed !)
Take this post for instance.....
viewtopic.php?f=35&t=16901&start=90#p239356
On topic but hardly the ramblings of a sentient hua-hin expat.
And there are others where the entire post is just 'Wow - that's amazing' or similar.
Just a thought....
Are they spam infiltrators, who think they can post 10 slightly on-topic replies and then they'll have the ability to post links and images to all manner of cack? Or just people desperate to get into the after dark forum (boy will they be dissapointed !)
Take this post for instance.....
viewtopic.php?f=35&t=16901&start=90#p239356
On topic but hardly the ramblings of a sentient hua-hin expat.
And there are others where the entire post is just 'Wow - that's amazing' or similar.
Just a thought....
- dtaai-maai
- Hero
- Posts: 14351
- Joined: Mon Jul 30, 2007 10:00 pm
- Location: UK, Robin Hood country
Re: Spam Infiltrators
Yep, noticed. I've started clicking that exclamation mark, with my observations.
One of the more recent signs is a token effort for the post to have some relevance to the topic, though often by copy/pasting something from the Net.
Wow!
One of the more recent signs is a token effort for the post to have some relevance to the topic, though often by copy/pasting something from the Net.
Wow!
This is the way
Re: Spam Infiltrators
No worries Frank, we are monitoring such posters constantly. I would guess that between us we've eliminated 100+ spammers in the last month. Obviously the odd one will get past us, and we are always grateful if members can help by hitting the exclamation mark to highlight potential problems.
Championship Plymouth Argyle 1 - 0 Hull City
Points 51; Position 21
Consolidated - Championship Next Season
Points 51; Position 21
Consolidated - Championship Next Season
Re: The Spam Tsunami
Please do not reply to posts that you suspect are spam - it only helps them achieve their goals. Threads from this forum are syndicated over a number of other websites across the net and the spammers know that this is a highly trafficked site, henceforth they are becoming more sophisticated about the distribution of their wares. Our moderators are online 24-7 and will edit/delete as appropriate.
We thank you for your patience during what has been a bit of a storm lately on the spam front.
We thank you for your patience during what has been a bit of a storm lately on the spam front.
Re: The Spam Tsunami
Maybe explain a bit what these people achieve by eventually posting a link if they get through all the defenses. What is the going rate per hit for these spam merchants? Pete
Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. Source