Increase in spambots?

[thirdkingdom]

Looks like there's been a massive increase in membership, but going through those who've just joined it seems most of them are spammers as they have links to various random websites. Is there a reason why?

[Alethan]

Looks like there's been a massive increase in membership, but going through those who've just joined it seems most of them are spammers as they have links to various random websites. Is there a reason why?

It happens about every six months or so. Live person registers once to find out if the security question changes. They figure out it doesn't, so they program that into the auto register and try to get their crap posted.

I log on a few times a day during these times and ban as many of the new spam IDs as I can, then ToniXX deletes them every other day or so. He's already deleted several screens worth of IDs.

The other thing you don't see is the 75+ posts they've made that aren't visible until a mod approves them. Obviously, I don't. I delete them.

Hopefully we keep it under control and it doesn't affect the normal site activity too much...

Al

[hedgeknight]

Looks like there's been a massive increase in membership, but going through those who've just joined it seems most of them are spammers as they have links to various random websites. Is there a reason why?

Was thinking the very same thing. Lots of newbies...not that there's anything wrong with that; we were all newbies once. But when you see an influx...

[thirdkingdom]

Well, my hat's off to you poor suckers brave souls working down in the spam mines.

[hedgeknight]

Yeah, seems like I'm seeing a new member every time I refresh...

[Alethan]

Looks like ToniXX was able to get a handle of the spammers.

Hope nobody noticed anything but the increased user names (which have all been deleted, at this point...).