How are spam bots handled?

[Silanon]

As far as I know, they get reported by someone, then a moderator deletes the content and bans the offender. My question here is if there is a point in reporting multiple posts of the same person - or are they all taken care of together anyway, such that reporting multiple posts just means more notifications for the respective mod without changing anything?

 

[kibou]

Nah, there only needs to be one report. When we flag an account as a spambot, all of their posts will automatically be deleted, and they'll be banned from posting anything. 

 

[Silanon]

Good to know, thanks for the quick response - now if they could just stop wasting your time to begin with...

 

[Dugym]

Nah, there only needs to be one report. When we flag an account as a spambot, all of their posts will automatically be deleted, and they'll be banned from posting anything. 

Could a user be accidentally flagged as a spambot, for example if a moderator makes a mistake?

 

[Chordling]

18 minutes ago, Riuma said:





Could a user be accidentally flagged as a spambot, for example if a moderator makes a mistake?




 

Mistakes are possible.  The effect is reversible.

 

[The Dark Wizard]

Could a user be accidentally flagged as a spambot, for example if a moderator makes a mistake?

Mistakes are possible.  The effect is reversible.

The ability to mark an account as spam is only for accounts under 10 posts last I checked and a certain amount of time. After a while we can't do it to users any more.

 

[IctoraPost]

The ability to mark an account as spam is only for accounts under 10 posts last I checked and a certain amount of time. After a while we can't do it to users any more.

Then what happens if someone makes an account, posts ten legitimate-looking posts, waits a bit, then uses the account as a spam bot?

 

[kibou]

Then what happens if someone makes an account, posts ten legitimate-looking posts, waits a bit, then uses the account as a spam bot?

spambots are automated and not actual people- hence the "bot" part. if someone has an otherwise legitimate looking account with intelligent posts but suddenly starts spamming, they'll probably just be warned for spam as usual- because if they can write normal, intelligent posts and interact in the community and respond to people properly, they're probably not a bot anyways.

 

[AlbaGuBrath]

If these aren't actual people, then why are they trying to post? What's the point?

 

[Kaerri]

Most of their stuff involves links.  Presumably they're trying to get people to go to them.

 

[AlbaGuBrath]

Most of their stuff involves links.  Presumably they're trying to get people to go to them.

Ahhh, I understand... That's unfortunate...

 

[Truthblade]

I wonder why people do that anyway. I mean, does it ever even work?

 

[Cold Ramen Noodles]

They could link you to a website that gives you a virus. Just clicking on a link can give your computer the virus. 

 

[Truthblade]

They could link you to a website that gives you a virus. Just clicking on a link can give your computer the virus. 

What do they gain from putting viruses on other people's computers anyway, or do  they just want to become the ultimate troll.

 

[SidTheSkid]

They're handled.. Without mercy.

 

[Cold Ramen Noodles]

What do they gain from putting viruses on other people's computers anyway, or do  they just want to become the ultimate troll.

They can gain all of your info. Credit card numbers, social security numbers...anything you ever typed. 

 

[kibou]

probably the same reason why people tell you to delete system 32 or to charge your iphone by putting it in the microwave (dont do those things, btw)


i wouldnt worry about why they do it too much, we cant really know for sure anyways


just to be safe id avoid clicking on anything linked in a spam post, and report them so we can take care of them

 

[TPBx]

Ok, so since I've seen this thread a bunch. How would you guys respond if per se, it wasn't just a bot on one account spamming the forums but several bots on different accounts or a bot that is scripted to spam accounts into the system (assuming that the person who created a script that can work around ReCaptcha)?


Is your guys' system built to handle an attack like that or would you still rely on human detection and elimination to solve the problem?

 

[Meredith]

Spambans tend to be very effective, as bots aren't (generally speaking) overseen by people in any detail.


Even so, manual detection is our preferred method of choice, as even if we don't see it a user is likely to report.


Manual detection is preferred due to the very small margin of error - a bot that banned users who posted a link in their first post, for example, may ban legitimate users as well.