Spammer onslaught

[Doug]

Members,

Since the end of June this year there has been a increasing volume of membership applications by spammers. The last week or so these have reached ridiculous numbers daily, indicating some sort of automated or robo-attack. I have heard other forums like ours complaining of similar issues recently. Up until a day or so ago, these membership applications have been blocked by anti-spammer software that screens new applications. The majority are originating from Russian IP addresses. But now some applications are being submitted where the name or the IP address are not already on known spammer lists and they are getting through the rest of the application process. This process includes a question and answer, CAPCHA test, and a system generated email verification (they have to have a valid email address and reply to a verification message).

Inevitably, the spammers and their software are getting more and more clever and today one got through and posted spam in multiple boards. This was reported by a member, the spam removed, and the spammer will be banned by Admin. While I do check the forum several times a day, if you do see one of these spam posts or any post that looks suspicious, please do use the reporting tool which will bring it to the Admin and Moderator's attention. In that manner we are notified by email and if not logged in, will do so and deal with the spam and spammer. Don't bother to post a reply to the spam, we will be deleting the post and any subsequent replies anyway. And please don't be tempted to follow any hyperlinks in the spam, no matter how interestingly worded they might be! The entire idea of spam is to lure you to a compromised website where they will fish for personal data on your computer, or infect your computer with a virus/malware.

Likewise sending spam via the PM or Forum email system is forbidden, and should you receive such please also report that using the "Report to Admin" in the lower right corner of the message. Do not select any other links in the message that might purport to be for reporting the message. It is always a good idea to hover the cursor over the hyperlink and see what address your internet browser reports it to be before selecting it (usually displayed in the lower left corner of the browser window for MS Edge or FireFox). If it is other than (i.e., leaving) the www.douglasmotorcycles.net site, then it is fraudulent. If in doubt, don't select it. Send us a separate PM or email (members Dave or Doug) letting us know.



Unfortunately this is a never-ending battle against spammers. We will be reviewing how to make the registration process even more stringent without deterring new, novice members that genuinely are interested in Douglas motorcycles. It may be that we have to change the registration process so that every application will require manual approval by Admin/Moderator.

Regards,
Doug
Site Moderator


[Fix typo.  13Aug19  -Doug]

[Doug]

Well we have been thwarting about 45 spammer registration attempts per day. The registration attempts occur evenly throughout the twenty-four hour period.  Almost all of these are being blocked by the registration process, though every several days one does slip through whose details have not yet appeared on most spammer ban lists. Between these being reported, or spotted before they can post, they have been kept off the forum.

-Doug, Site Moderator

[Doug]

180 attempts thwarted yesterday.

-Doug, Site Moderator

[Dave]

It's very intense today with new spammer registrations every 3-4 minutes. Fortunately, most are being being caught before they can post.

[flea]

not being all that computor savy , what the hell do these spammers get out of it besides annoying people

[Dave]

They are simply seeking to encourage our members to click on their links placed either in a post, or in their signature, or in a PM to a number of members.

What's on the other end of these links can be anything from a sales pitch to buy something, or a lure to divulge personal information, to a web page containing malicious code.

So if any do manage to get through, it is best not to follow any of their links or respond in any way, no matter how interesting their material may look.

Since the onslaught began on July 25, around 1500 spammers have registered, but been caught before they are able to post. They now have to be approved by an administrator before they are able to actively participate in the forum, which will never happen.

[Jonathan Hewitt]

Well done Gentlemen , your efforts do not go unnoticed .
   Jonathan

[eddie]

Sadly, 'admin' is one of those tasks that doesn't get the appreciation that it deserves. Thanks guys for your efforts to keep us safe and on 'the straight and narrow'.

  Regards,
                 Eddie.