Lack of Spam Here

[Buzz Kanter]

I am wondering what the Admin here on this forum is doing to cut back the massive amount of spam that is being pounded onto most of the bulletin boards around the world?

We at Classic American Iron magazine finally had to toughen up how difficult it is to register and we are screening the posts more closely.

From what I hear this has become a massive issue in the last two or three weeks on most bulletin boards.

[rwm]

buzz maybe it's the lack of outside advertising here.this place maybe under the radar.

[micmac]

I have just returned to the "Antique Harley and Indian" forum since the last time it melted down and took my laptop with it, I really enjoy the site and the guy's who post there Buzz. I'm glad you made it safe again.

[kval]

I am wondering what the Admin here on this forum is doing to cut back the massive amount of spam that is being pounded onto most of the bulletin boards around the world?

We at Classic American Iron magazine finally had to toughen up how difficult it is to register and we are screening the posts more closely.

From what I hear this has become a massive issue in the last two or three weeks on most bulletin boards.

Buzz
in 2008 I got really mad when someone posted an advertisement for sneakers in a member's obiturary. I volunteered to check all posts and requests to join the forum. at that point there were over 300 attempts to get on with spam. then I had steps put in to automatically check if someone applying was an AMCA member, if they did not belong to the club they were denied. with our forum it is a little easier, as only AMCA members can join, with other forums they are open to anyone.

[Tom Lovejoy]

Well done Kevin and thank you for your effort's!!

[c.o.]

Well done Kevin and thank you for your effort's!!

I absolutely agree. Kevin did a great job!!!

[Tommo]

I agree with both Tom and Cory and hope that long may it stay that way.

[23JDCA 808]

What they said.

[darrylri]

I run the Vintage BMW Motorcycle Owners club website and forum (www.vintagebmw.org).

Besides club members, we allow the public to register to participate in part of the forum. (We have a private clubhouse and classifieds area that is only available to members.) I'm sure by saying this, that Murphy will drop in on me and bring a bunch of spam, but we haven't seen an uptick recently.

We use several techniques to keep the spammers at bay. I personally review every application for a user id. You'd be surprised how many spammers will reveal themselves by posting a spam, porn or even phishing website in their profile.

I don't get any robot members because we use an interesting CAPTCHA technique different than what I've seen on other websites for registrations and once for each login.

We have a Bayesian spam filter on all postings. This has been somewhat of a mixed bag; it works on obvious spam, but tends to miss people who make innocuous (but generally unrelated) postings in threads in order to display a link in their signature. And it hits some false positives, too, which the real posters hate.

In the end, however, nothing beats actually watching all the posts. The real members are often faster to tell me about it than I am to see it.

When someone does post spam, I naturally turn off the account, but I also check out where they're coming from, and typically will ban their IP address, or even a range of IP addresses, from accessing our system. I try to determine if the IP is coming from a company or from a public ISP; in the latter case, it might be a hijacked computer, and in any event, the IPs don't typically stay static, so banning an IP is not useful.

[Ross]

I watch many sites with regards to old motorcycles and Buzz your's is right up there, however Kevin V and your helpers have created (in my opinion) the best forum in the world for old bike guys. I have learned so much over the years and met many new friends (many I have never met face to face). I am no "techie" by any means but I've come along way from writing a long letter 35 years ago to the likes of Ted Hodgson for info on a bike I was working on and waiting months between correspondence. Now if I could only warm up to rap music I might fit in with the young pups...

[exeric]

I remember writing many letters, and making long distance calls to people all over the U.S. and Canada looking for parts. It was a (now) surrealistic way to make a collection of parts turn into a motorcycle. Of course the internet, ebay, and our beloved AMCA forum have made our hobby so much easier, albeit more expensive; I love this modern age. Progress never comes without problems and weirdos with malicious intent are a plague to be expected. We are lucky to have Kevin Valentine at the parapet to kill our enemies and make this a spammer free site.

[Chuck#1848]

I watch many sites with regards to old motorcycles and Buzz your's is right up there, however Kevin V and your helpers have created (in my opinion) the best forum in the world for old bike guys. I have learned so much over the years and met many new friends (many I have never met face to face). I am no "techie" by any means but I've come along way from writing a long letter 35 years ago to the likes of Ted Hodgson for info on a bike I was working on and waiting months between correspondence. Now if I could only warm up to rap music I might fit in with the young pups...

Well said Ross,

I was right with ya......well...till the rap music part..........there are somethings I just can't warm up to

And a big Thankyou to Kevin V and company!!

[billpedalino]

I agree with Ross. Kevin and company have created a work of art here. I also strongly agree that this forum must be open only to AMCA members. By so stating, I'm not being an elitist. My position is based upon the opinion that the civil and professional behavior and dememanor of those who participate in the forum reflects that of the general AMCA membership. We seem to share a mindset that has attracted us to this particular passion in the first place and that mindset includes attributes such as curiosity, precision, and a interest in/ respect for history. We seem to have that in common and its reflected in how our members behave in, and respect this forum. The smooth and diligent way in which the forum is utilized, executed and administered reflects that mindset. Well done by all!

[Buzz Kanter]

Having launched and now checking all new member applications as well as moderate inappropriate posts at Classic American Iron forum I am stunned by how much work is involved. Congrats to Kevin and others here for keeping such a tidy shop here. I am proud to be a long term and active member of the AMCA.

[Vintage229]

The bulk of spam and nefarious internet activity comes from China, Russia, and Iran. Block all IP's outside of the US or to those particular countries. While you "may" have legitimate subscribers from those area's (.001%) you could weed out most of the threats that plague the internet. Legitimate users from those areas would just have to go through a few extra steps for vetting their account. Small price to pay for keeping the site safe.