Stealth spam
Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2015 9:29 pm
FYI ...
I just banned this user: memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=79587
and moved all five of posts to quarantine. [Oops. I just noticed that one of the posts started a topic with a number of significant replies. Oh well. The topic title still gives the needed context. I thought all the posts were orphans.]
Notice the spam links in the profile (links disabled now).
This sort of pattern--making vague/borderline posts and later adding spam links to the profile--can be hard to catch. I see probes for it regularly (the "me too" type of first post).
My feeling is that the bar should be somewhat higher for a first post: it should have something directly relevant for the forum. Otherwise, I just disapprove the post but not ban the user. If the user is "serious" they can ask about it or try posting again. A disapproved post just means that if they post again it will trigger the moderator review again.
In fact, I remember now that *I* approved the first post "what advantage of OO?". I almost disapproved it--now I wish I had. Well, maybe the replies will help someone else. I hate to see spammers waste other people's time.
I just banned this user: memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=79587
and moved all five of posts to quarantine. [Oops. I just noticed that one of the posts started a topic with a number of significant replies. Oh well. The topic title still gives the needed context. I thought all the posts were orphans.]
Notice the spam links in the profile (links disabled now).
This sort of pattern--making vague/borderline posts and later adding spam links to the profile--can be hard to catch. I see probes for it regularly (the "me too" type of first post).
My feeling is that the bar should be somewhat higher for a first post: it should have something directly relevant for the forum. Otherwise, I just disapprove the post but not ban the user. If the user is "serious" they can ask about it or try posting again. A disapproved post just means that if they post again it will trigger the moderator review again.
In fact, I remember now that *I* approved the first post "what advantage of OO?". I almost disapproved it--now I wish I had. Well, maybe the replies will help someone else. I hate to see spammers waste other people's time.