fake online users

[darkeye]

Hi there,

I have a strong feeling that a competitor is using the "Fake Online Users" addon, which is no longer offered, but you could download it two years ago and I'm sure that competitor has been using the script ever since.

Is there a way to find out if he is using the script?

I find it very strange that there ALWAYS 40 to 50% of the online users have zero posts so far. In my forum there are at most 5% with zero posts.

What other options are there to find out?

 

[questlot]

It's best you focus on real members instead fake members that doesn't exist.

 

[Shortie]

Not sure if there is a way to tell if they are using the script but what has been said above is true. Focusing on getting real members is key, it will take longer but at least they will be real and that will show the hard work and dedication you have put in.

 

[FTL]

Having users register and then never come back is a hazard for every forum. You get loads of dormant users that you can just clean off the system after a while. The big mystery is why they do it. I suspect it's spammers and at least one account on my forum woke up a couple of months later to spam... and quickly got nuked by me before their post even showed in public.

 

[smallwheels]

I find it very strange that there ALWAYS 40 to 50% of the online users have zero posts so far.

I do have about 50% users with no posts in my forum and I do not use any fake user plugin. The reason is simple: There are typiacally way more leachers (people who do read more or less regularly but barely or never post) than active posters. In my forum parts of the content (ressources, gallery, events, usermap, some subforums, full size pictures) are only accessible when you are logged in. For one to foster registrations and secondly to lock out AI bots and for privacy protection regarding some subforums (locking out search engines effectively from them). So many people, that w/o this limitation would not register do so, but still are hesitant to post. Quite normal - the majority of the posts comes from 10-20% of the users in many forums.

 

[MySiteGuy]

@darkeye ,

People have been discussing registration to users posting ratios for 30+ years. It's always been this way, usually a 10 to 1 ratio, and it varies by niche. So much about this topic is readily available here and all over the Internet with a quick search here or on Google.

5% is an extremely low number, count yourself lucky and don't complain about something that's actually a good thing. Many boards would be envious of only 5% never posting.

 

[Mr Lucky]

Many boards would be envious of only 5% never posting.

I agree. I think I have 85% with 0 posts.

One thing though is that for a few years people had to register to download resources. So loads of registrations just because they wanted to get something free but otherwise would not have registered. They now have to have posted x posts or upgraded top get a download.

Also agree don't worry about fake users. 1 Never use them, 2 never worry about whether a competitor uses them.

 

[FTL]

I do have about 50% users with no posts in my forum and I do not use any fake user plugin. The reason is simple: There are typiacally way more leachers (people who do read more or less regularly but barely or never post) than active posters. In my forum parts of the content (ressources, gallery, events, usermap, some subforums, full size pictures) are only accessible when you are logged in. For one to foster registrations and secondly to lock out AI bots and for privacy protection regarding some subforums (locking out search engines effectively from them). So many people, that w/o this limitation would not register do so, but still are hesitant to post. Quite normal - the majority of the posts comes from 10-20% of the users in many forums.

I get so many users registering, I approve, but then they never log in again, let alone post. That's infuriating and why do they do it? Why take the time to jump through the registration hoops just to never return? Perhaps they're dormant spammers, I dunno, just don't get it. Anyone got any ideas?

I do all the basic checks for spammers, so they look reasonably legit at registration time. Any obvious spammers I nuke there and then.

 

[Thangvip9x]

I get so many users registering, I approve, but then they never log in again, let alone post. That's infuriating and why do they do it? Why take the time to jump through the registration hoops just to never return? Perhaps they're dormant spammers, I dunno, just don't get it. Anyone got any ideas?

I do all the basic checks for spammers, so they look reasonably legit at registration time. Any obvious spammers I nuke there and then.

Please try

How to prevent spam auto-registering account for XenForo 2.

Jun 8, 2024

Preventing spam and automatic account registration on XenForo 2.

• Thangvip9x
• XenForo tips & guides [2.x]

 

[FTL]

Thanks for the suggestion. Unfortunately, I won't be able to do this though since I'm on XF Cloud which doesn't allow any access to the server. I'm limited to editing templates and installing add-ons.

 

[Thangvip9x]

Thanks for the suggestion. Unfortunately, I won't be able to do this though since I'm on XF Cloud which doesn't allow any access to the server. I'm limited to editing templates and installing add-ons.

Can you install addons?
I will release it soon.

 

[FTL]

Yes indeed. Look forward to it!

 

[Thangvip9x]

Yes indeed. Look forward to it!

Ok, thank you very much