XF 2.1 Preventing link dropping if under 10 posts
- Thread starter Jon12345
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RallyFan
Well-known member
If you are talking about stopping anyone under 10 posts putting links into posts (thread titles or body):
1. Configure your Spam Management section (ACP > Options > Spam Management).
2. Set Maximum messages to check for spam to: 10
3. Add the following spam phrases:
Technically you could get by with the last 2, but the first is a safeguard either way.
By implementing "www" and "//" phrases, it makes it impossible for a spammer to either image hotlink (Insert > Image), or type a usable url in, without being flagged for spam. This also blocks any attempt to obfuscate a url using quote or bbcode tags.
You can tie it down even more by preventing the pasting of images into threads (as sometimes they'll try to post an image with a URL in it).
About the only way around would be a spammer doing something like this:
"Visit our new website at testingurlspam.com"
It'll be unclickable, still might hit SEO bots/Google, but that's about it.
1. Configure your Spam Management section (ACP > Options > Spam Management).
2. Set Maximum messages to check for spam to: 10
3. Add the following spam phrases:
/^http(|s):\/\/\S+/si - This prevents anything with http:// or https:// from being posted.www - This prevents anything with www. from being posted.*//* - This prevents http// or any other attempt to bypass your phrases.Technically you could get by with the last 2, but the first is a safeguard either way.
By implementing "www" and "//" phrases, it makes it impossible for a spammer to either image hotlink (Insert > Image), or type a usable url in, without being flagged for spam. This also blocks any attempt to obfuscate a url using quote or bbcode tags.
You can tie it down even more by preventing the pasting of images into threads (as sometimes they'll try to post an image with a URL in it).
About the only way around would be a spammer doing something like this:
"Visit our new website at testingurlspam.com"
It'll be unclickable, still might hit SEO bots/Google, but that's about it.
RallyFan
Well-known member
Wow, that is just brilliant! Thanks so much for that. We seem to have been targeted lately and the mods will be happy with this.
No worries at all. It's rudimental, but it's simplicity is what makes it so effective.
Treat it with caution though as any user with under 10 posts will be impacted (irrespective of if they are a guest, or Registered User). Depending on your forum and if you have a lot of people posting news links to discuss, that might be a problem.
That setting also won't notify the user, their message just disappears for manual moderation.
As you can see I dropped mine down to "2" messages, as once someone goes past 2 messages, chances are they are legit (as some spammers will try and do one bogus lead post before spamming away). So "2" catches them out.
That said my forum is only really catering for Australian visitors, so it will be combined with strong antispam settings (Xon's Signup and Abuse Detection), to send any non Aussie signups straight to moderation.
If you need to advise them of a message that links aren't allowed, then this Xenmax addon does the trick (I'm running it as well).
[XenMax] - Limit Post Link
Paul R submitted a new resource: [XenMax] - Limit Post Link - This addon prevent certain usergroups from posting links until they reach a certain number of posts. Please review this add-on, if you like it. This helps other people to decide and gives us at least a smile back for this work...
xenforo.com
That will pop up with a message if someone attempts to put a link in the body of a message (does not work for thread titles though - hence the other settings above in first message). That addon can also be setup for specific user groups.
How I have it setup is that Guest have access to 2 forums but cannot post images (that prevents image based spam). They have a group permission via that addon which limits them to "0" links per post unless registered. That pops up an error if they attempt to post http, https or www. in the body of a message. Finally if they attempt to spam the thread title with a URL, the spam phrase picks it up.
The icing on the cake is if they do signup, manage to get past the checks, and attempt to post links, the spam phrase will still catch them out.
Lots you can do with it actually
Wildcat Media
Well-known member
We did similar in our spam filter--it works great since spammers primarily sign up to post links, in order to boost their search engine ranking. I also set it up so that we have a "verified" secondary usergroup, where new members are in a short probationary period where they have limited permissions until they've made a small number of posts which prove they are genuine members and not spammers. It's simple to set up using the forum's permission system, along with a promotion.
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