ID'ing the spam bots on PPOT
 

As a tech I should know about this but my world is more focused fixing the dinosaur tech at work and not much on the web.

I do get that these are bots that are collecting hits and we have been encouraged not to respond to them as not to encourage such behavior.

Many of you guys can spot them with one eye shut and half a bottle of tequila for breakfast.

So how do you spot these things?

Multiple letters that don't make sense for a screen name, quoting another poster, low post count and early morning posting.

On one forum where I am an administrator, we have a test question they have to answer correctly before they can finish the registration process and start posting. For a site like this it might be something like "What is the device which provides controlled application of the power from the engine to the wheels." If they answer transmission or gear box, they are in. We were surprised at how many bots were blocked by it.

:( I just discovered that I am a spambot.
I answered "my foot".

Quote the suspected spambot and see if there's an image in their post. It's just a pixel or so small you can't see it in the thread.

I get up at 5am, down half a bottle of Cuervo, shut one eye, logon to Pelican and spot them with ease...YMMV :D.

So how do you spot these things?

Gibberish 6 character username, 4 posts, they "quote", repeat one sentence from an earlier post in the same thread.

Here ya go, unless it's removed before you see it.

Gibberish username, 4 posts and repeats post #7 from page 1 of thread.


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/8497314-post79.html

Look at their other posts..you'll see a URL in the post...usually ehealth something or other

The URL is hidden as an image link. Click on the quote button and you'll see it.

I am in Australia & reading the Forum while you are asleep.
So I see these Bots before you do. :mad: I must have reported 20 or so over the last 6 months. Admins do a good job in junking them fast.

What about this guy? I was about to post then noticed his screen name looked weird.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/off-topic-discussions/852480-ebay-wtf.html

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1424532282.jpg

Maybe Wayne should create a special moderator class called a "bot mod"? These 4-5 posts are really easy to spot (after the Cuervo kicks in :p) when they're at the very top of PPOT 1-2 minutes apart in the early morning hours. A veteran PPOTer who's consistently on early (EST) could be even more efficient than the mods even though they do a fine job "as is". Doesn't seem to be quite as bad as it used to be either...

That one looks legit, just an odd screen name. Look at the post count, doubt a bot would ever get to 100+ without being kicked.