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Author Topic: So much spam - need help.  (Read 6600 times)

Adam Frisch

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So much spam - need help.
« on: February 06, 2020, 12:21:47 pm »
I'm so behind on this and simply can't keep up. I might need your help.

What I've done for now to stem the income is changed the registration questions in an attempt to stop some of it. Now there are 5 questions, 4 that are Commander specific. I understand that might keep some genuine ones out, but they're pretty easy to answer for someone who can Google and has some aviation interest. I doubt the spammers will have time to do that.

But for now, I'm backed up until the beginning of Nov 2019 in approvals. I simply don't have time to go through 150 pages of mostly spam. I'm asking if there are any more members willing to become moderators and help me clean it up and catch up?

I also urge the moderators we have to do their best to start cleaning up the backlog. Hopefully with the new barrier questions, there won't be the same incoming numbers.
Slumming it in the turboprop world - so you don't have to.

donv

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Re: So much spam - need help.
« Reply #1 on: February 06, 2020, 12:25:46 pm »
I'm happy to help. Just point me in the right direction.

Adam Frisch

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Re: So much spam - need help.
« Reply #2 on: February 06, 2020, 12:52:06 pm »
Thanks Don!

I've made you an Admin now.

Up under your name at the top left (just below the 680FP pic) there should be four words now:

LOGOUT/UNREAD/REPLIES/APPROVE

Go to APPROVE, and under AWAITING APPROVAL tab, that's where the new yet to be approved members end up. The spammers are quite easy to spot, they often have weird names with lots of numbers, they often post from .xyz or .ru domains etc. But once in awhile there are a few legit ones that also have strange emails, so when you're uncertain, that's when you need to click on the IP ADDRESS to the right of their email and username. Unfortunately, it's not automated that it searches and checks that those IP addresses are spam heavy, so what you need to do on the questionable ones is to copy it and do a Google search. If they come up as spam or banned IP's, then you know it's a spammer. This is the time consuming part, but thankfully, there are normally only 1 or 2 legit users per 10 pages, maybe even less. After a little time you'll be able to very quickly spot which one is a spammer and which one is not, so you don't have to do an IP check.

Once you've determined that they're spammers, just MARK it by ticking the box to the right, then drop down to bottom of the page and use the dropdown menu that says WITH SELECTED: and choose REJECT.

If on the other hand it's a legit member, mark it in box and press APPROVE AND SEND EMAIL.

That's it. And thanks!
« Last Edit: February 06, 2020, 02:16:00 pm by Adam Frisch »
Slumming it in the turboprop world - so you don't have to.

donv

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Re: So much spam - need help.
« Reply #3 on: February 06, 2020, 01:47:17 pm »
So I rejected about 2,000 of them in the awaiting approval section. I didn't find any which were legit.

There is also the "awaiting activation" section, and I deleted some of those- but I did find one which looks legit in there. What is the difference between awaiting approval and activation?

SKYFLYER

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Re: So much spam - need help.
« Reply #4 on: February 06, 2020, 01:48:26 pm »
I can help you if you need some back-up

Adam Frisch

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Re: So much spam - need help.
« Reply #5 on: February 06, 2020, 01:53:33 pm »
Thanks SKYFLYER, I've made you an admin now as well.

After we've cleared this up, we can talk about who wants to remain. I think with Glenn not being here much, I could use another one or two mods.
Slumming it in the turboprop world - so you don't have to.

schrambow

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Re: So much spam - need help.
« Reply #6 on: February 06, 2020, 04:51:52 pm »
i could help out also, if you are looking for help.
corey

Adam Frisch

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Re: So much spam - need help.
« Reply #7 on: February 06, 2020, 05:03:48 pm »
Thanks so much, but I think we've cleared the backlog now!
Slumming it in the turboprop world - so you don't have to.

donv

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Re: So much spam - need help.
« Reply #8 on: February 06, 2020, 05:09:54 pm »
Zero members waiting for approval or activation!

I think I found 3 real members out of something like 3,000 attempts!

What is the difference between "approval" and "activation?"

SKYFLYER

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Re: So much spam - need help.
« Reply #9 on: February 06, 2020, 05:12:31 pm »
That was actually pretty quick and easy

SKYFLYER

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Re: So much spam - need help.
« Reply #10 on: February 06, 2020, 05:19:00 pm »
I only found one

Adam Frisch

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Re: So much spam - need help.
« Reply #11 on: February 06, 2020, 08:01:12 pm »
The activation one is kind of before my time, and all I found there was entries from 2017 or older. Except for one. I'll try to go through that and clear that too, it's only 10 pages.

Thanks again guys! Couldn't have done it without you! ;D
Slumming it in the turboprop world - so you don't have to.

donv

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Re: So much spam - need help.
« Reply #12 on: February 06, 2020, 10:41:55 pm »
The one newer one that you found in activation was one I put there. That is one of the options in the approval list. I think it's probably so that you can do a two-step authorization if you want-- one person can approve, and another can activate, or you can just skip the activate step if you prefer.

donv

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Re: So much spam - need help.
« Reply #13 on: February 18, 2020, 11:35:38 pm »
So I haven't noticed any new users needing approval. Did your extra question do the trick, or did the spammers give up on us?

Adam Frisch

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Re: So much spam - need help.
« Reply #14 on: February 21, 2020, 04:53:52 am »
I think the extra questions did the trick. Now I'm worried they were perhaps a little too much of a barrier. I'm asking them to complete 5 questions, but 4 need to be correct. Too much?

I can't publish them here, as it can be viewed publicly, but they're pretty simple if you are interested in Commanders.
Slumming it in the turboprop world - so you don't have to.