SPAM messages...

[ChuckC]

Is the new support forum software more susceptible to the posting of SPAM messages are compared to the older webboard that it replaced?

[Deana]

Yes.The older Webboard was much less of a target  ( suppose that is one benefit of using archaic technology ). We have slowly been adding spam control to this forum, trying to balance usability and security.

[JTaylor]

Don't know about that but was wondering if anyone knows where I can get some cheap drugs?

Jim

[td]

Is the new support forum software more susceptible to the posting of SPAM messages are compared to the older webboard that it replaced?

It is not that the new software is more susceptible.  If fact, the form is much less susceptible by several orders of magnitude over the old WebBoard.  It is, however, commonly used forum software which means that content spammers are more likely to recognize it.  We get an attempted bot account creation about once every couple of minutes.   The vast majority of those attempts are blocked without any human intervention because of several layers of filtering software installed on the forum and most of the rest are banded by an admin before they post.  Occasionally one does slip through but it is removed as soon as it is noticed.

We do have several new layers of spam prevention to initiate at some point but it is unlikely that it will never be completely stopped.

[ChuckC]

If only you could accurately correlate an ICBM address for the IP address that was used to create the spam account, I'm certain that a suitable chastisement could be delivered to dissuade further such attempts.

[td]

In the age of 'cloud computing' (apologies for the buzz word usage), bot operators have started setting up accounts on VMs provided by sometimes sketchy US cloud services providers. It can make it a bit more difficult to drop the bomb on the right target without nuking the innocent as well. 

But we soldier on.