Stopping Bot Registrations

I'm wondering if there is a way with a phpBB system to thwart spam bot registrations before they get their name registered.
Here is the kicker though- I do NOT want the image verification method, so if anyone has had success in coming up with an alternative, I'd greatly appreciate hearing from you.

 

I wasn't impressed with the image verification in PHPBB - you have to be case specific and it doesn't really tell you that when you try to register. Sorry, can't help otherwise, just wanted to moan.

 

How do bots get around image verification? Brute force?

 

Yeah, it never worked correctly for me anyway- along with millions of other folks moaning on the support sites.
A great idea, with poor functioning abilities built in.
Lost a ton of registrations to the thing and finally wiped it out completely.
Figured there would be some techie DP reader out there with the gumption to come up with something different and functional.

Not sure that they can.
...but the mod isn't for everyone.
Not going to argue the merits of it (too much...LOL), but I won't use it again.

 

I don't like the image verification either.

I remove the signature and url fields from the registration form and then bounce any registrations that contain information from those fields.
That seems to work against bots.

There is a rough guide on http://www.designerslobby.com/article.php?a=30

 

Thanks so much Vord!
I implemented the changes, and will see how it goes.

 

I have seen more than one image v. mod around. The one they have in phpbb2 plus works well.

 

Image verification in phpBB2 does work pretty well - the odd person doesn't figure out that it's case sensitive but you can edit the registration page to make that more clear.

Another option is either email activation or admin activation, depending on the forum.

 

Some of those images are VERY tough to make out!
I have literally tried 10 times on some forums just to make out what the image verification says.