PhpLB Directory - How to delete & stop all spams?

Discussion in 'Directories' started by mirul, May 20, 2008.

  1. #1
    Hi :)

    I got around 4,000++ submission that is nothing but spam :( .. Is there any trick or something I can do to stop this and delete all pending links at once? :confused:

    Thanks,
    MiruL
     
    mirul, May 20, 2008 IP
  2. mikey1090

    mikey1090 Moderator Staff

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    #2
    We are working on a fix to prevent this in future upgrades.

    Please can you give me an example of the URLs use in submission, the descriptions they used and any other helpful info.

    In the mean time ensure you are running version 1.4.2 as it contains an image verifiaction feature which helps prevent some spam.

    Also check this thread on the phpLB forums as it contains a method you can use to bulk delte all pending links -

    http://forums.phplinkbid.com/showthread.php?t=1153
     
    mikey1090, May 20, 2008 IP
  3. WallaceYeung

    WallaceYeung Notable Member

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    #3
    you are same with me,
    but now all is okay.
    please check your directory and the config file.
     
    WallaceYeung, May 20, 2008 IP
  4. Spider-Man

    Spider-Man Banned

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    #4
    I'm still running v1.2 and have only received about 30 submissions which payment wasn't received for - the majority of these didn't appear to be spammy submissions, just idiots hoping to get a free listing. Though if everything goes well in life this week, I do intend to upgrade to the latest build in the near future:D
     
    Spider-Man, May 20, 2008 IP
  5. mirul

    mirul Active Member

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    #5
    Thanks guys...

    Now I got 4,500+ submissions....

    [​IMG]

    Example of the URLs use in submission & descriptions:

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    Btw, I'm still using v1.4 ;)
     
    mirul, May 20, 2008 IP
  6. mikey1090

    mikey1090 Moderator Staff

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    #6
    There is nothing distinct about those. The link title is just simple letters which will bypass most filters. Same with the URL and email. Shame.

    http://dwjy.com/admin/login.php

    You are using version 1.4.

    You need to upgrade to version 1.4.2.
     
    mikey1090, May 20, 2008 IP
  7. mirul

    mirul Active Member

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    #7
    Thanks Mike :) .. now going to upgrade to the latest version .. hope everything will be ok ;)
     
    mirul, May 20, 2008 IP
  8. WallaceYeung

    WallaceYeung Notable Member

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    #8
    i am quite sure that it's useless,
    your site has been hacked,
    the auto submission will continued and non stopped.
     
    WallaceYeung, May 20, 2008 IP
  9. mikey1090

    mikey1090 Moderator Staff

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    #9
    The upgrade contains some fixes to other bugs too so it will be far from useless.
     
    mikey1090, May 20, 2008 IP
  10. xc06

    xc06 Notable Member

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    #10
    the upgrade doesn't stop the spam though...you still need delete all spam by some sql command.
     
    xc06, May 20, 2008 IP
  11. Ibn Juferi

    Ibn Juferi Prominent Member

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    #11
    Strangely I have been getting unpaid submission listings for my phpLB directories but they don't appear to be spam. Are they bypassing the CAPTCHA system?
     
    Ibn Juferi, May 20, 2008 IP
  12. malcolm1

    malcolm1 Prominent Member

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    #12
    Hello...

    lmao... wow they submitted about 1000 of those in bid-dir in the last few weeks
    so it seems we will have to upgrade to the newest script as well :rolleyes:

    To bad there isnt a mass delete

    thx
    malcolm
     
    malcolm1, May 20, 2008 IP
  13. Malatya

    Malatya Active Member

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    #13
    "just idiots hoping to get a free listing" i love this.)

    Also they use automatic submissions, so if you use mixed cappa codes (or a second cappa) they will give in and try the other directory.

    I read something about this, and it was really helpful but very mixed.It was about HTTP REF
     
    Malatya, May 20, 2008 IP
  14. mikey1090

    mikey1090 Moderator Staff

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    #14
    Perhaps I'll work on an alternative to the image verification.

    Something mathematic or perhaps some sort of easy question - like what colour is the grass?
     
    mikey1090, May 20, 2008 IP
  15. malcolm1

    malcolm1 Prominent Member

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    #15
    like the directory owner of zexx.info that wanted to be listed in adult-url.com and decided
    to add our link on a "links page" that isnt even cached and has about 1000+ links on it :eek:

    Would he have added us in the actual directory then it would have been different

    I swear theres a clown born every minute :rolleyes:

    laterz
    malcolm
     
    malcolm1, May 20, 2008 IP
  16. Dreads

    Dreads Well-Known Member

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    #16
    - nvm lol -

    How I think you can stop spam -
    1) Make a folder called images
    2) Move codeImage.php into the folder
    3) edit your submit.php -> and find <img src="codeImage.php"> and make it <img src="/foldername/codeImage.php">
     
    Dreads, May 20, 2008 IP
  17. mikey1090

    mikey1090 Moderator Staff

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    #17
    Glass?

    I said grass. its green here.

    Perhaps explain your steps 2 and 3 in more detail - i didnt understand.
     
    mikey1090, May 20, 2008 IP
  18. SilkySmooth

    SilkySmooth Well-Known Member

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    #18
    I read this thread a couple of times before deciding to respond. I am not particularly keen on giving away ideas / bug fixes to people who have in the past not given credit where it is due and I am specifically talking about the owner of phpLB.

    However as so many people are having this problem and the fact that Mikey is now involved I decided to go ahead and post it.

    The anti spam measures are only going to protect you so much and to a degree they are not really necesary where phpLB is concerned.

    I have always had a major problem with the way both phpLD and phpLB dealt with the status of submissions. phpLD has a slight excuse because it can be used both as a free or paid solution, whereas phpLB is designed as a paid model.

    There is a very simple solution which if implemented correctly would result in those 4,000 submissions that miral received being deleted automatically and s/he would never have had to even look at them.

    The link status system needs revamping, I can't recall the coding or database behind phpLB but the principle is as I say simple.

    Instead of (note the numbers are for programmers):

    0 - Pending
    1 - Active

    It should be...

    0 - Submitted
    1 - Pending
    2 - Active

    The submitted status is assigned to all links as soon as they enter the database. These links are not shown anywhere including in the administration unless they are specifically searched for.

    From a customer perspective they are now on their confirmation page about to be sent to PayPal. As soon as that customer comes back from PayPal and the payment is confirmed through the IPN system the link status is upgraded from submitted to pending.

    Now back in the admin, those links with a status of pending are shown to the staff for processing. You know that the only links you have to look at are paid for (unless you have been hacked) and you don't need to waste time deleting or dealing with spam.

    To delete the spam submission automatically just takes a quick SQL statement during the login process which basically says if the submission is older than XX days and no payment has been received, delete it.

    I have been using this system on my custom coded sites for years. I opt to work with a 14 day period between submission and deletion to allow the customer a few days to think about it and perhaps return... otherwise you have to leave a minimum of 7 days to allow for the processing of echeque's because the IPN won't ping until the cheque actually clears.
     
    SilkySmooth, May 20, 2008 IP
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