Hostile users/bots on CPCWIKI

[CPCLER]

Hi There..

I think the below users of the wiki should be locked:

Dajve,  D Skywalk,  TrzRcy, Dj1Aoj

They keep deleting random parts of articles (sometimes just removing + sign from articles) or simply puts crap links into articles.

The users has not contributed positive in any way!

Regards,
CPCLER

[Gryzor]

Damn... I saw a couple yesterday, and couldn't understand what/why they did. Then got very busy at work and forgot about it... Will check their contribs and oust them.

Thanks for noticing mate...

[Gryzor]

Ok:

Dajve: blocked
D Skywalk: appears to have only one contrib (http://cpcwiki.eu/index.php?title=Emulators&diff=prev&oldid=16707), and a valid one at that...?
TrzRcy: blocked
Dj1Aoj: blocked
Af6C72: blocked
BvyOl9: blocked

...and several other bogus-sounding usernames. Assholes...

[Prodatron]

So we either have to moderate new user accounts or you can add this "hard-to-read-number" authentification?

CU,
Prodatron

[Gryzor]

Hmmmm trying to find a setting so that I have to approve new users, can't find any... Neither can I find a CAPTCHA (that's what the numbers-thing is called) module

So I'll just patrol new users. But I don't understand why they do this!!!

[CPCLER]

HI Gryzor!

Those weird attacks keeps occurring!

I think the only longterm solution is to install the CHAPTHA software to the server!

I also wonder how the C64-WIKI keeps this from occurring ... I checked the recent changes to their wiki,
and they don't seem to be bothered by these attacks!!! - Maybe they found a solution to this spam problem, it might
be worth asking them how they protect themselves!

Regards,
CPCLER

[Gryzor]

Damn... still trying to find a CAPTCHA solution - it seems very weird that there's no mechanism in place to directly allow that or allow manual account approval...

The c64 wiki doesn't use CAPTCHA, maybe they're patrolling...?

[Prodatron]

Is everything fine now? 
CU,
Prodatron

[Gryzor]

Ok guys,

Spent yesterday (Sunday) eveining working on the wiki (hey, you can't say I don't do a thing, eh? ).

- I cleaned up some more spam bots. Incidentally, I looked around online for information about such vandal bots, but found nothing. I wonder why do they do it? They don't spam, so why draw attention by making small changes? That's pure vandalism...
- Updated the software to 1.10.0 . That gave me a HUGE headache because it caused a problem with the database. Maybe some of you noticed some downtime. I'm by no means an SQL expert, so it got me panicked there for a good few minutes... until I managed to think of a solution. Mind you, the pages look a bit odd (especially with the Topsites icon at the top), because I had not quite finished when girlfriend dropped by to pick me up - sorrya bout that. If anyone knows how to fix it and wants to, I can give them the password (it's just small changes to the monobook.php skin file), since I don't have FTP access at work.
- and last, but not least, WE NOW HAVE CAPTCHA!!!!!. Oh yes. After trying out several scripts, none of which worked quite as intended, and installing various php crap, I found recaptcha which, not only worked fine first time, but is also supposed to be very strong! Go on, try it: try to create a new account The beauty of it is, it's supposed to work when either creating a new account (bye-bye spambots?) OR when doing an anonymous edit (haven't tried that yet). This means we can also allow anonymous edits once more, since it makes the wiki more user-friendly...

Let me know what you think

Cheers
Gryzor

PS Prodatron, did you notice something? Why did you ask?

[Gryzor]

Wow, no reactions?

[robcfg]

You know we appreciate your efforts very much. 

Having the inner peace that such bunch of idiotic bots will not corrupt our beloved wiki is indeed a great feeling.

Thank you, pal!

[Gryzor]

Hey, I didn't say that to get any praise, I think we're way past that point among ourselves, no?

I was just expecting reaction on the functionality or whatever ideas...

[CPCLER]

Hi Gryzor!

Good work in stopping those ridiculous spam bot attacks!

But there seems to be some problems with the layout... How no clue what so ever what causes this!

Regards
/CPCLER

[Gryzor]

Ohhh yes I know, it's totally screwed up because of the TopSites wrongly-positioned code. I didn't have the chance to fix it - when I get back home tonight!

[Gryzor]

Fixed...

ANyone tried the Captcha module???

[Gryzor]

Villain commented on a new spam post:

Spam! Why the f*** can they still do this?

Well, this must have been an old spam bot that went by my blocking list. I expect these things to die down eventually....

[Prodatron]

Fixed...

ANyone tried the Captcha module???

Gryzor, thank you very much for the changes!! It works great now, and it seems, that normal bots habe no chance anymore!

Btw, was impressived how fast you managed to installed the Captcha. I tested it right now again, and both situations work (wrong and correct type-in).

Keep it up!
CU, Prodatron

[Gryzor]

Heya Prod,

Thanks for your kind words... Actually it was not so fast, it took me the best part of Sunday evening plus a few hours here and there... Trying different solutions and scripts, but every time something was broken. I tried one that worked fine, but was not that secure, and I wanted to make sure I won't have to fiddle with it again.

But if you mean the downtime, then yes, that was short, though I didn't expect to have any, to tell you the truth!!!

As you can see I'm now toying around with the forum, installing themes, and I will install a few more modules... Maybe it'll liven the place up!

Thanks for testing the system, btw!

Cheers
Gryz

PS the audio part of Recaptcha is VERY impressive! Try listening to the mp3, it's really eerie!!!