Bitcoin Forum

This post by azhar7777 made me reflect on this.
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=4976339.msg45979485#msg45979485

This will probably be the new trends following sig restrictions.

It's the thread where our replies to his spam (along with his spam) got deleted @Jet Cash if you remember?

But it does seem like a good idea to disallow newbies to post links (especially when you can accidentally click them when using a trackpad or touchscreen computer). They can easily use something like www[dot]bitcointalk[dot]org or www . bitcointalk . org if they have something useful to share but otherwise it's probably best to disable links (to cut down on phishing attempts and ref link stuff).

Report > "Referal spam" > problem solved :D

If you think of it that's a good point. It's a bit weird to allow newbies to post external links.

These guys can post links to viruses, referral links, phishing links and various malware that can damage your computer or even steal your credentials to BCT, wallets etc.

Best advice you'll get today, JC  :D

He's posted the same thing four times though... So it's just giving him an excuse to post it again.

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5029457.msg45727425#msg45727425

I don't think we solved the problem...

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He did remind me to pm sidehack though so every cloud...

Actually, I am also guilty of including URLs in my posts BUT I always make sure that they are correlated to each other — serving as a reference or a support for my statement — and not like this one which looks like an inappropriate advertising. So I agree with the others, he should be reported since we can also conclude that he is liable of doing nonsense post/shitpost.

I think we all include URLs, and hopefully they are relevant to the thread topic.

This spambie posted a link to a YouTube video about a coin ( I assume ), and it was not relevant to the thread topic.

Not allowed if that url is like a refferal url, or untrusted url maybe..

I think URLs are okay, as long as they are used correctly, on-topic and on right occasions. And if someone doesn't follow that, then as @LoyceV said, reporting them would easily do the work. Restricting every single thing for lower ranks would seem to be a little too harsh, for me.


Can't higher rank members do that too? Should we completely restrict URLs on the forum because of that? I don't think so.
I don't understand why we always treat new members as scammers or bad people by nature. It is not important for all of them to be of the same mindset. If a link posted by a new member looks suspicious to anyone, they should simply not open it and report it to moderators. I don't even trust URLs from higher ranks sometimes if they are not familiar to me, but I know how to deal with them.

The real problem is that spammers and scammers go round the web looking for places to pollute. If you start a forum, you will realise the extent of the problem. They will even find you if you don't post any links to the forum. They dump their spammy links into guest books and forum posts. It is unfortunate, but you have to treat all new members as potential abusers. Once they give an indcation that they may be beneficial members, then you can relax the restrictions.

I don't think people are getting the point. I'd suggest locking this and making a self mod one.

@stupid user, yes other members can post links but there is almost no value in a newbie account so it's just a throwaway account. I'm not going to spread round a virus am I with a reputation to uphold?

If Theymos can remove URL's from the newbie accounts then we can reduce huge social media bounty spams. :-[

Hopefully it will be take into consideration.

Yes, higher ranks can post links too but they have a reputation to uphold. Newbies will spam the forums with their links having no reputation to keep. Legit members will rank-up to Jr. Member fast.

This is a very good point but I think newbies will posts the links as text. So, it's not going to be 100% effective, just a bit more complicated for the bounty managers to check them (they would have to do a copy/paste of the URL from the post to the browser).

Bounty managers are also will adopt to the system if that implemented because it is much harder to check all the url's by posting in the another browser so they will use report forms or avoid newbies from their campaigns.

Many forums do that but I don't think it'll help solve anything.

Those who want to post a URL can do it in another way so as to not be detected: www. google .com

Yes, it's going to be harder but I don't think they will mind, since somebody has to do it and the people they were "working" with until then just got demoted and cannot post links.

Exactly they can always find workarounds to be able to post links.

Well, new members are first of all unrecognized, unknown and they come with  incomplete knowledge, after whatever they bring may be lead to false or sometimes strange, so I don't think so they should do so.

That's my solution in an article on spam URL

Hey JC, I have already suggested a solution for stop ( at least to aware other users before clicking) the sharing of refferel spam or phishing links by Newbies. If admin can add some script or whatever code which turned URLs into red colored whenever newbie sharing a link would be great. It's like the PM preferences of our accounts. In that way it is giving early warning to other users before going to click the link.

BTW I don't think theymos would put any further restrictions on Newbies since they got enough at least for now.

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This is what I got when I asked about refferel spam. I truly believed it also to be considered as serious offence in bitcointalk and required some period of banning if anyone found guilty.

Or I'd suggest putting the destination next to the link in brackets.
For example,
http://google.com
Would become
http://google.com(google.com)

Is there already an anti phishing thing? My example didn't work, damn you theymos!

New member not allowed to post URLs? i did share many times  :( then what will happen?

You're not a newbie now though are you so nothing.
For a newbie who posts a url it would be replaced by what would generallly be used to replace them (an hyperlinked text to the link for example).

I definitely agree and maybe should be extended up to member... the links are the most dangerous of all spam, and also can be the most annoying.

As a Jr. member i haven't even been able to pm the project developer a url