It's about time bitcointalk addresses the worst kind of spam

[alani123]

I think it's been long overdue in this forum to do something about burner accounts that sign up only to make a spammy post with links.

Oftentimes, link-builders and such software that utilize forums for black-hat promotion etc. include this as part of their services with automation. I don't want to name specific software here but generally this is no secret. Also, oftentimes this happens manually with people that post links to scams/phishing pages/malware etc. I think it's about time this forum does something about this.

The solution could be very simple.
What's currently happening is that users are allowed to make their first post uninterrupted, only then for mods to be able to review it manually. Simply outright disallowing links on a user's first post could be an easy fix. Of course, this could easily be overcome by waiting for the second post to add the links, but additional measures could also be utilized.
Something more advanced would be to completely omit links posted by users up to the newbie rank from the page's HTML. In a similar manner that images are not allowed to be embedded by users of a small rank... With links in posts of new users, the best would be to only allow access to the link to registered members that are looking at the post, via the use of a button.

(For example, inserting something like this at the bottom of newbie posts with links: Links posted by this user was committed due to the low rank of the account. Click HERE to reveal it.) If the link isn't in the posts body for the eyes of search engines, then one of the main incentives for such spamming is simply taken out of the equation.

Some downsides might be that this could require extra coding, maybe more server-side work and would most likely require JS if we didn't want the link to be in the page code at all. Other than that, I think it's a solution that doesn't impact forum usage heavily. It would certainly make the life of moderators easier by providing an extra level of protections from users and lifting some responsibility off their shoulders by providing a counter-incentive for spammers to post in the first place. Also, it's not nearly as intrusive or complicated to manage as a newbie jail.

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[Lafu]

Simply outright disallowing links on a user's first post could be an easy fix. 

Thats would be no fix because they just posting then some randome shit on other threads and doing it on the second or 3 post.

This with the links was also discussed a few times in the past and the problem would be if there are some real Users that wanted to share something or to help they cant post.

And often not only the new Users or the Newbie ranks posting links , its other ranks and Users with more post activity also .

[alani123]

Simply outright disallowing links on a user's first post could be an easy fix. 

Thats would be no fix because they just posting then some randome shit on other threads and doing it on the second or 3 post.

This with the links was also discussed a few times in the past and the problem would be if there are some real Users that wanted to share something or to help they cant post.

And often not only the new Users or the Newbie ranks posting links , its other ranks and Users with more post activity also .

At the very least this would make it much harder for software-guided spam posts to be successful.
Spammers would have to customize their configurations much more and by the time their software creates their first posts, it might have raised some alarms already as the wait timer to post more ticks. Also, any attempts to include links could also be tracked to add such posters on a high risk list.

[UserU]

Oftentimes, link-builders and such software that utilize forums for black-hat promotion etc. include this as part of their services with automation. I don't want to name specific software here but generally this is no secret. Also, oftentimes this happens manually with people that post links to scams/phishing pages/malware etc. I think it's about time this forum does something about this.

IMHO, manual report still works best. Like Lafu mentioned, newbies can still bypass them or more senior members will help post on their behalf.

Personally I find it more of an obstruction. Sure, the forum could be coded to hide such links but this might affect the forum's ranking too, especially if legit ones are posted.

(For example, inserting something like this at the bottom of newbie posts with links: Links posted by this user was committed due to the low rank of the account. Click HERE to reveal it.) If the link isn't in the posts body for the eyes of search engines, then one of the main incentives for such spamming is simply taken out of the equation.

This might force a workaround for those posters to receive Merits (to be a Jr/ Member) if that's one of the ways to bypass the restriction. You get the idea.

[hacker1001101001]

I think this method to decrease the newbie spam could work.

Legitimate users could be patient to get there link posting power until they gain some activity or merits ( better alternative ), and the once impatient are sure to be spammers.

This will not bury any real user as he can genuinely go as per rules to post or promote something, rather than bot shitting all over the forum.

Anyways, even though it's good suggestion and being suggested many times before, I don't think it would be implemented soon. You should check the long to do list of theymos, don't know on what number this landed up.

[The Sceptical Chymist]

OP's proposal might help things somewhat, but I think these spam posts get reported and acted on pretty quickly--obviously that takes up members' time, but I'm not sure the problem is so bad that the forum would need to impose the kind of limitations OP suggested. 

What section(s) are currently being hit by these link spammers?  I've seen a few here and there and have reported some of them, but it's not like there's been a bot constantly making threads with link spam in them, which has happened before. 

Legitimate users could be patient to get there link posting power until they gain some activity or merits ( better alternative ), and the once impatient are sure to be spammers.

Yeah, I don't see any good reason why new accounts would absolutely need to post links to anything, and as I said such a limitation would probably have a net positive effect.  The only reason why I'm not totally enthusiastic about the suggestion is that I'm pretty sure Theymos won't implement it.  I've seen so many ideas like this that might help at least a little, and they generally just get ignored. 

[hacker1001101001]

The only reason why I'm not totally enthusiastic about the suggestion is that I'm pretty sure Theymos won't implement it.  I've seen so many ideas like this that might help at least a little, and they generally just get ignored.  

Me too as there is a whole dedicated thread with losts of interesting and helpful suggestions yet to be implemented from years.

But let's not get upset, all this could be integrated in the new forum software ( Epochtalk ) as we would shift to it soon.

[UserU]

What section(s) are currently being hit by these link spammers?  I've seen a few here and there and have reported some of them, but it's not like there's been a bot constantly making threads with link spam in them, which has happened before. 

Off-Topic lately has lots, including necroposts.

[lulucrypto]

Hmm, I already think that disabling links for Newbies would be a good way to start.

Afterwards, it would be necessary to activate them only from a certain threshold. For example if the member has posted 20 messages, then the links are activated on his behalf. Afterwards, it would also be possible to adapt it according to the rank, or even the number of merits received.

Some say it's a big limitation, but I think it's important to set up on the forum.

Level code, it would be a small update to do, but nothing very complicated I think

[alani123]

Hmm, I already think that disabling links for Newbies would be a good way to start.

Afterwards, it would be necessary to activate them only from a certain threshold. For example if the member has posted 20 messages, then the links are activated on his behalf. Afterwards, it would also be possible to adapt it according to the rank, or even the number of merits received.

Some say it's a big limitation, but I think it's important to set up on the forum.

Level code, it would be a small update to do, but nothing very complicated I think

It's important because it'd be perhaps the only deterrent without more serious repercussions that would do away with robot posts. This forum deserves better than blackhat advertisements that have to do with spamy stuff such as gambling, scams or even sham diet pills or viagra... The quality of those products is so low they spammers consider the few minutes their links will remain up worthy of the effort.

The only reason why I'm not totally enthusiastic about the suggestion is that I'm pretty sure Theymos won't implement it.  I've seen so many ideas like this that might help at least a little, and they generally just get ignored. 

Me too as there is a whole dedicated thread with losts of interesting and helpful suggestions yet to be implemented from years.

But let's not get upset, all this could be integrated in the new forum software ( Epochtalk ) as we would shift to it soon.

Epochtalk is coming sometime in the future. In the meantime, BTCtalk could utilize some simple feature to prevent a lot of spam and protect users.

[lulucrypto]

Hmm, I already think that disabling links for Newbies would be a good way to start.

Afterwards, it would be necessary to activate them only from a certain threshold. For example if the member has posted 20 messages, then the links are activated on his behalf. Afterwards, it would also be possible to adapt it according to the rank, or even the number of merits received.

Some say it's a big limitation, but I think it's important to set up on the forum.

Level code, it would be a small update to do, but nothing very complicated I think

It's important because it'd be perhaps the only deterrent without more serious repercussions that would do away with robot posts. This forum deserves better than blackhat advertisements that have to do with spamy stuff such as gambling, scams or even sham diet pills or viagra... The quality of those products is so low they spammers consider the few minutes their links will remain up worthy of the effort.

Yes, I agree.

I would have to occasionally see to try to develop a custom pluggins for SMF forums.

I've never done this before, but I do not think it's very complicated ( It's simple PHP ).

[pooya87]

there seems to be already some newbie related link limitations in place on this forum. for example it doesn't allow them to post any URL that has a short host name, probably to prevent short links. for example both goo.gl, bit.ly links and sites like cnbc,... are being replaced by a message like [suspicious link removed] string.
that same idea could probably be expanded, maybe to something like: any links posted by a newbie account would become non-clickable. one way would be to remove the www and http(s) parts and replace dots with (dot) automatically.

[lulucrypto]

there seems to be already some newbie related link limitations in place on this forum. for example it doesn't allow them to post any URL that has a short host name, probably to prevent short links. for example both goo.gl, bit.ly links and sites like cnbc,... are being replaced by a message like [suspicious link removed] string.
that same idea could probably be expanded, maybe to something like: any links posted by a newbie account would become non-clickable. one way would be to remove the www and http(s) parts and replace dots with (dot) automatically.

Oh ok. Is there a topic about this limitation in detail ?

[NeuroticFish]

Simply outright disallowing links on a user's first post could be an easy fix.

It could be an easy fix, well, depends on theymos' time, but how useful would it be like this? As you said, not much.

As others proposed: ask him to disallow links for "brand new" and "newbie" too. So they'll need to gain 1 Merit before they can post links.
Of course he can also link this to Copper Membership too.
This is the best possible option imho.

[Rizzrack]

Simply outright disallowing links on a user's first post could be an easy fix.

It could be an easy fix, well, depends on theymos' time, but how useful would it be like this? As you said, not much.

As others proposed: ask him to disallow links for "brand new" and "newbie" too. So they'll need to gain 1 Merit before they can post links.
Of course he can also link this to Copper Membership too.
This is the best possible option imho.

In theory it sounds nice and maybe another iteration of this will be put in place (or not) but could not work exactly like this
If you disable newbies to post links you kill 80% of the bounty boards.
Bounty hunters may not have the best rep around here but they are quite a chunk of the forum ecosystem. At the end of the day there just might be too many "else if else" statements. You would restrict too many innocent newbies imo

Or maybe doing this only in some specific boards... dunno. But I don't see it only as black and white.

[alani123]

Simply outright disallowing links on a user's first post could be an easy fix.

It could be an easy fix, well, depends on theymos' time, but how useful would it be like this? As you said, not much.

As others proposed: ask him to disallow links for "brand new" and "newbie" too. So they'll need to gain 1 Merit before they can post links.
Of course he can also link this to Copper Membership too.
This is the best possible option imho.

In theory it sounds nice and maybe another iteration of this will be put in place (or not) but could not work exactly like this
If you disable newbies to post links you kill 80% of the bounty boards.
Bounty hunters may not have the best rep around here but they are quite a chunk of the forum ecosystem. At the end of the day there just might be too many "else if else" statements. You would restrict too many innocent newbies imo

Or maybe doing this only in some specific boards... dunno. But I don't see it only as black and white.

That's why I think the outright link ban should be for the first post. After that, IMO, a soft restriction such as masking the links of newbies would suffice. Otherwise it'd be like a newbie jail (but for links). This forum used to have a general newbie jail but it was scrapped altogether.

[NeuroticFish]

If you disable newbies to post links you kill 80% of the bounty boards.
Bounty hunters may not have the best rep around here but they are quite a chunk of the forum ecosystem. At the end of the day there just might be too many "else if else" statements. You would restrict too many innocent newbies imo

Or maybe doing this only in some specific boards... dunno. But I don't see it only as black and white.

I think that bounties should also avoid newbies, but OK, that's me and you are right that they are quite a big chunk of the ecosystem.
The specific board part sounds good at first read, but on a second thought it may not solve anything.

Well, I guess that we have to do better at reporting. I don't see anything really better for now.