How I (almost) clone Bitcointalk using AI

[btc_angela]

First don't bash me for what I'm going to show, I just wanted to share what I have discovered as this could be a tool for some scammers or criminals that might what to clone Bitcointalk.

Second, it just shows how powerful this AI tools are, as they can create a duplicate a website right from scratch without prior knowledge of coding.

This is the website:

Code:

https://www.blackbox.ai/

And this is the command that I used.



And this is the result.

[Sticky Bomb]

No matter how effective the clone is or how smart the scammer might prove to be, he cannot use the same Domain name as the original site.

The domain name of this forum is bitcointalk.org, and that cannot be cloned too or replicated, so it would be of no benefit to the person.

Again how would the person have access to the vast records of over the years and spur the kind of engagement this forum has? Impossible, so the cloning is as good as a total waste of time and energy to the scammer

Also referencing on this

Bitcointalk uses SMF (simple machine forum) which is open source.
https://www.simplemachines.org/

there is some additional customization, which,  AFAIK, is not open source.

I didn't find anything in github.com

He cannot have access to these customizations too, so the clone is a waste of time

[TryNinja]

That doesn't look like BitcoinTalk, though.

It's pretty simple to "clone" bitcointalk without an IA. Just run a SMF 1.1.19 install and you'll have a 99% perfect copy (only missing original creations like the merit and flag system). Manual beats AI... again.

https://download.simplemachines.org/index.php?archive;b=3;v=85

[Gamble2EnjoyRisk]

That doesn't look like BitcoinTalk, though.

It's pretty simple to "clone" bitcointalk without an IA. Just run a SMF 1.1.19 install and you'll have a 99% perfect copy (only missing original creations like the merit and flag system). Manual beats AI... again.

https://download.simplemachines.org/index.php?archive;b=3;v=85

I was just reading about the "security bounties" created by theymos the admin and if someone can provide a valid report of a bug then the offered bounty will be claimed.

Now,  let's say someone will run a SMF 1.1.19 on simplemachines dot org and install it then as what you have mentioned a 99% perfect copy will be created.

my question is. Can that 99% perfect copy be able to allow users Log in with the same information from bitcointalk? If Yes then as what OP said it can be used by scammers.

this reply is made out of curiosity. Just a "what if" question only. I know that no one can clone this forum but scammers will look for ways to gain access of important informations particularly information of Log-ins

[TryNinja]

my question is. Can that 99% perfect copy be able to allow users Log in with the same information from bitcointalk? If Yes then as what OP said it can be used by scammers.

Why would anyone put their information on a bitcointalk clone?

If someone creates bitcoientalk.org and spread them like it's the real bitcointalk for people to fall for it and try to login with their credentials, then yes, that's called a phishing[1] website. Just check the URL you're clicking.

[1] https://wikipedia.org/wiki/Phishing

[NotATether]

That is not really a clone of Bitcointalk IMO, even in front end terms. This is just a bunch of HTML divs centered together, and doesn't really look nice.

OP, Blackbox AI is not really good. I have tried it before. You can use use it to make funny-sounding agents but that's about it.

[BitMaxz]

It looks like a forum made by WordPress; the color and the design are far from what the current Bitcointalk design is.

Did the AI also generate those domains and host them by itself?
If it did, it seems a scammer could use it for creating a landing page with free domain and hosting to promote a fake exchange site or something that can gather data.

[DYING_S0UL]

I wouldn't call this a clone rather this looks like a cheap version of some other forum made in china (ignore my sarcastic reply, lol ). Can you clarify what are you tying to convey to the community. I only got that cloning part, the rest of it is still confused to me. Did you mean someone would clone BTT and try to scam people? That would be too much work IMO.

[Churchillvv]

That is not really a clone of Bitcointalk IMO, even in front end terms. This is just a bunch of HTML divs centered together, and doesn't really look nice.

You beat me on this, exactly what came to my mind. AI is only able to do the HTML and CSS part but can't go in details to do the rest of the manual programming that makes Bitcointalk.org original.

Even the CSS styling, AI couldn't figure out the exact colours that where manually prompted using Simple machines forum. Using TryNinjas opinion would land you closer to bitcointalk but not exactly as a lot will be missing.

Only threat is scammers using it as phishing links to know people's login details and use them to PM and scam people, which is even rare as Theymos will probably know that it's a new login and different patterns of usage hence resulting to quick action by mods or admin himself.

[Obim34]

In my local will say "Nearly cannot harm a bird", as long you didn't get it correctly, no matter how close you might be to getting it, means you don't claim to have done something.

For someone who have used BTT cannot fall for this cloning, it will be the wrong end of scammers, just a waste of time.

[Stalker22]

Honestly, I dont see this "AI tool" you are talking about doing anything particularly ground-breaking. For starters, the page it generates doesnt even look much like the original, which kind of defeats the purpose of cloning, right?

But beyond that, cloning a website has always been super easy. Think about it: everything you see when you visit a webpage, the layout, the colors, the text, thats all just HTML and CSS code. Your browser reads it and displays it. And guess what? You can view and copy that exact code yourself! With a bit of tweaking, you can get that same look working on any other website. We are only talking about the frontend view here, not the complex backend code that actually makes the website function. But for scammers setting up phishing sites, the frontend is really all they need anyway.

[Mrbluntzy]

The clone doesn't even look so similar to Bitcointalk.org and it can be quickly noticed, I know you are trying to prove a point which I get but   someone that is so observant will not fall for it. Another thing I noticed is that the name of the website, I mean the domain name is not even similar to btt, so if perhaps you want the domain name to be the same, how will the AI arrange it? Wl it be BitcointaIk.org? L replaced with capital letter i.

[SmartGold01]

The difference would be the URL as many people already know that Bitcointalk.org is not hosted in any other sites. Of course I know there are lazy people who are so weak to check their URL displayed before they hit the entire kyc. What mostly happened is that when browser is that used to that particular website usually login to you would see that they can target you through there to launch a fake site that would look like the regular site which you do login to, the difference will be that they will ask to login back and if you aren't careful immediately you login then your account is gone or cloned.

[notocactus]

my question is. Can that 99% perfect copy be able to allow users Log in with the same information from bitcointalk? If Yes then as what OP said it can be used by scammers.

It's not 99% the same and even it is the same visually, I am doubtful that it can be appeared on top of Google search results even I know that Google are shady with allowing scam and phishing sites appears on top.

It's only about visual appearance of a scam and phishing forum but technically, it will be never the same because the Bitcointalk.org forum is modified a lot by theymos over many years for improving its security after several forum hacks.

Bitcointalk history of hacks and vandalism (in 2011, 2013 and 2015).