Hotmail, Gmail Banned

gggraph · Posted: Mon Dec 05, 2011 6:49 am Post subject: Hotmail, Gmail Banned

Over the past weeks, I've seen a growing number of spammer registrations from Hotmail. I've previously had to ban GMail registrations because the spammer traffic got too high.

Overnight, there's been hundreds of postings from Hotmail accounts, with individual usernames and IP addresses. All, I suspect, from the same spambot.

This doesn't leave us with much alternative but to ban Hotmail email addresses until Hotmail get their security act together. I might add that the Stop Forum Spam organisation recommends banning all free email accounts as they are used extensively by spammers...

Grant

Devilbiss · Joined: 06 Jul 2007 Posts: 3236

Yeah it's been pretty bad lately..

vikoi · Joined: 20 Nov 2011 Posts: 11 Location: Sydney

just testing that I can still post (I have a hotmail account!)

gggraph · Posted: Mon Dec 05, 2011 5:21 pm Post subject: Re: Re - Hotmail, Gmail Banned

RobK · Joined: 18 Nov 2011 Posts: 90 Location: Armidale

Have you thought about switching over to Simple Machines BB software or even upgrading with a questionnaire field instead of captcha?

Chrissy D · Joined: 12 Jan 2006 Posts: 1056 Location: Queensland

Is there some way genuine people could email admin to request signing up? I only have free email accounts and I find it frustrating when I want to sign up to something and I cant use my hotmail. (well I tell a lie, my website has its own email but I hate using it -and hotmail is where I get all my emails fromj).

So ok is banning it is required to minimise spammers, but Im sure there will be genuine people out there who do not have a non-free email wanting to join.

So alternative contact is all im suggesting. Maybe a "contact us" or "feedback" link so they know they can email their request to register?

gggraph · Posted: Thu Dec 08, 2011 9:39 am Post subject: Re - Hotmail, Gmail Banned

Good point Chrissy - I have done that with a couple of members already. They can email me at grant@gggraphics.com.au or Brad.

Rob - there are a number of anti-spam measures available. In practical terms though, I don't have the capability to do it (I'm only admin with a little 'a') and even with them in place, it still leaves the forum wide open if you allow free email registrations.

This may not be a permanent ban - we just came under sustained attack from one spammer for a week or so.

Cheers

Grant

RobK · Joined: 18 Nov 2011 Posts: 90 Location: Armidale

That's why I suggest you check the PhpBB site for self installing security measures. I also used to run several phpbb site and swapped over to Simple Machines as they have security measures that come standard. Check out my alienartgallery site to see what it looks like. It's fully customizable and you don't need to be a genious to install it and import the database. Worth the hour or so looking at it than deleting endless spam emails mate.