why do spammers attack phpbb boards so much?

[Red Squirrel]

I run a few forums. Some are IPB, some are phpbb. the phpbb ones get like 30 registrations a day, all spammers. I coded a script to easly check off the names to delete (admin validation is on). I figured maybe I should do email activation... no, they actually bother to reply to it. Theres the security code check, basically everything my other forums have, and only the phpbb ones get attacked. I deleted this same spammer like 5 times, until I figured F.U. and banned his name.

Thing is, they don't even post, I just know they're spammers because of their retarded names that make no sense, and links in their profiles (which guests can't see anyway, so google won't pick it up, and innactive accounts don't show up in member list - a few mods I did)

Has anyone else ever notice this?

 

[Alone]

That's because PHPBB sucks and is an easy target.

 

[kingtas]

What version?

 

[Red Squirrel]

2.0 on both I believe. And yeah its not the best script, but its just weird that even when I set it up like any other board, it still gets attacked like crazy. Well forum spammers are getting bad, in general. None of them have ever even posted thats the weird part. (before I decided to use admin validation instead of email)

 

[Alone]

Just a note though, I use SMF and I still get the occasional signup from a bot.

 

[kingtas]

I have had people (or bots?) register on PHPBB2 with urls and email to junk sites, too. I just delete them as I keep a close eye on things.

Make sure you have enable html code turned off and your persissions are set to Folders = 755 and files = 644.

PHPBB3 stable is out soon and it's not bad for a free forum.

MODs for bot registration:

http://www.phpbb.com/community/viewtopic.php?t=427852

 

[DannyLove]

the answer to that question doesn't matter at all. Its spam, and its doing its job. To prevent that, its easy. Go to the phpbb community forums. There are literally hundreds of ways to prevent it. I run a forum myself and I had this problem too. I added maybe 1-2 mods and pfff, no more spam.

 

[Nohr]

I keep adding the email domains they signup with to the banned mail domains list. It helps some.

 

[Red Squirrel]

I've actually been working on my own forum software (though I've been spending more time on coding for a game server) so have not done much edits other then restricting user list to registered members, and the validation system. Auto adding spammer domains to block list is not a bad idea. I have a few in my list. Baiscally *.ru *.info and a few others. Username keywords like best, sell, viagra etc are also blocked. Forum spammers are not (yet) using the email spam techniques such as V | 4 G r @ but it's bound to come...

 

[Rottie]

Originally posted by: Alone
That's because PHPBB sucks and is an easy target.

and Spammers are bored to do something and they want to attack them for benefits.

 

[Red Squirrel]

I delete like 20 per day per forum I run. I wish I could meet these people irl.