Discuss Scratch

TheHockeyist
Scratcher
1000+ posts

Suggestion on how to keep the spambots down.

Spambots have mostly been targeting the New Scratchers forum. And these bots don't even have any shared projects, which separates them from legitimate Scratchers and New Scratchers.

I propose that you need to have at least one project shared in order to post on the forums. This will keep the spambot activity down and possibly eliminate it entirely.
TheHockeyist
Scratcher
1000+ posts

Suggestion on how to keep the spambots down.

I found three spambots this morning. ST, you really need to consider this. This mass spambot attack is unacceptable. Monitor the forums intensely while you consider my suggestion.
MissPuggy
Scratcher
500+ posts

Suggestion on how to keep the spambots down.

TheHockeyist wrote:

Spambots have mostly been targeting the New Scratchers forum. And these bots don't even have any shared projects, which separates them from legitimate Scratchers and New Scratchers.

I propose that you need to have at least one project shared in order to post on the forums. This will keep the spambot activity down and possibly eliminate it entirely.
It seems like a pretty good idea, but, like, im on tablet, so, i cant possibly be the only person on a tablet, and, if you dont have flash player, you cant make projects.
TheHockeyist
Scratcher
1000+ posts

Suggestion on how to keep the spambots down.

MissPuggy wrote:

TheHockeyist wrote:

Spambots have mostly been targeting the New Scratchers forum. And these bots don't even have any shared projects, which separates them from legitimate Scratchers and New Scratchers.

I propose that you need to have at least one project shared in order to post on the forums. This will keep the spambot activity down and possibly eliminate it entirely.
It seems like a pretty good idea, but, like, im on tablet, so, i cant possibly be the only person on a tablet, and, if you dont have flash player, you cant make projects.

This might be a disadvantage at first, but once you make a project, you can post on the forums from any device.
AonymousGuy
Scratcher
1000+ posts

Suggestion on how to keep the spambots down.

Maybe just make it so that you have to have been on Scratch for 2 days in order to post in the forums? Or something like that?

(I guess that actually wouldn't really help…)
MissPuggy
Scratcher
500+ posts

Suggestion on how to keep the spambots down.

TheHockeyist wrote:

MissPuggy wrote:

TheHockeyist wrote:

Spambots have mostly been targeting the New Scratchers forum. And these bots don't even have any shared projects, which separates them from legitimate Scratchers and New Scratchers.

I propose that you need to have at least one project shared in order to post on the forums. This will keep the spambot activity down and possibly eliminate it entirely.
It seems like a pretty good idea, but, like, im on tablet, so, i cant possibly be the only person on a tablet, and, if you dont have flash player, you cant make projects.

This might be a disadvantage at first, but once you make a project, you can post on the forums from any device.
But some people dont have internet access except for tablet, or their computer doesnt have the correct version of flash player either.
TheHockeyist
Scratcher
1000+ posts

Suggestion on how to keep the spambots down.

MissPuggy wrote:

TheHockeyist wrote:

MissPuggy wrote:

TheHockeyist wrote:

Spambots have mostly been targeting the New Scratchers forum. And these bots don't even have any shared projects, which separates them from legitimate Scratchers and New Scratchers.

I propose that you need to have at least one project shared in order to post on the forums. This will keep the spambot activity down and possibly eliminate it entirely.
It seems like a pretty good idea, but, like, im on tablet, so, i cant possibly be the only person on a tablet, and, if you dont have flash player, you cant make projects.

This might be a disadvantage at first, but once you make a project, you can post on the forums from any device.
But some people dont have internet access except for tablet, or their computer doesnt have the correct version of flash player either.
The point is to keep spambots down, not disappoint Scratchers.
Paddle2See
Scratch Team
1000+ posts

Suggestion on how to keep the spambots down.

Well, first, thanks for reporting them, that's very helpful.

But bear in mind that three spambots is not a mass attack. We have seen far worse.

We have considered making it harder for new members to post on the forums (requiring a project be shared, etc.) but we need to be sure that legitimate new members can still tell us when they are having problems with the site…such as not being able to share projects.

No defense is perfect against spammers…what we have now works fairly well. There is always room for improvement thogh…keep thinking!
TheHockeyist
Scratcher
1000+ posts

Suggestion on how to keep the spambots down.

-deleted-

Last edited by TheHockeyist (July 18, 2014 16:27:59)

TheHockeyist
Scratcher
1000+ posts

Suggestion on how to keep the spambots down.

Paddle2See wrote:

Well, first, thanks for reporting them, that's very helpful.

But bear in mind that three spambots is not a mass attack. We have seen far worse.

We have considered making it harder for new members to post on the forums (requiring a project be shared, etc.) but we need to be sure that legitimate new members can still tell us when they are having problems with the site…such as not being able to share projects.

No defense is perfect against spammers…what we have now works fairly well. There is always room for improvement thogh…keep thinking!

Far worse? Wow.

And I see the issue. If a New Scratcher has problems sharing and can't post in the forums, then they might leave Scratch.

I just hope that we eliminate spambots entirely. This was a headache for me.
AonymousGuy
Scratcher
1000+ posts

Suggestion on how to keep the spambots down.

Maybe, the first time someone goes to a “discuss” link, there is some sort of button that they have to click?

(I guess that doesn't really deter spambots…)

Or some sort of simple CAPTCHA?

(But then younger humans can't get through it….)

Hmmmmm….
TheHockeyist
Scratcher
1000+ posts

Suggestion on how to keep the spambots down.

AonymousGuy wrote:

Maybe, the first time someone goes to a “discuss” link, there is some sort of button that they have to click?

(I guess that doesn't really deter spambots…)

Or some sort of simple CAPTCHA?

(But then younger humans can't get through it….)

Hmmmmm….

How about sliding the arrow, like Photobucket makes you do when you sign up?
Blueinkproductions
Scratcher
1000+ posts

Suggestion on how to keep the spambots down.

What about using the xkcd system, where your first post has to get mod approved before it shows up?
Firedrake969
Scratcher
1000+ posts

Suggestion on how to keep the spambots down.

Blueinkproductions wrote:

What about using the xkcd system, where your first post has to get mod approved before it shows up?
Too much moderation, and not enough mods.
Blueinkproductions
Scratcher
1000+ posts

Suggestion on how to keep the spambots down.

Firedrake969 wrote:

Blueinkproductions wrote:

What about using the xkcd system, where your first post has to get mod approved before it shows up?
Too much moderation, and not enough mods.
Oh.
TheHockeyist
Scratcher
1000+ posts

Suggestion on how to keep the spambots down.

Firedrake969 wrote:

Blueinkproductions wrote:

What about using the xkcd system, where your first post has to get mod approved before it shows up?
Too much moderation, and not enough mods.
^ This (the xkcd system) will never happen for the reason that you have given above, Firedrake969.

Last edited by TheHockeyist (July 18, 2014 16:59:03)

Deerleg
Scratcher
1000+ posts

Suggestion on how to keep the spambots down.

MissPuggy wrote:

TheHockeyist wrote:

Spambots have mostly been targeting the New Scratchers forum. And these bots don't even have any shared projects, which separates them from legitimate Scratchers and New Scratchers.

I propose that you need to have at least one project shared in order to post on the forums. This will keep the spambot activity down and possibly eliminate it entirely.
It seems like a pretty good idea, but, like, im on tablet, so, i cant possibly be the only person on a tablet, and, if you dont have flash player, you cant make projects.
You don't spend all your time on Scratch on a tablet? (I presume not, since you've shared 5 projects.)
I believe what TheHockeyist means is that you need at least one project shared TOTAL, not you have to share one project a day just to get on the forums.
AonymousGuy
Scratcher
1000+ posts

Suggestion on how to keep the spambots down.

Deerleg wrote:

MissPuggy wrote:

TheHockeyist wrote:

Spambots have mostly been targeting the New Scratchers forum. And these bots don't even have any shared projects, which separates them from legitimate Scratchers and New Scratchers.

I propose that you need to have at least one project shared in order to post on the forums. This will keep the spambot activity down and possibly eliminate it entirely.
It seems like a pretty good idea, but, like, im on tablet, so, i cant possibly be the only person on a tablet, and, if you dont have flash player, you cant make projects.
You don't spend all your time on Scratch on a tablet? (I presume not, since you've shared 5 projects.)
I believe what TheHockeyist means is that you need at least one project shared TOTAL, not you have to share one project a day just to get on the forums.
Yes, but the problem pointed out above by Paddle2See is that if the user had some glitch where they couldn't share any projects, and needed to go on the forums to ask, they would be stuck in limbo.
TheHockeyist
Scratcher
1000+ posts

Suggestion on how to keep the spambots down.

Deerleg wrote:

MissPuggy wrote:

TheHockeyist wrote:

Spambots have mostly been targeting the New Scratchers forum. And these bots don't even have any shared projects, which separates them from legitimate Scratchers and New Scratchers.

I propose that you need to have at least one project shared in order to post on the forums. This will keep the spambot activity down and possibly eliminate it entirely.
It seems like a pretty good idea, but, like, im on tablet, so, i cant possibly be the only person on a tablet, and, if you dont have flash player, you cant make projects.
You don't spend all your time on Scratch on a tablet? (I presume not, since you've shared 5 projects.)
I believe what TheHockeyist means is that you need at least one project shared TOTAL, not you have to share one project a day just to get on the forums.
That's what I mean.

AonymousGuy wrote:

Deerleg wrote:

MissPuggy wrote:

TheHockeyist wrote:

Spambots have mostly been targeting the New Scratchers forum. And these bots don't even have any shared projects, which separates them from legitimate Scratchers and New Scratchers.

I propose that you need to have at least one project shared in order to post on the forums. This will keep the spambot activity down and possibly eliminate it entirely.
It seems like a pretty good idea, but, like, im on tablet, so, i cant possibly be the only person on a tablet, and, if you dont have flash player, you cant make projects.
You don't spend all your time on Scratch on a tablet? (I presume not, since you've shared 5 projects.)
I believe what TheHockeyist means is that you need at least one project shared TOTAL, not you have to share one project a day just to get on the forums.
Yes, but the problem pointed out above by Paddle2See is that if the user had some glitch where they couldn't share any projects, and needed to go on the forums to ask, they would be stuck in limbo.
I'm aware of this potential problem. Perhaps point out where the share button is in the tutorial.
Deerleg
Scratcher
1000+ posts

Suggestion on how to keep the spambots down.

AonymousGuy wrote:

Deerleg wrote:

MissPuggy wrote:

TheHockeyist wrote:

Spambots have mostly been targeting the New Scratchers forum. And these bots don't even have any shared projects, which separates them from legitimate Scratchers and New Scratchers.

I propose that you need to have at least one project shared in order to post on the forums. This will keep the spambot activity down and possibly eliminate it entirely.
It seems like a pretty good idea, but, like, im on tablet, so, i cant possibly be the only person on a tablet, and, if you dont have flash player, you cant make projects.
You don't spend all your time on Scratch on a tablet? (I presume not, since you've shared 5 projects.)
I believe what TheHockeyist means is that you need at least one project shared TOTAL, not you have to share one project a day just to get on the forums.
Yes, but the problem pointed out above by Paddle2See is that if the user had some glitch where they couldn't share any projects, and needed to go on the forums to ask, they would be stuck in limbo.
Hmm. How about you need to favorite/love one project to get on the forums?

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