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Don McRitchie
12-10-2004, 10:54 AM
I am pissed and need to rant.

Take a look at our Guestbook page:

http://www.audioheritage.org/guestbook.htm

Appoximately one year ago, our Guestbook "broke" when we changed servers. A combination of not knowing exactly what was wrong and questions on the merits of this feature meant that it took me until November 14 to put it back in service. Now I'm considering shutting it down again for good.

The problem is that spammers have figured out that Guestbooks are a great place to plant links to their site in order to increase their rankings on search engines. I saw the beginnings of this phenomenon just before our book went down. Now it appears to be an epidemic. In the four weeks that the book has been back, we have recieved exactly 4 genuine entries while I have removed dozens of spams. The latest entry just takes the cake. This evening, I'll remove this spam, and depending on my mood, may just nuke the entire section.

Don

PS This is just the first of problems to come. Spammers have figured out that forums are also a great place to dump their crap. Fortunately, we have only been hit twice, and stangely enough, both cases were from Jebus freaks. Fortunately, there is more control with a forum, but I have no doubt it will become a real issue with time.

scott fitlin
12-10-2004, 11:28 AM
I just checked our guestbook, and we are loaded with PORN sites!

JBL and you dont wanna know what else, then again, maybe you do!

You could shut the book down till a way to prevent this is figured out. :banghead:

Zilch
12-10-2004, 12:02 PM
Looking back at the archived Guestbook posts, it would be a shame to shut it down. Maybe just policeing it regularly would be good enough. More work, but worth it, probably, until a custom filter can be implemented. No URL's in guestbook text, perhaps? Pics are already blocked, looks like.

No dearth of jerks on the internet, obviously.... :mad:

GordonW
12-10-2004, 01:56 PM
There are apparently ways to "blacklist" posters on the guestbook. Are the entries from the same places, or a bunch of random ones? If there's repeat offenders, at least those can be dealt with.

In addition, it should be possible to nuke entire domains, if necessary, using the right blacklist software. Drastic, but sometimes better than nuking the whole thing.

Regards,
Gordon.

Don C
12-10-2004, 03:15 PM
I don't think that it is important to have a guestbook if you also have a forum. So nuke the whole thing, and maybe that will free up some time for other things.

OFD
12-10-2004, 10:10 PM
I just jumped from one of my favorite tech forums to here, and the topic of the day there? You got it..........new age spammers, and forums have become easy targets. The most annoying aspect of this is that, ever since governments have gone after spammers, their efforts seem to have been redoubled.

I've got filters coming out the ying-yang on my e-mail account and it's become hardly worthwhile to even open it any more.

If they could effectively be nuked, I'd be first in line to press the button. http://audioheritage.csdco.com/vbulletin/images/smilies/bomb.gif

JohnH
12-11-2004, 09:48 AM
Don, I had the same problem with a Guestbook that I run. The problem is, I think, that these entries are probably automatically computer generated by computers that automatically scan for these Guestbooks. Since most of these Guestbooks are probably run from less than a handful of Guestbook programs, I think it is easy to scan for the sites and program a computer to put entries into them. I think I foiled most of them by adding a web page between the Guestbook page and the entry form. In other words, clicking on the button to fill out the entry form took you to an intermediate page instead. This intermediate page set forth the rules for entry, with "Agree" and "Disagree" buttons. The "Agree" button took you to the entry form. The "Disagree" button bounced you off the page. The rules clearly indicated that violating the rules would be considered tresspass, and that the trespasser's internet provider would be notified and complained to. It has worked very well.

Audiobeer
12-11-2004, 11:24 PM
Don, This place needs to be fun for you! If you can't enjoy it due to the guest book being spammed and you having to mantain it then I say nuke it!

Don McRitchie
12-22-2004, 04:51 PM
I'm thinking maybe we should keep the Guestbook. Look who signed in at 9:00 a.m. this morning:

http://www.audioheritage.org/guestbook.htm

I have already replied by email and hope to followup.

scott fitlin
12-22-2004, 05:02 PM
Of all the people, and of all the JBL speakers, only some of the highest regarded models and their designer!

:thmbsup:

Zilch
12-23-2004, 12:26 AM
Assign Mr. Smith his own permanent Q&A thread! :D

[I'm makin' a list....]

yggdrasil
12-23-2004, 10:14 AM
If you have a possibility to send the new guestbook entries to e.g. [email protected], then run these mail through a spam-filter before they are posted into the guestbook.....

If you have a server I could provide you with sw, or I could set up the service for you on my own server. I have been working on an AntiSpam server the last year.

duaneage
02-05-2005, 08:33 PM
I'm thinking maybe we should keep the Guestbook. Look who signed in at 9:00 a.m. this morning:

http://www.audioheritage.org/guestbook.htm

I have already replied by email and hope to followup.

WHat a dream job he must have had. I once met someone who worked for Celestion who regaled me with stories about testing and improvising on new designs. made me wish I had pursued a different path in life.