Detecting / Controlling Forum Spam

[spiderbait]

Hi there,

I've been noticing a trend with forum spam here on WPW and thought I'd post my observation. Perhaps there would be a way to automate the detection of this trend and eliminate the spam before legitimate WPW members spend their valuable time responding to these link dropping attempts.

For example, there's a recent WPW post here and if you copy some of the post text into Google (inside quotes) you'll find that the exact same post was originally made (word for word) on seochat back in March 2004

Another example, this WPW post is a word for word copy of this post at digitalpoint.

I have seen several others like this.

So, it appears that the robots posting forum spam here are actually scraping their posts from other related forums (presumably in an effort to attract responses and create some "buzz" on their link-dropped forum posting).

Perhaps this is a well-known issue, but I'd not seen it before and it occurs to me that WPW could employ some method utilizing Google to detect word for word copied posts and at the very least disabling the links (post links and signature) and labelling the post as a heads-up for real WPW users. Ideally, WPW could just delete them automatically, but I realize that might be going too far.

Anyway, I thought I'd post this and see if my observations are useful.

Jade

[MajorTom]

I operate quite a few forums and honestly, there's nothing that can be done about it unless you want to waste precious time hunting down post-builders.

I think a lot of this junk has to do with forum posting services such as the one advertised in a paid review on john Chow's site

Going Organic with In Forum Advertising | John Chow dot Com

Considering most forums (such as mine) do not allow users with under 10 posts to post a link in order to combat spammers, they are using new tactics like copy/pasting from other forums while they put the links they're promoting in their signature.

In my opinion, it's just an occupational hazard of operating a forum.

[amxfan]

Considering most forums (such as mine) do not allow users with under 10 posts to post a link in order to combat spammers, they are using new tactics like copy/pasting from other forums while they put the links they're promoting in their signature.

I agree 100%.

Now I'm going to hide when I say this but if you go on any forum and ask how to get IBL most will tell you the same.

1. start a blog / post to blogs
2. post to forums

Now is it spam or are they just doing what they have been told to do from here and other forums? Do not get me wrong. I'm not for this, but find it hard to say anything about it when you can find post on top of post where they have been told to do it.

examples
how to improve my ranking with a 0 budget
One way links
How to build "good" links to your website?

Please note: I am not trying to single anyone out by posting these threads. These were the first three threads I found, and therefore used them.

If they do not know what to ask they just steal a question.

I personally like the fact that the admin of WPW do not require people to post X amount of times before they can have a sig file or before they can post a URL. I also understand why other forums do require this, but no I do not like it for it is a pain in the butt when trying to help someone you have to put the URL in a code tag. I hope WPW does not go to this but understand why if they do.

Like many people, I participate and try to be active in a few SEO forums, but when I am on those forums I go out of my way not to post links from one forum to another. My feelings are if you are on that forum, support that forum and do not give links out to other forums as it shows disrespect, but this is also my opinion.

[spiderbait]

I just want to say that I don't disagree it's an occupational hazard with a forum.

However, if any bunch in the world are clever enough to come up with a solution to this problem, I should think the WPW community is that bunch.

And for the record, my biggest concern is not that the spammers are doing this, but rather - and I think this is important - it is that our community resources are being skimmed with no one really being helped.

For instance, a spammer comes to WPW and signs up to post a regurgitated question and then our braintrust members spend their time responding, asking questions and trying to help this fake posting.

Meanwhile, the legitimate postings and questions from real community members are being fraudulently deprived of the energy, goodwill and creative thinking that gets poured into the spammer's post.

Probably the legitimate postings all get answered anyway, but wouldn't it be better if we had a way to prevent the wasted effort in the first place? More energy and effort would be available for the legitimate postings.

And then there's the wasted time component. When I come to WPW and check for "new posts since" my last visit. I detest wasting my time clicking links to posts only to find that some bonehead has posted "good infos. I am looking for this." or some other such trivial comment in half a dozen topics within the space of 3 minutes.

It's frustrating. I'm venting. And I bet there's probably a whole lot more of this crap that our dutiful moderators delete before we ever see it.

But, isn't there something we can do?

[lspence]

Ever since Spiderbait mentioned it, I've been keeping a lookout. There's a new member named tt189, scraping posts from SEO Chat. I guess that's just the way of things.

WPW - No index?
taken from SEO Chat - No index? - SEO Chat

WPW - Yahoo/Altavista/alltheweb to merge ?
SEO Chat - Yahoo/Altavista/alltheweb to merge ? - SEO Chat

WPW - Visitor Site Maps (scraped from the previous post in the same thread)

[crankydave]

All valid points.

The mods and admins keep an open discussion on ways to curtail the different problems so your observations are noticed and taken to heart.

Many times it's "human" posters and not just the bots. Keeping up with it is a task and I know the other mods and admins keep an eye open for it. Although we try, we don't catch it all so I know myself, that I appreciate being given a heads up by the report post function or by PM when a member sees the aggregious posts.

It's unfortunate but having to spend time acting on these things instead of participating is a neccessary task for all the mods and admins. We certainly don't the membership to see the crap. We don't want to see it.

You'll generally find that the "human" spammers like things easy. They want links to stick. So I think at least part of the reason it's a bigger problem elsewhere is that as a group we do a decent job of getting rid of it rather quickly. I'd certainly like to participate more instead of having to scan hundreds of posts on a regular basis but I do have to smile a bit when I ban a spammer while they're trying to post.

Dave

[kgun]

1. I have noticed the same as the original poster.
2. I use phpBB on my extranet and the tool explained here An excellent forum phpBB toolkit.
3. After I made the extranet, I have not had a single spammer joining.

In addition, the posts that are posted in the SEO sub forum that belongs in the Google sub forum are not moved. May be social networks like LinkedIn (professional), Plaxo and FaceBook are becoming more important

Fianally the doube post on the home page with title "Digital Publishing Software" was deleted after being present more than 12 hours.

When will be NEXT PR UPDATE? ??????????

[crankydave]

Originally Posted by kgun

Fianally the doube post on the home page with title "Digital Publishing Software" was deleted after being present more than 12 hours.

And when you noticed the double post you did what?

Dave

[ronniethedodger]

Hey Jade,

Long time, eh?

Just getting back into the forum scene of late and cannot believe my eyes seeing how far some of the forums out there have degraded to one-line 'fortune cookie' posts. Your spam in the title post caught my eye and had to drop in for my two-cents.

What I think you need are tools to help your Mods spot spam of this type more easily. Forum modification may be required.

All of the problems you noted leave a footprint. Spotting the footprint is basically simple and program for.

For the duplicate questions from other forums, provide a one-click link for your Mods to run the text of the post through Copyscape. It will become readily apparant if the text is duplicated word for word. Mods can use the link at their discretion.

Automated posting bots leave a unique footprint. The post is made in X amount of seconds. Modding the board to 'flag' quick posts should not be hard to do. After all, there is flood control for X amount of posts per time period. The flag will be visible to your Mods only, and they can take action as needed depending how low you set the threshold.

Then there are the posters who start a topic, but never respond afterwards. Meanwhile days go by and several responses from the members, and still no show from the original poster. These can be flagged as well.

I am in agreement with forum spam being an occupational hazard here, but catching it sooner should be your priority.

Ron.