Forum help, no idea what I am doing!

[Extra 300 Driver]

I run a forum, its really boring as its about Aircraft Warranties (told you). I know nothing about forums and how to control them, although I am trying to learn.

Anyway, lately I have had loads of people try and join that are of dubious background, there is e mail address is usually [e-mail] or something like that.

Do you have any suggestions how I can jazz it up a little and make it more secure??

You need a password to post on most of the boards, even to see them so I have secured it as much as possible,

www.iawa-online.com/forum

Thanks all

[percy flage]

I run one using vBulletin and in my experience there's not much you can do other than block rogue domains for registration purposes and moderate all new member applications. I get an email every time someone tries to rewgister and I go from there. If it's [e-mail] I'll delete the registrant and block the domain. If it's CharlieGoggins@btinternet I'll OK it. It's important for my site, because it's junior football related and having sex aids and porn spammed on the site upsets the natives.

If you expect to get loads of new members this approach may not work for you.......

Look in the admin CP for user banning options. You'll more than likely find various routes open to you.

The other issue you'll find is being bombarded with spam e-mail, but that's another story....

[jamesuk28]

I run several forums, and the spammers are just part and parcel of it. As long as you have "visual confirmation" enabled (to prevent spambots) and approve all new users yourself there is not a lot else you can really do.

[Plotloss]

Google for 'phpbb security'

There are loads and loads and loads of modifications and patches to secure a phpBB message board.

[timsta]

I ran phpbb for years, and often had issues with spammers. As suggested, look for a visual confirmation mod, that should slow them down.

I have since changed to SMF, and I haven't had a 'sex' spammer since. SMF also provide an upgrade path from phpbb.

Here's my forum: HunnyBeez

It's wrapped in a Joomla Component, but the forum section hasn't been changed at all.

Edited by timsta on Tuesday 1st May 16:54

[Scraggles]

never hurts to view the memberlist and wipe members like zhangqihui, looking at forums soon, if u can prevent hyperlinking it might help and have all new users personally approved by u

[philthy]

I used to get 20-30 spambots a day signing up. I tried various tricks to stop them, but they still got through.
Since then I have installed "textual confirmation"
www.phpbb.com/community/viewtopic.php?t=472940
I haven't had a single spam sign up since.
I've got other measures installed, but to be honest I don't think I need them.
My forum is www.skidvd.co.uk/forum if you need a demo. If you want to muck about testing/trying to register, feel free.
If you have any other questions, don't hesitate to ask. I spent a lot of effort stopping these parasites.
HTH

Edit to add: Visual confirmation didn't stop these bots, but now I have turned it off as the text confirmation works so well.

Edited by philthy on Wednesday 2nd May 07:47