Signing up as a new user on the forum

[Christel]

Due to a copious amount of spammers signing up on the forum I have disabled the ability to sign up as a new user.

This will be reinstated as soon as I figure out a way to deny the spammers signing up.

More info to follow.

[spud]

try using the coppa system c.

[Christel]

Spud, do you mean Captcha?

[alan108]

Just a suggestion, how about new members have to be on the recommendation of existing members?

i'll get me hat and coat

Alan

[Robin128]

Which existing members did you have in mind?...I'll get my coat!

[Polchraine]

Christel,

How about allowing sign ups but they can only read the normal forums - not GOM, Jokes and any others in that category. They can then only post in "A new members forum" with a specific "please can I join the forum post", but still exclude them (as originally started) from GOM &c until they are showing themselves to be sensible. Once a day, access that forum and decide who will be allowed in, and delete all other posts and users.

[Christel]

Polchraine,

The forum has a problem with spammers signing up, some 20 odd a day lately.
They never actually reach the board because they get deleted in the abyss, all new users are approved by me before they are allowed on the board.

Access to GOM, Jokes and For Sale are for members only, all members.

[ovenpaa]

Spotting spammers is an art form but very quickly mastered, however it is time consuming to do the checking as well. We used to run a CAPTCHA system but that is easily defeated by spammers hence the move to admin approved entry only. The issues start when you see 20-30 new entries each day and they have to be deleted manually.

[Christel]

We are still using the CAPTCHA system at sign up, just that in addition to that all new users are being approved before access to the board, to prevent spammers free access.

[Dougan]

but still exclude them (as originally started) from GOM &c until they are showing themselves to be sensible

That would be like lambs to the slaughter :shock: Surely you'd wait until they stand their ground in a good slagging match, before throwing them in... :P