We've been invaded...

[Mattorious]

I feel like this is appropriate

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=anwy2MPT5RE

Seriously though, these spambots are getting annoying, are there any plans at the moment to take them out?

[Justin C]

All it usually takes to stop them is a captcha on the registration page.

[skullywag]

Nope captchas are pretty much all but cracked by bots now, not a lot you can do bar keep your house tidy.

[Justin C]

Nope captchas are pretty much all but cracked by bots now, not a lot you can do bar keep your house tidy.

Only the simplest captchas can be cracked by bots. Ones with little distortion and background noise. Also captchas are constantly evolving as the captcha crackers get more sophisticated. There are plenty of captcha services available now that require complex user input in order to work.

Adding a captcha will at least cut down on the bot spam even if it isn't able to stop all of them.

[ItchyFlea]

Seriously though, these spambots are getting annoying, are there any plans at the moment to take them out?

I tried that once. This was the result.
All that needs to be done is report and move on.

Also, to those that do it: Please stop replying to the threads the bots create. I wouldn't be surprised if the bots are somehow monitoring to see if their posts get any replies, and as such are coming back with new accounts to annoy us further.

[StorymasterQ]

Seriously though, these spambots are getting annoying, are there any plans at the moment to take them out?

I tried that once. This was the result.
All that needs to be done is report and move on.

Also, to those that do it: Please stop replying to the threads the bots create. I wouldn't be surprised if the bots are somehow monitoring to see if their posts get any replies, and as such are coming back with new accounts to annoy us further.

Awww, really? Shame on me, then. Have to admit that I like replying them bots... Alright, I'll look for something else to occupy my time.

Wait, I'm at work. I should work. Yes, work. And by work I mean nap.

[Coenmcj]

What would the opinion be on an IP Ban?

I know it runs the risk of potentially banning a public location, but I doubt someone who runs a spam-bot is going to do so at the local cafe.

Edit ; But then again, spammers are curious critters... who knows how they think or operate...

[Justin C]

What would the opinion be on an IP Ban?

I know it runs the risk of potentially banning a public location, but I doubt someone who runs a spam-bot is going to do so at the local cafe.

Edit ; But then again, spammers are curious critters... who knows how they think or operate...

IP bans are almost always a bad idea.

It wouldn't work anyway. Bots will all likely be using a pool of proxies that is refreshed frequently.

[Coenmcj]

That is true, Depends on how dedicated he/she/Skynet is.

I suppose there's also some form of SFM Mod that requires moderator approval on posts up until they've done 1 or 2 Legitimate posts/threads or something? seeing as how our spambot friend tends to only get one out before he/she is disposed of by Itchyflea.
But as with any form of anti-anything, this has it's drawbacks aswell.

[ItchyFlea]

I've been taking note of the IP addresses of the bots. None of the bots have used the same address twice.

[RayvenQ]

I always report them when I see them, hell, sometimes I even browse around looking for spam bot posts to report them. Usually pretty good at guessing which ones are the spambots. Must be the Ex Moderator in me making me look for them on purpose 

Then again, the forum I used to help moderate was immense compared to this one, although for a while I was also a mod for a certain indie rocket game too, which again was slightly larger than this one.

I suppose a website/game specific Captcha sort of question could help out in slowing down the bots, something like "Type the name of the game, backwards."

[Justin C]

I suppose a website/game specific Captcha sort of question could help out in slowing down the bots, something like "Type the name of the game, backwards."

The register page already has something like that. The problem with that is it only works until the bot is told how to get past it. What Ludeon.com has is so simple that I could write a bot that can register new accounts on these forums in less than an hour.

Seriously, a captcha is the solution. Even if a captcha can't stop all of the bots, there's no reason not to use one to stop most of them.

[Kagemusha]

Just report 'em and ignore 'em.
ItchyFlea is doing a stellar job of getting rid of them and it will be an interesting experiment to see if they diminish if ignored.

I for one also find it greatly tempting to reply to the bots in humerous ways. I shall refrain henceforth.

[ItchyFlea]

ItchyFlea is doing a stellar job of getting rid of them

There are several other moderators who have also been taking care of the bots when they post.
While I'd like to take all the credit, it wouldn't be honest of me.

As for the replying to them, even I've been tempted to do it, so I don't blame anybody for actually doing so.

[Justin C]

As for the replying to them, even I've been tempted to do it, so I don't blame anybody for actually doing so.

I'm sure it wouldn't make a difference. It would use more resources for a bot to monitor posts for views and replies than it would to just keep spamming boards without worrying about it.