DIGITAL_DEVIL_DATABASE Community Forum

Sometime last week I removed several accounts that were obvious bots. I was going by screen names however. I think probably email addresses are better indicators. If anyone would like to help by dredging the member list for potential bots you can do that here.

Just compile a list of account names in this thread that you think are bots, and I'll check them all out and delete them if I concur.

You can just hover your mouse over the envelope icons on the MEMBERS page to quickly survey addresses.

Isn't this haphazard?  Cleaning out members just because of conspicuous usernames?

No. If they have no posts, no reason not to delete. If they do the posts will look like spam. The bots couldn't be more obvious anyways.

AaronKylie, actaeonreich, accegeranty, Aidersils, AkaaaMA, altosburg, aludderry, Amevapepheple, ammafox, amoulmoky, angelinaforest, aniityberg, anzle, AppeveKag, Apsdydrr, Aquamarine, Archetype, Arebtelile, arielaynes, Aritrariknorn, arrigueattino, AssorbPot, Atma Beelze, Battistax, BenStiller, BianiaMiz, BitteriBere, Blackowl, BlermaBloon, Blue Nocturne, BolfZoonirl, Bossss, Bosylyloarp, boxsiki, Brand, Bubblejest, byzantiumherrick, Careandhealth, cartooningolik, caseferter, CawayCher, Ceapsussy, Cernphini, cheefeque, Cheerio, ChocolateBoss, ChristmasTree, Christoff, Chubbee, clasicalia, CloudedLeopard, cmgp, Combustion, comfyunderwear3, Crimson Cloud, Cure, curixmann, daulaplume, Dave3, derrekmerilee, dethsyth, Diablo, diakjaipt, DragoonKnight, encogeody, Enhantchailia, fenescaste, FukaDaho, Gantz, gluckmeea, groorwals, gwenorepo, Gyndddeckss, Hepexpirm, hienue, Hildebeast, HunterM, Hyegun, Izanami, Jackie, jackjak, jastinavraham, Jim2Ryu, Jollielips, Juditte, Juliostim, JustLuke, kastanne, kati- chan, khell, kiliboa, kimdetr, Kusiga, Kuziaaaa, lajaboy, lashitlelib, Leena, leingod20xx, liedlyawalinA, Lindmannnn, lineary, lisaliu, Loattastylyea, Longisthenight, Magatama, mai-ne139, majin, Marakasa, MariaPushkova, MarzPan, megaten_freak, Methhbbr, MibUndinsJund, Mioki, Miravana, MrsBruks, mrsfioricet, namanaj, namatamiku, Neverdone, NikaragyaBoy, Nikhold, Niniziffuct, nnfgcvxn, Noirtier, OneceAnnok, Oscimismaro, other_self, Over Yazmat, Patdread, pedrucho, PetrKracnov, Phanom Curse, Pitbull, PltnmNgl, Prinny, prodidienru, Prons, Qomhogns, rallFaupe, RaspberryJesus, Raven, RazorLee, RedNinja, redstuff, RetweablePere, rxndom, Sacreddragon, Samurai, sankukai, sarahoc, Semains, Seymour, Shazzner, Sheeftodo, sheereegoliath, shohobanvarsd, SilentProtagonist, Sillytrumv, Sin_Angel, slehiruse, SMT_Dante, soartodemeelt, sogsLouse, Spectator, Spongebob, spowswew, SssesMorrr, Subjeajeria, SupertraxunB, tactical13, TamaraZubrova, thailover, theshiek, Thundergod, Thunderzee, Trisk, typhonghanaian, upshegoes29, Utterosulse, Uzume, valkyrie, Velvet_Underground, Victor, Victor Stillwater,     ViktorNosov, violetpoof, Welce, whipstish, wiki_test, WilliamK, Wiseman, Yomoghiz.

These people only registered, they never posted, and they don't have avatars. I'm sure that there is much collateral damage, but everyone can visit DDDB and read the forums without registering. I'm sure there won't be any complains.

All of these names appear to be legitimate more or less. Sarcasm aside, these users will be integral when I send out the newsletter announcing the rebirth of the bbs.

An example of a bot is AkaaaMA. I missed this one by name, but their mail address is ma@shopforbestmortgage.com.

Technically could be ma just works for a legitimate company and uses a work address for social forums, but they'll be deleted anyhow because their name/address is lame, and there are no legitimate posts.

I recommend perhaps refining this list against this criteria. 90% or more of it appears obviously legit.

Aidersils, aludderry, Amevapepheple, angelinaforest, aniityberg, arrigueattino, BianiaMiz, BolfZoonirl, Bossss, Bosylyloarp, ChocolateBoss, daulaplume, Hildebeast, MariaPushkova, NikaragyaBoy, nnfgcvxn, PetrKracnov, rallFaupe, RazorLee, rxndom, sarahoc, shohobanvarsd, sogsLouse, SupertraxunB, TamaraZubrova, ViktorNosov.

I don't know, check these again.

I will check all of these asap and make sure you get some karma for the trouble...

Wow, I must've deleted more than 100 bots in all.

I wonder how they all got in?? Perhaps Tony wasn't using any counter measures  :sweatdrop:

There really aren't any true countermeasures...  The best for now is a human check during the registration process.

Short of actual people registering bot accounts, there seems to be plenty ways to keep them out. I've never had a bot make it past character recognition in a forum. Even if automated it's too computationally expensive to warrant the sort of stuff these bots tend to do en-masse anyhow.

Frankly 99% of the bots seem to be virtually benign. You wonder what the hell people go thru all the trouble for if this is the best their bots can do once inside.