No More Attachments

[svero]

I've turned off the ability for users to post attachments. Going forward screenshots, art samples etc.. will have to be linked to.

Why?

Basically because we've been getting an increasing number of spam attacks, with some of the spammers posting objectionable material. When they started posting ads for underage porn etc,... I felt it might end up being a liability issue for us. Also I don't want to have to rush to the board and delete porn spam all the time.

[Jack Norton]

That was a good move IMHO. Not a problem for any serious dev to link screens from their site.

[Spore Man]

How were they able to do this with the 7 day waiting period?

[zoombapup]

How about a compromise, how about having a user group "can post images", that takes an mod to grant. That way people can still post images if we already know em.

That way, you simply block anyone who isnt known from posting. I guess it does add a little bit of a burden to mods. Ok. forget I said anything

[Gary Preston]

You could always give everyone with the Indie-author badge the ability to post attachments. I assume you're already moderating that, so it should't be much of an extra burdon?

Also, for those that qualify for the Indie-author badge but for whatever reason do not want it, they can just request permission to be added to the "attachments" group if they want.

Hopefully that wouldn't add too much extra work for the admins and people are able to use attachments if needed. Not that linking to images off site will be much of a problem for most on here, it's just that attachments do tend to survive server spring cleans

Assuming people have been using them?

[oNyx]

How about a compromise, how about having a user group "can post images", that takes an mod to grant. That way people can still post images if we already know em.[...]

Images itself weren't disabled globally (it's only allowed for a few sub forums, mind you). Just the ability to attach them to posts (=uploading to this server) was removed.

>You could always give everyone with the Indie-author badge
>the ability to post attachments.

Nah... what for? Everyone got some web space, right?

[Applewood]

Heh, apart from the kiddie porn sickness, please feel free to let the rest through - might brighten up a dull day

Seriously though, it'd be a shame to lose some sort attachmenting. Everyone has some webspace but a lot of the time ppl just want to show a quick screenie and the hassle of uploading it properly might put em off.

I liked the badge=can attach idea if it wouldn't be too much inconvenience - it would give the neighsayers a reason for their existence too

Either way though, you guys are doing a bang up job so I'll not say anymore on this subject, except a big thanks for what you're doing already.

[Bad Sector]

If you really really cant be bothered to upload to your site, use ImageShack. It even gives you the code in various forum formats, if you're lazy enough to type it by yourself :-P. Its used by many forum people and its around since years (and images tend to be available for 1-2 years since they're posted) so its pretty safe for quick shots.

No i'm not an ImageShack advertiser :-). But in todays internet, the easiest thing is to put a couple of images quickly for public view :-).

[svero]

How were they able to do this with the 7 day waiting period?

Its 48hrs now. But sadly they're willing to wait, confirm etc.. The spam bot apps can do it all.

[zoombapup]

Is there a vBulletin option to only allow image posts by people who have posted > X number of "normal" posts?

That way you'd have to get some activity level before you could post an image. Lets say you have to have made 50 posts before you go into the "can post image" group.

Then any spammers will posts some spam, get banned way before 50 useful posts are made.

[Frozen In Ice]

Just out of curiosity Steve, according to the lower part of the screen it states you are running v3.6.0 I noticed 3.7.0 is available and a patch to bring it up to 3.7.1

Maybe the upgrade would help with some of the spam problems?

[Reactor]

Another option (if possible) is to have the user pass one of the, "type in these letters" checkpoints before a post can be made with images.

Anyhow, thanks to all the mods for their hard work. It's appreciated.

[svero]

We'll upgrade but the problems are beyond that. Anything a normal user can do a spammer can do. The "type in the letters" stuff doesn't help. Spambots are using sophisticated OCR nowdays to get by those.

[svero]

FYI Im not really looking for alternate solutions. I've never been a big fan of attachments anyway so I'm happy to remove them even though there seems to be some desire for them. I just want the forums to be as maintenance free as possible. It's a shame about the bad apples out there ruining it for everyone.

[zoombapup]

Yeah, i got that feeling Steve, its not really something I care much about, I'm just one for offering alternatives (must come from the lecturing gig).

The easiest solution works

[Frozen In Ice]

Okay Steve, it was just a thought. One must do what they feel is necessary and it seems to be a good decision.

[Mattias Gustavsson]

I just want the forums to be as maintenance free as possible.

I'm sure it wouldn't be a problem finding volunteers to help out with maintenance...

[oNyx]

"type in the letters"=CAPTCHA (Completely Automated Public Turing test to tell Computers and Humans Apart)

Drop-in solutions usually don't help that much, because they are too common. What does help are custom traps - even if they are very simple.

[svero]

I'm sure it wouldn't be a problem finding volunteers to help out with maintenance...

Well there are a number of mods helping out. It's not like I have to come here and personally address each piece of spam, but I'd rather they didn't have the option to post those images in the first place.

The mods are doing a fine job btw. You guys won't/shouldn't see the spam most of the time, but when I log in it's not uncommon to see a number of deleted threads. (mods and admins can see the threads that were removed)

[Tertsi]

"type in the letters"=CAPTCHA (Completely Automated Public Turing test to tell Computers and Humans Apart)

Drop-in solutions usually don't help that much, because they are too common. What does help are custom traps - even if they are very simple.

That's very true, you can even do something like "What's this site's name?" radio option.. "Indie Gamer" "Not this" "Nor this" and not this selected by default. That has worked wonders for me and much better than some default captcha. I don't know if vbulletin is open source though so you might not be able to change the captcha like that...