[Coco] Smart subscription bots

[Dave Kelly]

Rob Rosenbrock wrote:
> Or, perhaps, a coco related question?
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: "Paul Fitch" <pfitchjr at bellsouth.net>
> To: "'CoCoList for Color Computer Enthusiasts'" <coco at maltedmedia.com>
> Sent: 6/21/09 5:08 PM
> Subject: Re: [Coco] Smart subscription bots
> 
> Are humans involved in any portion of the fake subscription process?  Ie,
> would the bots be able to pass the "please enter the numbers you see in the
> box above" test?
> 
> 
> 
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: coco-bounces at maltedmedia.com 
>> [mailto:coco-bounces at maltedmedia.com] On Behalf Of Dennis 
>> Bathory-Kitsz
>> Sent: Sunday, June 21, 2009 7:13 AM
>> To: cocoList for Color Computer Enthusiasts
>> Subject: [Coco] Smart subscription bots
>>
>> Hi all,
>>
>> We've had an uptick in fake subcription requests in multiple 
>> lists and sites than I manage. Usually these could be 
>> filtered out because the robots wouldn't put in a real name. 
>> But now they are coming with the full form filled in -- the 
>> past three requests to the CoCo list have been bogus.
>>
>> So assistant admins please do not subscribe anyone 
>> immediately anymore. Check if their name and email plus 
>> "color computer" or "coco" or "trs-80" or "tandy" come up in 
>> a search. That will give you some reassurance that the 
>> subscriber is real.
>>
>> If you have any doubt, reject the request with a brief note 
>> about new smart bots and that they should contact the admin 
>> with a line or two about their CoCo interests. I'll get the 
>> followup email if they're real.
>>
>> Thanks,
>> Dennis
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Country Stores book!
>> <http://www.amazon.com/Country-Stores-Vermont-Dennis-Bathory-k
>> itsz/dp/1596294752/>
>> Bathory Opera libretto!
>> <http://www.lulu.com/content/5649281>
>> "We Are All Mozart"
>> <http://maltedmedia.com/waam/>
>>
>>
>> --
>> Coco mailing list
>> Coco at maltedmedia.com
>> http://five.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/coco
>>
> 
> 
> --
> Coco mailing list
> Coco at maltedmedia.com
> http://five.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/coco
> 
> 
> 
> --
> Coco mailing list
> Coco at maltedmedia.com
> http://five.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/coco
> 
Yes they would if they know what to look for. That information has to 
stay in memory until it is compared.

Best bet would be to approve everyone. Put a message somewhere telling 
applicants to email you with user name. Then to a whois and a traceroute.

I get about 40 to 60 request per day. Only 1 or 2 even look like they 
are ligitiment and most of those turn out to be from Canada or the 
British Virgin Islands.

Question I  have...
I use SMF for my forum software. If you find my website on the web   you 
will get an address to several pages of HTML. In that group is a 
navigation menu.

The link to the forum software on the server is only accessible via a 
link to a directory on the server.

Are the spam message inserted at the server level or on the internet wire?

Dave

-- 
I was with my children at the moment of their breath.
I stood by my father at the moment of his death.
I stand by you at this moment, forever.