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  • Spam Attacks

    Hi...

    Thanks to everyone who reported one of the dozens of spam attacks from today. I'm sure we haven't seen the end of them yet. When you see something that doesn't have to do with scoliosis, you can safely assume that it's spam. PLEASE do not click on any links in those messages.

    Also, it's taking me a lot of time to delete all the posts and threads. I'd like to urge everyone to respond to previous threads whenever possible, instead of starting a new thread every day. It's easier for me to spot the bad stuff when there are fewer new threads. In case you don't know, you can easily do a search on your own ID to come up with your previous threads. If you need specific instructions on how to do that, let me know. Thanks for your consideration.

    Regards,
    Linda
    Never argue with an idiot. They always drag you down to their level, and then they beat you with experience. --Twain
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Surgery 2/10/93 A/P fusion T4-L3
    Surgery 1/20/11 A/P fusion L2-sacrum w/pelvic fixation

  • #2
    I wonder how all these spammers got on here yesterday anyway b/c I know when I signed up it took me several days for my account to be approved and that was after I contacted J.O. b/c I could read but not post and I had lots of questions. Do you have the option to delete their accounts? Zap them gone? I HATE spammers... so bloody RUDE!! Anyway, I feel for you Linda having to go through all this trash. I'm sure you have much more important and better things to do with your time.
    Son 14 y/o diagnosed January 20th. 2011 with 110* Curve
    Halo Traction & 1st. surgery on March 22nd. 2011
    Spinal Fusion on April 19th. 2011

    Dr. Krajbich @ Shriners Childrens Hospital, Portland Oregon



    http://tinyurl.com/Elias-Before
    http://tinyurl.com/Elias-After

    Comment


    • #3
      Thanks Elisa. I'm waiting for Joe to respond to a few emails I sent yesterday. The attacks have slowed down. That could be because it's the middle of the night wherever they're being generated, or because Joe did something about it.
      Never argue with an idiot. They always drag you down to their level, and then they beat you with experience. --Twain
      ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Surgery 2/10/93 A/P fusion T4-L3
      Surgery 1/20/11 A/P fusion L2-sacrum w/pelvic fixation

      Comment


      • #4
        Thanks Linda
        Melissa

        Fused from C2 - sacrum 7/2011

        April 21, 2020- another broken rod surgery

        Comment


        • #5
          I've been doing a little reading up on spam attacks on message boards so I could understand it better myself. Thought this was good from Wiki.
          -----------------

          "Most forum spam consists of links to external sites, with the dual goals of increasing search engine visibility in highly competitive areas such as weight loss, pharmaceuticals, gambling, pornography, real estate or loans, and generating more traffic for these commercial websites. Some of these links contain code to track the spambot's identity if a sale goes through, when the spammer behind the spambot works on commission.

          Spam posts may contain anything from a single link, to dozens of links. Text content is minimal, usually innocuous and unrelated to the forum's topic, or in a very old thread that is revived by the spammer solely for the purpose of spamming links. Some text is included to prevent the post being caught by automated spam filters that prevent posts which consist solely of external links from being submitted. Full banner advertisements have also been reported.[by whom?]

          Alternately, the spam links are posted in the user's signature, in which case the spambot will never post. The link sits quietly in the signature field, where it is more likely to be harvested by search engine spiders than discovered by forum administrators and moderators.

          Since November 2006, a very destructive forum and wiki spam attack has been propagated by inserting into comments redirect domains with an automated posting script like XRumer. These domains redirect a user to pornographic websites. If a user clicks on the image or attempts to close the Website an ActiveX codec will be downloaded as a Zlob Trojan. The spambot can often bypass many of the safeguards administrators use to reduce the amount of spam posted."
          ---------------------
          I'm still not sure HOW they get on this site though b/c it seems they are not 'new members' who have to be approved, they just appear somehow. Still annoying as hell and I wish I could 'kill' them all. Their ability to spam that is, not them personally. Then again. ;-)
          Son 14 y/o diagnosed January 20th. 2011 with 110* Curve
          Halo Traction & 1st. surgery on March 22nd. 2011
          Spinal Fusion on April 19th. 2011

          Dr. Krajbich @ Shriners Childrens Hospital, Portland Oregon



          http://tinyurl.com/Elias-Before
          http://tinyurl.com/Elias-After

          Comment


          • #6
            Thank you for your efforts. These posts seem so senseless, there are not even links in them, just random. I do see them being approved as members. When I looked today we were welcoming some new member who clearly was a spammer by the nature of the username. It's pretty apparent. That's not a criticism, I know we don't want to throw up obstacles to people who are genuinely trying to join. I'm not web savvy enough to know how to handle it.
            mamandcrm

            G diagnosed 6/08 at almost 7 with 25*
            Providence night brace, increased to 35*
            Rigo-Cheneau brace full-time 12/08-4/10
            14* at 10/09 OOB x-ray
            11* at 4/10 OOB x-ray
            Wearing R-C part-time since 4/10
            latest OOB xray 5/14 13*
            currently going on 13 yrs old

            I no longer participate in this forum though I will update signature from time to time with status

            Comment


            • #7
              Originally posted by mamandcrm View Post
              Thank you for your efforts. These posts seem so senseless, there are not even links in them, just random. I do see them being approved as members. When I looked today we were welcoming some new member who clearly was a spammer by the nature of the username. It's pretty apparent. That's not a criticism, I know we don't want to throw up obstacles to people who are genuinely trying to join. I'm not web savvy enough to know how to handle it.
              My understanding is that spammers recently discovered a loophole in the code for vBulletin, that allowed them to become members without going through the standard approval process. Joe O'Brien is working with the vBulletin folks to get this resolved. They're trying to figure out a way to plug the loophole without slowing down the new member approval process.

              There actually were links in all of the messages. They were just fairly well disguised.

              I think all of the spam messages are gone. Please let me know if you see more.

              Thanks.

              --Linda
              Never argue with an idiot. They always drag you down to their level, and then they beat you with experience. --Twain
              ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              Surgery 2/10/93 A/P fusion T4-L3
              Surgery 1/20/11 A/P fusion L2-sacrum w/pelvic fixation

              Comment


              • #8
                Looks like there are a bunch more...what a waste of everyone's time!
                mamandcrm

                G diagnosed 6/08 at almost 7 with 25*
                Providence night brace, increased to 35*
                Rigo-Cheneau brace full-time 12/08-4/10
                14* at 10/09 OOB x-ray
                11* at 4/10 OOB x-ray
                Wearing R-C part-time since 4/10
                latest OOB xray 5/14 13*
                currently going on 13 yrs old

                I no longer participate in this forum though I will update signature from time to time with status

                Comment


                • #9
                  yup...more...
                  one for "russian "brides"
                  really ridiculous!

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    They're definitely finding a way past the usual approval method. I wish I were more knowledgeable about this type of thing. Hope Joe O finds a way to keep these scumbags from spewing their garbage.
                    Son 14 y/o diagnosed January 20th. 2011 with 110* Curve
                    Halo Traction & 1st. surgery on March 22nd. 2011
                    Spinal Fusion on April 19th. 2011

                    Dr. Krajbich @ Shriners Childrens Hospital, Portland Oregon



                    http://tinyurl.com/Elias-Before
                    http://tinyurl.com/Elias-After

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      i wrote to the Ugg REAL manufacturers to let them know these fake disgusting
                      ads are annoying everyone at this forum, and i sent them a copy of one of the spam posts...
                      i am sure the Ugg company does not want this stuff out there and bothering forum members...
                      these people are disgusting horrible humans...who knows how many inappropriate
                      internet sites they are putting up these ads..
                      not realizing they alienate all who read them!!
                      i am sure the real Ugg company does not want this happening!
                      i got an automatic response that they will respond to my complaint....
                      Last edited by jrnyc; 10-02-2011, 10:16 AM.

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Thanks Jess. I don't think it's actually Ugg, or any other legitimate company, behind the attacks. I'm so tired of having to spend up to a few hours every day deleting all the "spam".
                        Never argue with an idiot. They always drag you down to their level, and then they beat you with experience. --Twain
                        ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                        Surgery 2/10/93 A/P fusion T4-L3
                        Surgery 1/20/11 A/P fusion L2-sacrum w/pelvic fixation

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Is Joe O getting any closer to figuring out a way to get rid of the spammers?
                          Son 14 y/o diagnosed January 20th. 2011 with 110* Curve
                          Halo Traction & 1st. surgery on March 22nd. 2011
                          Spinal Fusion on April 19th. 2011

                          Dr. Krajbich @ Shriners Childrens Hospital, Portland Oregon



                          http://tinyurl.com/Elias-Before
                          http://tinyurl.com/Elias-After

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Don't know. The last I heard, Tonibunny had some tips that he's looking at.
                            Never argue with an idiot. They always drag you down to their level, and then they beat you with experience. --Twain
                            ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                            Surgery 2/10/93 A/P fusion T4-L3
                            Surgery 1/20/11 A/P fusion L2-sacrum w/pelvic fixation

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              hi Linda
                              oh, i know it is not the real Ugg company...it is some counterfeiter or such...
                              but i thought Ugg (the real guys) might want to go after these people who are giving
                              their company a bad name by annoying people and illegally spamming all over the place...
                              who knows how many other forums these creeps are joining to advertise their (probably)
                              fake clothing and shoes, window coverings, pharmaceuticals, etc...?! there are just so
                              many different things being advertised...i keep wondering if all the spam is coming from
                              the same source.

                              i am so sorry you and Joe have to deal with all the spammers attacking the forum!
                              thanks for all you both do!

                              jess

                              Comment

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