Bandwidth

[eighthobstruction]

Boom Boom

[doversoul1]

Isn’t there any way of screening or blocking those spambots (I still don’t quite understand what they are)? And is this spambots problem related to the nature of some of the posts?

I remember something like the forum being ‘un-searchable’ mentioned when it first started. Is this a possible option?

[french frank]

More later on this. I had unexpected visitors and must now go to the Coop.

[Resurrection Man]

Isn’t there any way of screening or blocking those spambots (I still don’t quite understand what they are)? And is this spambots problem related to the nature of some of the posts?

I remember something like the forum being ‘un-searchable’ mentioned when it first started. Is this a possible option?

Unfortunately none that I am aware of. They behave (or try to behave) in the same way as you or I were we to join the forum. If you knew the IP address where the spambot was running from then you could block it but it probably still registers as traffic.

[Anna]

I remember something like the forum being ‘un-searchable’ mentioned when it first started. Is this a possible option?

I also remember this and then it was decided to allow SpamBots because increased hits meant this site would rise to the top of any google search, thereby encouraging people to find it, or have I got this wrong?

[french frank]

I also remember this and then it was decided to allow SpamBots because increased hits meant this site would rise to the top of any google search, thereby encouraging people to find it, or have I got this wrong?

RM's two replies are correct. It was 'search engines' rather than spambots that were allowed. If the forum can't be searched by google &c. it remains hidden and no one knows about it. We didn't - and don't really - want to go down the route of 'isolationism' relying on the odd link here or there to get new members. Since the BBC/Radio 3 refused us a link where it would really be beneficial, it was all the more necessary to remain open to the outside world. Ironic that we seem to have attracted oceans more listeners than them, with Facebook, blog and Twitter mainly used by themselves and vested interests.

I am wondering whether turning off automatic registration would help (people can still apply to join and be entered manually). The bots may find another page to hit, but the registration page is the one they've usually been programmed to go for, as in this case.

[Resurrection Man]

.....

I am wondering whether turning off automatic registration would help (people can still apply to join and be entered manually). The bots may find another page to hit, but the registration page is the one they've usually been programmed to go for, as in this case.

I guess it depends how the bandwidth is 'measured'. Even if you turn off automatic registration, the bots will still try to access the homepage/registration page which must register as bandwidth use, I would have thought? But I am no expert on this.

[Serial_Apologist]

I am wondering whether turning off automatic registration would help (people can still apply to join and be entered manually). The bots may find another page to hit, but the registration page is the one they've usually been programmed to go for, as in this case.

That would be an additional heavy burden on you, surely, ff?

[french frank]

Isn’t there any way of screening or blocking those spambots (I still don’t quite understand what they are)?

'Bots' are robots, effectively programmed to act like individual people, but in the case of 'spambots' they can be released in their hundreds of thousands to get in wherever they can and post (usually) some sort of commercial link.That's why forums have email verification and either an image recognition or question test to check that those trying to register are 'real people'.

It's certainly true that if we had many fewer active members posting daily (we have about 10,000 posts per month) we would probably attract fewer spambots (there are some bots e.g. search engines that are quite harmless and they should be programmed to 'obey' the rules). As far as Alphabet Associations is concerned, we should have to curb the number of current postings, not delete old posts.

[french frank]

That would be an additional heavy burden on you, surely, ff?

Not at the moment since the 'rush' has died down. We would have to offer free choccie bars to get people raring to join

That said, there is a steady trickle which only increases when we're mentioned in the press or something. Which since we don't go out of our way to court the press only happens by accident