How can you limit the number of words submitted when people apply to the forum?

LeftBrain

I'm getting hit with a regular number of spammers who are attempting to register for the forum. While it's annoying to delete them every time, it isn't too bad.

But I wondered, is there some way I could reduce the number of characters they can submit when they fill in the box "Why do you want to join"? Right now spammers submit a half a page of text. If it could be limited to say 150 characters or so that would be plenty.

Todd

If you change the column size of GDN_User.DiscoveryText then the length should be enforced automatically. You'd have to write a plugin to make the change last past utility/updates though.

Here is how we prevent most spam registrations. This should work with any Vanilla 2.0.18 installation.

1. We use captcha registration. This blocks the spam bots.
2. We use the Stop Forum Spam Plugin. Anyone that gets through the captcha, but gets stopped by stop forum spam will be asked for the reason they want to join. This turns off a lot of spammers right away. Real people can be approved manually.

422

Why not assign new members to a new user group called pending

422

Doesn't your registration consist of , name email password gender and captcha ?

LeftBrain

No Captcha.

Todd

If you change the column size of GDN_User.DiscoveryText then the length should be enforced automatically. You'd have to write a plugin to make the change last past utility/updates though.

Here is how we prevent most spam registrations. This should work with any Vanilla 2.0.18 installation.

1. We use captcha registration. This blocks the spam bots.
2. We use the Stop Forum Spam Plugin. Anyone that gets through the captcha, but gets stopped by stop forum spam will be asked for the reason they want to join. This turns off a lot of spammers right away. Real people can be approved manually.

x00

Vanilla AntiSpam
has stopforumspam.com and Akismet options

luc

@Todd: open to a pull request to change it as a parameter, like Vanilla.Comment.MaxLength for instance?

In case 'approval': of Register from class.usermodel.php, right?

LeftBrain

Well, I would use a captcha but there is no option for someone to put in a captcha then be reviewed as to whether they have approval or not.

There is only Captcha = automatic approval

422

Why not assign new members to a new user group called pending

LeftBrain

Good idea.