Hi Guys
Because this site is so popular we have had an increasing problem with spam registrations as well as spam comments on posts. I’m struggling to keep up with comments from spam bots, and the filter is doing an excellent job of taking out about 95% of spam comments. However, the spammers are very clever and they are registering in huge numbers on the site. Some days I get over 100 – 150 registrations on the site and about 90% of them are from spammers. We receive more than 1200 spam comments every two days (this is when I delete them).
Consequently, Christian and I have decided to suspend new registrations for about a month to give us an opportunity to delete those registrations we consider to be from spam bots. We may delete a few legitimate registrations during this process and I apologise in advance, but you will still be able to leave comments. This step could mean that there may be a delay in a few comments appearing on posts as I will have to spend more time actually checking comments in “pending” or “moderation” and releasing the legitimate ones. I will give a bit of leeway in keeping the “free” books open for a few hours longer because those posts are time sensitive.
You can help us recognize your registration (if you are registered) as a legitimate one by providing some additional information in your user profile. Spam registrations in almost all cases only contain the E-mail and the
username, so by leaving a first name or a last name (you don’t have to enter your real ones, just insert your nickname or your initials) or maybe an “About yourself” information you’ll help us identify your registration as legitimate and that you are a real person. I don’t want to use word verification on this site because I find it a pain in the rear end when I have to use it on other sites. Invariably I can’t recognize a word or a letter because the print quality is so poor, and I have to do it all over again several times; in the end I just give up and don’t leave a comment.
Believe me, I don’t want to suspend new registrations but this is necessary in view of our almost overwhelming problem. This is a temporary measure and we hope to reopen registrations in about a month, at which time we will try to keep ahead of the spammers.
Hi Wave, I don’t think I ever registered. I just go to the “leave a reply” box and put in my name and email.
How do I register or should I wait now until you fix all the bugs?
Signed-Ignorant semi-lurker
Hi Hope
Christian has already closed off the registrations. I’ll do a post to let everyone know when we’re back up and running. There’s no problem leaving comments – registration is strictly voluntary. 🙂
I sympathize completely. No more traffic than I get at my site I have 25 or 30 bot comments a day. It’s so frustrating. I hope you get it cleared up and can find a solution soon!
Hi Diane
It is really annoying and time consuming to “search and destroy” the comments. they are insidious and sometimes, if they escape Askimet, they can’t be tracked.
It is the world in which we live – we will just have to figure out a way to beat them.
Spam is the most annoying thing on the internet. That and virus.
I’m not sure if I’m registered or not. Guess I’ll have to see when it comes back up again. ^^
I just checked and the reply was “no matching users found.”
I’m hoping that these spam bots will look for other places but the problem is that the site is too visible.
How awful that spammers are making things so painful. I’ve not registered either (at least I don’t remember doing it), but if it helps out with weeding out spam-asses, then I’ll do it once you have opened things up again. I am very grateful that you don’t make us do the captcha thing. I’m like you, sometimes I have to try 3 or 4 times to figure out the letters, which is really frustrating.
Hi Susan
I would not subject any of the people who come here to word verification. I hate it when I have to use it on other sites so you will never have to use it here, unless the spam problem gets so bad I have no option. 🙁
wave- I agree with Susan and Hope.. Always have problems with those word verifications on sites. But, I understand regarding the spam.. what a pain.. will understand if you feel need to add- hope not :)pretty sure I registered though.. not much on profile, maybe I better add more ??
Hu Duhaunt
Word verification would be my last resort because I can’t read the darn things. If there’s somethng on your profile don’t worry. We’re only after the spam bots and most of them are easy to spot.
Ditto to what Hope said. :-/
Don’t worry about it Aisha. You can register, or not, when the registration re-opens.
I’m registered, but I don’t think I’ve logged in twice since that happened. This will not make much difference for the regular users, but it will surely help you get rid of the pests spammers and bots. 🙂
Lady M
I’m hoping that with a few changes the spammers will seek greener pastures and leave us alone
I have to lift my head up to angle my bifocals so I can read that jumbled mass of letters. And lean forward toward the monitor. And I’m always trying to sound out the word when it isn’t a word at all.
My profile is fleshed out, but if you and Christian do delete it, well, I’ll figure out some sort of retribution. grin
Thank God for Christian or you would be pulling your hair out Wave.
With success comes attention and not all of it good.
We would never dare delete your registration John. Christian likes you; the jury is still out for me but it’s leaning toward ‘like.’
Your eyes are that bad? Well mine are probably worse which is why I won’t have word verification here because I’ll never get it righjt and therefore won’t be able to comment. lol
I keep asking who are the two guys in the picture and you’ve been ignoring me. 🙂
Wow, so sorry to hear about that cr*p. Are they just making trouble for the sake of it, I spose?
I don’t know *what* I “dipped” in to but for for 2-3 months, I was getting 40-50 porn e-mails a day. I didn’t open cuz I was afraid of possible viruses but it was really, really aggravating.
Like a lot of the other commenters, I don’t know that I ever officially registered but it obviously hasn’t prevented me from enjoying your site! 😀
It’s amazing how many penis extenders they try to sell me. 🙂 I wonder if I should send the address to a few guys. :)Kidding!!!
I really understand. I had to close a professional site I had because it was hacked and someone had embedded a “pharmacy” into my site.
You’re penis extender ads are about as useful to you as the ones I get promising me that I can satisfy my woman better. 🙂
Jeffrey
You just made my day. lol. I never thought of this from your perspective. I’m still breaking up laughing. 🙂
Hi Wave,
Not sure if I’m registered or not either….I think I am cause when I go to a different computer I have to sign in but that’s through gmail. But I totally agree about word verification, I can never read them! *lol* It always takes me at least twice to get into wherever I’m wanting to go. Good luck battling the spambots!
It doesn’t matter whether or not you’re registered. That is strictly up to the individual but I think if you had to sign in through WordPress you’re probably registered.
No word verification here – I can’t read the damn words or letters so why whould I put my guests through something I abhor??
It is a battle and I know we won’t win, but if we can contain it that’s all I ask.
Both my husband and I got SPAM from the same Russian girl-THREESOME! LOL. I understand your pain! Here’s hoping things improve for you soon.
Wow Kathy – that would be a night or weekend to remember. Although you would probably be awfully tired the next day. 🙂
Things are improving already. The spam is down and there are no new suspicious registrations, so I’m very happy. I don’t know what Christian did but it’s working.