Comments on: Killing Comment Spam the Pete Way http://peteashton.com/2005/01/killing_comment_spam_the_pete_way/ This is my blog. There are many like it, but this one is mine. Tue, 16 Mar 2010 17:06:50 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Pete Ashton http://peteashton.com/2005/01/killing_comment_spam_the_pete_way/comment-page-1/#comment-2568 Pete Ashton Thu, 03 Feb 2005 01:43:31 +0000 http://peteashton.com/2005/01/killing_comment_spam_the_pete_way/#comment-2568 First piece of Trackback spam appeared yesterday with another today. I notice on the bloggernet that others are attracting it too. since I don't use Trackback much if at all I might as well switch it off but it's a pisser for those who rely on it. First piece of Trackback spam appeared yesterday with another today. I notice on the bloggernet that others are attracting it too. since I don’t use Trackback much if at all I might as well switch it off but it’s a pisser for those who rely on it.

]]> By: Pete Ashton http://peteashton.com/2005/01/killing_comment_spam_the_pete_way/comment-page-1/#comment-2567 Pete Ashton Sun, 30 Jan 2005 20:10:46 +0000 http://peteashton.com/2005/01/killing_comment_spam_the_pete_way/#comment-2567 Had an email from someone who was prevented from commenting by DBSL despite coming from a (currently) legit IP, so since the renaming of the comments script is working I''ve removed the MT-DSBL plugin. We'll see what adverse effect this has. Had an email from someone who was prevented from commenting by DBSL despite coming from a (currently) legit IP, so since the renaming of the comments script is working I”ve removed the MT-DSBL plugin. We’ll see what adverse effect this has.

]]> By: Pete Ashton http://peteashton.com/2005/01/killing_comment_spam_the_pete_way/comment-page-1/#comment-2566 Pete Ashton Wed, 26 Jan 2005 23:51:31 +0000 http://peteashton.com/2005/01/killing_comment_spam_the_pete_way/#comment-2566 Okay, changing the mt-comments.cgi scripts name works. 12 spam comments in 24 hours. That's down from a good couple of hundred. Whether it's still working in a week remains to be seen. This is speculation, but I think I've eliminated the spammers who just hit the script indiscriminately and am only getting those who are "visiting" the page itself, which means they're going via google, which means they're not going to hit the more recent posts (see 3rd paragraph above). Okay, changing the mt-comments.cgi scripts name works. 12 spam comments in 24 hours. That’s down from a good couple of hundred. Whether it’s still working in a week remains to be seen.

This is speculation, but I think I’ve eliminated the spammers who just hit the script indiscriminately and am only getting those who are “visiting” the page itself, which means they’re going via google, which means they’re not going to hit the more recent posts (see 3rd paragraph above).

]]> By: Pete Ashton http://peteashton.com/2005/01/killing_comment_spam_the_pete_way/comment-page-1/#comment-2565 Pete Ashton Wed, 26 Jan 2005 04:53:56 +0000 http://peteashton.com/2005/01/killing_comment_spam_the_pete_way/#comment-2565 <a href="http://www.kahunaburger.com/blog/archives/000189.html" rel="nofollow">Spamassasin</a> seems too good to be true, which might explain why I haven't tried it. If the renaming trick fails (still holding up 5 hours later) I'll give it a go. Spamassasin seems too good to be true, which might explain why I haven’t tried it. If the renaming trick fails (still holding up 5 hours later) I’ll give it a go.

]]> By: Pete Ashton http://peteashton.com/2005/01/killing_comment_spam_the_pete_way/comment-page-1/#comment-2564 Pete Ashton Wed, 26 Jan 2005 04:02:17 +0000 http://peteashton.com/2005/01/killing_comment_spam_the_pete_way/#comment-2564 I'm going to use this comment thread to list my comment spam battles rather than clog up the blog itself with such triffles. Today I tried the "rename mt-comments.cgi" trick which I hadn't done before mainly because it seemed too simple. Three hours in and not one spam. Wow. Details a third of the way down <a href="http://www.elise.com/mt/archives/000246concerning_spam.php" rel="nofollow">this page</a> In the long term I'm sure it'll be compromised (if you view the source of the comments form it's in there) but it only took a minute to do, which is quicker than deleting spams held for moderation. I'm guessing that a rename every few days should do the trick. I’m going to use this comment thread to list my comment spam battles rather than clog up the blog itself with such triffles.

Today I tried the “rename mt-comments.cgi” trick which I hadn’t done before mainly because it seemed too simple.

Three hours in and not one spam.

Wow.

Details a third of the way down this page

In the long term I’m sure it’ll be compromised (if you view the source of the comments form it’s in there) but it only took a minute to do, which is quicker than deleting spams held for moderation. I’m guessing that a rename every few days should do the trick.

]]> By: Pete Ashton http://peteashton.com/2005/01/killing_comment_spam_the_pete_way/comment-page-1/#comment-2563 Pete Ashton Wed, 26 Jan 2005 00:53:40 +0000 http://peteashton.com/2005/01/killing_comment_spam_the_pete_way/#comment-2563 Okay, I've had two pieces of comment spam on my most recent entry in the last 24 hours. Now I've had hundreds of attempts to spam my in that time so two isn't terrible, but it's worse than none, and it's my most recent post. That ain't supposed to happen. Looks like the battle is shifting again. Cunts. Okay, I’ve had two pieces of comment spam on my most recent entry in the last 24 hours. Now I’ve had hundreds of attempts to spam my in that time so two isn’t terrible, but it’s worse than none, and it’s my most recent post. That ain’t supposed to happen. Looks like the battle is shifting again. Cunts.

]]> By: Reinder http://peteashton.com/2005/01/killing_comment_spam_the_pete_way/comment-page-1/#comment-2562 Reinder Mon, 24 Jan 2005 17:49:00 +0000 http://peteashton.com/2005/01/killing_comment_spam_the_pete_way/#comment-2562 It turns on that the survival time of a bare MT. 3.14 install on my host isn't long enough to configure MT-Blacklist. *That* is irony. It turns on that the survival time of a bare MT. 3.14 install on my host isn’t long enough to configure MT-Blacklist. *That* is irony.

]]> By: Pete Ashton http://peteashton.com/2005/01/killing_comment_spam_the_pete_way/comment-page-1/#comment-2561 Pete Ashton Sat, 22 Jan 2005 20:05:22 +0000 http://peteashton.com/2005/01/killing_comment_spam_the_pete_way/#comment-2561 Nah, it's not one of the ones I get. The basic structure is there but it's all in the rhythm. It's like sniffing a fine wine. It might well be a genuine cut-n-paste of a spam, but it wasn't sent by a robot because it's all on its own. Plus it was on here within hours. I have never, in all the months I've been swamped by these bastards, seen one come to a post that quickly. I refer you to the third comment <a>here</a>... Of course, since my defence is pretty much based on them not hitting new posts, now would be the perfect time for them to change that tactic Nah, it’s not one of the ones I get. The basic structure is there but it’s all in the rhythm. It’s like sniffing a fine wine. It might well be a genuine cut-n-paste of a spam, but it wasn’t sent by a robot because it’s all on its own.

Plus it was on here within hours. I have never, in all the months I’ve been swamped by these bastards, seen one come to a post that quickly.

I refer you to the third comment here…

Of course, since my defence is pretty much based on them not hitting new posts, now would be the perfect time for them to change that tactic

]]> By: Reinder http://peteashton.com/2005/01/killing_comment_spam_the_pete_way/comment-page-1/#comment-2560 Reinder Sat, 22 Jan 2005 18:11:51 +0000 http://peteashton.com/2005/01/killing_comment_spam_the_pete_way/#comment-2560 I do see a lot of comment spams that look like that (generic compliment plus unrelated URL). However, looking at the website linked, it's, uhm.... odd. It'd be a lot of work to play a prank on one weblog, but I suppose if the prankster wanted to tweak a lot of people, it'd be worth the trouble to make. I do see a lot of comment spams that look like that (generic compliment plus unrelated URL).
However, looking at the website linked, it’s, uhm…. odd. It’d be a lot of work to play a prank on one weblog, but I suppose if the prankster wanted to tweak a lot of people, it’d be worth the trouble to make.

]]> By: Pete Ashton http://peteashton.com/2005/01/killing_comment_spam_the_pete_way/comment-page-1/#comment-2559 Pete Ashton Fri, 21 Jan 2005 22:23:58 +0000 http://peteashton.com/2005/01/killing_comment_spam_the_pete_way/#comment-2559 I was going to neuter it but realised that with no-follow I don't need to anymore. The joke remains. And it is a joke - I've never seen a comment spam with that pattern to it before, and I know one when I see one. Nice try though. I was going to neuter it but realised that with no-follow I don’t need to anymore. The joke remains.

And it is a joke – I’ve never seen a comment spam with that pattern to it before, and I know one when I see one. Nice try though.

]]> By: Pete Ashton http://peteashton.com/2005/01/killing_comment_spam_the_pete_way/comment-page-1/#comment-2558 Pete Ashton Fri, 21 Jan 2005 21:58:17 +0000 http://peteashton.com/2005/01/killing_comment_spam_the_pete_way/#comment-2558 That's gotta be a hoax, damn you... That’s gotta be a hoax, damn you…

]]> By: groc http://peteashton.com/2005/01/killing_comment_spam_the_pete_way/comment-page-1/#comment-2557 groc Fri, 21 Jan 2005 18:30:23 +0000 http://peteashton.com/2005/01/killing_comment_spam_the_pete_way/#comment-2557 Giggle. oh the irony. oh the hubris. Giggle.
oh the irony.
oh the hubris.

]]> By: Reinder http://peteashton.com/2005/01/killing_comment_spam_the_pete_way/comment-page-1/#comment-2556 Reinder Fri, 21 Jan 2005 17:18:39 +0000 http://peteashton.com/2005/01/killing_comment_spam_the_pete_way/#comment-2556 Looks like one comment spam got through right here :) Looks like one comment spam got through right here :)

]]> By: Barbara June http://peteashton.com/2005/01/killing_comment_spam_the_pete_way/comment-page-1/#comment-2555 Barbara June Fri, 21 Jan 2005 16:11:35 +0000 http://peteashton.com/2005/01/killing_comment_spam_the_pete_way/#comment-2555 You surely have one of the most interesting sites in net. I believe in your way of doing, so go on this way. It’ surely the right way.

]]> By: groc http://peteashton.com/2005/01/killing_comment_spam_the_pete_way/comment-page-1/#comment-2554 groc Fri, 21 Jan 2005 15:00:56 +0000 http://peteashton.com/2005/01/killing_comment_spam_the_pete_way/#comment-2554 it sez here: * CHANGES IN v2.02 + Fixed critical "delete a weblog, lose a second for free" bug as I wade thru the mt-blacklist readme trying to understand how I'm supposed to install the stupid thing. think I might go over to blogger or something else at the moment. this ain't worth the headaches. it sez here:

* CHANGES IN v2.02

+ Fixed critical “delete a weblog, lose a second for free” bug

as I wade thru the mt-blacklist readme trying to understand how I’m supposed to install the stupid thing.

think I might go over to blogger or something else at the moment. this ain’t worth the headaches.

]]> By: Pete Ashton http://peteashton.com/2005/01/killing_comment_spam_the_pete_way/comment-page-1/#comment-2553 Pete Ashton Fri, 21 Jan 2005 09:15:57 +0000 http://peteashton.com/2005/01/killing_comment_spam_the_pete_way/#comment-2553 Oh, just for the record, I'm not using TypeKey or any authorisation system, I'm not moderating at all on those posts younger than 21 days and I'm not requiring email addresses from commenters. People can use HTML in their comments as much as they like and no-one will be blocked on those new posts unless they're in the Blacklist list. There are no barriers to communication in my comments system at all. Nice, huh? Oh, just for the record, I’m not using TypeKey or any authorisation system, I’m not moderating at all on those posts younger than 21 days and I’m not requiring email addresses from commenters. People can use HTML in their comments as much as they like and no-one will be blocked on those new posts unless they’re in the Blacklist list. There are no barriers to communication in my comments system at all.

Nice, huh?

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