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Home > FlexCMS Support Forum > General > Feature Requests > Verification for all entries, Guestbook, Contact etc.: NOW IN 2.0

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Verification for all entries, Guestbook, Contact etc.: NOW IN 2.0
Started February 10, 2006 @ 2:18pm by ddelor
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ddelor


Posts: 34
 
Verification for all entries, Guestbook, Contact etc.: NOW IN 2.0February 10, 2006 @ 2:18pm
The spambots have found us, so bad I just deleted our guestbook (not FlexCMS) and enabled the one in FlexCMS and will have to check it often. The email form is also a source of garbage. Is there a way to add the type of verification a lot of the big sites have, type in a random set of letters or numbers (usually from a poor image)before something can be submitted?

A few are ruining the internet for a lot of us!
 

Last Edit: June 7, 2006 @ 9:58pm by otter
otter
Administrator



Posts: 177
 
February 10, 2006 @ 3:23pm
Hi Donna,

We hear you loud and clear on the guestbook issues. This is a major problem around the web for lots of software products. We have this as a priority item for FlexCMS 2.0 and will be giving better options for the guestbook with that release.

For now, the best result is to either monitor your guestbook as you said or disable it until we release 2.0.

In terms of the contact form, have you applied the updated code wherein the check box is removed for copying yourself on the contact form? If not, you'll find that here:

http://www.flexcms.com/index.php/forum/thread/8.html

NOTE: Please make sure you are running the current release of FlexCMS (1.3.1, September 12, 2005) before you apply the contact form change above or you will have errors submitting the form.

This was modified to help cut down on the spamming via the contact form.

If you have any questions, please reply.

Thanks!

Otter


ONLINE TRAINING CLASSES FOR FLEXCMS IN MAY: FlexCMS Basics (101), Sat., May, 15, 2010 & FlexCMS Blocks (Mon., May 10, 2010).
 
ddelor


Posts: 34
 
February 11, 2006 @ 1:35am
I have done all the updates ( both of you recently helped me with parts of files that went missing!).

I figured out one more option I can use, only allow registered users to access the guestbook until the new version is out. For now, I'll see how it goes, maybe it will take them awhile to find the new one.
Thanks!


 
notdodgy


Posts: 46
 
Guestbook approvalFebruary 11, 2006 @ 3:57pm
I could let you have the details of some simple mods for the guest book that stop entries from being displayed until they have been checked.
It would mean adding a column to the table using phpmyadmin or similar and editing about 4 files.

Whether the effort is worth it would depend on the timing for version 2

While the option of typing in a code from an image file may stop spam, it also discriminates against those with disabilities.
I use Flexcms for my brother in law's web site and he is a blind user, who uses a talking web browser.
It may be ok to use this for signing up initially if an alternate method is provided (sign up by an email request) but not for everyday use.

Roger
 
ddelor


Posts: 34
 
February 11, 2006 @ 4:17pm
Hi Roger,
You are correct, I read all about "Captchas" and was put off by what I read. Even my vision isn't what it use to be and some of them are hard to make out. Besides that, there are already "bots" that can bypass this too!

I haven't had any bad hits on the new guestbook yet, I think I'm good for now. I have never had one phoney signup on the site, maybe I have too many required fields (a good thing!)that have to be filled in.

Thanks, if I run into problems, I'll be back!
Donna
 
notdodgy


Posts: 46
 
Guest book SpamMay 8, 2006 @ 2:54pm
Now getting sex site posting - now really helpful on a christian web site.

Fortunately my temporary fix to require approval stops them being displayed, but it would be better if they were not posted in the first place.

How about requiring email address and check it is a valid domain and not in a blocked list?

Roger


 
DCSun
Administrator



Posts: 625
 
May 8, 2006 @ 3:16pm
Roger,

I'm not sure that would be the best approach, because it would be fairly hard to implement, and you could easily plug a Yahoo or Hotmail address in there, real or not, and that would be a valid and active domain.

That said, we will be addressing this problem very shortly. It's also worth mentioning that this is a problem faced by most all guestbooks and similar functions.


David


FlexCMS v3.2 Has Been Released!
 
ddelor


Posts: 34
 
May 8, 2006 @ 11:02pm
We're getting the "porn" postings now too. I authorized one other person to have permission to delete posts as I can't check the 4-5 times a day required to keep the junk out. Another site I manage had me disable his guestbook, he really gets upset seeing the posts.

I saw an add-on field for a blog comment that was a simple question to answer to be able to post like "What month is it?". I heard it works as the bots don't read, the question just has to be changed once and awhile.

Donna
 
otter
Administrator



Posts: 177
 
May 9, 2006 @ 12:23pm
Hi Donna,

This is a sweeping problem across most software applications. Guestbooks are not being used as much as they used to be in general due to these wide spamming issues. In fact, most of my own clients don't use them anymore for that as well as other reasons.

However, we recognize that some of our users would like the option of a guestbook with some type of safeguard from the spammers. As Dave mentioned earlier, we are addressing this problem in FlexCMS 2.0 due out May 31, 2006.

In the meantime, I'd suggest you disable your guestbook module if you are unable to keep up with the monitoring.

Thanks!

Kel


ONLINE TRAINING CLASSES FOR FLEXCMS IN MAY: FlexCMS Basics (101), Sat., May, 15, 2010 & FlexCMS Blocks (Mon., May 10, 2010).
 
notdodgy


Posts: 46
 
May 12, 2006 @ 6:32pm

Quote (ddelor)


Donna said:
I saw an add-on field for a blog comment that was a simple question to answer to be able to post like "What month is it?". I heard it works as the bots don't read, the question just has to be changed once and awhile.


I have heard of a similar method where visitor has to type in the name of the item in a picture - good idea but no use for blind users.

I do like your idea as it would work with screen reader software as well and be easy enough to implement.
Questions could be simple enough for a person to answer but hard to guess.

e.g.
Write the word answer for two plus 3 add one (six)
Write the fourth word of this sentence backwards (drow)
etc

A fail counter could disable the facility for 10 minutes to prevent dictionary attacks.

A random choice from simple table of questions and answers could be used.


Roger
 
otter
Administrator



Posts: 177
 
DONE: Released in version 2.0June 7, 2006 @ 1:28pm
Two guestbook improvements to help prevent spamming and unwanted garbage. First, a new system has been developed to help prevent automated submissions to the guestbook. This has also been applied to the other email forms on the site, such as the message board and articles.

In addition to this, an approval system has also been added, which you may enable or disable based on your needs. Optional email notifications can also been sent to an address of your choosing, letting you know there?s been a new posting that needs your attention.


ONLINE TRAINING CLASSES FOR FLEXCMS IN MAY: FlexCMS Basics (101), Sat., May, 15, 2010 & FlexCMS Blocks (Mon., May 10, 2010).
 
ddelor


Posts: 34
 
June 7, 2006 @ 3:36pm
I haven't had one bad post since I was sent the beta before the new version release! I assume that is included in the new version. I need to apply the new update soon. It really looks great!
 
otter
Administrator



Posts: 177
 
June 7, 2006 @ 9:52pm
Hi Donna,

It sure is included in the 2.0 version, so be sure to update asap.

otter


ONLINE TRAINING CLASSES FOR FLEXCMS IN MAY: FlexCMS Basics (101), Sat., May, 15, 2010 & FlexCMS Blocks (Mon., May 10, 2010).
 

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