Welcome to The Briercliffe Society Forum

We are currently getting a lot of bogus registrations to the site. I manage to delete most of them before they can post on the site but over the last few days, there have been a number getting through the system and posting.

If the username looks dodgy or there are links in the post and the member is not a regular user, please do not click the links. There is a high probability that they will be viral. The majority that have got through and have managed to post have been on the 'Anything Else' topic but please be aware that they will not necessarily be limited to this one section.

Unfortunately, I cannot be online 24/7 but I am checking in as often as possible. Please accept my apologies for any messages that you may inadvertently be subjected to.

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Mel

Searching for lost relatives? Win the Lottery!

Thanks Mel.

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Gloria

I'd be dangerous with a brain.

I have changed the acount activation method. Any new registrations will now have to wait for me to activate their account before being able to log in. My apologies to anyone planning on becoming a member, it is only temporary until Kev can do the update. It is necessary to maintain the security of the site.

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Mel

Searching for lost relatives? Win the Lottery!

As always, you are sooo on top of things, Mel! You're my hero!!

Due to todays forum update, I will be reverting back to user account activation instead of admin activation. The update should have increased the forum security so all should be good until the next update is due.

If anyone should spot anything odd/dodgy/out of place, please let me know and I'll take a look at the first opportunity that I get.

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Mel

Searching for lost relatives? Win the Lottery!

Thanks Mel, I will keep an eye out

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Gloria

I'd be dangerous with a brain.

Obviously not as secure as I thought! One on within 30 minutes! Thanks Gloria for letting me know. Settings are back to me activating accounts while I monitor the spam and get used to the new admin section.

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Mel

Searching for lost relatives? Win the Lottery!

Trying again. There have been no registrations overnight so fingers crossed this time

I can set the registration settings to ask a question. I choose the questions and answers. Apparently, the more questions to choose from, the harder it is for these spam things to get in. What I didn't realise though, and I don't know why I didn't considering what I know about the www from hubby, the spambot can use google to try to find the answer. So, the questions have to be relatively simple but still too hard for a spambot!

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Mel

Searching for lost relatives? Win the Lottery!

Isn't spambot clever---ask it the name of our mare

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Gloria

I'd be dangerous with a brain.

Lol....it's a good one Gloria but somehow, I don't think the real prospective members would have a clue either!

If you can think of anything simple, preferrably about the local area but it doesn't have to be....I'd be happy to add them. PM them to me though please - don't want the spambots finding the answers on our very osn forum! Now that would be silly

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Mel

Searching for lost relatives? Win the Lottery!

Could you put one of those jumble of squiggly letters and numbers which are used to get on some sites. Apparently spambot cannot copy them-----I think

That has got to be my new word for a clever so and so-----a right spambot

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Gloria

I'd be dangerous with a brain.

We have been using that method (called Captcha) almost since day 1. They can read most of them without any problem. Since January when the board developers made a new version, we have been getting at least 20 spambots per day. This is why I had to make the registration process admin activated...can't monitor the board 24/7.
This new update has a slightly different 'captcha' but it obviously doesn't walk very well. You text me to let me know that someone/thing was on within a very short space of time.

This question malarky is a little more intelligent I suppose but I know that developers can write 'routines' to do virtually anything on a computer these days.

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Mel

Searching for lost relatives? Win the Lottery!

A right spambot!
Sounds like running tis site is an even bigger job than I thought Mel.

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Maureen
If you can't fight, wear a big 'at