I Do Believe We've Been Invaded - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Alassë Estel · 12-08-2023, 06:31 AM

It seems there is an attack of bots.

Galadriel55 · 12-08-2023, 08:42 AM

Ah, I remember these feoul creatures. They would come in my youth, and raid our forum where the defenses were weak...

ETA: holy cow, they made over a page of spam threads on N&N and Mirth? That's prolific. That's bot talent...

Alassë Estel · 12-08-2023, 03:56 PM

It seems they've returned in force, and with newfound vigour.

😂

Galadriel55 · 12-08-2023, 04:16 PM

Thankfully it looks like the mighty Mithadan and fellow admins prevailed, and the forum has been scoured of this spam-filth. All hail the great defenders of the Downs!

Alassë Estel · 12-09-2023, 06:08 AM

Indeed. The devious foes have been vanquished by the valour of our guardians!

***Mithadan*** · 12-09-2023, 09:21 AM

Much credit belongs to Estelyn and others, who did most of the pruning. Thanks to all.

Snowdog · 12-16-2023, 04:58 PM

It's nice to be a part of a legacy Middle Earth forum that hasn't been abandoned to the AI spambots Well done killing them off.

ryanrobbie · 03-07-2024, 03:12 AM

I value that you wrote this great post for us. I promise that this will be good for most people mapquest driving directions

Galadriel55 · 03-07-2024, 05:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ryanrobbie

I value that you wrote this great post for us. I promise that this will be good for most people mapquest driving directions

This has got to be the most ironic choice of thread for this post.

Alassë Estel · 03-07-2024, 06:35 AM

Quite so.

Morthoron · 03-07-2024, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Galadriel55

This has got to be the most ironic choice of thread for this post.

That lefthand turn direction into the Dead Marshes was regrettable.

Huinesoron · 05-15-2024, 02:58 AM

The parade of Socratic bots continues; WCH has attracted two in a row to say "Oh yes, [Insert User Here], you are so wise." My assumption is that they're powered by current-generation 'AI' chatbots.

I've mostly been ignoring the ones that don't drop links, but is it worth reporting them on sight? They seem to mostly make one or two posts, but it's occurred to me they might be waiting to reach a critical mass and then spam the forum massively. (The other option is that they try to spam right away, but the one-post-per-minute block catches them.)

hS

Snowdog · 08-13-2024, 10:52 PM

I find it amusing that a couple of the AI Bots posted to the discussion thread for my old fanfic story.

Galadriel55 · 08-14-2024, 07:51 AM

I started paying more attention to the numbers too, and it's visobly noticeable that the amount of 508s correlates. I hardly get them at 2000, but get them at every turn at 4-5K. And each time I observe, relatively few are sitting in specific fora - less than a thousand total. Most are just hanging out. The sad thing is that they really don't appear to be falling off. The numbers fluctuate, but aren't really decreasing. Would a captcha "capture" these rogues, do you think?

Elvellon · 08-14-2024, 08:10 AM

Not sure if this is helpful, but dropping this here:

https://forum.vbulletin.com/forum/vb...09#post4482109

Huinesoron · 08-14-2024, 08:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elvellon

Not sure if this is helpful, but dropping this here:

https://forum.vbulletin.com/forum/vb...09#post4482109

If accurate, this idea would seem like a good solution:

Quote:

Originally Posted by The link

You can also reduce load for your registered users by increasing the value of the Minutes to Cache Content for Guests option on the same page. Guests don't need up to the second updates on content. So you can set this to 5 or even 10 minutes.

So guests (including real guests) would only get a new snapshot of the site every few minutes, while logged-in users would still get it in real-time. My limited understanding of IT systems says this ought to work - not to get rid of the bots, but to stop the 508 errors almost completely.

hS

Huinesoron · 08-16-2024, 02:48 AM

I don't want to jinx it, but the numbers I wrote a few posts above were all 3000+; since I stopped recording them, I've only seen one 3000+ guest count, with everything else being in the 2000s. (I think I saw a 2400 at one point!) Maaaaybe the bots are slowly winding down?

16 Aug, 09:48 GMT+1: 2874 guests.
16 Aug, 11:43 GMT+1: 2750 guests
16 Aug, 12:54 GMT+1: 2855 guests
16 Aug, 14:14 GMT+1: 2806 guests
16 Aug, 22:36 GMT+1: 2803 guests
17 Aug 14:32 GMT+1: 2755 guests
17 Aug 21:34 GMT+1: 2747 guests
17 Aug 22:47 GMT+1: 2675 guests
19 Aug 10:25 GMT+1: 2817 guests
19 Aug 13:48 GMT+1: 2949 guests
20 Aug 13:48 GMT+1: 2604 guests. Earlier today I noticed another 26xx and a 27xx.
20 Aug 14:36 GMT+1: 2651 guests

hS

12-08-2023, 06:31 AM	#1
Alassë Estel Wight Join Date: Jun 2023 Location: Treading the Narrow Way Posts: 187	I Do Believe We've Been Invaded It seems there is an attack of bots. __________________ For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16

12-08-2023, 08:42 AM	#2
Galadriel55 Blossom of Dwimordene Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: The realm of forgotten words Posts: 10,359	Ah, I remember these feoul creatures. They would come in my youth, and raid our forum where the defenses were weak... ETA: holy cow, they made over a page of spam threads on N&N and Mirth? That's prolific. That's bot talent... __________________ You passed from under darkened dome, you enter now the secret land. - Take me to Finrod's fabled home!... ~ Finrod: The Rock Opera Last edited by Galadriel55; 12-08-2023 at 08:45 AM.

12-08-2023, 03:56 PM	#3
Alassë Estel Wight Join Date: Jun 2023 Location: Treading the Narrow Way Posts: 187	It seems they've returned in force, and with newfound vigour. 😂 __________________ For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16

12-08-2023, 04:16 PM	#4
Galadriel55 Blossom of Dwimordene Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: The realm of forgotten words Posts: 10,359	Thankfully it looks like the mighty Mithadan and fellow admins prevailed, and the forum has been scoured of this spam-filth. All hail the great defenders of the Downs! __________________ You passed from under darkened dome, you enter now the secret land. - Take me to Finrod's fabled home!... ~ Finrod: The Rock Opera

12-09-2023, 06:08 AM	#5
Alassë Estel Wight Join Date: Jun 2023 Location: Treading the Narrow Way Posts: 187	Indeed. The devious foes have been vanquished by the valour of our guardians! __________________ For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16

12-09-2023, 09:21 AM	#6
*Mithadan* Spirit of Mist Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Tol Eressea Posts: 3,352	Much credit belongs to Estelyn and others, who did most of the pruning. Thanks to all. __________________ Beleriand, Beleriand, the borders of the Elven-land.

12-16-2023, 04:58 PM	#7
Snowdog Emperor of the South Pole Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: The Western Shore of Lake Evendim Posts: 616	It's nice to be a part of a legacy Middle Earth forum that hasn't been abandoned to the AI spambots Well done killing them off.

03-07-2024, 03:12 AM	#8
ryanrobbie Newly Deceased Join Date: Mar 2024 Posts: 1	I value that you wrote this great post for us. I promise that this will be good for most people mapquest driving directions

03-07-2024, 06:35 AM	#10
Alassë Estel Wight Join Date: Jun 2023 Location: Treading the Narrow Way Posts: 187	Quite so. __________________ For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16

05-15-2024, 02:58 AM	#12
Huinesoron Overshadowed Eagle Join Date: Nov 2017 Location: The north-west of the Old World, east of the Sea Posts: 3,857	The parade of Socratic bots continues; WCH has attracted two in a row to say "Oh yes, [Insert User Here], you are so wise." My assumption is that they're powered by current-generation 'AI' chatbots. I've mostly been ignoring the ones that don't drop links, but is it worth reporting them on sight? They seem to mostly make one or two posts, but it's occurred to me they might be waiting to reach a critical mass and then spam the forum massively. (The other option is that they try to spam right away, but the one-post-per-minute block catches them.) hS __________________ Have you burned the ships that could bear you back again? ~Finrod: The Rock Opera

08-13-2024, 10:52 PM	#13
Snowdog Emperor of the South Pole Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: The Western Shore of Lake Evendim Posts: 616	I find it amusing that a couple of the AI Bots posted to the discussion thread for my old fanfic story.

08-14-2024, 07:51 AM	#14
Galadriel55 Blossom of Dwimordene Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: The realm of forgotten words Posts: 10,359	I started paying more attention to the numbers too, and it's visobly noticeable that the amount of 508s correlates. I hardly get them at 2000, but get them at every turn at 4-5K. And each time I observe, relatively few are sitting in specific fora - less than a thousand total. Most are just hanging out. The sad thing is that they really don't appear to be falling off. The numbers fluctuate, but aren't really decreasing. Would a captcha "capture" these rogues, do you think? __________________ You passed from under darkened dome, you enter now the secret land. - Take me to Finrod's fabled home!... ~ Finrod: The Rock Opera

08-14-2024, 08:10 AM	#15
Elvellon Animated Skeleton Join Date: Aug 2023 Location: New Jersey Posts: 42	Not sure if this is helpful, but dropping this here: https://forum.vbulletin.com/forum/vb...09#post4482109

08-16-2024, 02:48 AM	#17
Huinesoron Overshadowed Eagle Join Date: Nov 2017 Location: The north-west of the Old World, east of the Sea Posts: 3,857	I don't want to jinx it, but the numbers I wrote a few posts above were all 3000+; since I stopped recording them, I've only seen one 3000+ guest count, with everything else being in the 2000s. (I think I saw a 2400 at one point!) Maaaaybe the bots are slowly winding down? 16 Aug, 09:48 GMT+1: 2874 guests. 16 Aug, 11:43 GMT+1: 2750 guests 16 Aug, 12:54 GMT+1: 2855 guests 16 Aug, 14:14 GMT+1: 2806 guests 16 Aug, 22:36 GMT+1: 2803 guests 17 Aug 14:32 GMT+1: 2755 guests 17 Aug 21:34 GMT+1: 2747 guests 17 Aug 22:47 GMT+1: 2675 guests 19 Aug 10:25 GMT+1: 2817 guests 19 Aug 13:48 GMT+1: 2949 guests 20 Aug 13:48 GMT+1: 2604 guests. Earlier today I noticed another 26xx and a 27xx. 20 Aug 14:36 GMT+1: 2651 guests hS __________________ Have you burned the ships that could bear you back again? ~Finrod: The Rock Opera Last edited by Huinesoron; Yesterday at 07:37 AM. Reason: Data logging