Forum Questions is now restricted to logged in users only

[Zaphod]

I hate that I have to do this, but this Forum Questions area now requires you to be registered and logged in, just like the rest of the forum. I had this area wide open so folks could post questions about the forum itself if they were unable to log in or were having other difficulties. Unfortunately, due to the spam we've been getting, this is about the only option.

If you have a question about the online forum itself (can't log in, can't access board, etc), you can email webmaster@powerchurch.com. If you have a regular Powerchurch support question you don't want to post to the forum, you will want to email support@powerchurch.com. If you have a sales question, email info@powerchurch.com.

Thanks.

[NeilZ]

While the user must be logged in to post, it seems that either SPAMBOTS or live people are getting around it.

Its not so bad when they post in a new topic, that can be ignored, but now they're posting in topics that were created by people asking for help. So people now get emails of new posts, and find out they're SPAM, with links to sites that install Trojan Horse programs.

I hate to say this, but perhaps a moderator (or a group of moderators) need to be installed to vet the postings !!

[Zorak]

I hate to say this, but perhaps a moderator (or a group of moderators) need to be installed to vet the postings !!

There are two or three of us that keep this cleaned up each morning. Someone was even here over the weekend and deleted a bunch of the posts. Unfortunately, if one spammer can come in and make a single post that beats the filter, then they can certainly stay here all night making a hundred posts.

We found some more words to be filtering on, hopefully that will help narrow the posts down even more.

The only other option is to lock the forum down, so that we have to manually approve each post. That does no one any good.

[Zaphod]

Ok, here's what we've done:

We've added some more words to the word filter which filters out posts and registrations.

We've cleaned out the membership list. If anyone was accidentally deleted, you didn't have any posts anyway, so just re-sign up.

We've added a mod which blocks anyone posting a url who has (currently) less than 10 posts or has been a registered member for less than 7 days. These thresholds are configurable, and can change if needed.

Thanks to those of you who called or emailed to alert us to the most recent spate of awfulness. Thanks for looking out for us and your fellow board members.

We're very sorry about any inconvenience, but we're working to make the forum a safer place. Thanks!

[NeilZ]

Great to hear, here's hoping the spammers don't get any smarter !! FWIW ... this particular spammer was trying to get people to a site where a trojan horse would be loaded. This would allow them access to take over a machine to use to send more spam !!

[tborgal]

It's a shame that a forum that has been so much help to so many users has become a target from those who obviously do not have enough constructive things to do. Is there a procedure for reporting this stuff, or should they just be left alone for those who are wiser than the average user. I have gotten gun shy enough that I am afraid to even open one of these posts if I am not sure it is a legitimate question.

[NeilZ]

FWIW ... opening the post is not a problem, following any link provided is. I think they finally have a procedure and enough filters in place to elminate most of the issues.

[Bsimmons]

I'm interested in the Membership Module. How can I get a demo

[NeilZ]

I'm interested in the Membership Module. How can I get a demo

You can request a demo using the online form: http://powerchurch.com/contact/info_request.php

The program includes all modules, you just use what you want to use. However, not taking advantage of the unified databases is just not good stewardship, IMHO.