I've converted the website to use PHP instead of static HTML. While that probably doesn't mean much to most people, it means a lot to me! Now I'll be able to edit things like the menus that are common across all of the pages of the site.

You'll now notice that when you hover over one of the links on the "Main Menu" box, it will lead to pages such as "index.php" and "art.php". The same content is still displayed, but it's just managed differently from the back-end.

Also, on every page (except in the forums) you'l see the "recent posts" box underneath the "Main Menu" box. Thank Nezmar for writing the code for the recent post box

I'll be updating pictures, art and other stuff soon - I just wanted to get the HTML to PHP conversion completed first

Should the recent posts box be showing 'staff only' posts to everyone? I posted in the Builders area and it's showing.

I suppose it's OK, but only staff can actually read those posts.

Is it just me suddenly noticing, or are there alot more spambots posting here now that it's converted?

I've only seen one "post" in many months. I see a lot of names created, which I spend a lot of time deleting daily, but not any more now then before.

If you can get the IP address of the spam bots, I'll see about banning the IPs or ranges if they're close enough together.

Actually, I think you can do that too.. just get the IP address and go into the admin panel and ban it. I've done that with a couple already.

Tell me how to get the IP from just them creating a name but not posting and I'm all over banning them. The few that did post I added to the ban list successfully.

Banning individual IP addresses isn't very effective. These are usually from computers that have been compromised with a trojan or some proxy network, they use them for a little while and then move on to another. Vulsin CAN effectively ban them -- just like I do. Get their IP address and go to http://ws.arin.net/whois and type/paste it in. Look under CIDR to get their network IP address and associated network mask in CIDR notation. It will be something like 10.0.0.0/8. Add this address into the .htaccess file in the forums directory with the others I've put in like so:

Deny from 10.0.0.0/8

From that point on, nobody from this entire IP network can access the forums. Naturally if this cuts off players, we'll want to adjust it some... if you have questions let me know, I do know a thing or two about IP networking.

Best regards,

--Nezmar

Oh, I forgot about the other major NICs... you might also need to check:

http://www.apnic.net/whois

http://www.ripe.net/whois

These are for Asia Pacific and Europe... ARIN will refer you to them if the space is managed elsewhere.

Maybe I'm just too simple.

I do not understand how to obtain the IP from them simply making a name here. When you click on Members, it lists names... and they list web sites, usually either selling things, but sometimes they are extremely unacceptable web sites they advertise.

Next round of names that gets created, I'll just leave. Maybe it can be explained to me how to get the IP from them.

*shrug*

As far as I know, there isn't an easy way to get their IP when they only create an account and don't post anything. Again, I think Vulsin has access to get it -- it is logged by the web server. Generally though, if they don't post anything, do we really care if they create a bogus account? Any thoughts?

Best regards,

--Nezmar

Personally, if they aren't posting, I don't care.

My concern was the ones that get through and do post (and I've seen more than one lately).

Vulsin, is there not a way to stop them up front? I'm a member of a number of forums that prevent this, so there must be. Do we do image verification?

The captchas (or image verification) things aren't 100% effective, but they are definitely something to consider. I'll look into if PHPBB (the forum system we use) has support for captchas. If they do, then I'll add that as part of the account creation process.

Like I said, it's not 100% effective, but it will slow them down.