GCU Forum - Admin - why so many spammers?

Donna_137698

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Admin - why so many spammers?
Jan 15^th, 2011, 4:58am

I know Admin has a great deal on their plates but is there any way to put a block on the number of spammers that are infiltrating our forums? Maybe we could have it accessible only to GCU artists/members? I'm finding large number of spam with perverse messages coming through and I really don't think we should have to have our forums poisoned by this garbage.

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Susan_142450 Gold Member artist Posts: 522	Re: Admin - why so many spammers? Reply #1 - Jan 15^th, 2011, 5:33am
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Frank_146127 Junior Member artist Posts: 66	Re: Admin - why so many spammers? Reply #2 - Jan 15^th, 2011, 6:27am Totally agree Donna
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Lyn_135595 GCU Newbies artist Posts: 9	Re: Admin - why so many spammers? Reply #3 - Jan 15^th, 2011, 7:50am I couldn't agree more!
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Elizabeth_137795 Gold Member artist Posts: 724	Re: Admin - why so many spammers? Reply #4 - Jan 15^th, 2011, 8:17am I agree, HOWEVER..... I don't even open up that page when a 'spam' comes through. That's exactly what the spammer wants, so just ignore it. Maybe when they see that there are no clicks or comments, they'll leave us alone.
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cheryl_133782 Gold Member artist Posts: 1350	Re: Admin - why so many spammers? Reply #5 - Jan 15^th, 2011, 10:46am Don't forget that the forum is not run by GCU but is outsourced. Cheryl
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Bettie__142065 Senior Member artist Posts: 490	Re: Admin - why so many spammers? Reply #6 - Jan 15^th, 2011, 1:20pm I agree with all of you. Perhaps Admin should find another Outsource partner or host the forum themselves. I have ignored the spammers for weeks now and they just keep coming... Bettie
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Nan_137018 Senior Member artist Posts: 297	Re: Admin - why so many spammers? Reply #7 - Jan 15^th, 2011, 3:33pm It's not only GCU that is getting hit with an unusual amount of spammers. My other website are too. I know it's a pain, but if we don't open them, maybe they'll go away.
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Rebecca_140932

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Re: Admin - why so many spammers?
Reply #8 - Jan 15^th, 2011, 9:40pm

We should not have to avoid them. They just shouldn't be here! Angry

I have asked Mindy over and over for a forum just for us artists so that we can talk to each other without the public and without the spammers, but still have not gotten anything back about it. If you all would ask with me, mabe we could get that on the wish list as well. I do not think that we should have to watch every word we post, or look at. We are the artists that keep GCU going, we have rights to have a private forum. I do think the public should be able to see some parts of the forum, if it is related to purchases and the company, but why should they be able to read everything? I do not understand this. The only way we are ever going to be able to have this is, if you all ask for it with me. So, please ask away!

CAN WE PLEASE HAVE A PRIVATE FORUM FOR JUST US ARTISTS?

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Norma_133903 Senior Member artist Posts: 485	Re: Admin - why so many spammers? Reply #9 - Jan 15^th, 2011, 10:59pm I agree. I have been horrified in the past at some of the comments that have been posted for the public to see. We need a private forum!
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Rebecca_140932 Gold Member artist Posts: 624	Re: Admin - why so many spammers? Reply #10 - Jan 16^th, 2011, 12:25am Quote from Norma_133903 on Jan 15^th, 2011, 10:59pm: I agree. I have been horrified in the past at some of the comments that have been posted for the public to see. We need a private forum! THANK YOU NORMA! THAT'S (2) FOR A PRIVATE FORUM FOR US ARTISTS.
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Linda_132742

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Re: Admin - why so many spammers?
Reply #11 - Jan 16^th, 2011, 3:02am

Re: tcr ods bkmxuv
Reply #3 - Yesterday at 8:05am Quote Sorry about that. Agreed, we need to do something about this. It's gotten a lot worse lately.

We'll look into solutions this week.

The above was posted by Nasser so it appears that it is being addressed. "Artist Chatter" is listed as artist only so perhaps that is our private forum. The spamming is a terrible thing.

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Doreen_137017

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Re: Admin - why so many spammers?
Reply #12 - Jan 16^th, 2011, 7:33am

Quote from Rebecca_140932 on Jan 15^th, 2011, 9:40pm:

We should not have to avoid them. They just shouldn't be here! Angry

I have asked Mindy over and over for a forum just for us artists so that we can talk to each other without the public and without the spammers, but still have not gotten anything back about it. If you all would ask with me, mabe we could get that on the wish list as well. I do not think that we should have to watch every word we post, or look at. We are the artists that keep GCU going, we have rights to have a private forum. I do think the public should be able to see some parts of the forum, if it is related to purchases and the company, but why should they be able to read everything? I do not understand this. The only way we are ever going to be able to have this is, if you all ask for it with me. So, please ask away!

CAN WE PLEASE HAVE A PRIVATE FORUM FOR JUST US ARTISTS?

This was added to the Wish List back in 2009 Rebecca and I'm sure they will revisit the possibilities next week. However, its not likely that a private forum will solve the problem. You have to be a MEMBER of GCU to post anywhere on this forum and ANYONE can sign up to be a member. I imagine this too will be revisited as they look for options to control this situation.

In the meantime, its part of being on the internet and as stated by Elizabeth, you are best served to immediately delete and ignore this type of post...when responses are made, their crawlers get back to them with a message that it was an ACTIVE address. Because of all the responses from the first few attempts at spam posting, these creeps received confirmation that this is a live address and now post frequently.

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Colleen_131607

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Re: Admin - why so many spammers?
Reply #13 - Jan 16^th, 2011, 11:28am

Keep in mind that it is generally not a "person" per se that is sitting and posting spam to forums or email. It is more often a programming code set in place that zings out to many many sites. And likely it will keep trying to pass thru. On my own site, I kept it more private but that means I need to monitor posts, good and bad. It is highly unlikely GCU would wish to initiate any forum like site when there are sites out there who do it and do it well. That's a pretty big undertaking for a little side forum to a business. The important thing if you suspect spam or it's obvious, if it's an email...don't click on link. If it's in a post, you can usually spot it a mile away especially with the illegible thread titles coming thru....don't bother to go into the thread and by all means, don't click on the link. Hyperlinks are not always what they appear and can quite frankly, lead you right into a viral ridden website.

I personally think no part of this forum should be open to public eye but even that would not solve the age old spam issue in every sense.

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Rebecca_140932 Gold Member artist Posts: 624	Re: Admin - why so many spammers? Reply #14 - Jan 16^th, 2011, 12:56pm The only thing I am saying is that if it says, "Aritsts Only" it should not be able to be read by anyone but aritsts. That's my point - to the point. That's a true private forum for us artists.
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