Don't forget your forum!

[Alan Petersen]

I setup a forum in 2006 for one of my sites. I never really marketed the forum so it never grew until I forgot all about it. This site is on auto-pilot so I don't make any updates to it.

Today I received an email warning that the site was at 80% it's bandwidth max. I was like no way. So I went to check it out and all looked well until I clicked on "forum". OMG. I've always wanted to have an active forum but not like this! It's spam bot paradise. They're posting p0rn pics and video clips and of course links. Everyday. Just today the 16th there already over 30 posts.

I consider myself net savvy when it comes to this type of thing but boy did I drop the ball on this one!

So, if you're setting up a forum-even if it's just to test things out-don't forget about it! It's your bandwidth.

Needless to say, I'm pulling the plug on my "popular" forum right now!



Popular forum, I got!

[Mommyland]

I forgot about one, That I thought I closed. but I was wrong at least there wasn't any spam on it really there was a lot of new real members but yea its a good idea not forget. Thanks for the reminder

[MommyEnterprises]

I had problems with quite a few of the forums that I created so I had to delete them or suspend them from being used. My host freaked out and told me they were being attacked by spambots!

[robert adams]

spam is the number one problem with bulletin boards and even blogs.

if you are using phpbb, then there are some very quick and simple things you can do to stop the spam bots dead in their tracks.

also, you must never allow guest posting or you won't have a chance.

robert

[JosephRatliff]

That can run out of control quickly too....I have seen forums where the mods are actually paying attention to them...still get run over by the "SPAM Bus".

I hate spammers.

[robert adams]

[Ellen]

Count me in as someone who forgot about a forum too. It was more of a family-stay-in-touch experiment that didn't go over. I received a similar message about my bandwidth usage, and soon learned I'd essentially been paying for spam bots to abuse my forum. Nice. NOT!

I had another forum I did pay close attention to. This one was for a lake association (non-profit,) and I left it open for guests to post - not realizing I was inadvertantly inviting spam.

Sheesh - dont these people realize the majority of us are wise to their games now and wouldn't give their posts (submitted personally or by bot,) the time of day? It's difficult enough for honest people to generate an income online. What makes them think they'll get-er-done easier doing it dishonestly?

[robert adams]

the main idea is back links for link popularity in google.

I think google is smarter than that by now, but they keep trying. It is like any other spam. It has zero cost and huge numbers, so if even a few people visit or buy or whatever, the feel it is worth the small effort needed.

Personally, I will not spam. However, I have also never been bothered by it. I set up filters in oulook express, I create different email accounts to handle certain things, etc.

If I get a bunch of spam emails, I simply delete them, unread.

If I get spam on one of my boards, I just delete it or better yet stop it from happening in the first place.

I know it is a bigger deal to some, but this is how I deal with it.

robert

[Ellen]