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Hostname or Useragent Registration Ban
Mod Version: 1.0.2, by nhawk (Coder) nhawk is offline
Developer Last Online: May 2013 I like it Show Printable Version Email this Page

vB Version: 4.1.5 Rating: (7 votes - 4.14 average) Installs: 24
Released: 24 Feb 2012 Last Update: 23 Jul 2012 Downloads: 112
Supported Uses Plugins Additional Files External Content  

This is an add-on that is designed with vBulletin 4.1.5. It may not work on earlier versions of vBulletin. It is known to be working on vB versions 3.8.7, 4.0.7 and 4.1.5 through 4.2.0. I don't know if it is compatable with all versions of vB or not.

On my site, I receive quite a few PMs asking me how I prevent spam from being posted there. While I can't release everything I use because some of it is server based (external from vBulletin), I can release one of the lines of defense that I use.

This mod allows you to ban Hostnames and Useragents from registering on your site.

If a hostname or useragent contains any of the words you specify and they are trying to register, they are presented with an error telling them they are forbidden from registering on your site. And no registration screen ever appears.

In the event the hostname is blank, a WHOIS can be performed to establish the identity of the system being used to register.

The 'External Content' pulled by this mod is only the WHOIS information when that is enabled.

WARNING: This mod has the potential of banning humans from registering. Choose what words you use carefully.

Personally, I am not very concerned about banning an occasional human from registering. So, from time to time my system may ban a human that uses an anonymous proxy.

NOTE: This mod has a 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' clause. Please don't post telling people what words to ban. We don't need spammers getting around this mod by reading posts telling them what is being filtered.

REQUIREMENTS: In order for the WHOIS function used in this mod to work properly, your server must have OPENSSL installed.


* INSTALLATION *
---------------------
1) Upload the contents of the 'upload' folder to your forum's root.
(If your forum's location is http://www.example.com/forums/, the root is /forums/)

2) Import the product XML file (product-hostusercheck.xml) into the Product Manager in AdminCP.

3) Take some time to set the options in ACP->Settings->Options->Prevent Hostname or Useragent from Registering.

4) Be sure to turn on the mod when setting options in ACP->Settings->Options->Prevent Hostname or Useragent from Registering.



* History (Changelog) *
-----------------------------
1.0.2 (March 1, 2012)
- Fix error on registration page when Useragent or Hostname to ban is blank.

1.0.1 (February 24, 2012)
- Wrong hook being used for one of the plugins.

1.0.0 (January 22, 2012)
- Public Release

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Only licensed members can download files, Click Here for more information.

Screenshots

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  • This modification may not be copied, reproduced or published elsewhere without author's permission.
Similar Mod
Mod Developer Type Replies Last Post
IP ban from registration only Hoth vBulletin 3.0 Full Releases 8 16 Sep 2005 22:42

  #16  
Old 30 Mar 2012, 20:52
home9000 home9000 is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Can we have this Hack for 3.8 ?
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  #17  
Old 30 Mar 2012, 21:08
nhawk nhawk is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Originally Posted by home9000 View Post
Can we have this Hack for 3.8 ?
It may already work...

It is known to be working on vB versions 3.8.7, 4.0.7 and 4.1.5 through 4.1.10. I don't know if it is compatable with all versions of vB or not.
The fact that it worked with 3.8.7 was not expected. If it doesn't already work with earlier versions, I won't be coding for earlier versions of vB.
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  #18  
Old 30 Mar 2012, 21:21
Max Taxable Max Taxable is offline
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
If you tell them they are blocked from registering, they will know there some detection method involved and find a way to work around it. Why not just have the standard vBulletin message, "The Administrator has Disabled Registration" come up, instead of the gotcha?

This is the same thing, but also allows redirect off-site with no 'gotcha' either:

http://www.vbulletin.org/forum/showthread.php?t=268208
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  #19  
Old 30 Mar 2012, 21:23
nhawk nhawk is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Originally Posted by Max Taxable View Post
If you tell them they are blocked from registering, they will know there some detection method involved and find a way to work around it. Why not just have the standard vBulletin message, "The Administrator has Disabled Registration" come up, instead of the gotcha?

This is the same thing, but also allows redirect off-site with no 'gotcha' either:

http://www.vbulletin.org/forum/showthread.php?t=268208
I've been running this for a very long time (as in years) on a few different sites. Nobody has gotten around it yet.

And it's not quite the same as the mod you posted. This one also bans hostnames, which is a HUGE difference that works wonders.

EDIT: The only reason for the 2 updates to this were...
Update 1) I exported from my development server which I forgot was set to a different hook.
Update 2) I never expected anyone to leave a field blank.
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Last edited by nhawk : 30 Mar 2012 at 21:29.
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  #20  
Old 30 Mar 2012, 21:34
Max Taxable Max Taxable is offline
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Originally Posted by nhawk View Post
I've been running this for a very long time (as in years) on a few different sites. Nobody has gotten around it yet.

And it's not quite the same as the mod you posted. This one also bans hostnames, which is a HUGE difference that works wonders.

EDIT: The only reason for the 2 updates to this were...
Update 1) I exported from my development server which I forgot was set to a different hook.
Update 2) I never expected anyone to leave a field blank.
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  #21  
Old 22 Jul 2012, 21:20
MarkusB MarkusB is offline
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
I`m missing the upload folder in the download file, is there one or works now without?

I see just the xml and txt file
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  #22  
Old 23 Jul 2012, 10:49
nhawk nhawk is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Originally Posted by MarkusB View Post
I`m missing the upload folder in the download file, is there one or works now without?

I see just the xml and txt file
Sorry about that!

Download it again. I re-uploaded the zip file with the upload folder.
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  #23  
Old 23 Jul 2012, 13:05
Max Taxable Max Taxable is offline
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
I bet that makes all the difference!

EDIT to ask: Upload the individual files in the "phpwhois-4.2.2" folder? Or just upload the folder itself, to root?
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  #24  
Old 23 Jul 2012, 14:06
nhawk nhawk is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Originally Posted by Max Taxable View Post
I bet that makes all the difference!

EDIT to ask: Upload the individual files in the "phpwhois-4.2.2" folder? Or just upload the folder itself, to root?
Upload the whole folder 'phpwhois-4.2.2' to the root. Not just the files.

Root
---- phpwhois-4.2.2
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  #25  
Old 23 Jul 2012, 15:42
Max Taxable Max Taxable is offline
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Originally Posted by nhawk View Post
Upload the whole folder 'phpwhois-4.2.2' to the root. Not just the files.

Root
---- phpwhois-4.2.2
Yep that's what I assumed and did, just wanted it clarified for the peeps.
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  #26  
Old 02 Aug 2012, 10:29
tambo's Avatar
tambo tambo is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Has anyone got this working for v4.1.12?
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  #27  
Old 02 Aug 2012, 10:46
nhawk nhawk is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Originally Posted by tambo View Post
Has anyone got this working for v4.1.12?
It works with 4.1.12.
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  #28  
Old 02 Aug 2012, 12:42
tambo's Avatar
tambo tambo is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
So it does.

Marked as installed. Very neat and very impressive. Thankyou for releasing it.

I'm experimenting with a few registration restriction mods as a means of limiting the incessant spamming from some wannabe revolutionaries on our site (using alt accounts of course... wouldn't want to sully their real identity).

Essentially, I'm wanting to block people from using a proxy at the point of registration (not bothered if they use a proxy to browse or post thereafter), so that they can't maintain their complete anonymity. I know that's an almost impossible task and fraught with difficulty.

I've managed to limit some tor hostnames (in less than an hour) using your mod and that's working well and slowed the problem, but most web proxies don't seem to have an identifiable hostname.

Any advice on how your mod can be used to tackle these, from your experience? Or if I should be looking at another solution to plug that gap, like LordOfWAR_PC's "Registration CIDR/IP" mod?

I've thought about using some port scanning mods as well, but they don't seem surgical enough.
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  #29  
Old 02 Aug 2012, 13:20
nhawk nhawk is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Originally Posted by tambo View Post
So it does.

Marked as installed. Very neat and very impressive. Thankyou for releasing it.

I'm experimenting with a few registration restriction mods as a means of limiting the incessant spamming from some wannabe revolutionaries on our site (using alt accounts of course... wouldn't want to sully their real identity).

Essentially, I'm wanting to block people from using a proxy at the point of registration (not bothered if they use a proxy to browse or post thereafter), so that they can't maintain their complete anonymity. I know that's an almost impossible task and fraught with difficulty.

I've managed to limit some tor hostnames (in less than an hour) using your mod and that's working well and slowed the problem, but most web proxies don't seem to have an identifiable hostname.

Any advice on how your mod can be used to tackle these, from your experience? Or if I should be looking at another solution to plug that gap, like LordOfWAR_PC's "Registration CIDR/IP" mod?

I've thought about using some port scanning mods as well, but they don't seem surgical enough.
I can't go into too much detail as it would reveal the info to spammers, etc.

But, this does take some work on your end. You'll need to look up the IP owner for those that don't show a hostname. Make note of the NETNAME of the owner. (IE: DARL-TELECOM)

To do this I always start with ARIN and go from there...
ARIN - https://www.arin.net/
RIPE - https://apps.db.ripe.net/search/query.html
ASIA - http://wq.apnic.net/apnic-bin/whois.pl
LATIN AMERICA - http://lacnic.net/cgi-bin/lacnic/whois?lg=EN

There are a couple of others like AFRINIC and Japan, but I don't use those very often.

Then enable Do Whois in the mod and add the netname to hostnames that are banned.

Also keep in mind that no registration should ever come from a 'dedicated server' ip address (such as a 'rackcentre' address). That's a dead giveaway that it's a proxy.
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Last edited by nhawk : 02 Aug 2012 at 13:35.
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  #30  
Old 01 Sep 2012, 20:28
YOODA230 YOODA230 is offline
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
not working for me (vBulletin 4.2.0 Patch Level 2) help me !!
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