Bloody Spammers - changes to forum settings

[atticus]

The forum has been under sustained attack from spammers over the last couple of weeks. Posts with links to porn, pills, all kinds of stuff. Many hundreds of posts have been deleted, many hundreds of new user accounts have been deleted.

I have done a couple of things which may hamper some of them.

First, no user may now make a post within 60 seconds of his/her last one.

Second, I have set a limit of 5 links per post.

These may hamper those automated spammers that post dozens of times in a matter of seconds, and those who post multiple links. I hope 5 links is an acceptable limit for most purposes.

I have also added to the questions for new users - when registering, a new user has to answer one question selected at random.my theory is that having a larger number of questions may slow down the machines that are pre-programmed with one answer for this forum. No 2 questions have the same answer.

[Hairyloon]

Should we perhaps set it to manual activation of accounts?

[dls]

The real answer starts with an upgrade to the current version of phpbb.

[waterloo2]

Five or 5 gold rings?

[atticus]

Did you have difficulty with that one? Please don't post the answer that you gave.

But you appear to have managed to get in. Welcome, we look forward to your contributions.

[3.14]

We've been infiltrated by Hydra but I managed to ban them. HAIL HYDRA!

[Spankymonkey]

Why don't you just confirm all accounts with an opt in e-mail?

When I set up the temporary Spanky account I was somewhat confused by the Martini question. Not having drunk one I felt compelled to rely upon the authority of a rather uninspiring fictional character.