TexasCHLforum.com

Are we being invaded by Russian bots?

They were busy last night.

I got Google to translate one post without the link.

“about the possibilities and advantages of playing on the 1win website online, try your luck in online casinos and sports betting with profitable bonuses and promotions for players.”

Deleting as quickly as I can. I don’t have a way to stop them. All I can do is ban the members and delete the post.

carlson1 wrote: Sun Apr 13, 2025 5:34 pm Deleting as quickly as I can. I don’t have a way to stop them. All I can do is ban the members and delete the post.

How is it that they're able to get on the site and legit new members and old members with password issues can't?

RoyGBiv wrote: Sun Apr 13, 2025 6:36 pm

carlson1 wrote: Sun Apr 13, 2025 5:34 pm Deleting as quickly as I can. I don’t have a way to stop them. All I can do is ban the members and delete the post.

How is it that they're able to get on the site and legit new members and old members with password issues can't?

I don’t know the answer.

Looks like new members started being added on 4/11/2025.

How did the forum go from 2/27/2021 until 4/11/2025 with no new members approved and suddenly all of these are approved? Bet there's not a legit user in that whole list.

Hackers found the back door!
Before we ban them all, can I give them a short list of legit new members to add or reinstate?

RoyGBiv wrote: Mon Apr 14, 2025 4:41 pm Hackers found the back door!
Before we ban them all, can I give them a short list of legit new members to add or reinstate?

Is there a vulnerability in the forum software that's being exploited?

I hope we can get it under control. I was on a forum once that was completely destroyed by bots; some advertising bot selling cheap athletic shoes was making 50-100 posts a day, while the actual discussion normally only got 2 or 3 posts a day. The site finally had to shut down.

One option, I believe, is to just start the whole site over, with new members and passwords. But very few sites can survive that kind of disruption; I'm sure this one couldn't.

I know phpBB has a user community and other resources that might offer some help.

Also, I think phpBB has a function where there site owner (Charles, I presume?) can toggle on/off an option for requiring new subscribers to be approved.

Oh my goodness.

I know I am doing the best I can. Deleting members and then the post. I have deleted over 30 post so far. I am not for sure about lthe other moderators are checking in or have the time. However I doing my best. Please be patient.

carlson1 wrote: Wed Apr 16, 2025 12:07 am I know I am doing the best I can. Deleting members and then the post. I have deleted over 30 post so far. I am not for sure about the other moderators are checking in or have the time. However I doing my best. Please be patient.

Appreciate your hard work. Thank you.

Yeah, phpBB definitely has a setting where the forum owner has to approve new members before they can join in and post. Since we're not really approving many (if any at all), this would be a good way to stop them. Just a thought.

Four Chan has been completely shut down by hackers.

I’m told that it may not return.