phpBB users - Search Spam Protection

[MacroGuru]

Well, I found out why my host disabled my account. My wordlist had over 9000 records in it, and was being hit constantly by a bot searching for every number string and word string possible.

Has anyone who used phpbb experienced this and if so, how have you combated it or if you haven't, how are you protecting it.

[gstelmack]

Back when we were using phpBB in WOOF, I remember seeing regular access from some IPs that were clearly bots (whether Google or nefarious I never dug into) and I just banned them.

[Alan T]

Originally Posted by MacroGuru

Well, I found out why my host disabled my account. My wordlist had over 9000 records in it, and was being hit constantly by a bot searching for every number string and word string possible.

Has anyone who used phpbb experienced this and if so, how have you combated it or if you haven't, how are you protecting it.

I know phpBB now has the ability to lump all of the common search engines into a BOT group and limit what they have access to. It is not that hard to throw new bots into that group when you find them as well if you want.

Or you can do what I see many sites do and limit the search functionality to only registered user groups instead as well.

[MacroGuru]

Originally Posted by Alan T

I know phpBB now has the ability to lump all of the common search engines into a BOT group and limit what they have access to. It is not that hard to throw new bots into that group when you find them as well if you want.

Or you can do what I see many sites do and limit the search functionality to only registered user groups instead as well.

I haven't moved up to version 3 yet, as I haven't had the time to prepare the message board for it.

However, I took your second suggestion...I had to search for it, because phpBB does not do it inherently. So I will post the link here for posterity.

hxxp://www.phpbb.com/community/viewtopic.php?t=213812

[DanGarion]

Originally Posted by MacroGuru

I haven't moved up to version 3 yet, as I haven't had the time to prepare the message board for it.

However, I took your second suggestion...I had to search for it, because phpBB does not do it inherently. So I will post the link here for posterity.

hxxp://www.phpbb.com/community/viewtopic.php?t=213812

Just an FYI, phpBB3 is a real bitch.