TOPIC: Removing UBB code URL tag?

Comment sites are one of the major targets for spammers leaving links for commercial purposes, SEO etc.

I need to remove the UBB URL code button before launching my site. I realise that spammers could still use the [url] tag directly, but most will not know about it.

Also, to deter SEO spammers, all URL's should have the "nofollow" tag appended to them - this is the default for blogs etc for this reason.

I am happy to modify the appropriate code to remove the URL button if you could let me know where it is.

Thanks.

Hi Adrian,
In the past I made an extensive research of spam.

First we have the spam bots - for the most part they are not able to post, because of captcha and akismet. Sometimes those bots manage to guess the captcha, but it is really rare.

But while researching I discovered some very clever ways to go around the captcha problem... A spam bot comes to your site, steals the captcha image and posts it on a porn site. So the visitors that want to see the porn image/video have to fill the captcha code that was stolen from your site. This way the bot gets a solution to your captcha and it submits the code.

But this is rare, what is most used are people in china or india, that for 1$ will enter solve 1000 captchas.

The next thing - who are you going to stop by removing the url tag? If I'm going to post spam comments on your site - I'll first write a comment, then copy and past it in your blog. I won't bother with your url tag thing...

So, at the end - who is going to suffer from your decision - your users...

All links that we produce have a nofollow tag. So is it really worth it at the end? I don't think so.

Cheers,
Daniel

P.S. If you still want to make this change I'll have a look at the code and will tell you what you need to change.

Daniel Dimitrov wrote: Hi Adrian,
In the past I made an extensive research of spam.

First we have the spam bots - for the most part they are not able to post, because of captcha and akismet. Sometimes those bots manage to guess the captcha, but it is really rare.

But while researching I discovered some very clever ways to go around the captcha problem... A spam bot comes to your site, steals the captcha image and posts it on a porn site. So the visitors that want to see the porn image/video have to fill the captcha code that was stolen from your site. This way the bot gets a solution to your captcha and it submits the code.

But this is rare, what is most used are people in china or india, that for 1$ will enter solve 1000 captchas.

The next thing - who are you going to stop by removing the url tag? If I'm going to post spam comments on your site - I'll first write a comment, then copy and past it in your blog. I won't bother with your url tag thing...

So, at the end - who is going to suffer from your decision - your users...

All links that we produce have a nofollow tag. So is it really worth it at the end? I don't think so.

Cheers,
Daniel

P.S. If you still want to make this change I'll have a look at the code and will tell you what you need to change.

Here are my comments:

1. I am pleased that there is a "nofollow" tag - that is crucial.

2. In general terms, after 25 years in the Internet, I have learned not to underestimate any sort of spammer, including a link spammer.

if they can get a large number of clicks on their link, even though it is of no use for SEO, they will do it, and captcha will not stop them - I speak from experience

I realise of course that not everyone will agree - which is fine- but for now I would feel happier removing the UBB code URL button altogether.

I have my own server so I can modify any file I choose from Linux.

All I need to do is know the file that holds the UBB icon display code, and ideally the code to modify, and I can do it myself.

This is not a general issue - just from my perspective, and for the site I am developing which could attract link spammers due to the profile of the site, it is something I would personally do without hesitation.

Again - these are just minor issues in what is an exceptional component which i am otherwise very happy with.

Thanks.

components/com_comment/classes/joscomment/JOSC_form.php line 187
delete it and the url tag should disappear.

Cheers,
Daniel

P.S. Did I mention that code modifications were not covered by the support subscription )))

If you get some time please leave a review here:
extensions.joomla.org/extensions/contact...icles-comments/12259

Daniel Dimitrov wrote: components/com_comment/classes/joscomment/JOSC_form.php line 187

$html .= "<a href='javascript:JOSC_insertUBBTag(\"url\")'><img src='" . $ubbIconList['url'] . "' class='buttonBB' name='burl' alt='[url]' /></a>&nbsp;";
 

delete it and the url tag should disappear.

Cheers,
Daniel

P.S. Did I mention that code modifications were not covered by the support subscription )))

You didn't mention that, but surely you would like the Component working according to customer needs.

I am only modifying whatever you advise me to modify

I will take a look at this now.

Removed the URL tag - all is well

Thanks again