Spamming

Hi @Steve251, thanks for reaching out.

We’re aware of how much spam has been coming in recently, there’s definitely been a large influx that we’re not used to. We’re talking with the community host about what can be done and have recently updated our spam filters following the recent spam, something we hadn’t had to do for a while.

We also appreciate reporting any spam threads or replies that you see.

Hi Sonos,

Thanks for your reply.

I am aware of the amount of work that goes into combatting spam. 

I work as a IT guy and look after lots of client domains

Whilst my knowledge is not great on spam through  community groups like this one I do see other groups and how they deal with it

It seems to me that members who have been members for a month or so and have posted genuinely can be trusted but new members who sign up might be signing up just to spam.

Maybe there is a way to set their posts to be checked before they are published.

I once started a Facebook group for to replace on where the moderators had given up fighting spam and by having lots of moderators we were able to beat it.

So maybe this another way. Ask for volunteers to moderate all posts. I appreciate you get a lot every da y but half a dozen moderators would work

Steve

Hi @Steve251, thanks for the suggestions!

We’ve started using the pending post function on the community, which adds a second layer for us to catch spam alongside the spam filter. I also think there was an option recently enabled that should stop the quick succession of posts from new accounts (before I would sometimes see accounts with 10 or more spam replies before being caught and banned).

As you know, nothing is perfect for combating spam, so we’d appreciate reporting any that slip through. I’ll pass this thread and the suggestions along to our team for their consideration.

No offense, but you have Spam posts getting through from first time posters that are nothing but links, and with gibberish for titles, while text only posts from people who have been here over a decade get blocked.  I know “nothing is perfect”, but there’s a huge sliding scale between perfect and incompetent, and Gainsight is on the far lower end of that scale. 

None taken, and FWIW, we are looking into all the options available to us, it just take some time to implement them. I do agree that recently the spam is becoming overbearing on the community and posts are getting through that absolutely shouldn’t, the extra work also isn’t helping us get to what actually needs replying to.

There are internal discussions about a verification process for newer accounts, but that’s all I’m aware of at the time. 

It’s not rocket science.  New posters shouldn’t be able to post links until they have X number of posts or X number of days, and X should be in the 50-60 range so you take away the impetus to blow past the blocks.  Gibberish titles should also be blocked.  Those two alone would have staved off the last onslaught.  Now I don’t know what “filters” Gainsight is using, but when you can’t block a new poster from posting a frigging link, while you are blocking very old, established posters from posting text, then you aren’t up to the task.  At all.

I understand how challenging staying one step ahead of the spammers is and great that you are taking action to wipe this out because members will leave. Best of British to you