Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with spambots

Blocking access based on referrer...?

poweredbybeard — Sun, 03 Sep 2006 12:16:44 -0800

Is it possible to restrict access to a web page (or whole site) based on the referrer? I noticed that a site I manage (which includes a phpbb forum) has been getting traffic off of the google search "inurl posting.php?mode=newtopic". I'm pretty sure this is one of the ways spammers and/or spambots are finding the forum.

Specific to my problem, is there any way to restrict access to visits coming from that search? Through scripting? .htaccess? etc?

And out of general interest, is there a way to block access based on referrers?

What is this odd website?

ar0n — Wed, 22 Sep 2004 15:03:08 -0800

What is this?

Is it a spambot or is it an ***hole?

timeistight — Thu, 29 Apr 2004 11:27:21 -0800

Someone (or something) has been leaving comments on my site. Can someone help me determine whether it's a spambot? [More Inside] He (it?) uses the name "Shows On TV" and links to a site of the same name. The comments are somewhat related to the relevant posts, but I suppose that could be automated. Anyone else seeing this?

I'm looking for a bot to advertise my site and help answer questions on AIM.

banished — Tue, 03 Feb 2004 19:37:50 -0800

I'm looking for a program (a bot) that will help answer questions while at the same time advertising my web site on AOL Instant messenger. An important feature will be for the bot to ask the user if they would like would like to refer the bot to some of their friends. Is there anything like this already out there?
[more inside] I got an instant message from a bot the other day, unfortunately I forgot the screenname, but I really liked it, and one of the friends referred the bot to me. The users wouldn't refer the bot to their friends unless it's something they are likely interested in, and I like the idea a lot.