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  • Re: (comp.lang.c) More musings on the spam problem...

    From Japanese Spammer Here@21:1/5 to Kenny McCormack on Sun Nov 19 23:25:44 2023
    XPost: comp.lang.c

    On 19/11/2023 11:23, Kenny McCormack wrote:
    So, the question becomes, is there any way we can get Google to ban all newsgroups, not just these 2?


    Yes just keep posting more spam using google Groups and they will ban as
    soon as they come to know of them. Now you can't buy your drugs anymore! Shame on you.

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From David Brown@21:1/5 to Mike Terry on Mon Nov 20 08:42:59 2023
    XPost: comp.lang.c

    On 19/11/2023 18:18, Mike Terry wrote:

    It would be better long term if Google could apply some better SPAM
    filtering technology, perhaps leveraging all their clever AI
    technology?, to block the spam entering the system in the first place.
    It's at the point of initial entry that SPAM can be handled with minimum hassle; once it's circulating around the system it's an order of
    magnitude more effort to deal with. [Yeah, I get that Usenet SPAM is not Google's priority!]


    I agree with you here. Although most of the regulars in these technical
    groups use proper Usenet clients, there are some who - for good or bad
    reasons - use GG. And it is undoubtedly the main source of new members
    for most groups.

    Really, it is absurd that Google are not fixing this issue, because it
    is not just a GG/Usenet matter. They need to make it more
    time-consuming to open a new google account, involve more user
    interaction, and put limits on the numbers of new accounts from the same
    IP within a short time-frame. It is far too easy to automate the
    creation of new gmail address accounts, and that is a big source of
    spam, malware and other problems for all of google. If they stop the
    bots getting the new accounts, then a simple decades-old Bayesian filter
    is enough to identify these spam posts and close the account.

    They could also easily have limits on Usenet postings from new accounts.
    No posts for the first 20 minutes, then max 3 posts in the first 24
    hours. Combine that with delays, limits and checks on new accounts, and
    the problem would be solved without bothering existing users.

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From Lynn McGuire@21:1/5 to Kenny McCormack on Tue Nov 21 14:42:44 2023
    XPost: comp.lang.c

    On 11/19/2023 5:23 AM, Kenny McCormack wrote:
    The good news: The spam problem (both the so-called "Thai spam" and the "mushroom spam") is gone from clc and clc++, because Google has (for
    reasons of its own) banned both groups. What's funny about this is that normally people on these groups would be p*ssed off at Google for banning them, but in this instance, it is a happy coincidence that it stops the
    spam. So, we're good with it.

    The bad news is that it is still alive and well in many of the other
    groups. Right now, comp.editors is getting slammed - about 1 spam per minute, 24/7.

    So, the question becomes, is there any way we can get Google to ban all newsgroups, not just these 2?

    Ray Banana (E-S admin) blocked a back door that somebody had installed
    this morning that GG spam was coming through. He may have gotten the
    rest of it. The spammers will be looking for more back doors though.

    Lynn

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)