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SMF Vs phpBB Vs Etc

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  • 24-02-2007 10:22pm
    #1
    axer
    Registered Users Posts: 5,517 ✭✭✭


    Hi Everyone,

    I am currently using phpBB for a discussion forum as part of a town website.

    We are getting probably 1 spam message a day, while that is not terrible, it does result in a post with a pornographic image in it.

    I was thinking about switching to a different opensource forum software and was particularly looking at SMF as it seems to contain more features like for example the ability to report a post.

    Can people please suggest forum software I should look at. I was thinking about vbulletin but the costs turn me off it. Or should I just wait for phpBB3 to come out.

    I have a feeling phpBB will always be a target of hackers and spammers more often than the likes of SMF due to its popularity etc so thats another reason why I'm thinking of changing.

    The forum has about 540 users, about 1400 posts to date (18 months old = about 2.5 posts a day). Its by no means a busy forum but it ticks over.

    Any recommendations/advice is much appreciated,
    Noel.


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    #2
    mneylon
    Registered Users Posts: 7,739 ✭✭✭mneylon


    Honestly I'd recommend moving to vbulletin. With a couple of the spam plugins you can pretty much remove the problem entirely :)

    Blog | Tweets



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    #3
    Bob the Builder
    Registered Users Posts: 2,919 ✭✭✭Bob the Builder


    SMF, free.. does the job...Gooo 4it!


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    #4
    louie
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,200 ✭✭✭louie


    SMF as well. Haven't had any issues yet with spam.


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    #5
    Bananna man
    Registered Users Posts: 673 ✭✭✭Bananna man


    My whole ps3 site work of the phpBB2 database. I should have gone with vBulletin from the start but now im stuck. If i wanted to change now it would involve recoding my entire site :mad:

    I may have to do it one day though. Im getting spam at the moment, about 3 per day and i have installed a few anti spam mods that dont seem to be doing much at all.

    I have also heard that it is failry likely that the forum could be hacked. Just have to make sure i have current mysql backups all the time.


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    #6
    forbairt
    Registered Users Posts: 3,594 ✭✭✭forbairt


    phpBB gets targeted by a hell of a lot of spam bots ...

    I installed a mod that requires confirmation of something ... your choice on the question ...

    how many days in the week ? for example ... its really done the trick and removed all of the spam .. from the site that said I've had no new registrations :P

    maybe it'd be an option ... ?

    phpBB is however the target of a HELL of a lot of attacks and people try to exploit it all the time ...

    so I guess its up to you if you want to pay for an option or just stick with one of the free alternatives ?


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    #7
    wheres me jumpa
    Registered Users Posts: 4,478 ✭✭✭wheres me jumpa


    Im using SMF and Ive had no problems with spam. The occasional account is created but the email activation required for registration and any time a user changes their email address is a life saver.


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    #8
    Rollo Tamasi
    Registered Users Posts: 3,514 ✭✭✭Rollo Tamasi


    Axer, you are using the email confirmation function yeah?

    Here is a challange/response modification for PHPBB which should clean up your forum.

    This mod is a lifesaver too...
    It basically alters the registration fields on the register page. This throws a spanner into the works for the bots when they attempt to fill out the form correctly.

    Test out both and see which one works better for you. They will not work in conjunction with one another.

    Enjoy.

    If your only problem is with spam then I wouldn't bother splashing the cash for vbulletin. Vbulletin is essentail for popular forums but if your forum is ticking along at its own pace then i wouldn't think vb is required.


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