vBulletin LTS

Archive Tripwire (Automated Spam Detection & Handling)
Mod Version: .01, by Sim9

Description:
Very simple modification created in-house for our forums a while back that's been working well to handle post spam for us. (For PM spam, see our other plugin). I figured it might help some others out there, so I'm sharing the code for you to use as well -- but keep in mind that since it was an in-house tool, it's not as productized or flexible as some other addons.

For new users, we disallow links to other sites on their first few posts as a spam prevention policy - as we get tons of spammers and its sometimes impossible to determine a genuine new user vs a crafty marketing firm. This policy is noted in bold at the top of pages for a new user (not with this plugin, via vB functionality), so real users rarely post links, but spammers ignore the warning.

This plugin checks new posts by a user for certain keywords (in our deployment, link keywords -- but this is customizable). If they keywords are matched, the user is banned to a new usergroup, and the post is then moved to an admin-only forum for review of false-positives. A message is then displayed to the user explaining the situation.

For us, this has worked out really well over the past couple of months. Only one false positive, and tons of spam blocked and handled automatically.

Installation:

1. Download product XML (attached).
2. Edit the XML to change the configuration variables section to your liking (sorry, no fancy frontend to the tweaks. It's an in-house tool )
3. Upload the product XML: In your AdminCP: Plugins & Products >> Manage Products >> [Add/Import Product] >> Upload.
4. Test the system to ensure it is operating to your liking.

More information on configuration variables:
These are the configuration variables you're interested in:

$arc_t_tripwords - Array of words to search for which will set off tripwire
$arc_t_reportforum - ID for forum to post tripwire report
$arc_t_reportusername - Username of who should tripwire report be from
$arc_t_changetomembergroup - ID of member group to change user to if tripped
$arc_t_banreason - This is the reason for the ban (250 characters or less)
$arc_t_trippedmessage - Message to show user immediately upon being tripped

Boring Legal Disclaimer:

THERE IS NO WARRANTY FOR THE PROGRAM, TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW. EXCEPT WHEN OTHERWISE STATED IN WRITING THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND/OR OTHER PARTIES PROVIDE THE PROGRAM "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. THE ENTIRE RISK AS TO THE QUALITY AND PERFORMANCE OF THE PROGRAM IS WITH YOU. SHOULD THE PROGRAM PROVE DEFECTIVE, YOU ASSUME THE COST OF ALL NECESSARY SERVICING, REPAIR OR CORRECTION.

IN NO EVENT UNLESS REQUIRED BY APPLICABLE LAW OR AGREED TO IN WRITING WILL ANY COPYRIGHT HOLDER, OR ANY OTHER PARTY WHO MAY MODIFY AND/OR REDISTRIBUTE THE PROGRAM AS PERMITTED ABOVE, BE LIABLE TO YOU FOR DAMAGES, INCLUDING ANY GENERAL, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF THE USE OR INABILITY TO USE THE PROGRAM (INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO LOSS OF DATA OR DATA BEING RENDERED INACCURATE OR LOSSES SUSTAINED BY YOU OR THIRD PARTIES OR A FAILURE OF THE PROGRAM TO OPERATE WITH ANY OTHER PROGRAMS), EVEN IF SUCH HOLDER OR OTHER PARTY HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.