Author Topic: Whats up with the BB Code in signatures? (Read 1048 times)

clare · « **on:** September 29, 2010, 03:52:15 AM »

I've noticed that those signatures which use BB Code for web addresses or images, are just showing the code and not the weblinks or images. What's happened?

Cheryl · « **Reply #1 on:** September 29, 2010, 07:24:40 AM »

Quote from: clare

I've noticed that those signatures which use BB Code for web addresses or images, are just showing the code and not the weblinks or images. What's happened?

Clare,
You might have missed it, but the following link will explain in Matthew's own words.

http://www.cathinfo.com/catholic.php/SPAMMERS-BEWARE-Anti-spam-measures-now-in-place

Matthew · « **Reply #2 on:** September 29, 2010, 07:59:34 AM »

Here is the full text of the message:

CathInfo now filters every "web address-like" element from the signature field, as well as from the Homepage field.

If you fill in a "homepage" in your Profile, the link will take you to "Angelus Web Design".
AND the link title will be modified (so you can't give out the address that way)

The signature won't permit links anymore. That includes embedded images (apologies to members who liked to include a graphic at the bottom of their posts...)

I'm sure spammers would eventually take advantage of that one as well -- they'd post a graphic with info about their website, etc.

CathInfo is just getting big and "noticed", and I want to discourage spam as much as possible. Apparently they found out that links on CathInfo are NOT marked "nofollow" which means they COULD theoretically get Google pagerank by posting here.

Sorry spammers, not anymore. Spammers go elsewhere. No benefit to you wasting your time here.

Next step will be auto-deletion of any "signature" for those who fill one in at registration time.

Matthew

Matthew · « **Reply #3 on:** September 29, 2010, 08:03:17 AM »

Clare,

I think the next step is for me to have an "exclude list" of established members (and non-spammers!) whose signatures will be untouched.

I do feel bad that it has to affect long-standing members, but I'm getting a slew of Polish spammers here. They seem to have me on a webpage or list, and people are signing up hoping to get a search engine benefit.

By breaking the links, I don't have to waste my time in banning the pseudo-members.

Maybe I'll work on the "exclude" programming today.

I should point out that nothing was done to ANYONE's signature. The original signatures are all intact -- spammers and all. I just modified the programming of the site everywhere that signature is used/displayed to filter out certain things, to break the links.

Matthew

Matthew · « **Reply #4 on:** September 29, 2010, 08:33:48 AM »

Ok -- I fixed it.

I added some people, but I couldn't add everyone so don't feel left out if you didn't get added. If you have a signature that's "broken" just PM me and I'll add you to the list.

Matthew

clare · « **Reply #5 on:** September 29, 2010, 10:17:24 AM »

Thanks Matthew. :dancing:

Alexandria · « **Reply #6 on:** September 29, 2010, 11:53:19 AM »

Whatever are you talking about? What signatures?

Matthew · « **Reply #7 on:** September 29, 2010, 12:33:33 PM »

A "signature" is a bunch of text/images/etc. that appears at the bottom of every one of your posts -- if you've entered one, that is.

Click on "control panel" on the menu bar to edit yours.

Matthew