First use and a request for documentation

Hi Robert,

you are welcome.

You can change the text (message) informing known spammer on login already. It's in the language file. You have to go to administrator\language\en-GB\en-GB.plg_user_spambotcheck.ini (our just the language folder of the language you use and the xx-XX.plg_user_spambotcheck.ini with xx-XX as your language shortcut) in your Joomla installation.

Almost at the bottom you find USER_LOGIN_SPAM_TXT=
Just type the text you'd like to use between the quotationmarks.

To change the text on registration I have to change some code. I'd prefere to use the languagefile for that too. I can make those changes soon.

Regards, Aicha

Hi Robert,

I just made those changes and you can get a newer version of plgspambotcheck now. It's available under "Downloads".

You can uninstall the plugin (Extension Manager -> Manage choose the plugin and then the uninstall button) and then install the newer version (Extension Manager -> Install browse to the zip-file and click upload & install). You have to enable the plugin then once again and set up the parameters.

Go then to the language file (see my latest post) and type in your text for
USER_REGISTRATION_SPAM_TXT and for USER_LOGIN_SPAM_TXT

Regards, Aicha

Hi Aicha,

Many thanks for doing the update - it is very much appreciated!
I've updated the extension to 1.1.5. And made the changes:

USER_LOGIN_SPAM_TXT="Sorry, your login failed! Are you trying to spam? Either your E-Mail or IP has a record in our spambot database. Feel free to drop us a line to get the issue solved."
USER_REGISTRATION_SPAM_TXT="Sorry, your registration failed! Are you trying to spam? Either your E-Mail or IP has a record in our spambot database. Feel free to drop us a line to get the issue solved."

When logging on as a pre-registered user that uses an email address from StopForumSpam, i get message "Sorry, your login failed! Are you trying to spam? Either your E-Mail or IP has a record in our spambot database. Feel free to drop us a line to get the issue solved." - This is what I want.

When registering a new user (that uses an email address from StopForumSpam) I get message "Sorry, your login failed! Are you trying to spam? Either your E-Mail or IP has a record in our spambot database. Feel free to drop us a line to get the issue solved". I was expecting to get the message ""Sorry, your registration failed! ..."

What have I got wrong?

Many thanks,
Robert.

Hi Aicha,

I have done further testing of plgSpambotCheck 1.1.5, I have done the following:

1. Registered a normal user
2. Login normal user
3. Registered a SPAM user (using a known spam email address)
4. Login SPAM user (user created by admin and given a known spam email address)

Here are the results:

Registered a normal user - OK
GREEN (i message): Your account has been created and an activation link has been sent to the email address you entered. Note that you must activate the account by clicking on the activation link when you get the email before you can login.
Get email creation link and able to create user
User created

Login normal user - OK
above user logged in with no problem

Registered a SPAM user (using a known spam email address) - 2 PROBLEMS
GREEN (i): Message “Sorry, your login failed! Are you trying to spam? Either your E-Mail or IP has a record in our spambot database. Feel free to drop us a line to get the issue solved.”
User was not created.
1. Message was in green information, and should have been in red with no-entry icon.
2. Wrong message - login failed message instead of registration failed message.

Login SPAM user (user created by admin and given a known spam email address) - OK
RED (no-entry icon): Sorry, your login failed! Are you trying to spam? Either your E-Mail or IP has a record in our spambot database. Feel free to drop us a line to get the issue solved.
User not logged in.

Could you have a look to see if you get the problem or if it is just me?

In addition, could you consider changing the default messages that come with plgSpambotCheck so that failed login and failed registration get different messages? May I suggest:

USER_LOGIN_SPAM_TXT="Sorry, your login failed because you have been flagged as a spammer by a match of your details in our spambot database. If you are a genuine visitor, then we apologise. Please contact us to get the issue resolved."

USER_REGISTRATION_SPAM_TXT="Sorry, your registration failed because you have been flagged as a spammer by a match of your details in our spambot database. If you are a genuine visitor, then we apologise. Please contact us to get the issue resolved."

Many thanks,
Robert.

Hi Robert,

thanks for testing.
Is resolved in version 1.1.6, the version now available in downloads.

Regards, Aicha

Hi Aicha,

Many thanks for all of your hard work. Version 1.1.6 works very well.

Joomla administrators have the ability to set whether each user is checked only on registration or on registration and every login, for peace of mind I prefer (and recommend) to check on registration and every login. Normal users can register and login with no problem.

However spammers who have their details in one or more of the databases that plgSpambotCheck is configured to check (again set by the Joomla administrator) are prevented from registering and getting added to the user database of your site in the first place. Should a user be added to one of the spam databases after registering at your site then they will be caught next time that they login. A polite message (which Joomla administrator can customise to their own requirements) is issued depending on whether it's a registration or a login denial.

This is an essential plug-in for any Joomla site to help the fight against spammers.

Many thanks,
Robert.