>On Fri, 29 Nov 2002 03:09:31 -0500 "Mike B (digiboy)" wrote:
>
>> The spamming scheme used to post these type messages can be stopped very
>> easily by the list moderator. All the moderator has to do is change the
>> group setting for new memberships. Right now it is set to automatically
>> accept new members. The spammers look for groups with this setting. They
>> can join and send spam and if deleted, they rejoin under another name.
>> Change the setting so that each application for membership goes into a
>> pending mode first. The Moderator receives an E mail notice each time
>> someone applies to join, the moderator just clicks a simple "approve"
>> button to allow them in. The spammers will not bother with groups set in
>> that mode.
>>
>> The change in setting has absolutely no effect on current members or the
>> way the group operates in terms of message posting, file upload/download,
>> etc.
>
>True. I'm a little worried, though, that this would increase the barrier
>for genuine users to join. And if someone does join, you have no control
>over inappropriate mails unless you decide to moderate new users' messages.
>
>- Peter
>--
It's not really a serious barrier if you attend to the approval messages
promptly. All that happens is that a potential member, intead of getting
immediate approval, gets a message saying they are now on "pending" status.
At the same time you, the moderator, receive an Email notifying you that
someone has applied. You just hit an approval option and they are in.
You don't really need to moderate the messages any more than you do now.
You don't even need to check into new member's authenticity. The spammers
don't bother with groups that are set in the "pending approval" mode. Just
thought you should know about this anyway. I have a small group too and it
has worked out fine. I'm also on another list that lost it's moderator so
they couldn't change the setting. They got so fed up with this spamming
scheme that they created a new list with these settings and everyone moved
over to it...no more spam...
personally, the spam doesn't bother me that much, I've gotten so i can tell
the phoney messages by those gibberish member names. I just see others
complaining so I thought you might want to know.
Mike Berman
digiboy@...