New Spam Tool: Email Domain & IP Banning at Sign-Up

[Eric Suesz]

We're no fan of spam at Ning. We know it can be an annoyance, especially for Ning Creators who choose not to moderate membership. While we can't solve for every type of spam attack, we have put in place a number of spam tools in the last two years that can make a difference. If you haven't turned all of those on yet, we encourage you to take a minute to make sure you're Preventing Spam in the best ways you can.

Today, we're releasing another spam tool that allows Ning Plus and Pro to perform both email domain and IP banning. 

IP banning is a request we've had over time from people here on Creators, so we are sure that a few folks who've wanted to see this will be happy that it's now available. The feature is fairly straightforward, and it's entirely optional. You'll see a new column in Member Management for IP addresses, and you'll see the option to block in the Sign-up/Sign-in area.

Block IP addresses at sign-up

You can prevent anyone coming from a specific IP address from signing up for your site. Just enter the IP address you want to block, and no one will be able to sign up from that IP address.

Block email domains at sign-up

Similarly, you can choose email domains that you want to block from signing up for your community. If you see spam coming from an email domain like [e-mail], you can block all sign-ups that come from the @sharklasers.com domain.

Of course, these are powerful tools, so we recommend using them carefully and thoughtfully. If you ban an IP that hundreds of thousands of people potentially use, you cut off access to thousands of potential members.

• These options are only available to the Network Creator; not admins.
• You can remove the bans you put in place at any time.
• If someone is unable to sign in because of these blocks, they will see a specific message. The specific message is located in the Language Editor and can be customized.
• If someone is unable to sign in, they can still contact you, provided you have not turned off that option. That option is located in your own personal Email Settings area (Feedback and problem reports).
• The reports you receive from members having trouble includes the email and IP address, as well as whether either is blocked.

One other thing to note about this feature is that you may see that an IP record is "unavailable" in your listings. In most cases, this will be because the member joined before we were able to capture their IP address (i.e., before this tool was turned on a few weeks ago).

Want to know where an IP is geographically located? Look it up on InfoSniper

You can read all about how to Block an Email Domain or IP Address from Signing Up in the Help Center.

[mobile.ning.com]

		beccadiane	[e-mail]	41.82.126.215	Spam	Aug 7, 2012
		anne desmond	[e-mail]	41.83.14.75	Spam	Aug 7, 2012
		anne desmond	[e-mail]	41.83.14.75	Spam	Aug 7, 2012
		prince favour	[e-mail]	41.82.221.148	Spam	Aug 5, 2012
		mabel	[e-mail]	41.214.11.81	Spam	Aug 3, 2012
		binue binue	[e-mail]	41.214.47.253	Spam	Aug 1, 2012

[Josh Hall]

Completely agree! I have exactly the same thing. Ranges are needed.

[mobile.ning.com]

Convinced that the IP Blocker has to work with Ranges, and not with Individual Points. I remember back from the 2005 when I used to block by IP that Host Providers have that capacity. Blocking whole ranges of IPs.

[mobile.ning.com]

Your TOOL must evolve into something like this http://docs.cpanel.net/twiki/bin/view/AllDocumentation/CpanelDocs/I...

[Apostle Solael]

Sounds great to me...and easy to apply I am sure.  I surely understood it :o)

Blessings..

[Josh Hall]

My Senegalese spammers lol

Can't we just block the whole country? I will sleep better knowing I won't get the same spammers everyday.

41.82.106.157

41.82.122.79

41.218.253.131

41.214.47.42

41.82.127.197

41.222.209.77

41.82.110.70

41.218.255.82

41.83.14.52

41.82.65.187

41.82.151.165

41.218.234.241

41.83.26.13

41.82.68.160

41.82.70.124

41.83.15.105

41.83.24.170

41.208.184.120

41.83.14.156

41.83.26.157

41.82.126.215

41.83.14.75

41.82.221.148

41.214.11.81

41.214.47.253

41.82.163.190

41.82.178.90

41.82.191.73

41.82.129.177

41.82.145.62

41.82.184.140

41.190.3.40

41.82.153.123

41.82.112.234

41.214.46.117

41.82.146.153

41.82.130.48

41.82.138.239

41.82.142.190

41.82.125.109

41.83.24.53

41.208.186.250

41.82.156.163

 

[Apostle Solael]

My God!  I get about 1 spammer every 6 months or so, until the beginning of this month when we all received the same spammer.  I could not imagine receiving as many spammers as members.  However, I do have in my profile questions this message:

NO SPAMMING ALLOWED. PERIOD.  NO SELLING OF ANY KIND - NOT EVEN ON YOUR OWN PROFILE PAGE, AND NOT IN ANY BLOGS, FORUMS, GROUPS OR THE PAGES OF OTHER MEMBERS OTHERWISE YOU WILL BE SUSPENDED IMMEDIATELY.  ARE YOU IN UNDERSTANDING OF THIS?

...and then once more with:

Are you in understanding that there is Zero Tolerance for Judging, Condemning, Stalking, spamming or Harassing any member of this Ministry?

Some still try, but there are seasons when it is apparently divinely allowed! :o)

[mobile.ning.com]

It is better to have it in the SIGN UP page. 

Here is Mine: http://mobile.ning.com/main/authorization/signUp?

[Apostle Solael]

:O)  YIIIIIIIkes!!! If they try to still sign up (spammers) then shame on them! 

Blessings..

[Josh Hall]

Doesn't look professional in my opinion.

[mobile.ning.com]

Nice list. You may be right. Blocking the whole Senegal. I probably do that.

I am starting to take PROACTIVE action rather than REACTIVE: No waiting they arrive. I am starting to block ahead of time, based on frecuency of NC reports, here.

[James Hawkins]

To everyone who would like to block individuals, IPs, ranges of IPs, or countries I would recommend looking into cloudflare.com I outlined some things in another discussion on spammers here. I included snips of various pages under Cloudflare's "threat control" panel for a website. This is a free program. Check it out.

James

EDIT: there is a premium upgrade but I use the free version and have since it was in beta.