Forum OpenACS Q&A: Spammers using openacs.org as source for mailaddresses

Collapse
1: Spammers using openacs.org as source for mailaddresses
Posted by Jeroen van Dongen on 09/28/04 08:52 PM
Recently I noticed spammers using the openacs.org community directory as a source for their mailinglists.
I noticed because I made a special mail address just for openacs.org and got spam on it within a day (ranging from the usual drug adverts to 419's).

In the IRC channel there are three proposals offered so far:

- using mail forwarding (no mail adresses on the site, just a link "contact this person", with some added difficulties to make life hard for scripters)

- displaying mail addressed as images

- constructing the mailto links using javascript on pageload

Comments are welcome ...

Collapse
2: Re: Spammers using openacs.org as source for mailaddresses (response to 1)
Posted by Torben Brosten on 09/28/04 09:33 PM
Some of my peers have commented how they like the image method of masking seen on other sites.  I'd prefer the solution to be compatible with accessibility standards.

What about upgrading openacs to 5.x thereby making username available for those who don't want email addresses shown.  Then, when username is available, use the form method you mention above?