We have an on-going problem with spam/SEO postings

[Sharko]

As many of us have noticed, we are getting inundated with subtle spam: someone with very few postings tacks onto an existing thread, with a short contribution that looks on-topic to the casual observer, BUT there is also a link to an off-site page (usually a gaming site). The point of this is (apparently) to boost the gaming site search engine optimization ratings by making it look like the gaming site is mentioned all over the internet (search engine web crawlers will notice the link). Do we have anyone who polices the forum? Do we need someone to police the forum? I would be willing to devote at least some time each week to cleaning up this problem: notice the offending posts, blow them away, ban the posters who created them.

When I go to the "The Team" listing (linked at the bottom of forum pages), I see that we have an Administrator named Jason, but no moderators. I guess I'm volunteering to act as a moderator.

Kurt

[FadingIntoBlue]

I agree we have a problem. It seems to me someone is using one of the AI programs to generate answers including a non relevant link. Often the answers are so generic and even wrong that they have little or no bearing on the topic. For example

Re: Migrating from Drobo to ZFS
Postby emmausa » Wed Sep 27, 2023 11:53 am

Please make sure you have backed up all data from your Dropbox. This may require some time depending on the amount of data aa route planner you store on Dropbox.

The only mention of Dropbox in this topic is the one in this post. The aa route planner appears to be the site of the link, which didn't copy over as a link.

Might be able to automate some form of rejection of these?

[Sharko]

It appears that we have another wave of nonsense postings underway this week, most likely in preparation for spam postings to follow. It bothers the hell out of me because our little community depends entirely on this message board for timely and accurate information about how to use ZFS in the Mac context, and having regurgitated ChatGPT postings lowers the signal to noise ratio: old useless threads get resurrected as though there is new information (when there isn't), and recent threads that refer to an unresolved problem are commented on without adding anything substantive to the conversation. The three examples I've highlight on the board today (by replying in the thread) are all first postings by hitherto unknown entities.

I would like to offer a suggestion: can the message board software be set to require explicit moderation approval for the first N posts (where N equals some number like 3 or 5)? Then the first time someone new posts AI-generated content they can simply be ban-hammered off the board instantly, good-bye, no second chances. I think that is the only way to defeat the spammers: raise the cost of doing business.

I realize that this requires extra effort from the moderators, or Mr. Lundman; I will repeat my offer to participate as a moderator.

[Sharko]

I'm going to start calling them out by name: bandagepeas is a spammer viewtopic.php?f=11&t=3752&p=12596&hilit=doodle#p12596

That was helpful. I was confuse the -R would begin at the bottom of the pool structure, it actually begins with the most recent snapshot.

My system requires a sudo on both side of the pipe:
sudo zfs send -R mydata/media/zMedia-1@2022-12-14 doodle cricket| sudo zfs receive backup/zMedia-1

That structure is really confusing.

[Sharko]

nsarasa is a SPAMMER: viewtopic.php?f=9&t=3446&p=12693&hilit=snow#p12693

2.1.6 and it's correctsnow rider 3d

2.1.6 is not correct for me!

[Sharko]

Olivia101 is another spammer: viewtopic.php?f=26&t=3842&p=12674&hilit=contexto#p12674

It seems like Benjamin is experiencing an issue with the zilstat and arc_summary commands, both of which are returning a "NameError: name 'load_kstats' is not defined" message. He is running v2.1.7-rc3 on Sonoma v14.1 and mentioned a similar issue being reported and fixed in the past. However, it appears that the fix might have only been applied to arcstat. Benjamin plans to investigate further when he has the chance. It's possible that an update or patch may be needed for zilstat and arc_summary to address this issue. Benjamin's approach of troubleshooting and reporting back once he has more information is a contexto good plan.

[Sharko]

moriswayne is a SPAMMER: viewtopic.php?f=9&t=3446&p=12498&hilit=Insta+Pro#p12498

2.1.6 and it's correct
Insta pro download

Thanks, but no thanks because 2.1.6 isn't correct. I tried myself....

[Sharko]

celinedion is a SPAMMER: viewtopic.php?f=9&t=3446&p=12291&hilit=mapquest#p12291

2.1.6 and it's correct
mapquest driving directions

[Sharko]

Man, these spammers love replying to each other in the same thread.

widafardaniel is a SPAMMER - this posting is a two-fer: viewtopic.php?f=9&t=3446&p=12300&hilit=1223#p12300
 

2.1.6 and it's correct angel number 5050 angel number 1223

Thanks!!! I forgot my old account's password, so I created a new one, and 2.1.6 was working!! I was trying 2.1.0 all the time.

[Sharko]

umquatsavoid is a SPAMMER: viewtopic.php?f=9&t=3446&p=12425&hilit=dordle#p12425

2.1.6 and it's correct dordle

Thanks!!! I forgot my old account's password, so I created a new one, and 2.1.6 was working!! I was trying 2.1.0 all the time.

Thanks a lot! 2.1.0 it's a correct answer