Shoutbox

Well, a user on IRC just came along asking for a script and I got an idea.
Why not maintain a list of spam bots and a script to check the email of the person messaging you/adding you versus that spam bot list?

You could allow users to add addresses themselves if they want as well as check for spam messages coming in from people not in your list.

Its just an idea. Feedback would be great. You could build on the idea and.. umm maybe even build the script if you please
I just think this might be useful to people who're being harassed by spam bots (though I'm not one of them )

Hi, that would be me.

Yeah, and the script auto closes the IM window and removes any logs for it (don't want to fill up log with rubbish), with the option to block or not. Or if it's a friend requests or you have "only accept messages from those on my contact list" it blocks the friend request popup from bot lists.

Otherwise, add something to IM windows/friend request/someone trying to message you to close and add to block list.

Actually, EVEN better....

I love the sound of the new IM Tabbed Browsing feature (installing new version now..), in the same way you can group IMs together, how about ONE window for a list of friend requests, and another window for a list of messages from those not on your contact list.

All helps to get rid of the 10 - 20 minimum windows I come back to (I leave my messenger logged in 24/7) and just 1 or 2 or non (unless friends HAVE messaged me.

First of all, I haven't really seen any one intentionally spamming with advertisements on WLM. Some of those spammed adverts come from people affected with viruses.

So, I don't really see a need for such a script. Although if someone wants to make one, go ahead. I probably won't use it, but hey that shouldn't really matter, unless majority of people agree with me.

Also,

quote:

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Originally posted by John Anderton
You could allow users to add addresses themselves if they want as well as check for spam messages coming in from people not in your list.

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Please don't do that. People would misuse it. Adding people whom they don't like or someone who has got a virus on their computer, although the person had no intention of spamming at all.

I don't really see a way to check if an ID is a spam bot or not, so I'm against this one.

quote:

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Originally posted by John Anderton
I just think this might be useful to people who're being harassed by spam bots (though I'm not one of them )

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Neither do I know someone being harassed by spam bots on WLM nor am I one of those.

quote:

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Originally posted by Felu
First of all, I haven't really seen any one intentionally spamming with advertisements on WLM. Some of those spammed adverts come from people affected with viruses.

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Your lucky then. Whatever the reason for it (bots, viruses), I'm fed up with closing 10 - 20 IM windows of rubbish, and would like a script to do it for me.

quote:

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Originally posted by Felu
Also,

quote:

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Originally posted by John Anderton
You could allow users to add addresses themselves if they want as well as check for spam messages coming in from people not in your list.

---

Please don't do that. People would misuse it. Adding people whom they don't like or someone who has got a virus on their computer, although the person had no intention of spamming at all.

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The user has to be able to add to it, perhaps not a "global list", just person inside MSGPlus!. There would just maybe a default one with only a few really common ones.

The script maker could maintain their own list which user's report to and can download into their own list through a simple web database, but yes, this could be less than 100% accurate with false possitives. Of course, it should always check if a person is on their friend list first before applying this filter.

If you friends are on your friend list, no problem, if you get alot of im's from people not on your friend list, just use your own anti-spam filter and not the global one.

Personally, I think it would be better/more effective going by keywords in the IM message, rather than who it's from (except to check they're not on the friend list first). It's not meant to be a user block list or an auto-block adder (though those should certainly be options you can enable, but disabled by default), it's about reading the content of IMs, usually only the first line, and accessing whether it's a message from a friend, or a load of rubbish/spam and auto close the IM and erase it from the chat log (enabled by default, or can be disabled for debug).

I haven't really read through the whole of you post yet Stevens, but if the list really has to be updated by the user himself, I'd just prefer adding a new entry to my block list.

Edit: I meant I had skimmed through your post in a hurry, didn't properly read it.

No offense, but wouldn't that be a good idea before replying?

It's not meant to be a user block list or an auto-block adder (though those should certainly be options you can enable, but disabled by default), it's about reading the content of IMs, usually only the first line, and accessing whether it's a message from a friend, or a load of rubbish/spam and auto close the IM and erase it from the chat log (enabled by default, or can be disabled for debug).

Clear enough?

Edit: Again.. shouldn't you read a post properly before adding your opinion?

The user's list would contain things like "VIAGRA", "V1@GRA" etc., and when the user receives another message like this, click the "This is a Spam IM" button on the IM window (or better in a list window) and it inserts the IM message words into the keyword filter, making sure not to add common ones like "is", "my" etc.

Here's an example:

<Name>, I cant upload my pics to msn for some reason!
But I want to chat with you.
you can find me on my personal page http://CherylMayerstqv.blogspot.com
my name is kelly

So it should load that into a keyword filter, but exclude the names, and the url, since those can change. It won't be easy, it'll need to be an intelligent script, but it's possible, it's already done for email (Keyword Checking, Bayesian Analysis, SCL etc.).