New Topics has been hacked

That’s all. Just wanted to let you know.

Thanks.
I thought Id done a Rip van Winkle when I saw 147 New since last night
:exploding_head:

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I counted 155 topics … great to drive the new topic count into the high numbers from about 80 per week to over 250… a wonderful use of AI to create hell on the internet and make the advertisers feel like they spent their money well

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I was trying to flag them all this morning but could not.

Anyone else find the timing of the C&D about E-boy and then this to be marginally suspicious?

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There’s a new topic showing up in Off Course every minute or so. Mods are going to have a busy morning.

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Well, the AI and/or Hackers have done their work.
I’m staying off COTH today, will check in tomorrow to see if a Fix got done.
Peace Out :v:

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I still can’t help but be amused that the eboy thread got deleted completely instead of locked when so many other “”witch hunt”” threads stay up forever. So we can call out equestrians so long as they’re not Uber wealthy and powerful??

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in last seven days there have been 360 new topics (and increasing) where as lately a normal week is between 75 and 100… so that makes it about 300 topics that are trash

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It’s bots. I was wondering when this would happen; I used to run a community forum and we prevented this spam by a stiff registration process. On top of Capchas and a pre-registration forum question, you can’t post until you apply for a specific usergroup and are approved by a mod. It might be worth the site admins looking into a beefier registration protocol because this type of spam is here to stay.

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🫠 okay, I know I said Id stay away, but it looks like the issue has been fixed (?) ’ a mere 16 New as of just now :crossed_fingers:

Thank you for all the alerts this morning. I’ve notified IT to see if they can help stave off this bot attack and take steps to prevent future ones.

In terms of the “eboy” thread, we removed the entire thread, because the premise of the entire thread was unsubstantiated accusations against a named individual (or at least named within the first few posts). We allow negative experiences with trainers, products or companies and even first-hand accusations/account of criminal activity if the victim/accuser is posting non anonymously. If charges or sanctions are brought against this individual or anyone else, or it’s reported upon by a reputable news source, that is fair game to discuss.

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I have to admit that I thought “eboy” was a horse’s barn name I wasn’t familiar with and hadn’t opened the thread…and we hadn’t received any alerts on it.

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They are at it again. I just flagged another one.

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What’s the point of it? Just to be obnoxious? Or is it usually retaliatory in nature because “someone” didn’t like a topic being discussed?

I wonder if it’s more to get a specific phone number out on the internet in various places, so Google search returns that phone number when people search for “Delta customer service” or whatever.

Not really targeting coth specifically, other than it’s a place that allows people to register and post without a real live person approving the poster or the post before it’s live, and it’s indexed by Google.

I dunno though, just guessing.

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Wow, I hadn’t thought of that. So it’s possibly a tactic scammers use to that allows them to set up fake call centers for all those airline and travel customer service sites. Then unassuming people call and inadvertently give up their credit card information.

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They(?) are at it again.

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Yes, back at it!
I just had surgery on second eye for cataracts and can barely see close up, is all blurry.
Old glasses are not working and won’t get new ones for a few weeks.
As I was trying to flag spammers, I gave them a thumbs up by mistake, that I quickly fixed. :roll_eyes:

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Same this morning - flagged 3 posting supposed Airline Customer Service info w/ph#s & links

ETA; Make that 4! :face_with_raised_eyebrow:

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