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Spam Filter Expert >> What is Spam >> What is Forum Spam
What is Forum Spam?
Forum Spam is the posting of off topic messages containing links to the spammers sites. Some forum spam is simple aimed at registering fake users for the link available from the forum's memberlist.
Most forum spam is created by Spambots. These are automated programs designed to register on forums, disseminate spam, and leave. They usually supply a fake name, fake/free email address, and sometimes mask their true IP address. Spammers can set the message that the spambot will post. Most spambots target one specific forum software or hosting company.
Spambots are easy to identify by the nature of the message they leave, or the links in the signature. A typical post contains no topical content, but is accompanied by either spam links in the post itself, or in the user's signature. Some spambots will never post, and rely on the links in their signature to increase their search engine visibility. Looking up the spambot's user name with a search engine will often reveal thousands of registrations in unrelated forums.
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