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Why are here so many spam-bot posts?

Probably a dumb question, but I have to report pretty much the same post (some website-link + some mentioned usernames, but always sent from different instances) multiple times a day.

The weird thing is, that this happens only here in this community, and not in any else I have subscribed to.

Is this some targeted attack, because due to the self hosting, we're a more valuable victims, or is it just due to time shift because the mods are in a different time zone and asleep when we report the posts?

I think the latter one isn't the case, since there are many active moderators here :)

Is there something we can do about it?

halm ,
@halm@leminal.space avatar

Hate to break your illusion that Selfhosted is specifically targeted. I've not made notes of the spam accounts I've reported/blocked but there were several in OpenSource and others, too.

NeoNachtwaechter ,

Because lemmy is like a public restroom:

Anyone can, as soon as they feel the need,...

db0 ,

Some instances (like mine and lemmings.world) have automated bots to clean up these spam posts everywhere. I think lemmy world has an automod as well, but maybe it's not working as well if you keep seeing these spam posts?

Valmond ,

Interesting, any info somewhere on how to set up some of those auto mod bots?

I mean if we use the same filters these spams are easily recognised.

Valmond ,

Interesting, any info somewhere on how to set up some of those auto mod bots?

I mean if we use the same filters these spams are easily recognised.

Valmond ,

Interesting, any info somewhere on how to set up some of those auto mod bots?

I mean if we use the same filters these spams are easily recognised.

db0 ,

My bot has a readme with instructions and we're working on a docker image too: https://github.com/db0/threativore

Valmond ,

Thank you!

sabreW4K3 ,
@sabreW4K3@lemmy.tf avatar

Them turning it up would be good. Also shouldn't there be a duplicate post check built into the platform?

acockworkorange ,

They're not exact replicas. Enough a difference to fool the algorithm.

otter ,
@otter@lemmy.ca avatar

There was a post earlier today with an explainer on who is doing it: https://lemmy.ca/post/15935073

I'm not sure why this particular instance was chosen, but from what I can tell the spammers are doing it for the memes anyways.

The best you can do for now is to keep reporting them. What you can also do is see if there's a pattern, such as one instance popping up more often than others. Chances are that instance has open signups or something, and lemmy.world (and everyone else) should defederate

Rooki ,
@Rooki@lemmy.world avatar

You are not the first one to ask this. We dont know, my guess would be, because Selfhost is so popular it federated almost everywhere, and spammers probably saw that and attacked through that.

maggio ,

Some instances don't have any checks or barriers for signing up, so the bots can just get accounts from these kind of instances and keep spamming.

It was already discussed in a post here, lrt me see if I can find it

maggio ,

Older post: https://lemmy.techtriage.guru/post/66653

8565 ,

Awe I feel special for getting linked

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