This newsgroup is getting swamped by spam. Any tips on how to
navigate it would be appreciated. I know about kill files, but I've
never had the need to learn how to use them.

On Thursday, 30 November 2023 at 08:54:00 UTC, Charles Packer wrote:
> This newsgroup is getting swamped by spam. Any tips on how to
> navigate it would be appreciated. I know about kill files, but I've
> never had the need to learn how to use them.

We've discussed the problem.
<https://groups.google.com/g/rec.arts.sf.written/c/f1q-ahtlKo8/m/5p0Ph8YUAQAJ>

For one thing, it depends on what you're using
to read the group. Technical details of your posts
probably contain that information... somehow.

On Google Groups, I am reporting the spam when
I see it, but I don't know if that is carrying over
for other users.

In article <D4Y9N.162536$svP4.105319@fx12.iad>,
Charles Packer <mailbox@cpacker.org> wrote:
>This newsgroup is getting swamped by spam. Any tips on how to
>navigate it would be appreciated. I know about kill files, but I've
>never had the need to learn how to use them.

I don't know anything about your newsreader, but a crude and simple solution
is to just kill any posts sent from Google Groups. Keying on the
Message-ID field is probably the easiest way with most newsreaders.
--scott
--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

All I know is, whenever I make a post, I have to confirm I'm not a robot.

On 11/30/2023 4:26 AM, Robert Carnegie wrote:
> On Thursday, 30 November 2023 at 08:54:00 UTC, Charles Packer wrote:
>> This newsgroup is getting swamped by spam. Any tips on how to
>> navigate it would be appreciated. I know about kill files, but I've
>> never had the need to learn how to use them.
>
> We've discussed the problem.
> <https://groups.google.com/g/rec.arts.sf.written/c/f1q-ahtlKo8/m/5p0Ph8YUAQAJ>
>
> For one thing, it depends on what you're using
> to read the group. Technical details of your posts
> probably contain that information... somehow.
>
> On Google Groups, I am reporting the spam when
> I see it, but I don't know if that is carrying over
> for other users.

The biggest part of the problem is that Google doesn't give a bowel
movement. If they've given it any thought at all it would probably be
to encourage the spam while they try to monetize it for themselves.

--
I've done good in this world. Now I'm tired and just want to be a cranky
dirty old man.

On 11/30/2023 7:57 AM, Lenona wrote:
> All I know is, whenever I make a post, I have to confirm I'm not a robot.

Are you?

--
I've done good in this world. Now I'm tired and just want to be a cranky
dirty old man.

On Thu, 30 Nov 2023 08:53:55 GMT, Charles Packer <mailbox@cpacker.org>
wrote:

>This newsgroup is getting swamped by spam. Any tips on how to
>navigate it would be appreciated. I know about kill files, but I've
>never had the need to learn how to use them.

If you are using Agent, alt.usenet.offline-reader.forte-agent has a
thread discussing the issue -- for Agent users.

But since most of it is how to work with Regular Expressions, even if
you don't use Agent, if what your reader offers uses Regular
Expressions, you might find it helpful.

For example, Agent will not accept an Author with a name like
??????
but, per the above thread, this might work:
\??????
unless this
\?\?\?\?\?\?
or something even more elaborate is needed to catch variants with more
(or less) than six characters (all appearing in Agent as "?" because
they aren't ASCII).

I can't tell because I stopped seeing those messages the day the
thread started. Presumably, this means that Eternal September did
something effective, not that the thread somehow stopped them just by
existing.
--
"Here lies the Tuscan poet Aretino,
Who evil spoke of everyone but God,
Giving as his excuse, 'I never knew him.'"

In article <ukadh8$1e93q$1@dont-email.me>,
Dimensional Traveler <dtravel@sonic.net> wrote:

> On 11/30/2023 4:26 AM, Robert Carnegie wrote:
> > On Thursday, 30 November 2023 at 08:54:00 UTC, Charles Packer wrote:
> >> This newsgroup is getting swamped by spam. Any tips on how to
> >> navigate it would be appreciated. I know about kill files, but I've
> >> never had the need to learn how to use them.
> >
> > We've discussed the problem.
> > <https://groups.google.com/g/rec.arts.sf.written/c/f1q-ahtlKo8/m/5p0Ph8YUAQA
> > J>
> >
> > For one thing, it depends on what you're using
> > to read the group. Technical details of your posts
> > probably contain that information... somehow.
> >
> > On Google Groups, I am reporting the spam when
> > I see it, but I don't know if that is carrying over
> > for other users.
>
> The biggest part of the problem is that Google doesn't give a bowel
> movement. If they've given it any thought at all it would probably be
> to encourage the spam while they try to monetize it for themselves.

I have noticed that the legitimate posters who use Google Groups say
that they had to prove they weren't a robot before they can post.
However, the spam messages inundating r.a.sf.w come from Google Groups.
Which makes me wonder if Google has a "premium" account that doesn't
require proving you are a robot before posting.

I am not seeing those spam messages on the 'news.individual.net'
newserver. Unfortunately, legitimate messages get filtered out (they are
white listing legitimate posters who use Google Groups, but those
filters aren't working 100% of the time).

--
"We have advanced to new and surprising levels of bafflement."
Imperial Auditor Miles Vorkosigan describes progress in _Komarr_.
—-----------------------------------------------------
Robert Woodward robertaw@drizzle.com

On 11/30/2023 9:45 AM, Robert Woodward wrote:
> In article <ukadh8$1e93q$1@dont-email.me>,
> Dimensional Traveler <dtravel@sonic.net> wrote:
>
>> On 11/30/2023 4:26 AM, Robert Carnegie wrote:
>>> On Thursday, 30 November 2023 at 08:54:00 UTC, Charles Packer wrote:
>>>> This newsgroup is getting swamped by spam. Any tips on how to
>>>> navigate it would be appreciated. I know about kill files, but I've
>>>> never had the need to learn how to use them.
>>>
>>> We've discussed the problem.
>>> <https://groups.google.com/g/rec.arts.sf.written/c/f1q-ahtlKo8/m/5p0Ph8YUAQA
>>> J>
>>>
>>> For one thing, it depends on what you're using
>>> to read the group. Technical details of your posts
>>> probably contain that information... somehow.
>>>
>>> On Google Groups, I am reporting the spam when
>>> I see it, but I don't know if that is carrying over
>>> for other users.
>>
>> The biggest part of the problem is that Google doesn't give a bowel
>> movement. If they've given it any thought at all it would probably be
>> to encourage the spam while they try to monetize it for themselves.
>
> I have noticed that the legitimate posters who use Google Groups say
> that they had to prove they weren't a robot before they can post.
> However, the spam messages inundating r.a.sf.w come from Google Groups.
> Which makes me wonder if Google has a "premium" account that doesn't
> require proving you are a robot before posting.
>
> I am not seeing those spam messages on the 'news.individual.net'
> newserver. Unfortunately, legitimate messages get filtered out (they are
> white listing legitimate posters who use Google Groups, but those
> filters aren't working 100% of the time).
>
Ya, the small usenet servers are doing what they can but apparently it
is an extremely persistent individual or group behind it. I've heard
that "they" are taunting some of the usenet services with posts on
support forums and such.

--
I've done good in this world. Now I'm tired and just want to be a cranky
dirty old man.

On 11/30/2023 2:53 AM, Charles Packer wrote:
> This newsgroup is getting swamped by spam. Any tips on how to
> navigate it would be appreciated. I know about kill files, but I've
> never had the need to learn how to use them.

Move from Google Groups to Eternal-September using Thunderbird as your
news reader.

https://www.eternal-september.org/

Lynn

In article <b3cfe735-7a97-4f98-bf10-ecf940b103f7n@googlegroups.com>,
Lenona <lenona321@yahoo.com> wrote:
>All I know is, whenever I make a post, I have to confirm I'm not a robot.

This is using Google I assume? Are they requiring that for all newsgroups or
just some?

I just saw three thousand cancel requests for spam on comp.os.vms so it is
not as if the flood from Google abusers has stopped.
--scott
--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

On Thursday, November 30, 2023 at 7:26:14 AM UTC-5, Robert Carnegie wrote:
> On Thursday, 30 November 2023 at 08:54:00 UTC, Charles Packer wrote:
> > This newsgroup is getting swamped by spam. Any tips on how to
> > navigate it would be appreciated. I know about kill files, but I've
> > never had the need to learn how to use them.
> We've discussed the problem.
> <https://groups.google.com/g/rec.arts.sf.written/c/f1q-ahtlKo8/m/5p0Ph8YUAQAJ>
>
> For one thing, it depends on what you're using
> to read the group. Technical details of your posts
> probably contain that information... somehow.
>
> On Google Groups, I am reporting the spam when
> I see it, but I don't know if that is carrying over
> for other users.

Please don't report the spam. If Google is moved to do
anything at all, it will cut off access to the group for all
who reached it through their portal:

[quote]

Banned content warning

soc.history.what-if has been identified as containing spam,
malware, or other malicious content.

For more information about content policies on Google Groups
see our Help Center article on abuse and our Terms of Service.

[/quote]

https://groups.google.com/g/soc.history.what-if

--
Kevin R

Charles Packer wrote:

>This newsgroup is getting swamped by spam. Any tips on how to
>navigate it would be appreciated. I know about kill files, but I've
>never had the need to learn how to use them.

Currently, between whatever measures my hews host (Eternal September)
employs and my own filters I have added, I'm not seeing any. There's
not much you can do without the tools provided.

Brian

Lynn McGuire wrote:

>On 11/30/2023 2:53 AM, Charles Packer wrote:
>>This newsgroup is getting swamped by spam. Any tips on how to
>>navigate it would be appreciated. I know about kill files, but I've
>>never had the need to learn how to use them.
>
>Move from Google Groups to Eternal-September using Thunderbird as
>your news reader.

It does not appear that Charles is using GG. From the headers:

Pan/0.141 (Tarzan's Death; 168b179 git.gnome.org/pan2)
Organization: Newshosting.com

Brian

On Fri, 01 Dec 2023 07:00:34 +0000, Default User wrote:

> Lynn McGuire wrote:
>
>>On 11/30/2023 2:53 AM, Charles Packer wrote:
>>>This newsgroup is getting swamped by spam. Any tips on how to navigate
>>>it would be appreciated. I know about kill files, but I've never had
>>>the need to learn how to use them.
>>
>>Move from Google Groups to Eternal-September using Thunderbird as your
>>news reader.
>
> It does not appear that Charles is using GG. From the headers:
>
> Pan/0.141 (Tarzan's Death; 168b179 git.gnome.org/pan2) Organization:
> Newshosting.com
>
>
> Brian

OK, I get it: Explore the resources provided by the news reader.

In article <ukc0ah$1pf5p$3@dont-email.me>,
Default User <defaultuserbr@yahoo.com> wrote:
>Charles Packer wrote:
>
>>This newsgroup is getting swamped by spam. Any tips on how to
>>navigate it would be appreciated. I know about kill files, but I've
>>never had the need to learn how to use them.
>
>Currently, between whatever measures my hews host (Eternal September)
>employs and my own filters I have added, I'm not seeing any. There's
>not much you can do without the tools provided.
>
>
>Brian
>

Due to high abuse from Google, I will not permit
Google GRoup posts on my node.
--
Member - Liberal International This is doctor@nk.ca Ici doctor@nk.ca
Yahweh, King & country!Never Satan President Republic!Beware AntiChrist rising!
Look at Psalms 14 and 53 on Atheism ; unsubscribe from Google Groups to be seen
Merry Christmas 2023 and Happy New year 2024 Beware https://mindspring.com

In article <ukc0ai$1pf5p$4@dont-email.me>,
Default User <defaultuserbr@yahoo.com> wrote:
>Lynn McGuire wrote:
>
>>On 11/30/2023 2:53 AM, Charles Packer wrote:
>>>This newsgroup is getting swamped by spam. Any tips on how to
>>>navigate it would be appreciated. I know about kill files, but I've
>>>never had the need to learn how to use them.
>>
>>Move from Google Groups to Eternal-September using Thunderbird as
>>your news reader.
>
>It does not appear that Charles is using GG. From the headers:
>
>Pan/0.141 (Tarzan's Death; 168b179 git.gnome.org/pan2)
>Organization: Newshosting.com
>
>
>Brian
>

Check the path.
--
Member - Liberal International This is doctor@nk.ca Ici doctor@nk.ca
Yahweh, King & country!Never Satan President Republic!Beware AntiChrist rising!
Look at Psalms 14 and 53 on Atheism ; unsubscribe from Google Groups to be seen
Merry Christmas 2023 and Happy New year 2024 Beware https://mindspring.com

On Fri, 1 Dec 2023 02:17:29 -0800 (PST), Robert Carnegie
<rja.carnegie@excite.com> wrote:

>On Thursday, 30 November 2023 at 23:03:34 UTC, Kevrob wrote:
>> On Thursday, November 30, 2023 at 7:26:14?AM UTC-5, Robert Carnegie wrote:
>> > On Thursday, 30 November 2023 at 08:54:00 UTC, Charles Packer wrote:
>> > > This newsgroup is getting swamped by spam. Any tips on how to
>> > > navigate it would be appreciated. I know about kill files, but I've
>> > > never had the need to learn how to use them.
>> > We've discussed the problem.
>> > <https://groups.google.com/g/rec.arts.sf.written/c/f1q-ahtlKo8/m/5p0Ph8YUAQAJ>
>> >
>> > For one thing, it depends on what you're using
>> > to read the group. Technical details of your posts
>> > probably contain that information... somehow.
>> >
>> > On Google Groups, I am reporting the spam when
>> > I see it, but I don't know if that is carrying over
>> > for other users.
>> Please don't report the spam. If Google is moved to do
>> anything at all, it will cut off access to the group for all
>> who reached it through their portal:
>>
>> [quote]
>>
>> Banned content warning
>>
>> soc.history.what-if has been identified as containing spam,
>> malware, or other malicious content.
>>
>> For more information about content policies on Google Groups
>> see our Help Center article on abuse and our Terms of Service.
>>
>> [/quote]
>>
>> https://groups.google.com/g/soc.history.what-if
>
>That's been mentioned before. But in this case,
>some news servers are cutting out Google Groups
>with the argument that the spam is coming from
>Google, and users such as "The Doctor" have been
>calling for years for Google to be completely cut off.
>So I think that reporting the spam, as Google invites
>me to do, does not create risk of an outcome that isn't
>on the cards anyway.
>
>After all, by your argument, any newsgroup could
>be cancelled on Google Groups just by reporting
>all of the posts as spam.

And, for all we know, it could be.

Or have you put this to the test?
--
"Here lies the Tuscan poet Aretino,
Who evil spoke of everyone but God,
Giving as his excuse, 'I never knew him.'"

On Thursday, November 30, 2023 at 12:45:11 PM UTC-5, Robert Woodward wrote:
> In article <ukadh8$1e93q$1...@dont-email.me>,
> Dimensional Traveler <dtr...@sonic.net> wrote:
>
> > On 11/30/2023 4:26 AM, Robert Carnegie wrote:
> > > On Thursday, 30 November 2023 at 08:54:00 UTC, Charles Packer wrote:
> > >> This newsgroup is getting swamped by spam. Any tips on how to
> > >> navigate it would be appreciated. I know about kill files, but I've
> > >> never had the need to learn how to use them.
> > >
> > > We've discussed the problem.
> > > <https://groups.google.com/g/rec.arts.sf.written/c/f1q-ahtlKo8/m/5p0Ph8YUAQA
> > > J>
> > >
> > > For one thing, it depends on what you're using
> > > to read the group. Technical details of your posts
> > > probably contain that information... somehow.
> > >
> > > On Google Groups, I am reporting the spam when
> > > I see it, but I don't know if that is carrying over
> > > for other users.
> >
> > The biggest part of the problem is that Google doesn't give a bowel
> > movement. If they've given it any thought at all it would probably be
> > to encourage the spam while they try to monetize it for themselves.
> I have noticed that the legitimate posters who use Google Groups say
> that they had to prove they weren't a robot before they can post.
> However, the spam messages inundating r.a.sf.w come from Google Groups.
> Which makes me wonder if Google has a "premium" account that doesn't
> require proving you are a robot before posting.
>
> I am not seeing those spam messages on the 'news.individual.net'
> newserver. Unfortunately, legitimate messages get filtered out (they are
> white listing legitimate posters who use Google Groups, but those
> filters aren't working 100% of the time).
>
> --
> "We have advanced to new and surprising levels of bafflement."
> Imperial Auditor Miles Vorkosigan describes progress in _Komarr_.
> —-----------------------------------------------------
> Robert Woodward robe...@drizzle.com

I'm one of those GG users, and I get asked the robot question.
Sadly, there are tools that let you automate around the simple
'Check the box' question. They don't work for the 'click on all the
busses' CAPTCHA, but I can think of ways to automate that too.

Selenium webdriver is an amazing tool.

Pt

On 2023-11-30, Charles Packer <mailbox@cpacker.org> wrote:
> This newsgroup is getting swamped by spam. Any tips on how to
> navigate it would be appreciated. I know about kill files, but I've
> never had the need to learn how to use them.

I've tried most of what people have suggested elsewhere, as in:-

- scorefiling on Message-IDs
- scorefiling on non-Ascii subjects

but the only solution I've found thus far that works in all my different
groups is just killfiling all posts with `User-Agent: G2/1.0`

This has slowed down usenet access terribly (as slrn needs to refetch
all articles for additional headers) but it has, thus far, worked.

I think `comp.os.editors` had **75,000** of these spam messages
yesterday...
--
dgold <news@dgold.eu>

On 12/1/2023 3:26 PM, Robert Carnegie wrote:
> On Friday, 1 December 2023 at 16:39:53 UTC, Paul S Person wrote:
>> On Fri, 1 Dec 2023 02:17:29 -0800 (PST), Robert Carnegie
>> <rja.ca...@excite.com> wrote:
>>
>>> On Thursday, 30 November 2023 at 23:03:34 UTC, Kevrob wrote:
>>>> On Thursday, November 30, 2023 at 7:26:14?AM UTC-5, Robert Carnegie wrote:
>>>>> On Thursday, 30 November 2023 at 08:54:00 UTC, Charles Packer wrote:
>>>>>> This newsgroup is getting swamped by spam. Any tips on how to
>>>>>> navigate it would be appreciated. I know about kill files, but I've
>>>>>> never had the need to learn how to use them.
>>>>> We've discussed the problem.
>>>>> <https://groups.google.com/g/rec.arts.sf.written/c/f1q-ahtlKo8/m/5p0Ph8YUAQAJ>
>>>>>
>>>>> For one thing, it depends on what you're using
>>>>> to read the group. Technical details of your posts
>>>>> probably contain that information... somehow.
>>>>>
>>>>> On Google Groups, I am reporting the spam when
>>>>> I see it, but I don't know if that is carrying over
>>>>> for other users.
>>>> Please don't report the spam. If Google is moved to do
>>>> anything at all, it will cut off access to the group for all
>>>> who reached it through their portal:
>>>>
>>>> [quote]
>>>>
>>>> Banned content warning
>>>>
>>>> soc.history.what-if has been identified as containing spam,
>>>> malware, or other malicious content.
>>>>
>>>> For more information about content policies on Google Groups
>>>> see our Help Center article on abuse and our Terms of Service.
>>>>
>>>> [/quote]
>>>>
>>>> https://groups.google.com/g/soc.history.what-if
>>>
>>> That's been mentioned before. But in this case,
>>> some news servers are cutting out Google Groups
>>> with the argument that the spam is coming from
>>> Google, and users such as "The Doctor" have been
>>> calling for years for Google to be completely cut off.
>>> So I think that reporting the spam, as Google invites
>>> me to do, does not create risk of an outcome that isn't
>>> on the cards anyway.
>>>
>>> After all, by your argument, any newsgroup could
>>> be cancelled on Google Groups just by reporting
>>> all of the posts as spam.
>> And, for all we know, it could be.
>>
>> Or have you put this to the test?
>
> I'm reporting our spam. Call that a test. But if spam
> reports got a Usenet group cancelled on Google,
> then why would any group be left after a while?
>
> soc.history.what-if no doubt had the problem of
> being full of posts about events that didn't or
> couldn't happen.
>
Google couldn't care less about the content of a newsgroup, they just
got a lot of spam reports for that group and rather than spend any
effort trying to block just the spam they simply blocked the entire group.

--
I've done good in this world. Now I'm tired and just want to be a cranky
dirty old man.

On Thursday, November 30, 2023 at 5:26:14 AM UTC-7, Robert Carnegie wrote:
> On Thursday, 30 November 2023 at 08:54:00 UTC, Charles Packer wrote:
> > This newsgroup is getting swamped by spam. Any tips on how to
> > navigate it would be appreciated. I know about kill files, but I've
> > never had the need to learn how to use them.
> We've discussed the problem.
> <https://groups.google.com/g/rec.arts.sf.written/c/f1q-ahtlKo8/m/5p0Ph8YUAQAJ>
>
> For one thing, it depends on what you're using
> to read the group. Technical details of your posts
> probably contain that information... somehow.
>
> On Google Groups, I am reporting the spam when
> I see it, but I don't know if that is carrying over
> for other users.
I use Google Groups pretty much out of contrarianism. I have also been responsible both for having a number of Groups deleted from the archive over webspam that threatened me and others and posting a vast amount of SEO spam to defend myself and test if Google employees were directly aiding the spammer. When I finally got a free consultation from a professional SEO outfit, they concluded that Google is simply ranking Groups postings much higher than the same content would be anywhere else. That is undoubtedly the biggest thing encouraging the spammers, whether they are actually in it for the money or just trying to hurt people with negative search results. Some day, I may do what I should have done in the first place and order Google to hide Groups from search results.

Charles Packer <mailbox@cpacker.org> wrote:
>OK, I get it: Explore the resources provided by the news reader.

Yes, but also let your news admin know that there are additional resources
available to them as well to deal with the current flood. If they are not
accepting nocems, suggest they do so because it will get rid of most of the
flood with very few false positives.
--scott
--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

The Doctor wrote:

>In article <ukc0ah$1pf5p$3@dont-email.me>,
>Default User <defaultuserbr@yahoo.com> wrote:

>>Currently, between whatever measures my hews host (Eternal
>>September) employs and my own filters I have added, I'm not seeing
>>any. There's not much you can do without the tools provided.

>
>Due to high abuse from Google, I will not permit
>Google GRoup posts on my node.

I don't care what you do.

Brian

The Doctor wrote:

>In article <ukc0ai$1pf5p$4@dont-email.me>,
>Default User <defaultuserbr@yahoo.com> wrote:
>>Lynn McGuire wrote:
>>
>>>On 11/30/2023 2:53 AM, Charles Packer wrote:
>>>>This newsgroup is getting swamped by spam. Any tips on how to
>>>>navigate it would be appreciated. I know about kill files, but
>>>>I've never had the need to learn how to use them.
>>>
>>>Move from Google Groups to Eternal-September using Thunderbird as
>>>your news reader.
>>
>>It does not appear that Charles is using GG. From the headers:
>>
>>Pan/0.141 (Tarzan's Death; 168b179 git.gnome.org/pan2)
>>Organization: Newshosting.com

>Check the path.

What does the path have to do with it? Charles is not using Google
Groups.

Brian