Spam Hurdles Module (CAPTCHA's and other anti-spam tools)

Just to be clear, I'm not pushing for more work on the module - I'm just pointing out that it is likely to be downloaded and installed by many users who don't really understand the implications.

The cache situation isn't a fault with the module, it is actually inevitable given that kind of Captcha design - but users that don't realise will just end up with a broken server.

Also, I don't think all users realise that a folder/file is generated each time the post form is *shown*, not just used. So a single visit from Googlebot will cause any number of files to be created.

/\dam

--
My notable Phorum sites:
Movie Deaths Database - "review comments" system mostly powered by Phorum
Learn Chinese! - integrated forum quiz

Hello,
And first of all thanks for the great forum you have created!

Unfortunately I have a problem with the Spam Hurdles module.
My configuration: Fresh installation of Phorum 5.1.16a + Spam Hurdles 1.0.9 + German Language Pack 1.1

Spam Hurdles seems to work fine (shows captcha and everything) but it doesn't seem to check it at all! I can post anonymously entering nothing in the captcha field. It doesn't complain about wrong entries either.
I have also tried different types of captchas: They all show up correctly but don't do anything. There is no error message either and unfortunately I don't have access to the log file with my provider.

I don't see what is causing the problem here. Any ideas?

Thanks,
Kai

see the sanity checks in the admin - are they telling ok for the cache?

---

Thomas Seifert

Wow, that was quick :)
Yes, everything is OK (except 'PHP safety issues' which I cannot do anything about).

It's really strange.

It really sounds like a problem with the cache though. But that should be recognized by the sanity checks. Are you running things in a default setup? So using the default template? (I don't think the template would matter for letting the back end of Spam Hurdles function correctly, but I just want to make sure).

---

Maurice Makaay
Phorum Development Team
my blog linkedin profile secret sauce

Yes, I am running default template 0.4.
I haven't really changed much (just some preferences in the admin pages).
Is there a way to change the location of the tmp directory then?

Cheers,
Kai

You can change it in Phorum's General Settings page. There you could try changing the cache to "./cache" (which is in your Phorum directory already). Make sure that you make that directory writable for the webserver. Mostly this is done by using chmod 777 on the directory (that will make it writable for anyone).

---

Maurice Makaay
Phorum Development Team
my blog linkedin profile secret sauce

I change the tmp directory but that didn't have any effect...
As I said it is showing the captachas just fine, it just doesn't check against them...

Update: I changed the default language back to english and now it works! So the problem is somewhere in the German Language Pack!

Cheers,
Kai

Hi Kai,

Quote
Kai
So the problem is somewhere in the German Language Pack!

German Language Files Package 1.1 (5.1 and 5.2 ready), new version 1.1.1

Regards
Oliver

---

Using Phorum since 7/2000: forum.langzeittest.de (actual version 5.2.23)
Modules "Made in Germany" for version 5.2: Author_as_Sender, CarCost, Close_Topic, Conceal_Message_Timestamp,
Format_Email, Index_Structure, Mailing_List, Pervasive_Forum, Spritmonitor, Terms_of_Service and German_Language_Files_Package.

what was missing there to lead to the given problem?

---

Thomas Seifert