Enclosed, you will find 2 files. One is called ".htaccess" and the other is "NoProxiesSript.txt". The latter is something I wrote that probably isn't well known, even though the code is rather simple. The script will prevent anyone using a proxy server from registering on your site or forum. A side effect is that it will cause the registration page to load rather slowly because it is checking to see how the visitor is accessing before allowing any further use of the registration page. Depending on the proxy, some will show your registration page, many will not. But either way, the script will not allow registration via a proxy. Any registration by spammers after this script is on your site will most likely come from compromised servers, for which it is easy to find the CIDR IP address with a quick lookup. This IP can then be added to the .htaccess file below...

.htaccess - 

Upload the .htaccess as is to the same directories that have your index.php(or index.html) files for your site and forum. This .htaccess carries a compilation of blacklists created by Bob Feinberg. A Google search should bring up his website if you'd like to keep your .htaccess up to date. If you find that this file is working well for you, please donate to the man so he continues his fine work. :-)

NoProxiesSript.txt (Joomla CMS)- 


1. First, download the /components/com_registration/registration.php file from your server to your hard drive.
2. Open the file in a text editor
3. Open the NoProxiesSript.txt in a text editor
4. Copy the short script from the NoProxiesScript.txt into the registration.php file. The best place for it is directly under the very first "<?php" which you should see at the top of the page.
5. Save, close and upload it back to the server where you got it from (/components/com_registration/)

NoProxiesSript.txt (PHPBB 3)- 

1. First, download the /includes/ucp/ucp_register.php file from your server to your hard drive.
2. Open the file in a text editor
3. Open the NoProxiesSript.txt in a text editor
4. Copy the short script from the NoProxiesScript.txt into the registration.php file. Again, the best place for it is directly under the very first "<?php" which you should see at the top of the page.
5. Save, close and upload it back to the server where you got it from (/includes/ucp/)

That's it! You should see a dramatic improvement in the number of unwanted visitors to your site. If you have any questions, let me know!

Fidel Montoya (PM at f.montoya on the OOTP boards)