Using RainRatBot for Moderation - Bot Defense - Keywords Update

When I first wrote the bot defense, bots joined groups and it was a long time before they actually said anything. Back then, I said that if that changed, I would update the bot defense to keep up. Now, bots typically send spam as soon as they join.

To start updating my bot defense, I started with my keyword list. I added four public lists of spam pitches, subject lines, and domains. They were mostly oriented to email spam, but it's a starting point.

Now, if a suspected bot joins and posts text that matches something on the keyword list during the watch period, they get banned, and RainRatBot automatically deletes the spam.

I highly recommended users that use the anti-bot measures in an SFW group also give the keyword list a try. I've made dozens of additions and deletions based on feedback from group owners. In a typical SFW group, I'd expect about one false positive per year. You can ask that the keyword list be notification-only to give it a try.