Troll Update
Friday's Troll attack on TBP generated some fascinating stats.
Number of attempted comments: 212
IP Addresses used: ~60
Names Used: 12
Kudos to Movable Type -- once I labeled his comments as spam, their system very quickly identified the pattern and eliminated 95% of them prior to their showing up on the blog.
In addition to Nostradame, he also used Panzner's and my name, as well as others he pulled off of comments list in an attempt to hide his identity (anyone accidentally banned or deleted, please let me know).
The Nostrodame troll had IP Addresses randomly assigned, through a corporate, or more likely, a University network. But these addresses aren't truly random -- they are all assigned via the broader ISP trunk, and are readily traceable. And because he used so many IP addresses, its a simple matter to track down the school. In fact, my IT guys tell me they can identify the precise dorm room it came from.
And trying to post over 200 comments was probably via an automated system. Still, manually punching in 200 captchas, only to see them deleted moments later must involve an extraordinary lack of anything better to do. Who is that bored or has that much spare time? Amazing.
Anyway, the upshot of it is that Typepad has initiated an investigation. Their security personnel and lawyers will determine if its prosecutable. I'm not sure if being an asshat is technically a crime, but because of the systemic automation, my IT department tells me it could be.
Regardless, the behavior surely violates any University's code of behavior. Wonder what they are going to do when the data and IP addresses are turned over . . .
Nostradame -- I had fun! I hope you did too!
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Spam Comments from Nostrodame
Saturday, April 12, 2008 | 05:00 PM | Permalink
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Comments
Barry, if Dante were alive today, he would find a special circle in hell for the spammers and sockpuppet trollers of this world.
I may not always agree with you, or some of your commentators, but I defend the right of you to do everything you can to prosecute these folks to fullest extent possible.
Go get 'em!!
Posted by: Karl K | Apr 12, 2008 5:31:33 PM
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