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27 Replies Last post: Mar 27, 2008 1:15 PM by Adama 1 2 Previous Next

Adama

4,095 posts since
Sep 7, 2007

Mar 19, 2008 12:38 PM

How Do I Delete Trackbacks?

Hi, everybody. Recently I've been getting Trackbacks on a few Blogs that I wrote for PCWorld. I got 5 yesterday and 5 today and they're SPAM. They want me to buy things, from diet pills to viagra - and I'm not kidding about that last one.

So I have a couple of questions:

= How do I delete the Trackbacks?

= Is there a way to completely stop the Trackbacks/SPAM from coming to my email?

As always, your help is truly appreciated.

ps: I just ran into someone who has the same problem and she just posted a Blog about it. It seems her intense Spamming started 2 days ago too. And here's the link for that Blog. http://forums.pcworld.com/blogs/LostinBrainSpace/2008/03/18/spam-spam-spam

Message was edited by: Adama

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KellieCM

3,410 posts since
Jun 27, 2007

1. Mar 18, 2008 4:06 PM

in response to: Adama

Re: How Do I Delete Trackbacks?

I am aware of these and deleting them if I find them. I am hoping that the spammers will realize that I'm on top of it and will go away soon. if they don't I'll turn trackbacks off for everyone, which I don't want to do. You cannot turn trackbacks off on your own blog.

When you get the email, you can go to the link in the email to delete the trackback. (it will look like this: http://forums.pcworld.com/blogs-manage-trackbacks.jspa?blogID=1018) This will help me keep on top of the deletes. I am also checking trackbacks on all blogs regularly to keep getting rid of them.

Hopefully, they'll be gone in a few days. If not, I'll disable trackbacks for everyone.

Kellie Parker | Online Community Manager | PC World

KellieCM

3,410 posts since
Jun 27, 2007

2. Mar 18, 2008 4:06 PM

in response to: Adama

Re: How Do I Delete Trackbacks?

BTW moved this to PC World's website as it is about our community.

Kellie Parker | Online Community Manager | PC World

Adama

4,095 posts since
Sep 7, 2007

3. Mar 19, 2008 2:50 PM

in response to: KellieCM

Re: How Do I Delete Trackbacks?

Kellie, yesterday I went into Blog Management and saw that there was 1 Trackback there unrelated to the 10 that I got, the ones I talked about on this thread.

Today when I went into my email account, I saw that there are 3 more from yesterday afternoon - they vary from "celexa drug, snorting adderall to big casino list." Today's 4 Trackbacks are for "generic ambien, cheap xanax, generic viagra and ambien" again.

This is certainly something I was not expecting at all, and it's getting more and more frustrating.

I just thought you might like to see what my inbox looks like... amazing, isn't it?

Thanks for helping, Kellie.

Message was edited by: Adama

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KellieCM

3,410 posts since
Jun 27, 2007

4. Mar 19, 2008 1:55 PM

in response to: Adama

Re: How Do I Delete Trackbacks?

oh believe me, I know. I have received at least 100 of those notifications in the last two days. I disabled trackbacks, but for some reason it isn't taking. I'm deleting them manually on a regular basis and we have an urgent ticket into Jive (the forum software maker) for a resolution.

Kellie Parker | Online Community Manager | PC World

VladTheImpaler1990

753 posts since
Jun 4, 2007

5. Mar 19, 2008 2:19 PM

in response to: KellieCM

Re: How Do I Delete Trackbacks?

Thanks Kellie for helping all!!! You really a great help.

Regards Vlad

Adama

4,095 posts since
Sep 7, 2007

6. Mar 19, 2008 2:45 PM

in response to: KellieCM

Re: How Do I Delete Trackbacks?

O M G! You gotta be kidding, over 100? That's just insane! And I thought I was having problems.

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Adama

4,095 posts since
Sep 7, 2007

7. Mar 19, 2008 2:46 PM

in response to: VladTheImpaler1990

Re: How Do I Delete Trackbacks?

Hi Vlad, are you getting Trackbacks too?

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KellieCM

3,410 posts since
Jun 27, 2007

8. Mar 19, 2008 3:08 PM

in response to: Adama

Re: How Do I Delete Trackbacks?

Nope. Anyone who has written a blog entry is probably getting them. We're working on a solution, at least so you all stop getting emails about them. Turns out disabling them just stops them from showing, but the entry author still gets an email. Not displaying them has slowed them down considerably, though.

Bill says a newer version has a fix to weed out spam trackbacks. We're investigating that option as well.

Kellie Parker | Online Community Manager | PC World

mphenterprises

9,117 posts since
Feb 19, 2007

9. Mar 19, 2008 3:23 PM

in response to: KellieCM

Re: How Do I Delete Trackbacks?

Hi Kellie. I have not received a spam trackback since the real trackback I received a long time ago. Did this issue start with the update? My blog entry was done in December.

This is my personal Dream PC: http://forums.pcworld.com/blogs/mphenterprises/2007/12/21/my-gift-to-myself

KellieCM

3,410 posts since
Jun 27, 2007

10. Mar 19, 2008 3:51 PM

in response to: mphenterprises

Re: How Do I Delete Trackbacks?

No, it started a few days ago. Don't know what caused it except some spammer(s) discovered that we had blogs that accepted trackbacks.

Kellie Parker | Online Community Manager | PC World

Adama

4,095 posts since
Sep 7, 2007

11. Mar 19, 2008 6:37 PM

in response to: mphenterprises

Re: How Do I Delete Trackbacks?

Hi, MPH. I received your PM about LIBS and I went ahead and left a message on her Blog. I also showed her how she can start a new thread in this Community.

I was talking to techie4fun and he said he's also been getting lots of spam from these people. Seems like it's going around, huh? Well, at least now I know I'm not losing my mind and I'm not the only one who is frustrated by this.... sigh

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LostinBrainSpace

4 posts since
Oct 16, 2007

12. Mar 20, 2008 4:14 PM

in response to: Adama

Re: How Do I Delete Trackbacks?

Hello Adama, since you have a discussion going on the subject I don't know that it would be needed for me to start new one, yeh?

http://forums.pcworld.com/images/emoticons/grin.gif

Edit: I spoke too soon, after I posted this comment, two turned up in trackbacks - oh well!

Well I changed my Blog Name from "Jubilation etc" to "LIBS rides again", wondering if that would do the trick to stop the spam and, guess what, so far no spam in trackbacks. How 'bout that? Mind you, there is no "Jubilation" blog any more so maybe that's why they've stopped on PC World. (Or have they become invisibled? I don't know)

But, I am still getting them through my ISP and, not surprisingly, the trackbacks have changed from Jubilation to LIBS rides again.

However, I've diverted all emails I receive from forums@pcworld.com into a junk folder so that the spam doesn't jam up my inbox.

Your messages came through clearly labelled with your name on them so I took those out of the junk folder (you'll be glad to know - can't leave you in there

http://forums.pcworld.com/images/emoticons/wink.gif

).

On the internet - "Web spam, also known as "blog spam" or "comment spam", (also 'trackback spam') is definitely on the rise." ... "There are two types of comment spam generation techniques: manual and automated. Automated tools will scour the web looking for things that look like comment or guest book forms, and automatically post their bogus content to these forms. Manual tools involving hiring cheap labor overseas to do exactly the same thing by hand." ..." While it started as comment spam on blogs, it's most definitely no longer limited to that. Almost any form that accepts input on the web is getting hit."

So that's what we're looking at.

But the techs are on it.

All the best to you
LIBS

http://ask-leo.com/web_site_spam_what_can_i_do_about_it.html

Adama

4,095 posts since
Sep 7, 2007

13. Mar 20, 2008 4:49 PM

in response to: LostinBrainSpace

Re: How Do I Delete Trackbacks?

LostinBrainSpace wrote:Hello Adama, since you have a discussion going on the subject I don't know that it would be needed for me to start new one, yeh?

However, I've diverted all emails I receive from forums@pcworld.com into a junk folder so that the spam doesn't jam up my inbox.

Your messages came through clearly labelled with your name on them so I took those out of the junk folder (you'll be glad to know - can't leave you in there

Hi, LIBS. I'm glad you didn't leave me in the junk folder! Phew...

http://forums.pcworld.com/servlet/JiveServlet/downloadImage/3104/phobu%2Cphew3.gif

I really appreciate it.

Thanks for the information you provided. I checked the link above and it also contains a bunch of good info. Seems like there are A LOT of people going through the same thing, all over the Web.

Isn't there a law in place to prevent this kind of spamming from happening? I don't know who would be able to answer that question, though, since things change so much, so fast.

I've been deleting the Trackbacks, like Kellie suggested a couple of posts ago. And, so far I've only gotten 7 today, with 1 of them in another Blog that I wrote way back for Thanksgiving.... grrrrr

Anyway, thank you for taking the time to post an answer!

Avatar sig by Chromium. Thank you!

mphenterprises

9,117 posts since
Feb 19, 2007

14. Mar 20, 2008 7:28 PM

in response to: KellieCM

Re: How Do I Delete Trackbacks?

Well, it looks like I am the latest victim. I just deleted one. No harm, no foul.

This is my personal Dream PC: http://forums.pcworld.com/blogs/mphenterprises/2007/12/21/my-gift-to-myself

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Mar 19, 2008 12:38 PM

How Do I Delete Trackbacks?

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