Thomas Penwell

I have a simple problem. When I build a new website for a potental client, I write a custom coded feedback script with an attempt to curb spam robots from spamming my customers with unwanted feedback or trying to sell them SEO services. So........

I decided to write a universal generic feedback management system that can use all my tricks for detecting spam robots. Let me give a bit of a rundown of what people who write these bots do.

Companies (such as SEO services and competing designers) write robots to scan websites for feedback forms, read the fields, and insert their own sales pitch in those fields and submits them to the website. They then submit to thousands (or more) of websites in the hopes of getting customers (or even taking customers away from me. gasp!)

One of the most effective methods I have used to detect spam bots is to use fields which are hidden to the user by use of CSS code.

Ex:

<div style="display: none"><input type="text" name="My_Hidden_Field" value=""></div>


Robots see the "text" field and it will fill out the field. Users will not see this field. In the script, simply check the css hidden fields for non-null values.

The TWD Feedback Management System is a simple and powerful management system for website feedback. It stores the form data in a mysql database, and includes various features for detecting spam bots. This system has an addon system that allows me to write any custom code I need on a per-client basis. I include a feature for my clients that allows them to report spam to me.

I am currently in the process of beta testing, if you would like to beta test, please contact me.