121 upvotes, 7 direct replies (showing 7)
View submission: Previewing Upcoming Changes to Blocking
So, if I were creating a spambot account (pure conjecture of course...) the first thing I'd want to do is block all of the anti-bot bots and their operators so they can't see what I'm doing. Is that the new meta? I think that's the new meta.
Comment by VexingRaven at 20/12/2021 at 22:40 UTC
41 upvotes, 2 direct replies
I assume that they could still use the API to query Reddit. After all it's not like you can't just log out to view somebody's content. Which makes me wonder what the point of that change even is?
Comment by Itsthejoker at 21/12/2021 at 05:20 UTC
11 upvotes, 1 direct replies
As an example, u/botdefense is always added as mod to the communities it patrols, so this change has no real effect on our ability to combat spam.
Comment by enthusiastic-potato at 20/12/2021 at 22:40 UTC
35 upvotes, 5 direct replies
Mods will always be able to see the ongoings in their community, including banning bots if they were being a nuisance.
Comment by Merkuri22 at 20/12/2021 at 22:51 UTC
7 upvotes, 0 direct replies
If the good bots are made moderators then they'll be able to see these users even when the bad actor has blocked the good bots.
Comment by Bardfinn at 20/12/2021 at 22:37 UTC
12 upvotes, 0 direct replies
The anti-bot bots and their operators don't rely on their own accounts to gather intel and flag spambots.
Which is to say that spambots can try, but they're going to have to block every random username on Reddit to avoid being seen.
Comment by ThisIsPaulDaily at 20/12/2021 at 22:56 UTC
4 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Yeah this is very valid. I'm nearly certain it's inspiring spammers just to prove the point now.
Comment by EdithDich at 22/01/2022 at 06:13 UTC
1 upvotes, 1 direct replies
It's like they just come up with dumb ideas while out drinking and implement them without thinking it through at all.