Recent Spambot Influx - REGISTRATION OPENED AGAIN KINDA

I've been pretty close here checking the forum, and it seems like spambots still hit hard in forums. I'm reading here that adding a simple question, completely apart from CAPTCHA, could easily deter spambots since they simply go under an automated process. Like, fill in certain fields, read the CAPTCHA...done. But they forget the extra question...

Write the first letter on the word "young": (or something like this)

And they won't get registered. A spin-off of that question would be adding two digits.

I have been experimenting around a bit with spambot countermeasures to see which one would provide the best results. I agree with you in that a Q&A firewall will prove to be more efficient than a captcha. I set it up just now, and I will let it run for a two to three week trial period. The question is actually very easy and any real member should get it right no problem.

Secondly, I decided to remove guests posting permissions in WMB News. Ever since this feature was implemented, we have been receiving only spambot posts. Not once has a single person wrote a relevant comment. I'm still keeping my eyes open for any new method to prevent bots from registering.

[Xytox]

Can't you like have a limit on how fast you can sign up for the forum? I mean, doesn't a bot join in less than, what, ten seconds when they get the chance? What if we had a limit that the sign up has to take atleast one minute before they can join? I have never been working with spambots before, so I don't know if they would be waiting for this timelimit to go out or if they actually would leave. I fear the worst. Anyway, just putting this idea here in case you find it interesting.