DFT Digest

I was feeling so popular!  I was getting new register blog readers every day… Then I started noticing the disproportionate number of new users coming from the same couple of Russian sounding domains… some with really cryptic names, like ‘ReaLLyCheaPViAgRa’ and I realized these users only wanted me for their own exposure.  Comment spammers registering so they could attempt to post comments selling their goods.  Luckily my anti-comment spam plugin (Askimet) is better than my registration page test.  I also moderate comments on DFT Digest (if you ever notice that lag time).

Anyway, I just disabled registration on DFT Digest - at least temporarily.  The CAPTCHA scheme I was using was useless, as are most, if not all CAPTCHA schemes, as I have read lately (h/t Slashdot).

You may wonder what registration buys the faithful DFTD reader; I’ve wondered myself.  Someone pointed out to me recently that they were unable to reach the tutorials/resources page (there’s not a huge amount of material there right now), and I think it’s because they weren’t registered.  It seems like a reasonable trade: you register yourself, and get more access to the site…

At some point before the end of the summer, I plan to give DFT Digest a facelift - I need to update the theme with something that supports a more flexible design, and looks a little more ‘web 2.0′ for lack of a better term.  So stay tuned - there’s more design-for-test to come.