What's wrong with this picture?



Squint

New Member
Jul 27, 2003
351
0
0
After:

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Before:

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The solution:

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Basically, I created a filter to disappear threads by keywords. Now, it's like the spam threads were never there.
 
when is it gonna start working? i still see alot of junk/spam on there. do we need more keywords? those damn adidas aren't selling anyway, can we get rid of them?!

Mike



rmur17 said:
here's a talent!
 
It's Proxomitron, an ad filtering program that I've been using for years now. But only today did I finally learn how to create my own filters for it. It works by running as a proxy server on your own computer and it will work with any browser.

Basically, any webpage is a text file that's downloaded by your browser and loaded. As such, you have ultimate control over its content. Proxomitron sees the file first and in essence does a search and replace of the content before passing it on to the web browser.

So what I did was figure out how each thread is represented in HTML. The corresponding HTML code for each thread is searched and if certain keywords are found within them, the whole section of code is discarded. The result is that the spam threads are completely excised. Not even a blank line or space is left.

I'm cleaning up the other forums now. Bikeforums, for example, puts an ad posting in between the 2nd and 3rd postings in each thread. You can block the images with AdBlock but you'll still have text and the skeletal remains of the ad posting. But I've managed to eliminate them completely.
 
If anyone's interested in setting up Proxomitron on their PCs, I'm willing to help. It's actually quite easy to do and is the best web filtering program out there. It's not that user friendly but you can continue using your existing filtering on top of it and only use the filters specific for cyclingforums.

I've created filters for several cycling forums and news websites that remove floating ads, Flash animations and basically anything annoying.

Proxomitron is free and I have no affiliation with it. In fact, I don't think anybody does because its author may have passed away.
 
Squint said:
If anyone's interested in setting up Proxomitron on their PCs, I'm willing to help. It's actually quite easy to do and is the best web filtering program out there. It's not that user friendly but you can continue using your existing filtering on top of it and only use the filters specific for cyclingforums.

I've created filters for several cycling forums and news websites that remove floating ads, Flash animations and basically anything annoying.

Proxomitron is free and I have no affiliation with it. In fact, I don't think anybody does because its author may have passed away.
I think this post should be a sticky, but since nobody's removing spam there's a slim chance of that happening. I think we should just keep bumping it until majority of active users make a decision regarding the filtering software. I'll give it a try, but I'm afraid if only a few of us install it, we may become oblivious to the problem that will eventually drive many users away.
 
Installation instructions and help pages:

http://www.proxomitron.info/45/help/Contents.html

Download area:

http://www.proxomitron.info/files/index.html

I downloaded the ProxN45j.zip version. No add-ons or textures. In fact, one of the first things I did was turn off the textures because they were a little too colorful.

After installation, open up default.cfg and add the following lines in the Blocklists and Patterns sections. Or you can use the merge command from within the program. Remember that merging filters or changing filters doesn't become permanent until you do File|"Save Default Settings."

This will add the two filters specific to our spam problem here.

Code:
[Blocklists]
List.Jerks = "..\Lists\Jerks List.txt"

[Patterns]
Name = "Cycling Forums 2"
Active = TRUE
URL = "([^/]++.|)cyclingforums.com"
Limit = 2000
Match = "<img class="inlineimg" src="images/icons/icon[0-9].gif" alt="*" border="0" />"
        "*\"member.php\?find=lastposter\&f=[0-9]+\">$LST(Jerks)</a>*"
        "</a>"

Name = "Cycling Forums"
Active = TRUE
URL = "([^/]++.|)cyclingforums.com"
Bounds = "$NEST(<tr,</tr>)"
Limit = 2000
Match = "*<span style=\"cursor:pointer\" onclick=\"window.open\('member.php\?u=[0-9]+'\)">$LST(Jerks)</span>*"

The second and final step is to create a text file named Jerks List.txt in the "Lists" sub-directory in the Proxomitron program folder. This is a list of the usernames of spammers:

Code:
clothes
jqyshoes
mysneaker
shoesnewnike
phonecity
goodsaaa
lindaxu_88
teslim452

There aren't a whole lot of them and since they aren't being banned or otherwise prevented from posting, I don't think they'll register any new accounts. If necessary, I can modify the filter to filter by keywords. Currently, it only goes by usernames because a legitimate posting talking about "clothes" would be filtered out.

Last but not least are the filters I created for several cycling related websites. In conjunction with the default header filters (something different from web filters), they really clean up the sites.

Code:
[Patterns]
Name = "Bikeforums 3"
Active = TRUE
URL = "([^/]++.|)bikeforums.net"
Limit = 7000
Match = "<!-- Right Column STOP -->*<!-- Right Column STOP -->"

Name = "Bikeforums 4"
Active = TRUE
URL = "([^/]++.|)bikeforums.net"
Bounds = "$NEST(<div class="floatedAd">,</div>)"
Limit = 1500
Match = "*doubleclick.net*"

Name = "Bikeforums 2"
Active = TRUE
URL = "([^/]++.|)bikeforums.net"
Bounds = "$NEST(<SCRIPT LANGUAGE="JavaScript">,</table>)"
Limit = 800
Match = "*doubleclick.net*|*www.bikeforums.net/ads*"
Replace = "</table>"

Name = "Bikeforums"
Active = TRUE
URL = "([^/]++.|)bikeforums.net"
Bounds = "$NEST(<!-- ads between 2nd and 3rd post -->,<!-- /ads between 2nd and 3rd post -->)"
Limit = 4000
Match = "*Support our Sponsors*"

Name = "Weightweenies"
Active = TRUE
URL = "([^/]++.|)weightweenies.starbike.com"
Bounds = "$NEST(<td,</td>)"
Limit = 2000
Match = "*ad.gif*"

Name = "Slowtwitch ads 1"
Active = TRUE
URL = "forum.slowtwitch.com"
Bounds = "$NEST(<!-- BEGIN ADVERTPRO CODE BLOCK -->, <!-- END ADVERTPRO CODE BLOCK -->)"
Limit = 1000
Match = "*"

Name = "Slowtwitch image resize"
Active = TRUE
URL = "forum.slowtwitch.com"
Bounds = "$NEST(<script, </script>)"
Limit = 1000
Match = "*function resizeImage*"

Name = "Serotta forum"
Active = TRUE
URL = "([^/]++.|)serotta.com"
Bounds = "$NEST(<table,</table>)"
Limit = 2000
Match = "*www.serotta.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc*"

Name = "Accuweather video removal 2"
Active = TRUE
URL = "([^/]++.|)accuweather.com"
Bounds = "$NEST(<div id="content_column_300right" >,<!-- this closing div closes the body div \(page_container\) /-->)"
Limit = 12000
Match = "*adcVideoComponentV2d*"

Name = "Accuweather banner"
Active = TRUE
URL = "([^/]++.|)accuweather.com"
Bounds = "$NEST(<div id=\"topAdContainer\">,</div>\s</div>\s</div>)"
Limit = 400
Match = "*<!-- Advertisment bar -->*"

Name = "Accuweather ad box"
Active = TRUE
URL = "([^/]++.|)accuweather.com"
Limit = 1000
Match = "<div id=\"*UpSaleBox660\">*<a name="graph" id="graph"></a>"
Replace = "<a name="graph" id="graph"></a>"

Name = "Accuweather download center"
Active = TRUE
URL = "([^/]++.|)accuweather.com"
Bounds = "$NEST(<div id=\",</div>\s</div>)"
Limit = 400
Match = "*vortex.accuweather.com/adc2004/pub/images/promos/downloadCenterPromo660.gif*"

Name = "Accuweather Flash ads 2"
Active = TRUE
URL = "([^/]++.|)accuweather.com"
Bounds = "$NEST(<!-- Quantcast Tag -->,<!-- End Quantcast tag -->)"
Limit = 600
Match = "*"

Name = "Accuweather Flash ads"
Active = TRUE
URL = "([^/]++.|)accuweather.com"
Bounds = "$NEST(<script,</script>)"
Limit = 2000
Match = "*Flash*|*ads*"

Name = "Cyclingnews 3"
Active = TRUE
URL = "([^/]++.|)cyclingnews.com"
Bounds = "$NEST(<tr>,</tr>)"
Limit = 2000
Match = "*flash*"

Name = "Pez ads 1"
Active = TRUE
URL = "([^/]++.|)pezcyclingnews.com"
Bounds = "$NEST(<td,</td>)"
Limit = 400
Match = "*www.pezcyclingnews.com:8080*"

Name = "Pez banner"
Active = TRUE
URL = "([^/]++.|)pezcyclingnews.com"
Bounds = "$NEST(<object classid,</object>)"
Limit = 700
Match = "*flash*"

Name = "Velonews banner 3"
Active = FALSE
URL = "([^/]++.|)velonews.com"
Limit = 2000
Match = "<div id = \"body-container\">"

Name = "Velonews banner 4"
Active = TRUE
URL = "([^/]++.|)velonews.com"
Limit = 2000
Match = "<div id = \"circ-leader\"><img src = '/themes/velonews/images/circ_leader.gif' usemap = '#circ-leader-map' alt = 'Magazine Image' /></div>"
Replace = "<div id = \"circ-leader\"></div>"

Name = "Velonews ads 1"
Active = TRUE
URL = "([^/]++.|)velonews.com"
Bounds = "$NEST(<div class,</iframe></div></div>)"
Limit = 1000
Match = "*thruport.com*"

Name = "Velonews banner 1"
Active = TRUE
URL = "([^/]++.|)velonews.com"
Bounds = "$NEST(<div id = "ad-leader">,></iframe></div>)"
Limit = 1000
Match = "*thruport.com*"

Name = "Velonews banner 2"
Active = TRUE
URL = "([^/]++.|)velonews.com"
Limit = 1000
Match = "<map name = 'circ-leader-map' id = 'circ-leader-map'>*</map>"

Name = "Cyclingnews 2"
Active = TRUE
URL = "([^/]++.|)cyclingnews.com"
Limit = 400
Match = "<tr>*clickthru*</tr>"

Name = "Cyclingnews right ad column"
Active = TRUE
URL = "([^/]++.|)cyclingnews.com"
Bounds = "$NEST(<!--RIGHT HAND AD COLUMN START -->,<!--RIGHT HAND AD COLUMN END -->)"
Limit = 12000
Match = "*"

Name = "Cyclingnews ads 3"
Active = TRUE
URL = "([^/]++.|)cyclingnews.com"
Bounds = "$NEST(<a href,</a>)"
Limit = 400
Match = "*economicoutlook.net*"

Name = "Cyclingnews ads 2"
Active = TRUE
URL = "([^/]++.|)cyclingnews.com"
Bounds = "$NEST(<tr,</tr>)"
Limit = 600
Match = "*economicoutlook.net*"

Name = "Cyclingnews Javascript 1"
Active = TRUE
URL = "([^/]++.|)cyclingnews.com"
Bounds = "$NEST(<script,</script>)"
Limit = 2000
Match = "*disableclick*"

Name = "Cyclingnews"
Active = TRUE
URL = "([^/]++.|)cyclingnews.com"
Bounds = "$NEST(<td,</(tr|td)>)"
Limit = 2000
Match = "*cyclingnews.com/clickthru*"
 
Wow, blocking spam is so easy, a site admin could do it. So, when all the spam is filtered out, that leaves.... what, just the stickied threads on the first page?

The real threads from later pages don't perculate back to the top and take the places of the blocked threads, do they?
 
frenchyge said:
Wow, blocking spam is so easy, a site admin could do it. So, when all the spam is filtered out, that leaves.... what, just the stickied threads on the first page?

The real threads from later pages don't perculate back to the top and take the places of the blocked threads, do they?

Actually, they aren't displaced by the excised spam threads. At least for me, the front page shows the stickied threads and the last 3 days of threads regardless of the number of threads. At the bottom of page one is the 300PT accuracy thread from Feb. 25 regardless of whether the spam threads are present or not. The front page is about half as long w/o the spam threads.
 
Updated list of spammers for the Jerks List.txt file:

Code:
ann110
bigbrother11
clothes
crimi.check
darasure
Dehumidifier-Da
doorstep1
goodsaaa
greall
jamesbikerblog
jqyshoes
king001
lindaxu_88
mysneaker
phonecity
phonelimited
shoesnewnike
shoesperfect
teslim452
topsales
voogooddeal

There are only a few that spam this sub-forum but I went to other sub-forums to test out the filter and gathered more names of offenders.

An additional filter for Accuweather. This goes in [Patterns] in default.cfg or you can use the merge function in Proxomitron.

Code:
Name = "Accuweather left column"
Active = TRUE
URL = "([^/]++.|)accuweather.com"
Limit = 16000
Match = "<div class=\"content_box_[0-9]+header\">"
        "*Weather News*"
        "<!-- End Monthly Features /-->"
 
Piotr said:
Very nice, very nice indeed. :)
Yes; it is very satisfying to see the spammers defeated and to open this forum and see nothing but Power and cycling related threads. It was worth the time that it took me to get Proxomitron going and much thanks to Squint for his patience in helping me to get it functional.

Scott Simpson
 
I created a few new filters and tweaked others. I also renamed them so they're more descriptive and added dates to the names so it's easier to discern which version you have. The complete list of cycling-related filters:

Code:
[Patterns]
Name = "Bikeforums right ad column (Mar. 1, 2008)"
Active = TRUE
URL = "([^/]++.|)bikeforums.net"
Limit = 7000
Match = "<!-- Right Column STOP -->*<!-- Right Column STOP -->"

Name = "Bikeforums floating ads (Mar. 1, 2008)"
Active = TRUE
URL = "([^/]++.|)bikeforums.net"
Bounds = "$NEST(<div class="floatedAd">,</div>)"
Limit = 1500
Match = "*doubleclick.net*"

Name = "Bikeforums ads (Mar. 1, 2008)"
Active = TRUE
URL = "([^/]++.|)bikeforums.net"
Bounds = "$NEST(<SCRIPT LANGUAGE="JavaScript">,</table>)"
Limit = 800
Match = "*doubleclick.net*|*www.bikeforums.net/ads*"
Replace = "</table>"

Name = "Bikeforums inline ads (Mar. 1, 2008)"
Active = TRUE
URL = "([^/]++.|)bikeforums.net"
Bounds = "$NEST(<!-- ads between 2nd and 3rd post -->,<!-- /ads between 2nd and 3rd post -->)"
Limit = 4000
Match = "*Support our Sponsors*"

Name = "Weightweenies ads (Mar. 1, 2008)"
Active = TRUE
URL = "([^/]++.|)weightweenies.starbike.com"
Bounds = "$NEST(<td,</td>)"
Limit = 2000
Match = "*ad.gif*"

Name = "Slowtwitch ads (Mar. 1, 2008)"
Active = TRUE
URL = "forum.slowtwitch.com"
Bounds = "$NEST(<!-- BEGIN ADVERTPRO CODE BLOCK -->, <!-- END ADVERTPRO CODE BLOCK -->)"
Limit = 1000
Match = "*"

Name = "Slowtwitch disable auto image resize (Mar. 1, 2008)"
Active = TRUE
URL = "forum.slowtwitch.com"
Bounds = "$NEST(<script, </script>)"
Limit = 1000
Match = "*javascript*"

Name = "Serotta Forum ads (Mar. 1, 2008)"
Active = TRUE
URL = "([^/]++.|)serotta.com"
Bounds = "$NEST(<table,</table>)"
Limit = 2000
Match = "*www.serotta.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc*"

Name = "Accuweather left ad column (Mar. 1, 2008)"
Active = TRUE
URL = "([^/]++.|)accuweather.com"
Limit = 16000
Match = "<div class=\"content_box_[0-9]+header\">"
        "*Weather News*"
        "<!-- End Monthly Features /-->"

Name = "Accuweather video removal (Mar. 1, 2008)"
Active = TRUE
URL = "([^/]++.|)accuweather.com"
Bounds = "$NEST(<div id="content_column_300right" >,<!-- this closing div closes the body div \(page_container\) /-->)"
Limit = 12000
Match = "*adcVideoComponentV2d*"

Name = "Accuweather banner (Mar. 1, 2008)"
Active = TRUE
URL = "([^/]++.|)accuweather.com"
Bounds = "$NEST(<div id=\"topAdContainer\">,</div>\s</div>\s</div>)"
Limit = 400
Match = "*<!-- Advertisment bar -->*"

Name = "Accuweather ad box 2 (Mar. 1, 2008)"
Active = TRUE
URL = "([^/]++.|)accuweather.com"
Limit = 1000
Match = "<div id=\"*UpSaleBox660\">*<a name="graph" id="graph"></a>"
Replace = "<a name="graph" id="graph"></a>"

Name = "Accuweather ad box 1 (Mar. 1, 2008)"
Active = TRUE
URL = "([^/]++.|)accuweather.com"
Bounds = "$NEST(<div id=\",</div>\s</div>)"
Limit = 400
Match = "*vortex.accuweather.com/adc2004/pub/images/promos/downloadCenterPromo660.gif*"

Name = "Accuweather Flash ads 2 (Mar. 1, 2008)"
Active = TRUE
URL = "([^/]++.|)accuweather.com"
Bounds = "$NEST(<!-- Quantcast Tag -->,<!-- End Quantcast tag -->)"
Limit = 600
Match = "*"

Name = "Accuweather Flash ads (Mar. 1, 2008)"
Active = TRUE
URL = "([^/]++.|)accuweather.com"
Bounds = "$NEST(<script,</script>)"
Limit = 2000
Match = "*Flash*|*ads*"

Name = "Pez ads (Mar. 1, 2008)"
Active = TRUE
URL = "([^/]++.|)pezcyclingnews.com"
Bounds = "$NEST(<td,</td>)"
Limit = 400
Match = "*www.pezcyclingnews.com:8080*"

Name = "Pez banner (Mar. 1, 2008)"
Active = TRUE
URL = "([^/]++.|)pezcyclingnews.com"
Bounds = "$NEST(<object classid,</object>)"
Limit = 700
Match = "*flash*"

Name = "Velonews banner 3 (Mar. 1, 2008)"
Active = TRUE
URL = "([^/]++.|)velonews.com"
Limit = 2000
Match = "<div id = \"circ-leader\"><img src = '/themes/velonews/images/circ_leader.gif' usemap = '#circ-leader-map' alt = 'Magazine Image' /></div>"
Replace = "<div id = \"circ-leader\"></div>"

Name = "Velonews ads (Mar. 1, 2008)"
Active = TRUE
URL = "([^/]++.|)velonews.com"
Bounds = "$NEST(<div id = ,</iframe></div>)"
Limit = 1000
Match = "*thruport.com*"

Name = "Velonews banner 1 (Mar. 1, 2008)"
Active = TRUE
URL = "([^/]++.|)velonews.com"
Bounds = "$NEST(<div id = "ad-leader">,></iframe></div>)"
Limit = 1000
Match = "*thruport.com*"

Name = "Velonews banner 2 (Mar. 1, 2008)"
Active = TRUE
URL = "([^/]++.|)velonews.com"
Limit = 1000
Match = "<map name = 'circ-leader-map' id = 'circ-leader-map'>*</map>"

Name = "Cyclingnews right ad column (Mar. 1, 2008)"
Active = TRUE
URL = "([^/]++.|)cyclingnews.com"
Bounds = "$NEST(<!--RIGHT HAND AD COLUMN START -->,<!--RIGHT HAND AD COLUMN END -->)"
Limit = 12000
Match = "*"

Name = "Cyclingnews ad filter 3 (Mar. 1, 2008)"
Active = TRUE
URL = "([^/]++.|)cyclingnews.com"
Bounds = "$NEST(<a href,</a>)"
Limit = 400
Match = "*economicoutlook.net*"

Name = "Cyclingnews ad filter 2 (Mar. 1, 2008)"
Active = TRUE
URL = "([^/]++.|)cyclingnews.com"
Bounds = "$NEST(<tr,</tr>)"
Limit = 600
Match = "*economicoutlook.net*"

Name = "Cyclingnews Javascript enable right-click on images (Mar. 1, 2008)"
Active = TRUE
URL = "([^/]++.|)cyclingnews.com"
Bounds = "$NEST(<script,</script>)"
Limit = 2000
Match = "*disableclick*"

Name = "Cyclingnews ad filter 1 (Mar. 1, 2008)"
Active = TRUE
URL = "([^/]++.|)cyclingnews.com"
Bounds = "$NEST(<td,</(tr|td)>)"
Limit = 2000
Match = "*cyclingnews.com/clickthru*"

Name = "Cyclingnews disable Flash animations (Mar. 1, 2008)"
Active = TRUE
URL = "([^/]++.|)cyclingnews.com"
Bounds = "$NEST(<tr>,</tr>)"
Limit = 2000
Match = "*flash*"

Name = "Cycling Forums last post keyword filter (Mar. 1, 2008)"
Active = FALSE
URL = "([^/]++.|)cyclingforums.com"
Limit = 1000
Match = "<div style="clear:both">"
        "*$LST(Cyclingforums_keywords)*"
        "</div>\s</div>\s</td>"
Replace = "<div style="clear:both"></div></div></td>"

Name = "Cycling Forums last post username filter  (Mar. 1, 2008)"
Active = TRUE
URL = "([^/]++.|)cyclingforums.com"
Limit = 1000
Match = "<div style="clear:both">"
        "*\"member.php\?find=lastposter\&f=[0-9]+\">$LST(Jerks)</a>*"
        "</div>\s</div>\s</td>"
Replace = "</div></div></td>"

Name = "Cycling Forums keyword filter (Mar. 1, 2008)"
Active = FALSE
URL = "([^/]++.|)cyclingforums.com"
Bounds = "$NEST(<tr,</tr>)"
Limit = 2000
Match = "*$LST(Cyclingforums_keywords)*&(^*member.php\?find=lastposter\&f)"

Name = "Cycling Forums username filter (Mar. 1, 2008)"
Active = TRUE
URL = "([^/]++.|)cyclingforums.com"
Bounds = "$NEST(<tr,</tr>)"
Limit = 2000
Match = "*<span style=\"cursor:pointer\" onclick=\"window.open\('member.php\?u=[0-9]+'\)">$LST(Jerks)</span>*"

There are now two pairs of filters for this forum. The username filter set doesn't have any "friendly fire" issues but postings from newly registered spammers will get through.

The new pair of filters scans titles for keywords. It's possible (but unlikely) that it will remove legitimate threads. The benefit is that the spammers change their wares less often than their usernames so it will catch more while requiring you to update the blocklist less often.

When the thread listing is generated, the full body of the message isn't yet available to the browser so only the title and perhaps the first few lines of the message can be examined. It might be possible with some Javascript to read the message and even go to the websites linked in the message and examine them in depth. If this can be accomplished then it would be possible to filter out even new usernames and postings with vague titles.

Code:
#List of spammer usernames for cyclingforums.com
#
#This file must have a pointer in default.cfg.
#
#Example:
#
#[Blocklists]
#List.Jerks = "..\Lists\Jerks List.txt"
#
#Last updated Mar. 1, 2008

1stcloth00
ann110
bigbrother11
clothes
crimi.check
darasure
Dehumidifier-Da
doorstep1
favorgoods
goodsaaa
greall
jamesbikerblog
jqyshoes
king001
lindaxu_88
Michaeljakel
micheel
mysneaker
nikeshoesstock9
oilsupply
online22
phonecity
phonelimited
shoes01
shoesnewnike
shoesperfect
teslim452
topsales
van11
voogooddeal
wally58

This is the blocklist for the keyword filters. Installation is the same as for the username filter. Note how it's a shorter list than the list of usernames. And it's less likely to change.

Code:
#List of spam keywords for cyclingforums.com
#
#This file must have a pointer in default.cfg.
#
#Example:
#
#[Blocklists]
#List.Cyclingforums_keywords = "..\Lists\Cyclingforums keywords.txt"
#
#Last updated Feb. 29, 2008

(hair&*nails)
(apple&*cider)
prostate
motorola
adidas
lithium aspartate
ribose
gucci
handbags
iphone
ipod
jeans
jordan
nike
nokia
powerbook
prada
shoes
tiffany
USD
wholesale
 
I installed as per your instructions but how do I activate it?

I get the same spam probs as before.
 
Alex Simmons said:
I installed as per your instructions but how do I activate it?

I get the same spam probs as before.
Did you follow the instructions for installing Proxomitron first?

See http://www.proxomitron.info/45/help/Installation.html

My instructions are for installing the filters only. Go through all the steps for installing Proxomitron and then for installing the filters. Make sure you've followed all the steps correctly.
 
Squint said:
Did you follow the instructions for installing Proxomitron first?

See http://www.proxomitron.info/45/help/Installation.html

My instructions are for installing the filters only. Go through all the steps for installing Proxomitron and then for installing the filters. Make sure you've followed all the steps correctly.
Yeah - did all that. Local host changed, proxomitron restarted etc. even did a full restart of PC.

localhost.png


Proxomitron main window looks different to the window they show in the instruction manual though. I don't seee any of the tabs they mention.

Proxomitron.png


I even uninstalled it and reinstalled the zip version, which is a pain since it doesn't appear in the program files list now. Whatever, it doesn't work and I don't know enough to work out why.
 
While the spam on thius forum is still all there, it's doing something - I've noticed some other behaviour:

On some forums ads animation has been stopped, which is nice (e.g. Pez)
Other forums the ads don't appear (e.g. slowtwitch)
But the text editor for generating posts/replies no longer works (e.g. slowtwitch)
 
Alex Simmons said:
Yeah - did all that. Local host changed, proxomitron restarted etc. even did a full restart of PC.
Restarting the computer isn't necessary. What do you mean by localhost changed? You mean you configured the proxy settings in your browser?

localhost.png


Proxomitron main window looks different to the window they show in the instruction manual though. I don't seee any of the tabs they mention.
The above picture isn't from Proxomitron but a web browser. The instructions at that URL doesn't have any screenshots of Proxomitron. They're all screenshots from a browser (Firefox, Internet Explorer, etc.).
Proxomitron.png


I even uninstalled it and reinstalled the zip version, which is a pain since it doesn't appear in the program files list now. Whatever, it doesn't work and I don't know enough to work out why.
Proxomitron has textures and skins so it can look very different. But it won't look like the proxy configuration for your browser.

The installation process just extracts the files and creates a shortcut. If you used the zipped version, which I did, you only need to create a shortcut to Proxomitron.exe. Ideally, you'd put it in your StartUp folder so it starts automatically with Windows.

It's a very simple process. You're probably missing something obvious. With a better description of what you've done, it should become clear to me what you need to do.