website registration changes

[admin]

I made some significant changes to the forum registration process which will _hopefully_ stem the flow of spam account registrations. I installed two software plug-ins which automate the detection of spam accounts: StopForumSpam and Fassim. I also configured the forum system to block registrations from outside the US and Canada. I'll monitor the detection rates of these filters over the next week and adjust if necessary. I can add an additional counter-measure if these registration filters don't block everything. Thanks.

[Chris H]

Thanks for cleaning it up.

[jasondbaker]

I logged into the forum today and there were zero spam registrations. Either the registration system is broken or the new registration filters are doing an amazing job. I hope it's the latter. My test registrations have worked fine. Now I can focus attention on other improvements!