Bots

Bot: Software applications that run automated tasks over the Internet. Typically, bots perform tasks that are both simple and structurally repetitive, at a much higher rate than would be possible for a human alone.

Bots also aim for forums and automatically register in order to post adverts. Nowadays, they are amazingly advanced. They can analyse forum content and learn to blend in. Their posts can appear quite creative in order to try and fool a user, starting with titles like "Hi, I'm new!", or "I love your forum!".

Their usernames, though, are often the giveaway. Names such as 'TiFeimporsrer' or 'fievahaibia'. You see a thread started by that name and you know a human wouldn't create that name. Click on the image at the bottom of this entry to see an example of some posts by bots.

But things are changing. I regularly use a forum aimed primarily at British Asians. This bot appears to have known this and, I think, in an attempt to blend in, came up with a Punjabi sounding username: Hentundbeep

Clever or coincidence?

Click to see full size image