Mike ParsonsMay 18, 2023
Mastodon Migration

Public Notice

Lots of reports of crypto spam attacks coming in from multiple instances today.

Seems like the bad guys are getting kinda worried about Mastodon.

Instance admins are taking this very seriously and working hard to fend off the attacks.

What can you do? If you see a crypto scam post, don't engage with it. It's just a bot anyway. If you block and report the post it will help administrators isolate the attacker account.

We got this!

#CryptoSpamAttack #CryptoSpam

May 17, 2023 at 10:21pmWeb
Show threadSlim Bill (He/Him)May 17, 2023
@mastodonmigration I got one - reported it and blocked the bot.
Show threadJMinSDMay 18, 2023
@wjmalik @mastodonmigration Same here.
Show threadhenryMay 17, 2023
@mastodonmigration Isn’t mute redundant with block?
Show threadMastodon MigrationMay 18, 2023
@henry Good comment. Edited the post to just say "block and report".
Show threadThomas JonesMay 17, 2023
@mastodonmigration

I've been reticent to hit the report button – especially if the post is more than an hour old – because I don't want to contribute to a deluge of reports to a given site-admin. I mean, do the reports go to the reporter's site-admin or the site-admin of the account being reported?
Show threadCoyotyMay 18, 2023
@ferricoxide @mastodonmigration Reporting ASAP gives admins the chance to stop a flood ASAP.
Show threadMichaelMay 17, 2023
@mastodonmigration @HeatherPC Thanks for all your work on this. Sending you $$ monthly to help out.
Show threadHeatherPCMay 17, 2023

@MPgh @mastodonmigration

Yes thank you! I didn't get to check my phone all afternoon and when I did I saw notifications about some mentions that were total spam. By the time I clicked to report them I got the screen that they didn't exist. Handled so quickly I didn't get a chance to do anything about it.

Show threadMichaelMay 17, 2023
@HeatherPC @mastodonmigration that’s great moderation! I blocked DMs from randos.
Show threadHeatherPCMay 17, 2023

@MPgh @mastodonmigration

I should probably do that as well

Show threadTim BrayMay 17, 2023

@mastodonmigration

On most clients, just hit Report, you'll get prompted if you want to block as well (you do).

Show threadRosaMay 18, 2023
@mastodonmigration I got one today as well, reported and blocked.
Show threadEhlerMay 18, 2023
@mastodonmigration it's pretty small scale, and this means we'll start seeing anti-spam measures begin development soon I hope. Expected, natural growing pain for a social network. I still remember getting phished on MySpace when I was younger.
Show threadNarMay 18, 2023
@mastodonmigration I blocked it!
Show threaddavazlanMay 18, 2023
@mastodonmigration how do I recognise one?
Show thread👩‍🦯The Blind FraggleMay 18, 2023
@mastodonmigration Thank you all for all your hard work!
Show threadJoe ❌👑May 18, 2023
@mastodonmigration Everyone should go to settings / notifications and click the box that prevents people with no follow relationship with you from sending DMs. People who want to allow the public to contact them (anonymous tips and the like) should list a Signal number or similar.
Show threadMastodon MigrationMay 18, 2023
@not2b Good suggestion!
Show threadJoe ❌👑May 18, 2023
@mastodonmigration Yes, a lot of people miss this one because for some reason it is under Notifications, seems it would be more logical to be under Filters.
Show threadblinkenjimMay 18, 2023

@not2b @mastodonmigration

Does it actually block messages, or just notifications of messages?

Show threadKatzentratschenMay 18, 2023
@blinkenjim @not2b @mastodonmigration AFAIK it's like a spam folder for your mail box, but without the spam folder: Notifications for those messages are muted and they are not listed on the tab "'mentioned only".
Show threadÆnðr E. FeldstrawMay 19, 2023
@not2b @mastodonmigration Or, speak for yourself, and let us choose whom we allow to contact us.
Show threadFelipe May 18, 2023
@mastodonmigration I had at least 3 "ransomwere coin air drops click here" yesterday
Show threadSebastian HahnMay 18, 2023
@mastodonmigration Blocking works, yesterday some scam post showed up as a notification. Until I had opened my Mastodon app it was already gone. Great!
Show threadgrinMay 18, 2023
@mastodonmigration "and if you're an instance admin, then, well, whatever" 👀
That's not a lot of info for a network with thousands of small instances.
Show threadEarthworm 🐌May 18, 2023

@grin @mastodonmigration

For admins:
Suspension/blockin/defederation causes follower connections and apparently also individual blocks to break.
Therefore silencing/muting is preferred (kolektiva learned it the hard way😅)

Show threadgrinMay 18, 2023
@earthworm @mastodonmigration I don't even see such option as "muting"...
Show threadQazMay 18, 2023
@mastodonmigration I haven’t seen a single one so far, so I guess it’s working.
Show threadSven S. SvenssonMay 18, 2023
@mastodonmigration I’ve gotten a couple and blocked and reported. The admins of my instance are good at dealing with that nonsense.
Show threadCatherine RussellMay 18, 2023
@mastodonmigration What does crypto spam look like? #OldLady
Show threadSue Vickers-ThompsonMay 18, 2023
@CatherineRussell2 @mastodonmigration Just an invitation to join in - don't click on anything, just block & report. I've had one today - annoying but not dangerous unless you interact!
Show threadclacke: exhausted pixie dream boy 🇸🇪🇭🇰💙💛May 19, 2023
@CatherineRussell2 "Hey, have you heard of this revolutionary new cryptocurrency that combines the best of NFTs and AI, join exchange XYZ now for a good deal, this is historical", etc, lots of emojis.
Show threadgavinisdie May 18, 2023
@mastodonmigration I'm suprised I haven't seen one yet
Show threadAngelino DesmetMay 18, 2023

Like clockwork:
“Money corrupts; bitcoin corrupts absolutely.” https://cynicusrex.com/file/cryptocultscience.html

@mastodonmigration

Money corrupts; bitcoin corrupts absolutely.

Disregarding all of bitcoin's shortcomings, a financial instrument that brings out the worst in people—greed—won't change the world for the better.

Show threadCrazyMyraMay 17, 2023
@mastodonmigration They aren't "worried", they're enthusiastic
Show threadStacyMay 18, 2023
@mastodonmigration Keep calm, block/report, and carry on.
Show threadPusher Of Pixels (old account)May 18, 2023
@mastodonmigration only seen a total of 3. #admin #mastodonadmin doing great!
Show threadFantasioMay 19, 2023
@mastodonmigration @MeanwhileinCanada how do we report spam?