After setting the forum so new users have to actually authenticate through their email, AND having GD2 enabled... I am still getting what appears to be automated spam messages in the forum.

Is there something else we can do to prevent this?

I've been with UBBthreads since the 90's (my original login here is lost, and havent been able to get it back btw) and I love the software, but I gotta be honest and say the software is swiftly falling behind the leaders now.