WordPress Spam Protection Tutorial
Table of Contents
This tutorial explains how to protect your WordPress blog from spam. There are several measures that you can take to prevent malicious comments from getting into your site.
Keep WordPress Up-to-date
Make sure that your WordPress application is updated to the latest stable version. Detailed instructions regarding the WordPress update can be found in our tutorial. Each WordPress update includes a variety of patches, security fixes, and new features. Often, there are anti-spam measures added to the core to prevent spam from getting in.
Install and Activate Akismet
Akismet is a plugin by Automattic that checks each comment you get on your site against an enormous database of spam patterns. Then it filters out spam automatically without bothering your users at all. To use Akismet, you need a key that you get for free from the official Akismet site.
Overview of Akismet
Akismet is a key tool in your WordPress site’s defense against spam. It’s designed by the same team behind WordPress, ensuring seamless integration.
Here’s how to setup Akismet:
- First, get your Akismet API key by signing up on the Akismet website.
- Then, in your WordPress dashboard, enter the API key in the Akismet settings.
Akismet works by checking comments and contact form messages against known spam, helping keep your site clean. Customize its settings to suit your needs – either auto-delete spam or review it manually. Keep an eye on the spam stats to stay informed about your site’s spam traffic.
Install a Visual Verification
If spam keeps getting through, you may want to install a CAPTCHA plugin. A good choice is the reCaptcha by BestWebSoft plugin. Once you install and configure the plugin on your website – everyone that attempts to use a comment or contact form on your website will be presented with an additional CAPTCHA challenge before they can submit the form.
Comprehensive instructions on how to install a WordPress plugin can be found here.
Boosting Your Spam Defense
Enhancing your site’s defense against spam requires a multifaceted approach. In addition to Akismet and adding a CAPTCHA, here are specific steps to fortify your website:
- Adjust Comment Settings – Navigate to your WordPress Dashboard, and under Settings > Discussion, you can tweak various options:
- Comment Moderation – Hold comments for manual approval, especially useful if your site receives a lot of comments.
- Restrict Comment Privileges – Limit commenting to registered and logged-in users, reducing the likelihood of spam from anonymous sources.
- Disable Comments on Older Posts – Spammers often target older posts. Setting comments to close after a certain number of days can help mitigate this.
- Using the .htaccess File – This powerful configuration file can be used to block known spammers. Access the file for editing from Site Tools -> Site -> File Manager or via FTP and:
- Block Specific IPs – Add lines such as
Deny from 123.456.0.1(replace with the spammer’s IP) to block them. - Prevent No-Referrer Requests – Many spam bots don’t send referrer information. You can block such requests by adding specific .htaccess rules:
# Stop spam attack logins and commentsReplace yourdomainname.com in the above with your domain name.
RewriteEngine On
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_METHOD} POST
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_URI} .(wp-comments-post|wp-login)\.php*
RewriteCond %{HTTP_REFERER} !.*yourdomainname.com.* [OR] RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} ^$
RewriteRule (.*) http://%{REMOTE_ADDR}/$ [R=301,L]
- Block Specific IPs – Add lines such as
- Blacklisting Spammers – WordPress allows you to blacklist specific IPs, words, or email addresses. In your Dashboard, under Settings > Discussion, scroll to ‘Comment Blacklist‘ where you can input known spam indicators.
- Update Regularly – Ensure your WordPress, themes, and plugins are always updated. Updates often include security patches that help prevent spam.
Why Spam Protection Matters for Your Site?
Effective spam protection is crucial for several reasons:
- Search Engine Penalties – Search engines can penalize sites overrun with spam, affecting your search rankings and visibility.
- User Experience – A site cluttered with spam comments can harm the user experience, making your site look unprofessional and deterring genuine engagement.
- Website Performance – Spam bloats your database, slowing down your site. A faster-loading site ranks better in search engines and provides a better user experience.
- Security Risks – Spam comments can sometimes be a front for more malicious activities like phishing or spreading malware, posing a security risk to your site and its users.
- Maintaining Site Integrity – Regularly combating spam helps maintain the integrity and credibility of your site, ensuring that your content remains the focus for your visitors.
Implementing these steps and understanding the importance of spam protection will help ensure that your WordPress site remains secure, user-friendly, and well-ranked in search engines.