Protecting against comment spam
Yesterday I talked about the advantages to blog commenting and one of the comments mentioned that the only comments they get are spam.
With WordPress and some plugins you can eliminate most comment spam and here is how to do it.
First use two plugins.
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Askimet which comes with the basic WordPress install
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WP Spam Free which I have found to be quite effective
With Askimet you will need to get an API number to activate it. If you go to the configuration page in the top paragraph is a link to go register to get the API.
Just add the key into the box and update and you are running.
WP Spam Free just needs to be activated after you have installed the plugin and you are ready to go.
Now these two will stop the automated systems quite well so the only other spam comments are those that are done manually. These are the cretins that use the “Great post” etc types of comments.
For me if they come in once I just mark them as spam. Quite often that is enough and Askimet starts picking them up as spam. It is the ones that continue to come back that can become a pain. For those just ban the ip number and that will stop them.
To ban an ip from commenting just go to settings – discussion and towards the bottom of the page is a section called comment blacklist. Here you can add the ip as a separate line and it will no longer be able to comment.
You can also add in any name that will automatically keep a comment from posting as you can see in the image below.
These 3 things should allow you to stop wasting time with spam comments so that you can use that time to interact with those that are adding quality comments to your blog.
As always if you have an additional way to avoid comment spam or if you have a question on WordPress or blogging please leave you comments below.
About the author
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Mike Paetzold got started blogging in 2003 and has become an expert on using WordPress. He has become known as The WordPress Guy. After being an under ground niche marketer using his blogs he has surfaced to share some of the ways he uses blogs to enter various niches profitably. Get the details at Profitable Blog Steps |
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Disclaimer: Some of the links mentioned within this post or posts it may lead to are my affiliate links and in such case I will get compensated for recommending those products. However, I will never recommend something that I don’t personally believe in and I welcome your questions and feedback.
11 comments
Ron Barrett on January 20, 2010 at 8:55 am
Mike,
Great followup.
I wasn’t aware of WPSpam Free…will have to check that out. I use Akismet and WordPress Hashcash which works well.
Will switching to WPspam free help out also?
[Reply]
Luca DiNicola
Twitter: rsonline
on January 20, 2010 at 9:30 am
I find that I get more spam on my niche sites than I do on my main site. I will install WP Spam an see if that helps.
Luca DiNicola´s last blog ..Powerstart 2010 – Starting an Online Business The Right Way
[Reply]
Fred Lotgering
Twitter: lotcon
on January 20, 2010 at 12:05 pm
Great spam alternatives Mike. So far I have been using Askimet, you need to get the API just once and your set and can use same API on all your blogs.
[Reply]
R.Brian Burkhardt
Twitter: yourfuneralguy
on January 20, 2010 at 12:58 pm
My blogs in my Niche attract much spam-Thanks for the info. For the record askimet does not stop all spam at my blogs.
[Reply]
Mike Reply:
January 20th, 2010 at 1:02 pm
That is why I recommend 2 plugins not just Askimet.
[Reply]
Mel on January 20, 2010 at 4:20 pm
I had not heard of WP Spam Free. I’m only using Akismet now, but I have pathetic traffic, so spam hasn’t been a problem…yet. I’ll keep WP Spam Free in mind. Thanks for the information.
[Reply]
Earl Netwal
Twitter: EarlNetwal
on January 21, 2010 at 3:12 pm
How much real harm does spam cause? Does the occasional spam comment draw off so much Google juice as to matter? On a related matter, I still don’t understand ping backs. Could you add that to your list of Q’s to deal with?
Earl Netwal´s last blog ..Instant Fast Traffic – A Review
[Reply]
Mike Reply:
January 21st, 2010 at 5:29 pm
Its not because of bleeding pr but let me ask you using your how much harm statement. If I take an extra penny from every dollar I owe you how much harm does it do after all its only a penny?
[Reply]
Lonnie Minton on January 21, 2010 at 4:44 pm
I use both of these on my blogs. Except that I have not installed WP Spam Free on my new blog. Thanks for the reminder.
Lonnie Minton´s last blog ..Learn Affiliate Marketing With Power Start 2010 4-Week Coaching Program
[Reply]
Andre Arnett on January 22, 2010 at 5:34 pm
Those are great plugins and I would recommend them thanks to Mike. Has really cut down on spam comments. Good info to share Mike.
Andre Arnett´s last blog ..Let AIDA Help Improve Your Sales
[Reply]
Carol on May 16, 2010 at 12:00 pm
Great thank you, i am very new at Blogging and at the moment the spam is taking over big style will install the plugin
Carol´s last blog ..Angel Dreams
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