Running a WordPress site can often be challenging due to spam comments. As the number of visitors increases, so does the likelihood of spam attacks, making effective blocking methods essential. Today, we explore various methods to block spam comments and enhance security on WordPress.
Adjusting Basic WordPress Settings
Enable Comment Approval
You can easily change the basic settings via the WordPress dashboard. Go to Settings > Discussion and activate the option Comments must be manually approved. This setting ensures that every comment awaits approval from an administrator before being posted, effectively preventing spam comments from being displayed in real-time.
Restrict Comment Authors
To block spam comments from non-logged-in users, requiring membership registration and login before commenting can be effective. By activating the option Users must be registered and logged in to comment, only logged-in users are allowed to leave comments. This method can significantly reduce unusual traffic and spam.
Limit Number of Links in Comments
Spam comments typically contain multiple links to redirect users to various sites. From the Settings > Discussion menu, limit the Number of links allowed in comments to 1 or 2, enabling automatic filtering of comments containing numerous links.
Using a Comment Blacklist
Utilize the Disallowed Comment Keywords feature under Settings > Discussion to add frequently used spam words to a blacklist. You can also block specific IP addresses to prevent continuous spam submissions. Keywords or IP addresses included in the blacklist are automatically blocked.
Utilizing Anti-Spam Plugins
Akismet Anti-Spam
Akismet is a renowned plugin that automatically reviews and blocks spam. It stores the status history of each comment to determine spam and provides a feature to review and manage the captured spam. It’s free for personal blogs but requires a subscription for commercial sites.
WP-SpamShield
WP-SpamShield is a popular plugin that uses innovative spam filtering technology to block spam entering the site. It leverages various technologies like IP blocking and comment link review to effectively prevent spam.
Disabling Comments on New Posts
The simplest method to block spam is to disable comments altogether. By deactivating the Allow users to comment on new articles option in Settings > Discussion, comments on new posts can be prohibited.
By combining these various methods, you can effectively block spam comments on a WordPress site and enhance site security. Through plugins and basic settings adjustments, you can maintain enhanced security while optimizing your site.
