WordPress has become one of the most popular website builders on the internet. As of 2022, WordPress is used by 43.2% of all websites on the internet. WordPress allows users to release content on their newly created websites without programming themselves. Features such as themes, and the visual builder grant users the ability to construct functioning and visually appealing websites. Additionally, big and small creators often enable their readers to interact with their websites through their comment sections. However, with “bots mak[ing] up 64% of internet traffic” those comment sections are more than likely filled with bots and spammers.

The presence of bots and spammers gives viewers the impression that websites are poorly cared for. This poses a problem since this can damage marketing and deter viewers and potential clients from using your website. Thus, it would be both responsible, and beneficial to blocking bots and spammers permanently.

Spammers will often post comments that spread negativity, fake news, personal threats, or even worse. And oftentimes, this spam is automated – or posted by bots. This type of spam can build a negative reputation on a website as your comment section can become inundated with the harassment above. Many of these comments are posted with the sole reason of evoking negative responses from other users. By permanently blocking these users from your WordPress page, you will create a more welcoming environment for new and returning users.

Spam comments from bots and spammers can be a nuisance and pose a risk to your regular users. Luckily, WordPress has introduced methods to reduce spam. Check out this list to find out how to block spam from your page, starting from least to most effective!

Turning Off Comments

If you are experiencing a high volume of spam, the best course of action may be to disable comments on your websites. This is a surefire way to prevent spammers and bots from commenting on your page. However, this will also stop your regular users from commenting, too. This is a particularly drastic measure, but by disabling comments in WordPress, you can stop spam from entering your page.

Moderating Comments

Out of all of these methods, moderating comments is the most time-consuming. But, it allows for more flexibility in deciding whether a comment is spam. By enabling the comment moderating option, you can review each comment before it is published on your page. This method is tried-and-true but can become bothersome. By integrating a combination of comment moderation and other methods thereafter, you can best protect your site from spammers.

Blacklist

Blacklisting phrases and words allow you to choose which words or phrases would be considered spam. If a bot, spammer, or user were to comment a specified word or phrase, their comment would immediately be marked as spam. This is particularly helpful in the case that you find certain words or phrases are frequently used in your comment section. However, this is not the only blacklisting method that can bolster your website’s credibility.

Blacklisting users in your comment section will prevent users, bots, or spammers from entering comments. These types of “users” are typically identified through IP addresses, user IDs, email addresses, or MAC addresses. Blacklisting specific bots, spammers, or users will further improve your website’s usability; blacklisted spammers are automatically logged out and redirected to the home page of the website. However, as bots are automated and powered by computer programs, there is a strong chance that blacklisting will not entirely solve your problem.

Plugins

Plugins are website add-ons that add customizability and functionality to your website. You can utilize plugins to make your comment section bot and spam free. These plugins, much like moderating comments help filter out spam comments and prevent them from being posted. By utilizing anti-spam plugins, anti-spam algorithms will identify spam comments and prevent them from entering your comments.

Additionally, plugins can verify a user as “not-a-bot”. By utilizing a CAPTCHA plugin, you can add a security check to your comments form. With a simple challenge-response test, users prove that they are not a bot. This can be an effective way to catch bots from entering your comments form at all. This process is automated and requires no additional effort from you or any other website administrators (other than installing the plugin).

With these methods combined, your comments will more than likely be free of spam and bots. By doing so, you can improve user experience and effectively protect your website from spam comments. In the name of convenience, and overall effectiveness, a combination of, blacklisting (for the pesky users), anti-spam and CAPTCHA plugins would likely do the job you need.

humanID Combines Spam-protection and Privacy

But there is an even more convenient method that combines these anti-spam methods together. humanID’s anti-spam comment filter filters spam, allows website administrators to block users with a click of a button permanently, and verify user identities. End users, or your viewers, no longer have to verify themselves with CAPTCHAs. Your users would verify their identity using a phone number thus reducing the chance of spammers entering your comments form.

Conclusion

Overall, humanID’s anti-spam comment filter combines many of the aforementioned methods of spam filtering and combines them into 1 easy-to-install plugin. By integrating humanID’s anti-spam comment filter, you can make your users feel safer, protect your website, and protect your regular users from spam. By following a quick guide, you can install humanID’s anti-spam filter plugin. All you need is about 5-7 minutes, a WordPress page, and a humanID Developer account. You can find that guide here!