Comments on: Awesome spam filtering for WordPress http://dougal.gunters.org/blog/2009/01/14/awesome-spam-filtering-for-wordpress?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss WordPress, web development, and world domination. Thu, 18 Mar 2010 22:42:04 -0400 hourly 1 By: Bryan http://dougal.gunters.org/blog/2009/01/14/awesome-spam-filtering-for-wordpress/comment-page-1#comment-167572 Bryan Sun, 16 Aug 2009 13:21:41 +0000 http://dougal.gunters.org/?p=1390#comment-167572 I know this is an old post, hope it's no problem that I stir it up a bit. I noticed how everyone always talk about Akismet, and what other plugins they get to work with Akismet. Clearly that's because Akismet is the most established spam filter there is out there. I however don't understand why people go through the trouble of doing so, there are alternatives. SpamTask is one filter that I've been using for a couple of months, and I've had great results so far. Though the problem you address, in which people post "spammy" links to your site wont be solved until more complete filters are created. I mean unless you could personalize your filter, it would be hard to accomplish. <a href="http://codex.wordpress.org/Plugins/spamtask/" rel="nofollow">http://codex.wordpress.org/Plugins/spamtask/</a> Regards, Bryan I know this is an old post, hope it’s no problem that I stir it up a bit.

I noticed how everyone always talk about Akismet, and what other plugins they get to work with Akismet. Clearly that’s because Akismet is the most established spam filter there is out there. I however don’t understand why people go through the trouble of doing so, there are alternatives.

SpamTask is one filter that I’ve been using for a couple of months, and I’ve had great results so far. Though the problem you address, in which people post “spammy” links to your site wont be solved until more complete filters are created. I mean unless you could personalize your filter, it would be hard to accomplish.

http://codex.wordpress.org/Plugins/spamtask/

Regards, Bryan

]]> By: Daniel http://dougal.gunters.org/blog/2009/01/14/awesome-spam-filtering-for-wordpress/comment-page-1#comment-166159 Daniel Fri, 06 Feb 2009 07:09:31 +0000 http://dougal.gunters.org/?p=1390#comment-166159 This sounds good but I'm always wary of relying on blacklists, especially when you're not able to monitor or override false positives. Personally I'd stick with Akismet and avoid the risk of turning away legitimate contributors although it obviously depends on your personal circumstances and size of spam problem. Still, it's great that there's more choice in the fight against spam. I look forward to seeing how this develops... This sounds good but I’m always wary of relying on blacklists, especially when you’re not able to monitor or override false positives.
Personally I’d stick with Akismet and avoid the risk of turning away legitimate contributors although it obviously depends on your personal circumstances and size of spam problem.
Still, it’s great that there’s more choice in the fight against spam. I look forward to seeing how this develops…

]]> By: Mike R http://dougal.gunters.org/blog/2009/01/14/awesome-spam-filtering-for-wordpress/comment-page-1#comment-166063 Mike R Sat, 31 Jan 2009 02:29:22 +0000 http://dougal.gunters.org/?p=1390#comment-166063 Thanks for the heads up on the new spam plugin. Sounds incredibly powerful, I'm not extremely technical, but it seems like you really couldn't get much better protection than that, no? Thanks for the heads up on the new spam plugin. Sounds incredibly powerful, I’m not extremely technical, but it seems like you really couldn’t get much better protection than that, no?

]]> By: Steven http://dougal.gunters.org/blog/2009/01/14/awesome-spam-filtering-for-wordpress/comment-page-1#comment-166060 Steven Fri, 30 Jan 2009 07:50:43 +0000 http://dougal.gunters.org/?p=1390#comment-166060 It's nice to have another layer of spam filtering. I run my email through something similar, the first layer bounces the most egregious and the next just moves it out of the way. One day they accidentally changed the algorithm of the first layer at the server and it literally bounced all of my email that day. This was a few years ago. Maybe I'll change the settings myself if I ever want to pick up and move to another country with clean email :-) It’s nice to have another layer of spam filtering. I run my email through something similar, the first layer bounces the most egregious and the next just moves it out of the way. One day they accidentally changed the algorithm of the first layer at the server and it literally bounced all of my email that day. This was a few years ago. Maybe I’ll change the settings myself if I ever want to pick up and move to another country with clean email :-)

]]> By: Indian http://dougal.gunters.org/blog/2009/01/14/awesome-spam-filtering-for-wordpress/comment-page-1#comment-166056 Indian Fri, 30 Jan 2009 01:49:41 +0000 http://dougal.gunters.org/?p=1390#comment-166056 Project Honeypot is doing great service to webmasters. I am using same server but on different platform (joomla) using different plugin (sh404sef). But it is as effective as it is in Wordpress. I've used this service on a wordpress blog also and it really is great to have such a handy service. Just like reCaptcha all we need to do is to tweak a bit of the code and we are done. Three cheers to project honeypot. Project Honeypot is doing great service to webmasters. I am using same server but on different platform (joomla) using different plugin (sh404sef). But it is as effective as it is in Wordpress. I’ve used this service on a wordpress blog also and it really is great to have such a handy service. Just like reCaptcha all we need to do is to tweak a bit of the code and we are done. Three cheers to project honeypot.

]]> By: Dougal http://dougal.gunters.org/blog/2009/01/14/awesome-spam-filtering-for-wordpress/comment-page-1#comment-166005 Dougal Fri, 23 Jan 2009 16:49:47 +0000 http://dougal.gunters.org/?p=1390#comment-166005 I had the threat level at the default 30 for a while. But I recently upped it to 60, with no apparent ill-effects. I also don't block on merely 'Suspicious' IPs, just the comment spammers and email harvesters. I had the threat level at the default 30 for a while. But I recently upped it to 60, with no apparent ill-effects. I also don’t block on merely ‘Suspicious’ IPs, just the comment spammers and email harvesters.

]]> By: Case Stevens http://dougal.gunters.org/blog/2009/01/14/awesome-spam-filtering-for-wordpress/comment-page-1#comment-165995 Case Stevens Thu, 22 Jan 2009 16:37:52 +0000 http://dougal.gunters.org/?p=1390#comment-165995 Seems you can use them both at the same time? My main problem are the false positives. At least, with Akismet, when you de-spam them, they have a chance of getting whitelisted (although more often than not you should keep doing it for the same commenters). Did I understand correctly that this plugin has no option at all to whitelist false positives? Thanks for any advice. Seems you can use them both at the same time?
My main problem are the false positives. At least, with Akismet, when you de-spam them, they have a chance of getting whitelisted (although more often than not you should keep doing it for the same commenters).
Did I understand correctly that this plugin has no option at all to whitelist false positives?
Thanks for any advice.

]]> By: Marcel http://dougal.gunters.org/blog/2009/01/14/awesome-spam-filtering-for-wordpress/comment-page-1#comment-165977 Marcel Wed, 21 Jan 2009 17:49:23 +0000 http://dougal.gunters.org/?p=1390#comment-165977 I am using the http:BL plugin for some time now. I am quite content with it. My thread score threshold is set to one (the lowest value) and the age threshold to 30 days. When I was traveling in India I discovered that a lot of internet cafes are listed as suspicious. So I unchecked suspicious as malicious without problems so far. I am using the http:BL plugin for some time now. I am quite content with it. My thread score threshold is set to one (the lowest value) and the age threshold to 30 days. When I was traveling in India I discovered that a lot of internet cafes are listed as suspicious. So I unchecked suspicious as malicious without problems so far.

]]> By: Blogueiro http://dougal.gunters.org/blog/2009/01/14/awesome-spam-filtering-for-wordpress/comment-page-1#comment-165973 Blogueiro Wed, 21 Jan 2009 12:36:27 +0000 http://dougal.gunters.org/?p=1390#comment-165973 I see everyone talking about akismet, and i believe its a good spam filter. I have an bluehost account, and generated a password + user name true Fantastico on WP install. But when i want to generate a API key to akismet, true the link on the admin panel, WP said that "my password is not correct??" I`m sure that the password i`ve typed its ok, but it keeps saying thats not ok. Can some one help me out? I´m tired of deleting tens of spams every day ... thanks I see everyone talking about akismet, and i believe its a good spam filter.

I have an bluehost account, and generated a password + user name true Fantastico on WP install.

But when i want to generate a API key to akismet, true the link on the admin panel, WP said that “my password is not correct??” I`m sure that the password i`ve typed its ok, but it keeps saying thats not ok.

Can some one help me out? I´m tired of deleting tens of spams every day …

thanks

]]> By: Rich http://dougal.gunters.org/blog/2009/01/14/awesome-spam-filtering-for-wordpress/comment-page-1#comment-165964 Rich Tue, 20 Jan 2009 22:16:07 +0000 http://dougal.gunters.org/?p=1390#comment-165964 I found http:BL a while ago too and agree, it's a great and effective spam killer. Can I ask what 'Threat score threshold' you've got yours set on? Mine's on 30 at the moment, but a little spam still slips though. I've been wary of putting the threshold lower than that in fear of blocking genuine visitors. I found http:BL a while ago too and agree, it’s a great and effective spam killer. Can I ask what ‘Threat score threshold’ you’ve got yours set on? Mine’s on 30 at the moment, but a little spam still slips though. I’ve been wary of putting the threshold lower than that in fear of blocking genuine visitors.

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