Comment spam is a common problem for WordPress website owners. Unwanted comments from spambots, or even from real people, can be detrimental to the user experience of your website. Thankfully, there are a few simple steps you can take to help stop comment spam on your WordPress website.
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Enable Comment Moderation. This will require you to manually approve each comment, but it’s a surefire way to stop comment spam. To turn on comment moderation, go to the Settings > Discussion page. Under the “Before a comment appears” heading, tick the “Comment must be manually approved” box.
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Use Comment Filtering. Comment filtering is another powerful way to stop comment spam. It lets you specify certain words or phrases that are automatically filtered out and not posted on your website. This can be done through the Settings > Discussion page, under the “Comment Moderation” section.
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Add Captcha. Another way to stop comment spam is by adding a CAPTCHA to the comment form. This requires the user to verify that they’re human by entering a code or solving a puzzle. This is often enough to discourage many spambots, but it can also deter legitimate users who are not comfortable with this kind of verification process.
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Install an Antispam Plugin. If you don’t want to mess around with manual moderation and captchas, there is the option of using an antispam plugin. These plugins are designed to automatically detect and filter out comment spam, ensuring that only legitimate comments appear on your website. Akismet is one of the most popular antispam plugins for WordPress.
By taking just a few simple steps, you can protect your website from comment spam and keep your site user-friendly. It’s also important to keep in mind that comment spam can be used by malicious actors to spread malicious links or disseminate advertising, so taking action to reduce it is a necessity.