Want to protect your website from malicious attacks? Learn how to stop spam registrations on WordPress!
Dealing with spam user registrations on WordPress can be frustrating, as getting rid of fake users and fake content may take hours of manually sifting through all registrations and interactions on your website.
Often, spam user registrations open doors to more serious security threats and breaches that can affect your website’s standing.
Registration forms are one of the first access points to your website. Fortifying your registration forms against bots and malicious users can prevent spam content and unwanted access.
This article explores the 5 easiest ways to stop WordPress registration spam.
What are WordPress Spam User Registrations?
WordPress spam user registrations are fake or automated sign-ups on your WordPress site. These registrations are typically created by bots or malicious users attempting to exploit your site for various purposes.
Once registered, these fake users may try to post spam content, access restricted areas, or even use the site to launch further attacks.
Such spam registrations can quickly clog your user database, make it challenging to manage legitimate users, and potentially slow down your website’s performance.
Spam registrations can increase email spam, as these fake accounts might flood your site’s email system with unwanted notifications. Spam user registrations may occur because:
- Your website’s registration settings do not have any restrictions in place.
- The lack of CAPTCHA means bots can easily bypass your forms without security checks.
- Your website uses default WordPress forms that are vulnerable to automated attacks.
- If the overall security measures on your website are weak.
Why Stop Spam Registrations on WordPress?
Spam registrations are very common on WordPress sites that do not implement proper security measures. Here’s why stopping WordPress registration scam is essential:
1. Protect Your Website’s Security
Stopping spam registrations maintains the security of your WordPress site. Spam registrations are often the first step in more significant attacks, such as brute-force attempts to access your website’s backend.
When spam bots register en masse, they may be trying to exploit vulnerabilities in your site’s security. By preventing these registrations, you minimize the risk of unauthorized access and protect sensitive information.
2. Preserve Site Performance
Spam registrations can negatively impact your website’s performance. When a site is flooded with fake user accounts, the database becomes cluttered, which can slow down site performance. Managing a bloated database requires more server resources, leading to slower page load times and a less responsive website.
3. Improve User Experience
A clean, well-maintained website offers a better user experience. If user registration spam is left unchecked, it can lead to spam content appearing on your site, such as irrelevant comments, posts, or even fake reviews. This type of content can be distracting and annoying for genuine users, leading to a poor user experience.
4. Reduce Administrative Burden
Managing a website with a high volume of spam registrations can become an administrative burden. Sorting through fake accounts to find genuine users is time-consuming and can divert your attention from more critical tasks. Additionally, handling spam accounts can lead to increased email notifications, which clutter your inbox.
5. Keep Your Search Engine Ranking
User registration spam can harm your site’s search engine ranking. Search engines like Google assess your website’s credibility and user engagement when determining its rank. If your site is filled with spam accounts that generate low-quality content, search engines might interpret this as a sign of poor site quality. This can lead to lower rankings, making it harder for legitimate users to find your site through search engines.
Want to protect your website? Here’s how to secure your WordPress Login Page.
Stop Spam Registrations on WordPress [5 Easy Ways]
1. Disable User Registrations in WordPress
Not all websites need public registrations to be active. If your website does not need all users to be registered, you can turn off your user registration option in your WordPress settings to stop WordPress registration spam.
This way, you can allow registrations by manual approvals or by invitations-only, without having to open up your website to unwanted registrations.
To stop registration spam on WordPress, login to your WordPress dashboard and navigate to Settings>General
Scroll down to find the Membership option. By default, you will find the “Anyone can register” box checked. This means that public registrations are enabled. To disable public user registrations, simply uncheck the box and scroll down to Save Changes.
Once you’ve made the changes, visit your WordPress login page in incognito mode to verify that public registrations have been disabled. You will find a message saying, “User Registration is currently not allowed”.
Note: If you disable user registrations entirely, consider the impact on user experience. If you run a membership site or an online store, disabling registrations could inconvenience legitimate users.
In this case, you could also create custom login/registration form URLs that are more difficult for bots to find and use.
2. Make a Custom User Registration Form
Another way to stop spam registration on WordPress is by creating a custom form. Default registration forms on WordPress are very basic and offer minimal security features and functionality.
Using a plugin to create custom forms can help you create forms that are more secure and stop spam users.
As a bonus, some plugins offer lots of customization options with which you can make your registration forms match your brand aesthetic.
Here, we are going to use the Nexter Blocks plugin to customize our registration form and add more security features. After installing the Nexter Blocks plugin, navigate to Appearances>Nexter Settings>Extra Options.
Now click the Enable option under WP Login White Label to customize your login page. You can add use this feature to add new form fields that can prevent fake user registrations.
To add an extra layer of security, such as CAPTCHA, you can turn on CAPTCHA for Login and Registration forms under Google reCAPTCHA settings. We’ll discuss CAPTCHAs in more detail in the following methods.
One more extra step you can take is to add two-factor authentication. You can enable this by navigating to Nexter Settings>Security. Enable the two factor authentication option, select user roles, and customize the 2FA message.
Tip: When creating custom registration forms, use extra security measures like honeypot form fields, which are hidden fields that bots often fill out but human users won’t see. This form setting can help further filter out bot registrations.
Wondering how to stop spam registrations on Elementor WordPress websites? Learn how to create custom login and registration forms in Elementor.
3. Turn on Email Activation for User Registration
The next method to stop WordPress spam registrations is by enabling email activation. This method will not stop bots from filling out your registration forms. However, as bots will not be able to activate their accounts via email, they will not be able to log into your website.
You can use Registration form plugins that automatically send out activation emails to all registered users. To use these plugins, you will need to visit the plugin settings page and turn on the activation email option.
An activation email usually contains a link the user needs to click. The link would then redirect them to log in to your website.
Email activation can sometimes cause delays for legitimate users if the email lands in their spam folder. Remind users to check their spam folder or provide an option to resend the activation email. Such reminders can be put in place through your custom registration form.
4. Use Custom CAPTCHA to Prevent User Registration Form Spam
CAPTCHAs are a great way to fend off bots and malicious users. These are tests designed to detect bot activity and prevent them from accessing your website. While there are many CAPTCHA options, such as Google reCAPTCHA and Cloudflare Turnstile, the CAPTCHA by Google is the most commonly used.
To use Google reCAPTCHA on your WordPress website, you would need to install a plugin that allows you to use it. With the Nexter Blocks plugin, navigate to Nexter Settings>Extra Options and activate the Google reCAPTCHA option.
You will need to enter your site key and secret key, which you can generate from the Google reCAPTCHA website.
With Google reCAPTCHA, you can choose which version you wish to use. V3 is the latest and most advanced version of Google reCAPTCHA. After pasting your API keys, select Login Forms and Registration Forms by clicking the checkboxes and Save the changes.
Note: Be aware that not all CAPTCHAs are accessible to users with disabilities. Consider using accessible alternatives like Google reCAPTCHAs “Invisible CAPTCHA” or adding an accessibility-friendly CAPTCHA option.
Should you use CAPTCHA or reCAPTCHA? Here are the CAPTCHA vs reCAPTCHA- 8 Key Differences Compared
5. Require Manual Approval for User Registration
Lastly, to stop spam registration on WordPress, you can require manual approvals for every user’s registration. Manual approvals help you keep an eye on who creates accounts on your website. To activate manual approvals, you would need to use specialized plugins, such as the WP Approve User plugin.
Once you install the plugin in your WordPress dashboard, navigate to the User settings in your WordPress Dashboard. Here, you will find a new Unapproved option that contains all the fresh registrations that have yet to be approved. You can view, approve or delete users based on whether you wish to give them access to your website or not.
When you use such a plugin, all your existing users will be automatically approved to save you time.
If your website is managed by multiple administrators, make sure to create a clear policy or guideline for admin approvals or rejections to maintain consistency and maximum security.
Stay updated with Helpful WordPress Tips, Insider Insights, and Exclusive Updates – Subscribe now to keep up with Everything Happening on WordPress!
Wrapping Up
Creating custom registration forms, using verification options, manual approvals, and email activation can help keep your website safe from unwanted visitors. WordPress registration spam can happen in many forms. This means you may need to use a combination of two or more methods discussed here to protect your website from spam attacks.
Apart from taking steps to stop WordPress registration spam, to keep your website safe from malicious attacks, you must use plugins that are fortified with strong security features. Nexter Blocks is a WordPress plugin that enhances the functionality of your website with 90+ fully customizable Gutenberg blocks while also giving your website excellent security.
With Nexter Blocks, you can upgrade the look and feel of your WordPress site without compromising on protection against malicious attacks or performance. Check out all the features of the Nexter Blocks plugin today!
FAQs on Spam Registrations
Why do spammers register on my site?
Spammers register on your site to exploit it for various purposes, like posting spam content, inserting malicious links, or attempting to gain unauthorized access. These registrations are often automated by bots designed to search for vulnerable websites where they can carry out these activities. Such attacks disrupt website function.
What should I do if I suspect I have fake registrations?
If you suspect you have fake registrations, review your user list and look for suspicious patterns, such as accounts with nonsensical usernames or email addresses. You can delete these accounts manually or use security plugins designed to detect and remove spam registrations. Additionally, tighten your site’s security by enabling CAPTCHA or email verification.
What are some signs that I might have fake registrations?
Signs of fake registrations include a sudden increase in new users, especially with generic or random usernames and email addresses. You might also notice accounts that never log in after registering or accounts that are linked to spam or malicious activities, such as posting irrelevant content or adding suspicious links.
Why prevent spam bots from registering on membership sites?
Preventing spam bots from registering on membership sites is crucial to maintaining a secure and trustworthy environment for your members. Spam bots can flood your site with fake accounts, leading to potential security breaches and unwanted content. By blocking these registrations, you protect your real users and your website.
Is it normal for WordPress blogs to get a lot of spam comments?
Yes, it’s common for WordPress blogs to receive a significant amount of spam comments. These comments are often generated by bots looking to post malicious links or irrelevant content on your site. Implementing anti-spam measures, such as using CAPTCHA or installing a spam filter plugin, can help reduce spam comments.
