Want to stop WordPress comment spam effectively? Here are some easy ways to do it.
Comment spam is an inescapable reality when running any website. Regardless of what type of website you operate, if you have a comment section, you will most likely find spam comments.
Spam comments in WordPress are a nuisance as they promote other websites, try to create backlinks, or even target your visitors through phishing links.
These comments left by spambots can affect the user experience on your website and push visitors away. This can cause a plummet in your website traffic and overall SERP rankings.
There are several methods you can use to block spam comments in WordPress. Learn about the easiest ways in this article.
What is WordPress Comment Spam?
Comment spam is a type of comment usually left by spambots and is irrelevant to the contents of your website. These spambot comments usually aim to promote another website or launch security attacks and phishing attacks on your visitors.
You can spot spam comments on your website by looking out for comments that are irrelevant, inappropriate, contain suspicious links, are left by fake profiles, are poorly written and so on.
Preventing spam comments on WordPress must be a priority as they can affect your search engine rankings, impacts the credibility of your website. Legitimate users may find comment spam frustrating as it prevents them from having genuine interactions with your brand.
Looking for ways to stop bots on your website? Here are the 5 Best Anti-Spam Plugins for WordPress
How to Stop WordPress Comment Spam
There are several methods that allow you to stop WordPress spam comments. Some of these methods target spambots and keep them out of your website, while others are focused on moderating your comment section.
Here’s how to stop WordPress spam comments:
1. Use Custom CAPTCHA to Prevent Comment Spam
The first method to avoid spam comments is preventing bots from leaving comments. For this, you can use a CAPTCHA, which is a form that requires users to solve a puzzle or identify a set of images to proceed further. These puzzles are easy for humans and difficult for bots to bypass.
Google reCAPTCHA is one of the most popular forms of CAPTCHA. Google offers many types of CAPTCHA.
- reCAPTCHA v2 requires a user to solve a puzzle.
- Invisible reCAPTCHA v2 and reCAPTCHA v3 monitors user activity in the background and assigns a score to decide if the user is a human.
An easy way to add Google reCAPTCHA to stop spam comments in WordPress is to use the Nexter Blocks. With this plugin you can set up reCAPTCHA in just a few steps and secure your website from malicious comments.
To start, visit the Google reCAPTCHA page and log in to your Google account.
Add a label, select the reCAPTCHA version you wish to use and provide your domain. Submit to proceed further.
You will then be provided with a site key and a secret key, which you need to save securely to activate your reCAPTCHA.
Now, proceed to your WordPress dashboard and navigate to Appearances> Nexter Settings> Extra Options. Here, you will find Google reCAPTCHA. Click Enable, and then click the gear icon to open the settings.
In the pop up, select the reCAPTCHA version, enter your site key and your secret key and select locations on your website where you want Google reCAPTCHA to function. Once you’ve entered all the details, click Save.
Note: Before adding reCAPTCHA to your website, consider factors such as accessibility to disabled users and overall user experience. Make sure to select a Google reCAPTCHA version that protects your website without compromising on the experience that users have.
Want to increase your site’s protection against bots? Here is how to add Google reCAPTCHA to your website.
2. Disable Comments
If you get a lot of spam comments on your website and moderating them has become time-consuming, you might want to consider disabling comments altogether. You can choose to disable comments across your entire website or for specific posts and pages.
WordPress allows you to disable and enable comments manually. Navigate to Settings > Discussion and unselect the option to “Allow people to submit comments on new posts” and Save Changes.
This setting does not remove existing comments and can be overridden on future posts and pages.
WordPress also allows you to manually disable comments for individual posts and pages. Navigate to All Posts and Quick Edit the post for which you want to disable comments. Now head uncheck the Allow Comments and click Update option to disable comments for that post.
If you have a smaller website manually disabling comments through your WordPress discussion settings is feasible. However, this can be time-consuming if you have a lot of pages and posts up. In this case, you can use the Nexter Blocks plugin. This plugin comes with 90+ Gutenberg blocks and expands the functionality of your website.
After installing the Nexter Blocks plugin, navigate to Appearance > Nexter Settings > Performance. Select Disable Comments> Settings.
In the dialogue box, from the Comments dropdown, choose Disable Everywhere. This disables comments across your website and can’t be overridden on pages or posts.
You can also use the Nexter Blocks settings to disable comments for specific post types. In the Disable Comments dialog box, select “Disable Specific Post Type”. This will show you 4 options below:
Select the post types that are applicable and Save.
Disabling comments removes any potential for spam but also halts all user engagement through comments. A perfect middle ground would be to disable comments on post types that receive a larger volume of spam comments while keeping other sections open for comments.
3. Require User Registration
If you do not want to disable your comment section entirely, you can avoid spam comments on WordPress to a certain extent by requiring your users to register before they comment. To do this, navigate to Settings>Discussion from your WordPress dashboard and select “Users must be registered and logged in to comment” under Other Comment Settings.
To make the commenting experience smoother for legitimate human users, you can use the Comment Form from Nexter Blocks. These forms provide a column for Name and Email Address, allowing users to register before they comment. Combine this with the option to add Google reCAPTCHA through Nexter Settings, and you have a formidable barrier against WordPress comment spam.
If your site receives a high volume of comments, requiring user registration adds an extra layer of security. It makes it harder for spammers to post multiple comments.
Do you want to stop spam on your website? Here’s how to stop contact form spam completely.
4. Limit or Ban Links in Comments
Most malicious spam bots leave unwanted comments with phishing links or spam links that redirect your traffic to other websites. Often, limiting users’ ability to comment with links solves the spam comment issue.
From your WordPress Dashboard, head to Settings > Discussion > Comment Moderation. Here, you can set the number of links a comment can have. If you want to allow links but limit their number, select add the number here. If you want to prevent bot spam links in your comments altogether, set it to Zero, and WordPress will block all comments that contain links.
With this setting, if a comment contains a link it will be redirected to the moderation queue from where you can manually decide whether it should be displayed or not.
5. Enable Comment Moderation
Comment Moderation is a manual option to block spam comments on WordPress. This feature allows you to view and verify comments before they actually appear on your website for viewers to see. Comment Moderation gives you control over what type of comments are posted on your website and lets you filter out spam comments.
To enable comment moderation, navigate to Settings>Discussion. In the Before a comment appears section, select the parameters based on how you would like to manage comments.
Check Comment must be manually approved if you wish to moderate all comments.
If you wish to moderate comments only by new users, you can select Comment author must have a previously approved comment. This way, all comments made by unapproved users will be held back for moderation.
To make the moderation process easier, under the Email me whenever section, check the boxes for Anyone posts a comment and A comment is held for moderation.
Save the changes.
Note: While moderation enhances spam protection gives you control over what is published on your website, it requires a serious time commitment, especially if you have a larger website. If you don’t have the time to review comments regularly, they could pile up, delaying interaction with genuine users.
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Wrapping Up
There are several effective methods you can use to prevent spam on your website. Before implementing any method mentioned here, consider how it will impact your user experience. CAPTCHA and requiring users to log in are effective in keeping away bots.
However, it can be frustrating for real visitors as they need to complete an extra step. Disabling comments can limit your interaction, whereas moderation may be time-consuming if your website receives a lot of traffic.
Choose a method that fits your website’s needs and your goals in terms of user interactions.
Nexter Blocks is an excellent plugin to complement your efforts in battling spam comments on your WordPress website. Apart from exceptional security features, Nexter Blocks comes with 90+ Gutenberg Blocks with advanced features to enhance the appearance and functionality of your website.
The Nexter Blocks plugin is easy to set and intuitive to use, allowing you to incorporate complex technical features without worrying about navigating difficult code or configurations.
FAQs on WordPress Comment Spam
Does WordPress have a spam blocker?
WordPress has some built-in features that allow you to limit spam comments on your website, such as the option to disable comments and comment moderation. These features allow you to filter out spam comments and prevent them from appearing on your website. You can also use third-party plugins to increase protection against spam.
Should I delete spam comments without reading them?
Yes, it’s generally a good idea to delete spam comments without reading them. Most spam comments contain harmful links or irrelevant content that doesn’t add value to your site. Clicking on links in spam comments can expose your device to malware and phishing attacks. Deleting spam comments also prevents any harm to your search engine rankings.
Why am I getting spam comments on my blog?
Spam comments are common in WordPress blogs because they are targeted by bots and spammers looking to drop links or promote harmful content. These bots scan the web for vulnerable sites. If you don’t have protections like CAPTCHA or a spam filter in place, your blog can be an easy target.
Can WordPress comment spam affect my site’s SEO?
Yes, WordPress comment spam can harm your SEO. Spammy comments often contain links to low-quality or harmful websites, and if search engines detect these, they may penalize your site. A large volume of spam in your comment section impacts your search engine rankings and SEO strategies.
Should I disable comments on my blog?
Disabling comments can be a viable option if spam becomes too overwhelming or if you don’t find value in reader feedback. While disabling comments stops spam, it also halts any legitimate interaction with your readers. If maintaining interactions with real users is important to you, use alternate methods like CAPTCHA or moderation.
How do I filter out spam comments in WordPress?
You can filter out spam comments by using WordPress’ comment moderation features. These features allow you to review all comments before they go live. You can also limit links in comments or require users to register before commenting. These steps help block spam and keep your comments section clean.
Can CAPTCHA help reduce WordPress comment spam?
Yes, CAPTCHA is a highly effective method for reducing WordPress comment spam. By requiring users to complete a CAPTCHA, you block bots from leaving automated spam comments. Google reCAPTCHA is one of the most popular options and can be easily integrated into your WordPress site using the Nexter Blocks plugin.
