Spam

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The newest version (0.5) of my WordPress Plugin “Block Top Spammers” now updates the .htaccess file automatically (if it is writable). The other major change is improved support for IPv6.

There was a very unfortunate bug in all previous versions of the Comment E-Mail Verification Plugin. The verification message was sent to all comment authors, i.e. including those whose comments were caught by Akismet (or any other anti-spam plugin).

I strongly recommend you update to the new version 0.1.2.1

Spammers often use fake mail addresses. If an address doesn’t exist, your only problem is some additional server load trying to deliver that message, plus, possibly, bounces in your inbox.

However if, as in most cases, those addresses actually belong to someone who didn’t write that comment in the first place, those people will be bothered. Plus, since the comment itself may appear in the verification message (the default setting), you will be considered a spammer. Even worse, this might get your server blacklisted!

So if you’ve been using the plugin, please download the new version 0.1.2.1

Due to excessive work-load this post was written two days after the release of the bugfix which was available through your WordPress admin area immediately. I have set the date of this post back to approximately the time of the bugfix release.

Download the latest version (ZIP).

If you have a question about the plugin please go to the plugin’s homepage.

This release has been internationalized. I have created a German language file myself. If you would like to create a language file in your language you are more than welcome to do so (POT file is included with the plugin). Please contact me by posting a comment on this post (and be sure to provide the correct e-mail address so I can write back) to have it included in the next release.

I have written a WordPress Plugin: Top Spammers displays a list of your top spammers’ IP addresses, based on all comments in your database that are marked as spam. It also generates a blacklist for your .htaccess file to block those spammers from your website entirely, thus taking load off the server. You will need another plugin (like Akismet) to identify the spam.

Download the latest version (ZIP).

If you have a question about the plugin please go to the plugin’s homepage.