Spam BLIP stops comment spam before it is posted, using DNS blacklists, existing comments marked as spam, and user defined lists.
| Author: | Ed Hynan (profile at wordpress.org) |
| WordPress version required: | 4.2 |
| WordPress version tested: | 5.5.3 |
| Plugin version: | 1.0.8.1 |
| Added to WordPress repository: | 30-10-2013 |
| Last updated: | 25-09-2020
Warning! This plugin has not been updated in over 2 years. It may no longer be maintained or supported and may have compatibility issues when used with more recent versions of WordPress.
|
| Rating, %: | 0 |
| Rated by: | 0 |
| Plugin URI: | //agalena.nfshost.com/b1/software/spam-blip-w... |
| Total downloads: | 2 175 |
| Active installs: | 10+ |
 Click to start download |
|
Spam BLIP stops comment and ping spam from being posted, primarily by
checking the IP address attempting to post a comment in one or more
of the public DNS blacklists. A number of options are available
to refine the check, and with the option defaults, a DNS lookup
is only performed the first time an address attempts to post a
comment; thereafter, the address might quickly ‘pass’ because it
was not listed, or quickly be rejected because it was listed.
Spam BLIP creates, and maintains, a database table for this purpose,
and database lookups are quite fast. Therefore, concerns about
DNS lookup time can be limited to an initial comment attempt.
Here are some features of Spam BLIP to consider if you are
not yet falling over yourself to get it installed:
-
When WordPress is producing a page for a visitor, it checks
whether comments are open for each post, and it allows plugins
to “filter” the check. Spam BLIP uses that filter, but does not
do DNS lookups at this stage, because DNS lookups can take
perceptible time. Spam BLIP does check optional user-set
black and white lists, and optionally existing comments that
are marked as spam, and of course Spam BLIP’s own database records.
Those checks are fast, so they should not have a perceptible
effect on page loading. Furthermore, on pages with multiple
posts, WordPress runs the filter for each, but Spam BLIP
stores the first result, so even the fast checks are not
repeated. -
When a comment is actually submitted, Spam BLIP does the above
checks, then the DNS lookup only if necessary. At this stage,
if the DNS lookup causes a perceptible delay, a real human
(or very clever pet) making the comment should perceive it
as mere server-side processing. As for spammer robots . . .
let them wait. -
Spam BLIP comes configured with blacklist domains that have
worked well during development, so a user should not need to
be concerned with the blacklists, but there is an advanced
option to add or delete, activate or disable (yet save)
list domains, and configure the interpretation of a return
from a successful lookup. -
Spam BLIP provides user-set whitelist and blacklist options.
-
Spam BLIP provides options to check for pings/trackbacks, and
for user registrations. (The option to blacklist-check user
registration is off by default. See “Tips” under the help
tab on the Spam BLIP settings page.) -
Spam BLIP provides options to configure a ‘Time To Live’ (TTL)
for its database records, and a maximum number of records.
The TTL is important because, generally, an IP address should
not be marked permanently. Consider an ISP that quickly
disables any account that is found to be spamming. An honest
ISP is also a victim of spammer abuse, and will need to reuse
addresses. DNS blacklist operators provide means for IP
address owners to get records removed — Spam BLIP provides
a configurable TTL for its records. (Database table maintenance
is triggered approximately hourly by a WordPress cron event.) -
Spam BLIP will optionally check if a commenter address is a
TOR exit node. TOR (The Onion Router) is an important protection
for people who need or wish for anonymity. You may want to
accept comments from TOR users (you should), but unfortunately
spammers have exploited and abused TOR, which has led some
DNS blacklist operators to include TOR exit node addresses
whether or not it is known that the address is spamming. If you
enable this option (you should), it might let some spam get
through. In this case, mark the comment as spam, and use the
Spam BLIP option to check existing comments marked as spam; or
use Spam BLIP in concert with another sort of spam filter, such
as one that analyzes comment content. (Please report any
conflict with other, non-DNS blacklist type spam plugins.
Note that Spam BLIP is not expected to work in concert with
other DNS-type anti-spam plugins.) -
Spam BLIP includes a widget that will show options and records
information. The widget might or might not be an enhancement
to your page, but in any case it should provide feedback
while you evaluate Spam BLIP, so it might be used temporarily.
Screenshots
FAQ
ChangeLog