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Category: Anti-Spam

  • GiveWP – Spam Protection guide in 2026. Stop spam donations!

    GiveWP – Spam Protection guide in 2026. Stop spam donations!

    CleanTalk has added spam protection for GiveWP using direct form integration. This makes it a good opportunity to explore how to protect GiveWP against spam submissions using both built-in anti-spam tools integrated into the plugin core and third-party solutions. We will start with CleanTalk and then move on to Akismet, Google reCAPTCHA, Cloudflare Turnstile, honeypot techniques, and universal anti-spam plugins available on WordPress.org.

    GiveWP banner at https://wordpress.org/plugins/give/
    GiveWP banner at https://wordpress.org/plugins/give/

    GiveWP – Donation & Fundraising Plugin for WordPress

    In case of any misunderstanding or misinterpretation about which plugin we are referring to, allow me to provide a brief overview of GiveWP

    GiveWP is a powerful WordPress donation plugin that helps nonprofits, charities, and organizations accept online donations directly on their websites. It allows you to create fully customizable donation forms and securely collect one-time or recurring donations without relying on third-party fundraising platforms. To maintain secure fundraising, GiveWP can be combined with spam protection solutions that help prevent fake donations, bot submissions, and fraudulent registrations. The plugin supports popular payment gateways such as PayPal and Stripe, making it easy for donors to contribute using their preferred payment method. Built-in reporting, donor management tools, and fundraising goal tracking help organizations monitor performance and grow contributions. With a wide range of add-ons and integrations, GiveWP scales from small campaigns to large nonprofit organizations while following WordPress best practices for reliability and security.

    According to WordPress.org, over 100,000 websites use this plugin.

    Install GiveWP – Donation Plugin and Fundraising Platform

    Show Instructions

    To have the plugin installed follow this steps,

    1. Search for the plugin in WordPress console -> Plugins -> Add plugin -> Search -> givewp

    GiveWP plugin in WordPress catalog.

    2. Install and Activate the plugin.

    3. Add a campaign and forms in WordPress console -> GiveWP -> Campaigns -> Forms.

    GiveWP. First campaign and form.

    That’s all! GiveWP is installed.

    Anti-Spam plugin by CleanTalk for WordPress

    The next plugin we are going to use is the Anti-Spam plugin by CleanTalk. Here is a short description of it,

    CleanTalk Anti-Spam plugin for WordPress protects your site from spam comments, contact forms, registrations, and fake donations without CAPTCHA. It uses cloud-based spam detection and real-time databases to block bots automatically while keeping the experience smooth for real users. CleanTalk works in the background and requires minimal setup, making it a reliable hands-off anti-spam solution.

    CleanTalk has additional features like Block and Allow lists to manage specific Emails, IPs, Countries, custom frontend message to blocked donations and Emails obfuscation which might be helpful during fundraising events.

    According to WordPress.org, over 200,000 websites use this plugin. All features of Anti-Spam plugin for WordPress.

    How to install CleanTalk Anti-Spam plugin

    Show Instructions

    To install the Anti-Spam plugin, go to your WordPress admin panel → Plugins → Add New.

    Then enter «СleanTalk» in the search box and click the Install button for «Spam protection, Anti-Spam, FireWall by CleanTalk».

    After installing the plugin, click the «Activate»‎ button.

    After it is done go to the plugin settings and click the «Get Access Key Automatically» button. Then just click the «Save Settings»‎ button.

    That’s it! GiveWP is completely protected, let’s see how to test the protection.

    How to check spam protection for GiveWP Forms

    You can test the work of Anti-Spam protection for GiveWP by using a test email,

    stop_email@example.com

    1. First, open the form in an Incognito browser tab.
    2. Choose amount to donate.
    3. In the next step fill out the account name data and the stop_email@example.com.
    4. You must see a message as below and in the screenshot.

    *** Forbidden. Fraud prevention. Sender blacklisted. Anti-Spam by CleanTalk. ***

    Testing spam protection for GiveWP.

    In addition, in the Cloud Dashboard you can find extra details regarding all submissions for the donation form,

    • IP, Email of the donator. As well as history of activity a sender among other sites connected to CleanTalk’s cloud.
    • Geolocation of the sender.
    • Date and time of submission.
    • Page (URL) of the submission.
    • Cloud decision – Approved, Denied.
    • Cloud explanation for the decision.
    • Tools to move the sender to Block or Allow lists.
    Anti-Spam log in the CleanTalk's Dashboard.

    What additional anti-spam tools are available for GiveWP?

    Here are a few more tools on the market,

    1. Akismet is a cloud-based anti-spam service that works in the background and has excellent compatibility with WordPress. Most importantly, the GiveWP team has included Akismet integration directly in the core of the plugin, providing a seamless user experience for those who choose Akismet as their anti-spam solution. Akismet settings are located under WordPress console -> GiveWP -> Settings -> Advanced -> Akismet SPAM Protection. Here is full guide how to setup protection.
    2. Honeypot anti-spam techniques protect websites by adding invisible form fields that real users never see but spambots automatically fill in. When these hidden fields are completed, the submission is flagged and blocked, stopping spam without CAPTCHAs or user interaction. GiveWP has built-in honeypot which is located under settings WordPress console -> GiveWP -> Settings -> Security -> Enable Honeypot Field. This option is On in default setting, so should filter some primitive spam bots out of the box.
    3. reCAPTCHA is a spam protection technology by Google that helps protect WordPress websites by distinguishing real users from bots using challenges or behavioral analysis. It reduces automated spam submissions but may require user interaction, such as clicking a checkbox or solving a challenge. GiveWP supports reCaptcha in the core and settings are located by path WordPress console -> GiveWP -> Settings -> General -> Access Control -> reCaptcha. The first step to activate this protection is getting Site and Secret keys, which are available on website.
    4. Turnstile by Cloudflare is another great anti-spam tool which is available for GiveWP. Protects WordPress websites by verifying visitors automatically without CAPTCHAs or puzzles. It blocks bots using browser and behavioral signals while keeping the experience seamless for real users. One drawback is to use Turnstile user must install extra plugin – ‘Give – Cloudflare Turnstile’. The full guide is here.
    5. And we have bunch of standalone, universal, all-in-one plugins like Zero Spam, OOPSpam, hCaptcha for WP which provide anti-spam protection for GiveWP as well. Here is a link to download one of them.

    Here are screenshots for tools above.

    I have questions… (FAQ)

    Does CleanTalk protect against donors emails leak?

    In July 2025, a vulnerability in GiveWP led to an email data leak of Pihole donators. Yes, Anti-Spam by CleanTalk helps protect against such issues. In this case, email addresses were exposed in the HTML code, even though they were invisible on public pages. The plugin prevents this by obfuscating email addresses by default.

    We received hundreds of spam donations immediately after installing GiveWP plugin. How to fix it?

    If you do not have specific anti-spam tool installed. Increasing the minimum donation amount can help stop spam, as bots usually test forms with small payments like $1–$5. Setting a $10+ minimum helps filter out these low-effort automated attacks.

    A donor is trying to submit recurring donations but the transaction isn’t being processed because the donor’s email is considered spam.

    False/positives sometimes happen. In this case just post a support ticket or put this donor in Allow list.

    Final thoughts

    I hope this guide helped resolve all spam issues on your donation form. If not, Sign Up for an account and our CleanTalk team will be happy to help.

    Stop spam without frustrating your visitors

    Create your CleanTalk account and start blocking spam donations — no CAPTCHA challenges and no impact on visitors.

    CleanTalk Account

    No credit card required • Setup takes less than a minute • Your temporary password will be sent by email.

  • Forminator Forms – Spam Protection Guide in 2026

    Forminator Forms – Spam Protection Guide in 2026

    If you use Forminator Forms, you may occasionally experience spam submissions. In the guide below, you’ll learn about several tools that help achieve complete spam protection for Forminator. In this post we will look at as built-in (in the plugin core) anti-spam tools like Honeypot, Google reCAPTCHA, hCaptcha, Cloudflare Turnstile. As well as, spam protection via third party plugins like Akismet, CleanTalk and OOPSpam.

    Forminator, WordPress.org plugin banner https://wordpress.org/plugins/forminator/

    Forminator Forms – Contact Form, Payment Form & Custom Form Builder

    First of all, let’s figure out what Forminator Forms are.

    Forminator Forms is a powerful and user-friendly form builder plugin for WordPress that allows you to create contact forms, registrations, payment forms, quizzes, and polls without coding. Developed by WPMU DEV, the plugin has gained popularity for its flexibility and reliable spam protection designed to reduce spam submissions across websites. Since its release in 2018, Forminator has continued to evolve, introducing new integrations, improving usability, and strengthening tools that help website owners fight spam more effectively. The plugin supports payment providers such as Stripe and PayPal, enabling secure transactions while maintaining strong spam protection for payment and contact forms. Regular updates keep the plugin compatible with modern WordPress versions and current security standards, helping prevent spam attacks and automated bot activity.

    As WordPress.org shows, Forminator is currently used on over 600,000 websites and has 2,034 user reviews with an average rating of 4.8.

    Plugin Homepage at wordpress.org | Website wpmudev.com

    Install Forminator Forms, Surveys, Quizzes, Polls, Calculations and More…

    Installation is as easy as following these steps.

    1. Search for the plugin in WordPress console -> Plugins -> Add plugin -> Search -> Type ‘forminator‘

    WordPress console -> Plugins -> Add plugin -> Search -> forminator.
    Forminator search, install and activation.

    2. Install and Activate the plugin.

    3. Add the very first contact form in WordPress console -> Forminator > Forms -> +ADD NEW -> Customer service -> Contact form.

    WordPress console -> Forminator > Forms -> +ADD NEW -> Customer service -> Contact form.
    WordPress console -> Forminator > Forms -> +ADD NEW -> Customer service -> Contact form.

    4. Click Publish in top-left corner.

    5. That’s all! Your form is ready to go, just use a short code like this on any page or post of your site.

    [forminator_form id="123"]
    Use a short code like this on any page or post of your site
    Form is ready to go, use shortcode.

    Anti-Spam plugin by CleanTalk for WordPress

    The next plugin we are going to use is the Anti-Spam plugin by CleanTalk. Here is a short description of it,

    • CleanTalk is a cloud-based spam protection for websites, founded in 2012.
    • It automatically blocks spam without CAPTCHAs or disrupting user experience.
    • Protects multiple form types: contact forms, payment forms, registrations, comments, and surveys.
    • Stops both automated bots and manual spam submissions.
    • Uses advanced filtering algorithms and a global spam detection network.
    • Detects spam activity based on IP addresses, email addresses, and behavioral patterns.
    • Users can apply custom filtering rules.
    • Allows filtering or blocking by IP, email, and country.
    • Works automatically in the background with easy installation.


    According to WordPress.org, Anti-Spam by CleanTalk for WordPress has over 200,000 active installations, with 3,165 reviews and an average rating of 4.8.

    Plugin Homepage at cleantalk.org | Latest release at Github.com | Website cleantalk.org

    Install the CleanTalk Anti-Spam plugin

    Show Instructions

    To install the Anti-Spam plugin, go to your WordPress admin panel → Plugins → Add New.

    forminator-spam-protection

    Then enter «СleanTalk» in the search box and click the Install button for «Spam protection, Anti-Spam, FireWall by CleanTalk».

    testing-forminator-spam-protection

    After installing the plugin, click the «Activate»‎ button.

    testing-forminator-spam-protection

    After it is done go to the plugin settings and click the «Get Access Key Automatically» button. Then just click the «Save Settings»‎ button.

    forminator-spam-protection

    That’s it! From now you know how to completely protect your Forminator Forms from spam.

    Check if spam protection works with Forminator Forms

    The best way to text the spam protection by using a test email,

    stop_email@example.com

    1. Open page with your form (don’t forget to add the shortcode in the page content) in Incognito browser tab.
    2. Fill out the Contact form using stop_email@example.com as sender’s email.
    3. Send the form.
    4. You should see a message from the Anti-Spam plugin confirming that a spam submission was blocked.

    *** Forbidden. Sender blacklisted. Anti-Spam by CleanTalk. ***

    Spam submission was blocked in contact form by Forminator.
    Spam submission was blocked in contact form by Forminator.

    Cloud Dashboard

    In addition, in the Cloud Dashboard you can find extra details regarding all submissions made via form,

    • IP, Email of the donator. As well as history of activity a sender among other sites connected to CleanTalk’s cloud.
    • Geolocation of the sender.
    • Date and time of submission.
    • Page (URL) of the submission.
    • Cloud decision – Approved, Denied.
    • Cloud explanation for the decision.
    • Tools to move the sender to Block or Allow lists.
    Anti-Spam Cloud Dashboard, Forminator form.
    Anti-Spam Cloud Dashboard, Forminator form.

    Google reCAPTCHA, hCaptcha, and Cloudflare Turnstile

    Also, let’s have a look at cloud, anti-spam services that we have for Forminator forms,

    1. The plugin has core integration with many CAPTCHA services,
      • Forminator integrates with Google reCAPTCHA, helping users reduce spam submissions while adding an extra layer of security to contact forms, registrations, and surveys. This allows website owners to protect their forms automatically without complex configuration. To activate this service obtain Site key and Secret key on the site.
      • hCaptcha support. Forminator users can reduce spam submissions while maintaining better privacy for visitors and improving overall form security.
        • Key benefits of hCaptcha over reCAPTCHA,
          • Better privacy for visitors. hCaptcha collects less user tracking data compared to Google reCAPTCHA, which is important for privacy-focused websites and GDPR-sensitive regions.
          • Reduced dependence on Google services. Using hCaptcha allows Forminator users to avoid relying on Google infrastructure, which some organizations prefer for compliance or branding reasons.
          • Potential monetization option. hCaptcha offers a program where site owners can earn small rewards for solving challenges, something reCAPTCHA does not provide.
        • hCaptcha requires Site Key and Secret key as well, which can be obtained on site.
      • Cloudflare Turnstile. By integrating with Cloudflare Turnstile, Forminator users can protect their forms from spam and bots without showing traditional CAPTCHA challenges. Turnstile works invisibly in the background, helping improve user experience while maintaining strong spam protection for contact forms, registrations, payments, and surveys. This reduces friction for real visitors, increases form completion rates, and keeps submissions clean without interrupting the workflow.
        • Main benefits of Cloudflare Turnstile over Google reCAPTCHA,
          • Invisible verification. Turnstile works mostly in the background without puzzles or image challenges, so visitors can submit Forminator forms faster and with less frustration compared to reCAPTCHA.
          • Higher form conversion rates. Because users are not interrupted by CAPTCHA challenges, contact forms, surveys, and payment forms typically see fewer abandoned submissions.
          • Strong privacy approach. Turnstile is designed to minimize user tracking and does not rely on extensive behavioral profiling, which makes it more privacy-friendly than reCAPTCHA.
        • Site Key and Secret key can be obtained on site.
      • All CAPTCHA services are aviable under settings Settings are under path WordPress console -> Forminator > Forms -> Settings -> CAPTCHA -> reCAPTCHA | hCaptcha | Turnstile.

    Honeypot, Akismet and third-party Anti-Spam Plugins

    Additionally, let’s consider standalone plugins and anti-spam mechanics that also works for Forminator forms,

    1. Honeypot. Which is most simple anti-spam mechanic against primitive spam bots. It works by adding hidden fields that are only detected and filled by bots, allowing spam to be blocked automatically while legitimate users never see additional challenges. Because no CAPTCHA or interaction is required, honeypots help maintain a smooth user experience and improve form completion rates. This lightweight method is easy to enable and adds an extra layer of protection for contact forms, surveys, and registrations.
      • Settings are available per each individual form, the path is WordPress console -> Forminator > Forms -> FORM -> Settings -> Behavior -> Security. Please look at screenshots down below.
    2. Third-party Anti-Spam plugins.
      • Akismet. Akismet helps Forminator users automatically filter spam submissions by analyzing form data against its global spam detection network. It works in the background to identify suspicious content and prevent unwanted messages from reaching your inbox or database. This reduces manual moderation and helps keep contact forms, surveys, and registrations clean. As a widely used WordPress anti-spam solution, Akismet is easy to enable and integrates naturally into existing WordPress workflows.
        • In order to activate protection user must install, activate and get API key for third-party plugin Akismet and then turn integration under the settings WordPress console -> Forminator > Forms -> FORM -> Settings -> Behavior -> Security. Please look at screenshots down below.
      • WP Armour, OOPSpam, Maspik, and Simple CAPTCHA Alternative are universal anti-spam plugins for WordPress that provide reliable spam protection for Forminator users. All of these solutions can be found in the search results at wordress.org.
    CAPTCHA services at Forminator settings. Google reCAPTCHA, hCaptcha, Cloudflare Turnstile.
    CAPTCHA services at Forminator settings. Google reCAPTCHA, hCaptcha, Cloudflare Turnstile.
    Honeypot and Akismet in Forminator.
    Honeypot and Akismet in Forminator.
    WP Armour, OOPSpam, Maspik, and Simple CAPTCHA Alternative in https://wordpress.org/plugins/search/forminator+spam/
    WP Armour, OOPSpam, Maspik, and Simple CAPTCHA Alternative.

    Here is a guide by WPMU DEV. It tells how to protect Forminator with additional cloud services such as Honeypot (not as service), Google reCAPTCHA, hCaptcha, Cloudflare Turnstile. Third party plugins like Akismet, and OOPSpam.

    Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

    Cannot stop spam from coming through forms no matter what…

    If nothing works in this guide, try a few more things,

    1. Block spammers by particular IPs, Countries via Personal lists under your CleanTalk’s account.
    2. Submit a support request, we will do our best to tune spam protection for your specific case.
    v3 reCAPTCHA not saving in Forminator Settings. V2 shows ‘ERROR for site owner: Invalid key type’

    Forminator’s team doesn’t have a solution for this error, but advices to switching to hCaptcha, read more.

    Forminator x hCaptcha does not prevent spam

    The main recommendation is to avoid relying on hCaptcha alone, enable Forminator’s honeypot protection, prevent plugin conflicts, and use layered anti-spam methods for better results. WordPress.org.

    Emails from website contact form going to spam.

    The recommended solution is to check SMTP configuration using a real email account so the website sends messages through authenticated mail servers instead of the default PHP mail system. Installing and configuring an SMTP plugin ensures proper email delivery and improves sender reputation, preventing form notifications from being marked as spam. WordPress.org.

    Recommended Anti-Spam Stack for Forminator (2026)

    Finally, no single anti-spam tool can stop every type of spam submission. The most reliable approach for Forminator users is a layered protection stack, where each tool blocks a different category of bots and spam behavior.

    Recommended setup by site type

    • Business website: CleanTalk + Honeypot.
    • High-traffic landing pages: CleanTalk + Turnstile.
    • Membership / registration sites: CleanTalk + Turnstile or hCaptcha.

    By now, all spam issues in your Forminator contact, survey, poll, or quiz forms should be resolved. If not, Sign Up for an account and our support team will be happy to help you.

    Stop spam without frustrating your visitors

    Create your CleanTalk account and start blocking spam forms, surveys, polls and quiz answers — no CAPTCHA challenges and no impact on visitors.

    CleanTalk Account

    No credit card required • Setup takes less than a minute • Your temporary password will be sent by email.

  • Why do contact form 7 users prefer Anti-spam by CleanTalk against reCAPTCHA?

    As a WordPress user let me share my experience of using CAPTCHA less and CAPTCHA style Anti-Spam tools on the example of Contact form 7.

    Is reCAPTCHA good or bad for Contact form 7?

    Contact Form 7 users may prefer Anti-Spam plugin by CleanTalk over reCAPTCHA for several reasons, as each solution has its own advantages and disadvantages. Here are some potential reasons why some users prefer Anti-spam by CleanTalk:

    1. Simplicity: Anti-spam by CleanTalk offers a simpler and more user-friendly solution compared to reCAPTCHA. It doesn’t require users to solve puzzles or click checkboxes, which can be seen as an added step that may deter some visitors from submitting forms.
    2. Reduced User Friction: reCAPTCHA can sometimes lead to a less than ideal user experience, especially for those who find it challenging to complete the visual or interactive challenges. Anti-spam by CleanTalk doesn’t require any user interaction, so it doesn’t add any friction to the form submission process. More drawbacks of CAPTCHA/reCAPTCHA.
    3. Invisible to Users: Anti-spam by CleanTalk works invisibly in the background, so users are not aware of its presence. In contrast, reCAPTCHA typically requires users to complete a task to prove they are not a bot.
    4. Accessibility: Some users have accessibility concerns with reCAPTCHA, as it relies on visual verification. Anti-spam by CleanTalk does not present accessibility challenges in the same way, making it a more inclusive solution.
    5. Accuracy: Anti-spam by CleanTalk uses a combination of methods, including machine learning and a vast database of known spam sources, to identify and block spam submissions. This approach can be effective in detecting and preventing spam without relying on user interaction.
    6. Reduced False Positives: reCAPTCHA, while effective at blocking bots, may occasionally generate false positives, blocking legitimate users. Anti-spam by CleanTalk aims to minimize false positives, ensuring that genuine inquiries are not inadvertently marked as spam.
    7. Customization: Users have the ability to customize Anti-spam by CleanTalk settings to meet their specific needs and preferences, tailoring the spam protection to their site’s requirements.
    8. Integration: Anti-spam by CleanTalk is designed to seamlessly integrate with Contact Form 7 and other popular form plugins, making it easy for users to implement spam protection without significant configuration.
    Anti-Spam by CleanTalk

    It’s important to note that the choice between Anti-spam by CleanTalk and reCAPTCHA may depend on the specific needs and preferences of individual website owners. Some users may prioritize ease of use and a seamless user experience, while others may prioritize the high level of bot detection offered by reCAPTCHA. Ultimately, the choice between these solutions should align with your website’s goals and the user experience you want to provide. Additionally, some users may opt to use both solutions in combination to enhance spam protection further.

    How to install Anti-Spam by CleanTalk?

    To install and configure the “Anti-Spam by CleanTalk” WordPress plugin for your website, follow these steps:

    1. Log in to Your WordPress Dashboard:

    Navigate to your WordPress admin dashboard by entering your site’s URL followed by “/wp-admin” (e.g., “https://yourwebsite.com/wp-admin“).

    2. Access the Plugins Section:

    In the WordPress dashboard, locate and click on the “Plugins” option in the left-hand menu.

    3. Click “Add New”:

    On the Plugins page, click the “Add New” button at the top of the screen. This will take you to the Add Plugins page.

    4. Search for “Anti-Spam by CleanTalk”:

    In the search bar on the Add Plugins page, type “Anti-Spam by CleanTalk” and press Enter. The search results will appear.

    5. Install the Plugin:

    Locate the “Anti-Spam by CleanTalk” plugin in the search results. Click the “Install Now” button next to the plugin’s name.

    6. Activate the Plugin:

    After installation, a new button will appear that says “Activate.” Click this button to activate the Anti-Spam by CleanTalk plugin.

    7. Enter Your Access Key:

    Once the plugin is activated, you’ll need to enter your access key to enable the anti-spam features. You can obtain the access key by signing up for CleanTalk on their website (https://cleantalk.org/) and subscribing to their service. After subscribing, you’ll receive an access key via email.

    a. In the WordPress dashboard, go to “Settings” in the left-hand menu.

    b. Click on “Anti-Spam by CleanTalk” from the submenu.

    c. Enter your access key in the provided field.

    d. Click the “Check Access Key” button to validate your access key.

    8. Configure Settings:

    Once your access key is validated, you can configure the plugin settings according to your preferences. The settings allow you to customize the anti-spam protection for your site, including options for comments, registrations, contact forms, and more.

    9. Save Changes:

    After configuring your settings, don’t forget to click the “Save Changes” button to apply your chosen anti-spam settings.

    10. Verify That It’s Working:

    To ensure that the plugin is effectively blocking spam, just use email stop_email@example.com in a contact form 7. You have to see a special response from Anti-Spam by CleanTalk that describes a reason for blocking. 

    *** Forbidden. Sender blacklisted. ***
    Anti-Spam by CleanTalk shows the reason of blocking form submission.

    11. Periodic Review:

    Periodically review the plugin’s dashboard to check its performance and verify that it’s actively blocking spam submissions. CleanTalk provides statistics on the number of spam attempts blocked.

    That’s it! You’ve successfully installed and configured the “Anti-Spam by CleanTalk” plugin on your WordPress website. This plugin will help protect your site from unwanted spam submissions and improve the overall security and user experience of your WordPress site.

  • reCAPTCHA v3 always returns 0.9 score – research by CleanTalk

    reCAPTCHA v3 always returns 0.9 score – research by CleanTalk

    Who is this article for?

    We’ve been closely following the thread https://github.com/google/recaptcha/issues/235 and noticed that, despite being closed, users continue to report issues.

    We’ve decided to investigate the problem and share our findings with you.

    • How ReCaptcha v3 works
    • What is a score
    • Why you might get a score other than 0.9 in ReCaptcha v2
    • Why you always get a score of 0.9 in ReCaptcha v3
    • Our testing process
    • How to get an accurate score in a test environment
    • CleanTalk’s solutions

    Research Objective

    Users complain that when testing ReCaptcha v3, they always receive the same score of 0.9. However, in the same environments with ReCaptcha v2, the score varies.

    What is a Score?

    The score is the result of the ReCaptcha check. The closer it is to 1, the more likely the visitor is human. The closer it is to 0, the more likely the visitor is a bot.

    How ReCaptcha v3 Works

    Note: The following findings are based on publicly available code and our interpretation.

    1. A user integrates the ReCaptcha script on a form page.
    2. A unique frontend token is added to each form.
    3. The script loads additional obfuscated code.
    4. The obfuscated code collects frontend data (a “black box” not accessible due to Google’s code obfuscation).
    5. Aggregated and encoded data + frontend token is sent to Google’s cloud to get a result token.
    6. The result token is sent to the backend of the testing environment.
    7. The backend validates the token via Google’s API, sending the backend token, result token, and the visitor’s IP address.
    8. Based on the score result, the backend environment can decide whether to allow the visitor to proceed.

    The backend environment decides whether to allow the visitor to proceed based on the score.

    We believe ReCaptcha v3 relies on machine learning based on the traffic environment. The exact decision-making algorithms are proprietary and remain a trade secret of Google.

    Why You Get Score <> 0.9 in ReCaptcha v2

    ReCaptcha v2 does not use machine learning for decision-making.
    It operates in one of two modes:

    1. in the user interaction mode (presence of click-the-flag mechanism on the page).
    2. In silent mode (reCaptcha v2 badge on the page).

    The data collection and processing occur in real time, allowing for accurate, immediate results. Learn more: https://developers.google.com/recaptcha/docs/versions.

    Why You Always Get a Score = 0.9 in ReCaptcha v3

    ReCaptcha v3 relies on machine learning based on traffic data.
    A consistent score of 0.9 indicates the system lacks sufficient data about your typical traffic to make an accurate decision. To avoid false positives, the system grants a 0.9 score to all visitors until trained.

    Our Testing Process

    Test Environment

    • A PHP website running WordPress 6.2.
    • ReCaptcha v3 integrated according to instructions.

    Bot

    A simple bot created in Python using Selenium.

    The bot was run from three IP addresses, emulating the following parameters

    • headless
    • user agents
    • headers
    • clicks
    • form submissions

    Process

    The bot ran for 24 hours, performing sequential visits and form submissions with random parameters.

    No live traffic was sent to the site.

    Results

    • All bot requests returned a score of 0.9.
    • The score did not change over time.
    • No statistics appeared in Google Analytics.
      We hypothesize that traffic presence, volume, and quality in Google Analytics may act as a training marker for the ReCaptcha system.

    How to Get an Accurate Score in a Test Environment

    The recaptcha v3 model assumes long-lasting training on live traffic.

    This means that the test environment must be loaded in the same way as the production environment. Which will undoubtedly cause some difficulties in deploying such an environment and getting the payload.

    We believe that to get the right score a user will have to turn to testing in a productive environment.

    However, the policy of most companies we know of (including CleanTalk of course) restricts any testing in a production environment.

    Unfortunately, we couldn’t find specific terms for the duration of training in Google’s official documentation. We believe that the duration of training depends on the following parameters:

    • Traffic load
    • Ratio of bots to real users
    • Percentage of “intelligent” bots among total bot traffic

    Without live traffic, no settings or configurations will yield an accurate score in a test environment.

    CleanTalk’s Solutions

    If you would like to try a reCAPTCHA alternative, please find more details about CleanTalk’s solutions below. There, we explain how to use the API, plugins, and ready-to-use libraries to protect against spam bots without issues such as a 0.9 score being assigned to every visit.

    Here we show all the differences between CleanTalk as reCAPTCHA alternative.

    CleanTalk Check Bot

    • Decisions are made online without machine learning.
    • Simpler integration—no need to manually add tokens to forms.
    • Extensive documentation available: GitHub CleanTalk API
    • Immediate and relevant testing results.
    • Technical support response within 24 hours.

    Anti-Spam Cloud for CMS

    CleanTalk provides a cloud-based Anti-Spam service for websites, blocking spam in real time without CAPTCHAs. It integrates with CMS platforms like WordPress, Drupal, Joomla, and etc. Securing comments, registrations, and contact forms. Features include SpamFireWall, email validation, and detailed logs, ensuring seamless protection and improved user experience.

    The best way to connect your site is to install one of our Anti-Spam plugins.

    Anti-Spam CleanTalk API

    CleanTalk offers a suite of APIs that integrate anti-spam functionalities into various applications. The Anti-Spam API includes methods like,

    The Database (Blacklists) API provides

    • spam_check() to verify IP and email records against CleanTalk’s database;
    • backlinks_check() to detect domains associated with spam;
    • the ip_info() method returns country codes for IP addresses.

    For managing personal lists and uptime monitoring, the Dashboard API offers dedicated methods. These APIs enable developers to enhance their applications’ security and spam prevention capabilities effectively.

  • WordPress CAPTCHA: Should You Use It or Not? Pros and Cons Explained

    WordPress CAPTCHA: Should You Use It or Not? Pros and Cons Explained

    In today’s digital landscape, protecting your WordPress website from spam and malicious activities is paramount. One of the most common tools used to achieve this is CAPTCHA. However, whether to use CAPTCHA or not can be a topic of debate among website owners. This article will explore the pros and cons of using CAPTCHA on your WordPress site, helping you make an informed decision.

     

    What is CAPTCHA?

    CAPTCHA, which stands for “Completely Automated Public Turing test to tell Computers and Humans Apart,” is a security measure used to determine whether the user is a human or a bot. It typically requires users to solve puzzles, enter text from distorted images, or check a box to verify their humanity.

     

    Types of CAPTCHA

    Before diving into the pros and cons, it’s useful to understand the different types of CAPTCHA you might encounter:

    1. Text-based CAPTCHA
      Users are asked to enter characters from a distorted image.

    2. Image-based CAPTCHA
      Users select images that match a given description (e.g., select all images with traffic lights).

    3. Checkbox CAPTCHA (CAPTCHA)
      Users simply check a box to confirm they are not a robot.

    4. Invisible CAPTCHA
      This version works in the background and only challenges the user if it detects suspicious behavior.
    types of captcha

     

    Pros of Using CAPTCHA on WordPress

    1. Spam Protection
      Benefit: CAPTCHA effectively prevents automated bots from submitting forms, which is crucial for reducing spam in comments, registration forms, and contact forms.
      Explanation: Bots often target forms to post spammy content or create fake accounts. CAPTCHA acts as a gatekeeper, allowing only genuine human interactions.

    2. Enhanced Security
      Benefit: By blocking automated scripts and bots, CAPTCHA adds an extra layer of security to your WordPress site.
      Explanation: This can be particularly important for sites that process sensitive information or have user registration features, as it helps prevent brute-force attacks and data scraping.

    3. Reduced Server Load
      Benefit: Limiting spam and bot traffic can reduce the load on your server, improving overall site performance.
      Explanation: Bots generating excessive requests can slow down your site or even crash it. CAPTCHA helps mitigate this risk by filtering out non-human interactions.

    4. User Verification
      Benefit: CAPTCHA ensures that submissions (like comments or sign-ups) are made by real users, maintaining the quality and integrity of your site’s content.
      Explanation: This is especially useful for sites with user-generated content, where maintaining a community of genuine users is crucial.

    5. Flexible Integration
      Benefit: Many WordPress plugins offer easy CAPTCHA integration for various forms and functionalities.
      Explanation: Popular plugins like Contact Form 7, WPForms, and others allow you to add CAPTCHA to protect your forms with minimal effort.

     

    Cons of Using CAPTCHA on WordPress

    1. User Experience Impact
      CAPTCHA can create friction in the user experience, potentially deterring visitors from completing forms or engaging with your site. Users may find solving CAPTCHA puzzles frustrating or time-consuming, leading to higher abandonment rates, especially on mobile devices.

    2. Accessibility Issues
      CAPTCHA can pose significant challenges for users with disabilities, making it difficult or impossible for them to interact with your site. Visually impaired users, for example, may struggle with image-based CAPTCHAs, while others with cognitive disabilities may find the puzzles confusing. Even audio CAPTCHAs can be problematic for those with hearing impairments.

    3. False Positives
      Sometimes, legitimate users can be incorrectly flagged as bots, preventing them from completing their intended actions. This can happen due to various reasons, such as users failing to solve the CAPTCHA correctly or using certain browser extensions that interfere with CAPTCHA detection.

    4. Maintenance and Compatibility
      CAPTCHA implementations may require ongoing maintenance and updates to remain effective and compatible with your WordPress site. As bots evolve, CAPTCHAs must also be updated to stay ahead. Additionally, plugin conflicts or updates can sometimes cause compatibility issues, requiring troubleshooting and technical know-how.

    5. Increased Load Time
      Adding CAPTCHA can slightly increase page load times, which might impact your site’s performance. Each CAPTCHA requires additional resources to render and validate, which can contribute to longer loading times, particularly if not optimized.

     

    Alternatives to CAPTCHA

    Given the potential drawbacks, you might wonder if there are alternatives to CAPTCHA that can provide security without compromising user experience. Here are a few options:

    1. Anti-Spam Plugins

    How it works: Plugins like CleanTalk analyze form submissions and user behavior to filter out spam without the need for CAPTCHA.
    Benefit: They offer seamless protection with minimal impact on user experience.

    Anti-Spam plugins

    After the Anti-Spam is installed and activated, it protects your website and all forms from spam bots, keeping them from overloading your site. That’s how the website “looks” for spam bots:

    anti-crowler block

    Protection of your forms will also triggered even before a form is submitted, thus protecting your forms from getting spammed. That’s how it “looks”:

    screenshot 2

    “Also, take a look at what we think about the pros and cons of reCAPTCHA in our dedicated post, reCAPTCHA Alternative.”

    2. Honeypot Fields

    How it works: Hidden form fields are added that human users can’t see but bots will fill out. If these fields are completed, the submission is flagged as spam.
    Benefit: This method is invisible to users and doesn’t affect their experience.

    0 QmVE5NjmPv9vu9

    3. Time-Based Methods

    How it works: Measures the time taken to complete a form. Bots typically submit forms almost instantly, whereas humans take longer.
    Benefit: This is a passive method that doesn’t require any action from the user.

    4. JavaScript-Based Solutions

    How it works: Uses JavaScript to detect bots based on behavior and patterns that are unusual for human users.
    Benefit: These solutions operate behind the scenes, making them less intrusive for users.

     

    Conclusion

    CAPTCHA is a simple and free tool that will help you eliminate most spam bots. It is very useful for users in the first stage of launching their WordPress website.

    However, in the next step, you may need a more advanced solution. For example, one that will give much more protection against spam bots to increase the speed of your site, and also, will be completely invisible to save precious time of your site visitors. As such a solution, we recommend CleanTalk Anti-Spam, a service we have been improving for more than 10 years. The full list of features can be found here.

    Consider your audience and the nature of your site when deciding. If your site handles sensitive information or has high spam vulnerability, CAPTCHA could be beneficial. However, for sites focused on user engagement and accessibility, exploring alternatives might be more appropriate.

     

    Try Anti-Spam by CleanTalk for Free

     

  • Security Update: Please Update CleanTalk Anti-Spam to the Latest Version

    Security Update: Please Update CleanTalk Anti-Spam to the Latest Version

    We’re reaching out to let you know about a security vulnerability that was recently disclosed in the CleanTalk Anti-Spam plugin for WordPress. We’ve already released a fix, and we want to make sure you’re protected.

    What happened?

    On February 14, 2026, a vulnerability (CVE-2026-1490) was publicly disclosed affecting CleanTalk Anti-Spam plugin versions 6.71 and earlier. The issue was found in the checkWithoutToken function, which relied on reverse DNS (PTR record) resolution to verify incoming requests. An attacker could spoof a PTR record to impersonate CleanTalk servers, potentially allowing them to install unauthorized plugins on a vulnerable site. In a worst-case scenario, this could lead to remote code execution through a chain of exploits.

    Here’s the important part: this vulnerability only affects sites running with an invalid or expired or missing API key. If your CleanTalk subscription is active and your API key is valid, the exploitable code path is never triggered. That said, we strongly recommend updating regardless – it’s simply good practice.

    What you need to do:

    Update the plugin to version 6.72 or later – the fix is already available in the WordPress plugin repository
    Verify your API key is active and valid in your CleanTalk dashboard at https://cleantalk.org/my  or in your WP Dashboard->Settings->Anti-Spam by CleanTalk.
    If you have auto-updates enabled, you may already be on the latest version — but please double-check

    Keeping plugins up to date is the most effective way to maintain website security.

    What we’ve done on our end:
    We patched the checkWithoutToken function to no longer rely solely on PTR records for authorization. The updated verification process uses stronger validation methods that cannot be spoofed. The fix was released in version 6.72, which is available now.

    References:
    CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-1490 
    Wordfence advisory: https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/cb603be6-4a12-49e1-b8cc-b2062eb97f16 
    Plugin changelog: https://wordpress.org/plugins/cleantalk-spam-protect/#developers 

    A note from our team:
    We take security seriously – both yours and our own. No software is immune to vulnerabilities, but what matters is how quickly they’re addressed and how transparently they’re communicated. We identified the issue, developed a fix, and released the update promptly. 

    We’re also conducting an internal review of similar patterns across our codebase to prevent this class of vulnerability from recurring.
    If you have any questions or need assistance updating, our support team is here to help at support@cleantalk.org.

    Best regards,
    The CleanTalk Team

  • wpForo Forum – Spam Protection

    wpForo Forum – Spam Protection

    CleanTalk added spam protection for wpForo Forum multi-layout bulletin board using direct form integration. So in case, you prefer using wpForo be sure to use the most effective Anti-Spam plugin. Read the guide below and learn 4 steps to protect your wpForo Forms from spam.

    Once the CleanTalk Anti-Spam plugin is installed it starts to protect all of the existing forms on your WordPress website. It may not only be wpForo forms but also many others.

    Download CleanTalk Anti-Spam plugin | Download wpForo Forum 

    How to install CleanTalk Anti-Spam plugin

    To install the Anti-Spam plugin, go to your WordPress admin panel → Plugins → Add New.

    Then enter «СleanTalk» in the search box and click the Install button for «Spam protection, Anti-Spam, FireWall by CleanTalk».

    After installing the plugin, click the «Activate»‎ button.

    After it is done go to the plugin settings and click the «Get Access Key Automatically» button. Then just click the «Save Settings»‎ button.

    That’s it! From now you know how to completely protect your wpForo Forum plugin from spam.

    How to check spam protection for wpForo Forms

    You can test the work of Anti-Spam protection for your СonvertKit Forms by using a test email s @ cleantalk.org (without spaces). First, open the form in an Incognito browser tab. Fill in all the required form fields and send a form. After submitting the form, you will see a block message about the block on the form submission.

    If you have any questions, add a comment and we will be happy to help you.

    Create your CleanTalk account – Register now and protect your СonvertKit Forms from spam in 5 minutes

    Update

    The protection works only for website visitors, not for website admins. Be sure to test the form protection using Incognito mode.

    Additional features

    • CleanTalk protects all forms at once: comments, registrations, feedbacks, contacts, reviews.
    • Installation takes about 1-2 minutes.
    • Smart 99% protection against spambots.
    • Always online – 24/7 technical support.
    • Logs, SpamFireWall, personal lists, country filters, stop-words, and many others.

    Discover CleanTalk Anti-Spam plugin features.

  • User Registration & Membership – Spam Protection Guide in 2026

    User Registration & Membership – Spam Protection Guide in 2026

    CleanTalk has added spam protection for the User Registration & Membership WordPress plugin by WPEverest through direct form integration. If you use this plugin, be sure to enable the highly effective CleanTalk Anti-Spam solution. In this post, we also review all anti-spam options available for User Registration & Membership.

    User Registration & Membership – Free & Paid Memberships, Subscriptions, Content Restriction, User Profile, Custom User Registration & Login Builder

    First of all let’s see what this plugin is,

    User Registration & Membership by WPEverest is a powerful WordPress plugin for creating custom user registration forms, login pages, and membership websites without coding. It features a drag-and-drop form builder, user profile management, content restriction, and payment integrations for subscription-based sites. Ideal for communities, online courses, and client portals, the plugin helps website owners manage users and memberships efficiently while improving user experience.

    According wordpress.org, this plugin is installed on 60,000+ sites. All features of Anti-Spam plugin by CleanTalk for WordPress.

    Installing User Registration & Membership

    There are few steps to be this plugin installed,

    1. Go to WordPress console -> Plugins -> Add plugin, type ‘user’.
    2. Install ‘User Registration & Membership’ by WPEverest and activate the plugin.
    3. Next you see a setup screen, that can be skipped on this moment.
    4. That’s all the plugin is installed!

    On the next steps we work with page YOUR-SITE.COM/registration/.

    By the if you want place the registration form on another page,

    1. Follow to WordPress console -> User Registration & Membership -> Registration form.
    2. Copy shortcode like this [user_registration_form id=”8″] from the right/top corner of screen and place on any other page you want to.

    Anti-Spam plugin by CleanTalk for WordPress

    In beginning a few words about the plugin that we are going to use against spam,

    CleanTalk Anti-Spam plugin for WordPress automatically protects your website from spam comments, registrations, contact forms, and fake orders without using CAPTCHA. It uses cloud-based spam detection and real-time databases to block bots in the background while keeping the experience smooth for legitimate visitors.

    According wordpress.org, this plugin is installed on 200,000+ web sites. To install the plugin please follow this guide.

    The next step is testing the anti-spam protection.

    How to check spam protection for User Registration & Membership

    We are going to test protection and the most important step in this process to do it as a regular visitor, not as as authorized user/administrator in WordPress console!

    Follow this,

    1. Jump to YOUR-SITE.COM/registration/ in incognito mode in your browser.
    2. Fill up the form using test email address s@cleantalk.org. This is a service email, using which do not cause block listing your IP in CleanTalk’s cloud.
    3. You see response from the cloud like this,

    *** Forbidden. Sender blacklisted. Anti-Spam by CleanTalk. ***

    That’s all! The protection is active and ready to go. If you have any questions, add a comment and we will be happy to help you. In addition, in the Cloud Dashboard you can find extra details regarding all submissions for registration form.

    What additional anti-spam tools are available for User Registration & Membership?

    On this day on the market there are a few more tools to protect User Registration & Membership against spam bots. As well as this plugin has some built-in tools. Let’s see what we have,

    1. This plugin has built-in integration with Google reCaptcha version 2 and 3. reCAPTCHA by Google helps protect WordPress registration forms from spam by verifying that users are real people using behavioral analysis or interactive challenges. It blocks automated bot sign-ups and reduces fake registrations while allowing legitimate users to register securely.
      The settings located are here WordPress console -> User Registration & Membership -> Registration & Login -> Captcha. The Site and Secret keys are available on website.
    2. The next tool is hCaptcha. hCaptcha is a privacy-focused CAPTCHA solution that protects WordPress registration forms from spam by requiring users to complete human verification challenges, helping block automated bot sign-ups. Unlike reCAPTCHA by Google, hCaptcha places stronger emphasis on user privacy and data control, making it a popular alternative for websites that want effective spam protection with less tracking.
      The settings located are here WordPress console -> User Registration & Membership -> Registration & Login -> Captcha. The Site Key and Secret key are available on website.
    3. Next is Turnstile by Cloudflare. It protects WordPress registration forms from spam by automatically verifying visitors using browser and behavioral signals without showing CAPTCHA challenges. Unlike reCAPTCHA, Turnstile is designed to be privacy-friendly and frictionless, reducing spam registrations while keeping the signup process seamless for real users.
      The settings located are unde same path as tools before WordPress console -> User Registration & Membership -> Registration & Login -> Captcha. The Site Key and Secret key are available on website.
    4. There are also bunch of universal anti-spam plugins like Simple CAPTCHA Alternative by Elliot Sowersby, WP Armour and etc. All of them can be found on wordpress.org.

    As my research shows there is no plugins or direct integration with Akismet.

    I have questions…

    What if I don’t use User Registration & Membership plugin, but still have spam registrations (users)?

    In this case, Anti-Spam by CleanTalk is the best way to get rid of standard wordpress registration forms spam.

    Does this guide work for WPforo plugin?

    No, it does not. Read this guide instead to protect WPforo Forum against spam registrations.

    How about spam protection for s2Member plugin?

    Please use another guide in order of s2member spam protection.

    Final thoughts

    I hope this guide helped resolve all spam issues on your registration form. If not, Sign Up for an account and our CleanTalk team will be happy to help.

  • Spam Protection – S2Member Memberships

    Spam Protection – S2Member Memberships

    If you prefer to use s2Member Memberships & Subscriptions registration form be sure to use the most effective Anti-Spam plugin. Read the guide below and learn 4 steps to protect your s2Member Registration Forms from spam.

    Once the CleanTalk Anti-Spam plugin is installed it starts to protect all of the existing forms on your WordPress website. It may not only be registration forms but also contact forms and many others.

    CleanTalk Anti-Spam plugin for WordPress | Download s2Member Registration Form plugin 

    How to install CleanTalk Anti-Spam plugin

    To install the Anti-Spam plugin, go to your WordPress admin panel → Plugins → Add New.

    Then enter «СleanTalk» in the search box and click the Install button for «Spam protection, Anti-Spam, FireWall by CleanTalk».

    After installing the plugin, click the «Activate»‎ button.

    After it is done go to the plugin settings and click the «Get Access Key Automatically» button. Then just click the «Save Settings»‎ button.

    That’s it! From now you How to completely protect your s2Member Registration Form from spam.

    Check the result to save your s2Member Registration Form from spam

    You can test the work of Anti-Spam protection for your s2Member Registration Form by using a test email s @ cleantalk.org (without spaces). First, open the form in an Incognito browser tab. Fill in all the required form fields and send a form. After submitting the form, you will see a block message about the block on the form submission.

    If you have any questions, add a comment and we will be happy to help you.

    Create your CleanTalk account – Register now and protect your s2Member Registration Form from spam in 5 minutes

    Update

    The protection works only for website visitors, not for website admins. Be sure to test the form protection using Incognito mode.

    Additional features

    • CleanTalk protects all forms at once: comments, registrations, feedbacks, contacts, reviews.
    • Installation takes about 1-2 minutes.
    • Smart 99% protection against spambots.
    • Always online – 24/7 technical support.
    • Logs, SpamFireWall, personal lists, country filters, stop-words, and many others.

    Discover the complete list of CleanTalk Anti-Spam plugin features here.

  • About the email “[CleanTalk] Access key used on multiple websites”

    About the email “[CleanTalk] Access key used on multiple websites”

    Recently, some of our users received an email with the subject:

    “[CleanTalk] Access key used on multiple websites”

    The message informed you that your CleanTalk Access key was detected on more than one website within a 24-hour period and recommended changing the key if the activity looked suspicious.

    The notification looked like this:

    Subject: [CleanTalk] Access key used on multiple websites

    We noticed that your CleanTalk Access key has been used on more than one website within the last 24 hours.

    Product: Anti-spam for sites
    Access key: your_access_key

    List of IPs:
    https://cleantalk.org/ipinfo/IP_addr

    If you do not recognize these websites, your Access key may have been compromised.
    Please change your Access key as soon as possible.

    This email was part of a new security feature designed to help prevent possible Access key leaks and unauthorized usage. We recently launched a new security feature that monitors whether a CleanTalk Access key is being used on multiple websites within a short period of time.

    The idea behind this was simple — help prevent possible key leaks or unauthorized usage and notify users if something looks suspicious.

    However, after launch we discovered an issue in the detection logic. Because of this, many users received this notification by mistake.

    That was our error — and we sincerely apologize for the confusion and concern it may have caused.

    We have already corrected the algorithm and added additional checks to prevent false alerts in the future.

    Thank you for your understanding and for trusting CleanTalk to protect your websites.

    If you have any questions, our support team is always here to help.

    — The CleanTalk Team

CleanTalk

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