Tag: spam protection

  • How to Protect Your Joomla Registration Form from Spam with CleanTalk Anti-Spam

    How to Protect Your Joomla Registration Form from Spam with CleanTalk Anti-Spam

    Spam is an ongoing issue for website administrators, and Joomla sites are no exception. When spam bots target your registration forms, they can flood your database with fake accounts, consume resources, and make managing your user base a nightmare. Thankfully, tools like CleanTalk Anti-Spam can help protect your Joomla registration forms from spam effectively. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the steps to integrate CleanTalk Anti-Spam with your Joomla site and protect Your Joomla registration form from spam

     

    Why Protect Your Joomla Registration Forms?

    Before diving into the steps, it’s crucial to understand why protecting your registration forms from spam is essential. Here are some of the primary reasons:

    1. Database Integrity
      Spam registrations can clutter your database with unnecessary data, making it harder to manage and slower to operate.

    2. Resource Management
      Spam bots consume server resources, which can slow down your website and increase hosting costs.

    3. User Experience
      A flood of spam registrations can impact the user experience by making it difficult for genuine users to register and interact with your site.

    4. Security Risks
      Some spam accounts may be created with malicious intent, aiming to exploit vulnerabilities or distribute malware.

     

    What is CleanTalk Anti-Spam?

    CleanTalk is a cloud-based anti-spam solution designed to protect websites from spam bots without relying on traditional CAPTCHA methods. It offers real-time spam protection by checking form submissions against a comprehensive database of known spam activities. CleanTalk is known for its high accuracy, ease of use, and minimal impact on user experience.

     

    Setting Up Registration form protection

    To protect your Joomla registration form from spam, follow these steps to set up CleanTalk Anti-Spam:

    Step 1. Make a backup of the site files and database!

    Step 2. Download the extension archive from the CleanTalk website.

    Step 3. In the main Joomla menu open System → Install → Extensions.

    Step 4. Click the “Browse for file” button to upload the archive.

    Step 5. After installation, you will see the success message:

    Step 6. Go to plugin settings: Extensions → Anti-Spam by CleanTalk, and enable the plugin.

    Step 7. In plugin settings press the Get access key automatically button. Admin email address will be used for registration.

    If you want to use another address click the button Get access key manually. Fill in the easy registration form and you will receive your key.

    Step 8. Enter your Access key in its field, choose protection options, and save settings.

     

    Test Your Registration Form

    Test protection with this email address st********@ex*****.com. Write a comment, registration, or contact message with this email. Here you should see the plugin respond, like in the screenshot.

    You are amazing!

    You have successfully installed Anti-Spam and now your registration forms (and all the other forms) are protected from spam. If something went wrong, please let us know in the comments below or create a private ticket.

  • CleanTalk SpamFireWall Sets New Record: Blocking 777 Million Bot Requests in April

    CleanTalk SpamFireWall Sets New Record: Blocking 777 Million Bot Requests in April

    In April, CleanTalk SpamFireWall achieved a significant milestone by blocking an impressive 777 million bot requests. This accomplishment underscores our commitment to enhancing digital security through cutting-edge technology and vigilant monitoring.

    This feat serves as a reminder of the persistent threat posed by automated bots in today’s interconnected world. SpamFireWall plays a crucial role in safeguarding online platforms from exploitation by swiftly identifying and neutralizing suspicious activities.

    We owe this success to our team’s dedication and our customers’ support. Their invaluable feedback and collaboration have been instrumental in achieving this remarkable milestone.

    You can find our latest spam stats here for those interested in more detailed statistics on bot activity and SpamFireWall’s performance.

    SpamFireWall, an optional feature of the CleanTalk Anti-Spam Plugin, enhances website security by blocking access for spam-active IP addresses, effectively denying them entry (via blocking GET requests). By intercepting spambots before they reach the website, SpamFireWall prevents the loading of pages for these malicious bots. This action alleviates the burden on your web server, reducing the load on both the database and server resources.

    Moving forward, SpamFireWall remains committed to staying at the forefront of cybersecurity. We will continue to innovate and adapt to emerging threats to ensure a safer digital landscape for all users.

    This achievement in April reflects our unwavering resolve to combat cyber threats and uphold the highest standards of digital security. Together, we will continue to protect online ecosystems and instill confidence in users worldwide.

  • Revealing Vulnerabilities: The All-in-One SEO Plugin Dilemma

    Revealing Vulnerabilities: The All-in-One SEO Plugin Dilemma

    In the expansive domain of WordPress, a critical security flaw has been unveiled within the widely-utilized All-in-One SEO plugin. Known by its identifier, CVE-2024-3368, this vulnerability exposes a concerning loophole that malicious actors can exploit through Stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) attacks, jeopardizing the security of numerous websites. The trouble concerns all versions of All-in-One SEO older than 4.6.1.1.

    This flaw was unearthed during routine security evaluations, shedding light on a troubling scenario where unauthorized individuals can inject harmful JavaScript code directly into WordPress posts. This unauthorized access allows for the manipulation of administrative privileges, potentially leading to serious repercussions such as website tampering and unauthorized data access.

    In response to this alarming revelation, immediate action is crucial. WordPress website owners are strongly advised to promptly update their All-in-One SEO plugin to the latest version, fortified with patches to address this vulnerability. Furthermore, implementing stringent security measures, including regular audits and access controls, is essential to mitigate the risk of exploitation.

    Behind the scenes, CleanTalk remains dedicated to safeguarding the WordPress ecosystem. Through vigilant monitoring of plugins and the provision of timely alerts, CleanTalk aims to empower website owners with the necessary tools and knowledge to defend against cyber threats effectively and preserve the integrity of their digital platforms.

  • Survey: Would You Like to Have a User Verification Badge ✔️ in the Comments/Reviews on your Site? 

    Survey: Would You Like to Have a User Verification Badge ✔️ in the Comments/Reviews on your Site? 

    Many online comments and reviews are helpful, but some might not be written by real users. A special verification badge could indicate if a comment/review is confirmed to be written by a real person. This might help you decide which reviews to trust more when reading/discussing online.

    Vote in the survey   or use the widget below if you see it ↓

  • How to protect mobile app from bots

    How to protect mobile app from bots

    Why it is important to protect a mobile app from spam bots

    Spam bots are a serious threat to your website, but it affects your mobile app just the same. More than 54% of traffic goes from mobile devices and 76% of internet traffic comes from bad bots. This means that bad bots generate up to 41% of your mobile traffic However, we have listed 5 reasons to protect your mobile app from bots and to stop bad bots before harming your app.

     

    Why it is important to protect your mobile app from spam bots

    1. User experience
      Spam bots can flood your app with fake accounts, comments, and messages, which can eventually lead to degrading the user experience for legitimate users.
    1. Security
      Spam bots can carry out malicious activities such as spreading malware, phishing attacks, and stealing sensitive information from users.
    1. Resource consumption
      Spam bots can overwhelm your servers and consume valuable resources, leading to slower performance and increased costs.
    1. Reputation
      If your app is known for being overrun by spam bots, it can damage your reputation and deter legitimate users from using your app.
    1. Compliance
      Depending on the nature of your app, you may be required to comply with regulations related to data privacy and security. Allowing spam bots to operate unchecked can put you at risk of violating these regulations.

     

    How it works

    The Bot Detector works in the background and is not visible to the user. It does not require the user to confirm that he is not a bot.

    how it works

     

    How to install your mobile app spam protection

    If you need to protect mobile apps from spam, you will definitely need a solution that uses API to check registrations for spam. The Bot Detector service uses the CleanTalk check_bot API method via a special library that you can download and integrate with just 1 line of code. You can check out our detailed instructions on GitHub below.

    Go to GitHub

     

  • Hubspot emails going to spam – fixing the issue

    Hubspot emails going to spam – fixing the issue

    Hubspot users frequently encounter the issue of their email newsletters being classified as spam, despite having appropriate content in the emails. Even though the email content, headers, and text are all in compliance, you can still see the emails flagged as spam. Let’s investigate the possible reasons behind this occurrence.

     

    Why email from Hubspot going to spam

    • Exclamation points or certain phrases in the “subject” line
      Avoid using exclamation points or specific phrases in the subject line that may trigger spam filters, such as “Make money,” “Free,” or “Not spam.” It is advisable to steer clear of these types of triggering phrases to prevent your emails from being classified as spam.

    • The Unsubscribe Button is missing
      It’s important to keep in mind that if an email is not pertinent to the recipient and lacks an Unsubscribe option, the only recourse for the recipient to cease receiving the email is to flag it as spam.

    • Irrelevant offer
      If multiple individuals label your email as spam, it could result in your future emails being automatically directed to recipients’ spam folders.

    • Blacklisted or unreal email in your email list
      We believe you can handle the changes above yourself, but this one requires some help to check email addresses. Since so many bots use subscription forms and use either fake addresses or stolen ones. If you have blacklisted and unreal emails in your email list, spam filters can recognize it and put your emails at risk of going into the spam folder.

      Mailing to such addresses will not be useful, so we made a web service that clears your email list by checking it through a database of 6M email addresses for fake addresses and spam. Use the instructions below to clean your mailing list of “bad” addresses.

     

     

    How to protect your HubSpot forms from spam bots

    The Anti-Spam plugin for WordPress by CleanTalk has direct integration with HubSpot and blocks any spam bots even before they reach your website. Follow this guide to protect your HubSpot forms from spam.

     

    How to clean email list of non-existent or spammers email addresses

    1. Visit the SpamBots Check page, where you can clean your email list by inputing your email list by either copying and pasting it into the designated field or uploading a file using the Browse button. Click the Clear my list button to initiate the process. That is the moment when all the non-existent or spammers email addresses are recognized and filtered. You need to register to check more than 5 emails, and it only takes approximately 30 seconds to complete.

    2. Once the email list has been processed, you will be presented with a summary of the checked emails along with their corresponding outcomes. You can easily download CSV and JSON files or share the check results by utilizing the provided links located in the upper right corner of the page.

    URL to results – share the check results or reset to the full list, including both good and bad lists.
    Good list – remove emails that are suspiciously active or invalid.
    Bad list – leave only emails that are suspiciously active or invalid.
    Copy – copy the entire list of emails.
    CSV – download results of the check in CSV-file.
    JSON – download results of the check in JSON file.

    3. Access the CSV or JSON file and select the emails that are not on the blacklist for copying.

    4. Access your HubSpot newsletter, paste the list into the designated area, and then click on the Continue to organize button.

    5. Next, proceed with the regular process of creating your HubSpot newsletter.

    By utilizing confirmed email addresses, you can prevent your HubSpot messages from being marked as spam, ensuring that more of your newsletter emails are successfully sent and read. Remember to validate all email lists to minimize the risk of your emails being flagged as spam. Email verification is essential for cleaning up email lists, enhancing email deliverability, and boosting engagement rates.

     

    Check my email list

     

  • FluentBooking spam protection for WordPress

    FluentBooking spam protection for WordPress

    CleanTalk added spam protection for FluentBooking using direct form integration. Always be sure to use the most effective Anti-Spam plugin. For example CleanTalk Anti-Spam will guarantee your FluentBooking spam protection in about 5 minutes.

    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 FluentBooking but many other forms.

    Download CleanTalk Anti-Spam plugin | Download FluentBooking 

    How to install CleanTalk Anti-Spam plugin

    To install the Anti-Spam plugin, go to your WordPress admin panelPluginsAdd 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 your WordPress website and FluentBooking are protected from spam.

    You can always use our detailed installation instructions.

    How to check your FluentBooking spam protection in about 5 minutes

    You can test the work of Anti-Spam protection for your FluentBooking 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 enjoy your spam-free FluentBooking.

    You may view a complete list of CleanTalk Anti-Spam plugin features here. https://cleantalk.org/help/introduction 

    WordPress spam protection

  • Divi spam protection for WordPress

    Divi spam protection for WordPress

    CleanTalk added spam protection for Divi Builder email opt-in subscription form using direct form integration. So in case, you prefer using Divi subscription form be sure to use the most effective Anti-Spam plugin. Read the guide below and learn 4 steps to protect your Divi subscription form 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 Newsletters subscription forms but also many others.

    Download CleanTalk Anti-Spam plugin | Download Divi Builder email opt-in 

    How to install CleanTalk Anti-Spam plugin

    To install the Anti-Spam plugin, go to your WordPress admin panelPluginsAdd 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 Divi Builder email opt-in subscription form from spam.

    How to check spam protection for Divi Builder email opt-in

    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 Divi Builder email opt-in 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, and 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.

  • Tribulant Newsletters spam protection for WordPress

    Tribulant Newsletters spam protection for WordPress

    CleanTalk added spam protection for Tribulant Newsletters using direct form integration. So in case, you prefer using Tribulant Newsletters be sure to use the most effective Anti-Spam plugin. Read the guide below and learn 4 steps to protect your Newsletters 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 Newsletters subscription forms but also many others.

    Download CleanTalk Anti-Spam plugin | Download Tribulant Newsletters 

    How to install CleanTalk Anti-Spam plugin

    To install the Anti-Spam plugin, go to your WordPress admin panelPluginsAdd 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 Tribulant Newsletters from spam.

    How to check spam protection for Tribulant Newsletters

    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 Tribulant Newsletters 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.

  • What is a WordPress Plugin and how to install it

    What is a WordPress Plugin and how to install it

    What is a WordPress Plugin

    A WordPress plugin is a piece of software that adds specific functionality to a WordPress website. You can also call in an add-on or extension that enhances the core features of the WordPress platform. Plugins are designed to be easily installed, activated, and configured by users without the need for any coding knowledge.

    WordPress plugins are typically written in PHP, the programming language used in WordPress development. They can include various types of files such as PHP scripts, CSS stylesheets, JavaScript code, and images. Plugins can be created by individual developers, companies, or the WordPress community at large.

     

    How Do WordPress Plugins Work?

    WordPress plugins work by hooking into the core functionality of the WordPress platform. When you activate a plugin, it can modify or extend various aspects of a WordPress site, such as adding new features, customizing existing ones, or improving performance.

    Plugins can interact with different parts of a WordPress site through hooks and filters. Hooks are predefined points in the WordPress code where plugins can insert their own code to modify the behavior of the site. Filters allow plugins to modify data before it is displayed on the site.

    WordPress plugins can also include settings pages where users can configure the plugin’s behavior and options. These settings pages are typically accessible from the WordPress admin dashboard and provide users with a way to customize how the plugin functions.

     

    Types of WordPress Plugins

    There are thousands of WordPress plugins available for a wide range of purposes. Some of the most common types of plugins include:

    SEO Plugins
    These plugins help optimize a website for search engines by providing tools for keyword research, metatag optimization, XML sitemap generation, and more.

    E-commerce Plugins
    E-commerce plugins enable users to create online stores and sell products or services directly from their WordPress sites. Popular e-commerce plugins include WooCommerce, Easy Digital Downloads, and Shopify.

    Contact Form Plugins
    Contact form plugins allow users to create custom contact forms for their websites to collect visitor information and inquiries. Examples include Contact Form 7, WPForms, and Gravity Forms. Most of contact forms still need an anti-spam protection, so, feel free to use Anti-Spam plugins like Anti-Spam by CleanTalk.

    Security Plugins
    Security plugins help protect WordPress sites from security threats such as malware, hacking attempts, and spam.

    Performance Optimization Plugins
    These plugins help improve the speed and performance of a WordPress site by optimizing images, caching content, and minimizing code. Examples include WP Rocket, W3 Total Cache, and Smush Image Compression and Optimization.

     

    How to Install a WordPress Plugin

    Installing a WordPress plugin is a straightforward process that you can do in just a few simple steps. Let’s say, you want to install the Contact Form 7 plugin to your website. That’s how you do it:

    1. Search for the Plugin: In the WordPress admin dashboard, navigate to Plugins > Add New. Use the search bar to find the plugin you want to install.

    2. Install the Plugin: Click the “Install Now” button next to the plugin you want to install. Once the installation is complete, click the “Activate” button to activate the plugin.

    3. Use the Plugin: Once you installed and activate it, you can start using its features on your WordPress site. Depending on the type of plugin, you may need to add widgets, shortcodes, or configure settings to make use of its functionality.

     

    5 Tips to Use WordPress Plugins Like a Pro

    While WordPress plugins offer numerous benefits, it’s essential to use them wisely to avoid potential issues such as conflicts, security vulnerabilities, and performance problems. Here are some tips for using WordPress plugins:

    Tip 1: Choose Quality Plugins

    Select plugins from reputable sources such as the official WordPress Plugin Directory or trusted third-party developers. Check user reviews, ratings, and update frequency before installing a plugin.

    Tip 2: Keep Plugins Updated

    Regularly update your plugins to ensure they are compatible with the latest version of WordPress and have any security vulnerabilities patched. Most plugins provide
    automatic updates for added convenience.

    Tip 3: Limit Plugin Usage

    Avoid installing too many plugins on your site as this can slow down performance and increase the risk of conflicts. Only install plugins that are necessary for your site’s functionality.

    Tip 4: Test Plugins Before Installation

    Before installing a new plugin on your live site, test it on a staging environment or local installation to ensure it works as expected and doesn’t cause any issues with existing functionality.

    Tip 5: Monitor Plugin Performance

    Keep an eye on your site’s performance metrics after installing new plugins to identify any changes in loading times or server resources. Remove or replace plugins that negatively impact performance.