Spam is the bane of all bloggers who allow comments – and phony trackback spam is just as annoying. Fortunately for us, the GrowMap anti-spambot plugin (GASP) can block both bots and trackback spam plugins.
When your blog gets popular you will see the same types of spam over and over. Here are some examples (click the image to see full size):
Trackback Spam Examples – Click image to see full size. Note the bold headlines which make it easy to know these are spam – and the specific spammers so you can avoid approving them.
Get GASP and protect your blog from these selfish thieves who steal our time. There are two versions of G.A.S.P.:
The version in the Premium plugin allows you to automatically block the phony trackbacks generated by the Digi-Auto Trackbacks plugin by using the configuration shown in the image below.
To find these settings in your WordPress dashboard, click on CommentLuv,
then G.A.S.P. and see the fields shown by arrows in this image.
Click on the image to see it full size.
How to Configure GASP to block Digi Auto Links. Click image to see larger image.
I have mine configured to send trackbacks to spam because I rescue the real trackbacks from there. If there were a setting to automatically delete specific types of trackback spam I would use it.
Besides the Digi Auto Links trackbacks I ALWAYS delete, there are other plugins that spam blogs. Some are easily identified as spam because they have highlighted information in them.
I wish WordPress provided a separate place to throw those you know are spammers so you don’t have to waste our time on them – people like OBVA Online Business Outsourcing who steal from us on a regular basis.
All of us should be cautious about providing testimonials to companies like them – and to do due diligence so that we can avoid hiring any company whose behaviors would taint our own businesses.
{ 27 comments… read them below or add one }
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Twitter: saif_ullah_butt
March 15, 2013 at 11:36 pm
I learned some new ideas from this article. I was looking for more link on GASP setting and I got some here but noticed you have another set of articles on that so will hop over there.
SEO company would love you to read ..How To Use Google Authorship & How To Implement It In Your Blog?
Thank you for the useful advice on how to prevent spam. I am among those who don’t appreciate the constant spam that comes through my blog site. I can’t weed through it and it ends up jamming up my mailbox with nonsense. You tips worked beautifully and put a stop to a lot of the traffic that has been plaguing my site. I don’t mind the real comments, love when people enjoy enough to get along, but don’t appreciate the rest of the nonsense. Thanks for helping me out, and all the other bloggers out there thank you as well.
Hey,
Spams are increasing day by day.Gasp will surely help anyone to stop the number of spams on their sites.
Thanks,
Mark Floors
Out of all the spam plugins I’ve used, and I’ve tested several, GASP worked the best for me.
It was actually one of the benefits of getting CommentLuv Premium as it has GASP incorporated in it.
We all have enough to do without having to deal with blog spammers too. Wish they could figure out a way to improve email spam that way
Liz
Liz McGee would love you to read ..Blog Post Checklist for Publishing and Sharing
I am really fed up by these spams and I want to get rid of these spammers. This article is milestone for me.
Maja would love you to read ..News about Fantastic Sams
Oh, yeah! I hate trackback spam! I’m glad I’ve found this article. I’ll definitely try this solution on my projects.
Cristian Stan would love you to read ..Bread Machine Reviews
Twitter: cheaperaccounts
September 26, 2012 at 4:48 pm
Trackbacks are such a pain and I see this being abused all of the time and it really does detract from the information contained within the blog post and the comments added to the blog. I’m really pleased to see that this is being combated and hopefully the plugin will put an end to the abuse.
I agree with you totally, it does irritate and sometimes I can even have no wish to read something further
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Twitter: JGDCD
September 26, 2012 at 10:44 am
This is a great tool for bloggers. I will definitely try it! Thanks for the great information, as always!
Jennifer G would love you to read ..Supreme Court Debates Whether to Require Warrants Before DUI Blood Tests
So far I still use askimet to block the spam. This plugin effective to blog hundreds of spammer to my blog
Julidarma would love you to read ..Natural Herb For Vaginal Tightening
I think that we should start with the lock “IP”. Then remove to add a reference. Thanks for the good article.
Twitter: indblog
September 19, 2012 at 6:41 am
I run GASP alongside Akismet and now I only get a couple of spam comments a week and they are by humans, I always recommend this to new bloggers.
Pleased to see you guys are not resting on your laurels and are still improving the plugin all the time.
Dean Saliba would love you to read ..Did Blog Distributor Finally Pay Me?
Thanks a lot, we’re getting spam on all our sites, and the amount is steadily increasing which is very annoying. I’ll be happy to try GASP, always interested in new tools to prevent spammers from annoying me.
Twitter: Lindenbrooke
September 18, 2012 at 4:21 pm
This is excellent, we hate spam. I wish there was a way to filter our e-mails better that come to our printer ink and toner store. We have tried to tighten the spam filter some, but then we were missing legit e-mails.
We spend so much time deciphering if it is real or fake, people trying to set up business accounts with us. Last week we had one, I thought it was a little fishy, so I proceeded with the guy. He went as far as filling out a credit app and all, all the while though I was talking to the “REAL” guy that he stole his information from, it was reported to the proper authority. But might point I guess, is all the time i wasted on this.
Twitter: GrowMap
September 18, 2012 at 6:36 pm
Hi Ted,
The time is why I draw such a hard line against spammers. They are STEALING our most precious resource – our time – and they don’t care. At least you were able to hold that thief accountable. That is harder to do with spammers using spoofed IPs and throw-away email address.
One of the major reasons we have so many problems is that people are far too tolerant of unethical practices. If more would ostracize those who do evil and refuse to do business with them there would be less upside to behaving badly.
As long as people tolerate dishonesty and greed – and even revere it – the moral decline will continue and things will get worse than most can even imagine.
Twitter: Lindenbrooke
September 19, 2012 at 7:10 am
Yes, the time is what really bothers me, because there were a lot of people who were involved.
The unfortunate thing is, there IP address was in Canada, which is out of our authority. But the only way they will start cracking down is if we keep putting in complaints, yes it took some extra time but we most take a stand against these criminals. You are right it is only going to get worse, as I said to my co-worker; the problem is, some people wouldn’t know any different and would have proceeded with the order only to be left with no payment.
So I say to all my fellow online and offline entrepreneurs, take caution and always take that extra step in verifying if it seems fishy. In my case it was a University that had there information stolen, so i called them to confirm.
I’ve tested out a few plug-ins for wordpress to keep the spam comments out. So far, I end up blocking the IP anyway. I’ll give GASP a shot. Thanks.
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This one is new to me and I look for it in Google. Thanks for featuring this one. I give me an idea and right decision to make, if I going installed it
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Twitter: antonrsa
September 17, 2012 at 5:11 am
Yes – Spam of all kind needs to be dealt with the proper way. Either delete, or even better; Block the IP…. Great post. Thanks for sharing.
Twitter: career_journey
September 17, 2012 at 5:00 am
Just updated the setting on cluv. I wonder how many ours of productivity these guys are costing companies.
Nik would love you to read ..Nursing Interview Questions
Awesome tip Gail. I needed to check the box to prevent the Digi Auto Links trackbacks and I’m glad I saw this post as a reminder. It’s incredible the amount of spam and trackbacks that are out there and GASP is the best tool available to protect us from them. Thanks.
Ileane would love you to read ..How To Display Your CommentLuv Affiliate Banner
It is a great tool Gail,and i thought it can make things better and the blog with less spammy links to it.
Aditya would love you to read ..ERP Software Companies
I always get a million phony pings and trackbacks on my blogs. I have yet to find a plugin that keeps them out really.
Twitter: GrowMap
September 17, 2012 at 4:18 pm
Hi Eli,
GASP does send these to spam – or if you prefer – to trash. I just send them to spam because there are usually one or two REAL trackbacks in there.
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