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Free Plugin by Peter v3.2.4

Peter’s Custom Anti-Spam

Stop a lot of spambots from polluting your site by making visitors identify a custom word displayed as an image before commenting.

Peter’s Custom Anti-Spam

The facts

Rating
4★ from 1
Active installs
200+
Price
Free
Last updated
17 Dec 2024
Added
Jul 2007
Requires WP
3.2
Tested up to
WP 6.3.10
Downloads
64,341

Our analysis

AI-assisted

Peter’s Custom Anti-Spam is a WordPress plugin designed to reduce spam comments by requiring visitors to identify a random word displayed as an image before commenting or registering. You can customise the pool of words and toggle whether registered users need to enter the word. The plugin also offers features like auto-generated audio for visually impaired users and is compatible with caching plugins.

This plugin is suitable for WordPress users looking for a straightforward method to combat spam without relying on cookies or JavaScript. It is particularly useful for those who want a simple, customisable solution to manage comments and registrations on their site.

Best for: This plugin suits WordPress site owners who want to reduce spam comments effectively.

What it does well

  • Customisable pool of words for spam identification
  • No cookies or JavaScript required
  • Auto-generated audio for accessibility
  • Compatible with caching plugins
  • Easy to translate

Where it falls short

  • No obscuring techniques, making it easy for bots to read
  • Increased usage may attract more spam targeting

Verdict

Peter’s Custom Anti-Spam provides a straightforward approach to managing spam comments, but its effectiveness may diminish as more users adopt it.

From the developer

Peter's own description of Peter’s Custom Anti-Spam, lightly tidied.

Stop a lot of spambots from polluting your site by making visitors identify a random word displayed as an image before commenting and optionally before registering. You can customize the pool of words to display.

Features

  • Toggle whether registered users need to enter the word

  • Random font display

  • No cookies required

  • No JavaScript required

  • Auto-generated audio for visually impaired users

  • Easy-to-read

  • No mapping of words from the code — words are used once or removed after 24 hours

  • Reminder of what was entered if you get the word wrong

  • Selective blocking of trackbacks, pingbacks

  • Easy to translate

  • Compatible with caching plugins

Negatives

  • Purposely no obscuring techniques so that the anti-spam word is easy to read

  • The more people who use this plugin, the more motivation for spambots to target it

Requirements

  • GD Library and FreeType Library (There’s a diagnostic page to tell you whether you have them installed. If needed, just ask your web host to install them!)

  • WordPress 3.2 or higher

Translations

  • ru_RU translation by koc
  • sk_SK translation by Patrik Žec (PATWIST) of http://patwist.com

Read the full description on the official page →

Tagged as

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