Credit: https://www.todhost.com/blog/website-security/244-best-rated-anti-spam-plugins-for-wordpress-websites

WordPress is the most popular Content Management System (CMS) used on the internet today. So also is the attack level against the WordPress software. One study by Sukuri clearly put WordPress to be the most attacked CMS. The implication is that if you have a WordPress website, you have to do your best to follow recommended steps to secure it from attacks

One of the common vulnerabilities of WordPress is that it can be exploited and used for spamming. This problem is not limited to WordPress users alone. If you have a website, chances are you will be faced with spam. It's one of the truths about online activity. Not only are these fake messages annoying, but spam can also be time consuming to get rid of. By implementing these tools, you can eliminate these pieces of virtual junk mail. Here are 10 top-rated WordPress anti spam plugins effective in removing these problems from your site.

1. Akismet

One of the most utilized spam protection systems on WordPress, Akismet offers superb features. Any time a comment appears on your site, Akismet will quickly analyze it for content before processing the message. You need an Akismet API key from the developer's website to operate this plugin. This service is free for personal websites, but paid subscriptions are available for business and commercial platforms.

2. Spam Protection by CleanTalk

CleanTalk develops a popular platform for eliminating spam. What makes this plugin special is the coverage it provides. Comments, registrations, contact emails, subscriptions and more are subject to scanning to verify the content. As a result, a large portion of your website is free of being a target by bots or spammers.

3. Anti-spam

Anti-spam has a high degree of rating among the 100,000+ installers of the plugin. It boasts no captcha formats or moderation queues. Although it's not as versatile as Spam Protection, it is an effective tool for keeping the comment section clean. It has no advanced settings to adjust and does its job automatically and without input from yourself.

4. WP-SpamShield Anti-Spam

SpamShield is another plugin that does not use the traditional captcha methods for verifying human comments. It's an all-in-one system that supports more than just the comment area of the website. For example, SpamShield works with many other community plugins. BuddyPress, Gravity Forms, Jetpack and more can all be free and clear of random spammy comments.

5. SI CAPTCHA Anti-Spam

For those who don't mind the captcha method, SI CAPTCHA Anti-Spam may be a good choice to consider. The plugin has been installed more than 300,000 times and rates well with users. It can protect areas such as comments, logins or even the lost password page. SI has a few customization options available including which areas to protect.

6. Antispam Bee

The Antispam Bee offers integration as well as protection for your website. For instance, the system can allow comments from specific Gravatar profiles. The plugin will match data against a public database for the most relevant and current information available. It can also prevent trackbacks and pingbacks through spam detection.

7. BulletProof Security

For those who like the idea of a general security measure, BulletProof Security may be ideal. This plugin protects a wide range of parts on the website ranging from spammy comments to database backups. From the WordPress dashboard, you'll have access to a variety of security information. However, you'll need to have the Pro account in order to take advantage of the JTC Anti-Spam function.

8. Captcha by BestWebSoft

BestWebSoft brings yet another captcha platform to protect the website. This plugin ranks high with site owners as it is an incredibly easy system to use. It protects the website from login, registration and comment spam while using white-listed IP addresses for auto acceptance. It has customization available so you can switch from letters, numbers or simple math to verify human visitors. The pro version even protects WooCommerce from spam for those who have online stores.

9. WPBruiser

Formerly known as GoodBye Captcha, WPBruiser offers a variety of protection without captcha images. This plugin prevents access to comments, logins and registrations from spammy humans and bots. It also includes the ability to block certain IP addresses. For those using CloudFlare and similar systems, WPBruiser properly detects the client IP address without accidentally blocking it.

10. Shield WordPress Security

For those who don't want to worry about restrictions from pro accounts, Shield WordPress Security delivers everything you need without a subscription. This keeps your site free of malicious URLs, spambot comments, brute force attacks and even hides the admin and login pages. While you can use the plugin out of the box, you can join an exclusive membership with more features.

WordPress anti spam plugins are a necessity if you want to save time sifting through the junk messages that can flood the comment section of your posts. Install one of these above and breath a sigh of relief as automated systems screen messages for links in inappropriate statements. It will improve the experience of legitimate visitors while saving you time from having to sift through the messages yourself. Read about other ways to reduce spam comments in WordPress.

How often does your site get hit with spammy comments? How often do you have to verify links posted by those who frequent your website?

In all, Akismet is the best!

I so much love this plug-in.