IP blocking

September 27, 2007

If you or your Webmaster has access to an IP Deny Manager in your server administration tool (mine is CPanel), or know how to work with an .htaccess file, you can block IP addresses from visiting your site. Because I noticed today that I had a new spam commenter who struck every time I wrote a new post, I looked at the IP address –69.41.230.8, the same for all of today’s spams– and blocked that in my server admin control panel. Since this is a new post, I’ll be able to tell quite soon if his spam is stopped via server-level IP blocking, or if he switches IPs. [Later: It worked. For now.]

Be aware that this approach has risks, and limited utility. On the first count, some services use proxy servers for a bunch of users, and both innocent ones and spamming ones will be coming from the same IP address or range of addresses, so you might inadvertently block someone you do not intend to. You can look up an IP address to see where the spammer is coming from, and whether or not it is a service or another kind of site. When WordPress sends a notification email about a comment, it also includes a link to the IP lookup tool WhoIs with the IP address of the comment already loaded so you can check right away to see what IP the comment is coming from. As for limited utility, spammers will just launch their spam from a different IP address later.

When I employ IP blocking, I do it just long enough to get the spammer off my back for a day or so, and (I hope) to drop me from their list of domains to attack. In truth, these vilest of creatures can change IPs faster than you can say “IP blocking,” so this solution is not a lasting one. The above-named offender IP address is from a service, but I am going to block them for a day or so anyway. Sometimes I just need to feel that I am doing something, as long as it only takes a few minutes of my precious time, to slow down these odious creatures. Spammers are the lowest of the low.

Posted by Lynn | Filed Under Web Tips |  

Comments

One Response to “IP blocking”

  1. Geoff on January 30th, 2008 10:30 am

    I had problems with 69.41.230.8 as well. Since I installedthe WP Ban plugin they have tried accessing my site over 100 times :-)

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