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Are there plugins to block certain users? (12 posts)

  1. kitsunesniper
    Member
    Posted 4 years ago #

    Sorry for asking... but I keep getting referrals from unwanted sites and such. Years ago, I made several game files for a fighting game engine. After a bunch of idiots tried my patience, I destroyed all evidence of such files. All my backups, all the copies I had, work files... everything. And I asked people to stop bugging me about it.

    Unfortunately, there's still people who don't care about that and keep linking to my site.

    I'm looking for a plugin that can:
    A) Block access from certain referrals and
    B) Plant a cookie or something that'll make the site give them a 403 error if the cookie is found.

    I don't know if such a thing exists. I'm hoping it does! I'm terribly stupid at coding, so.

    Thanks.

    (P.S. - I have an HTAccess file that blocks them from accessing the site, but sometimes it doesn't work for some reason, so I'm looking for something more permanent.)

  2. VeraBass
    Member
    Posted 4 years ago #

    Have you tried the Akismet section for it? (right at the bottom of the akismet admin page)

  3. kitsunesniper
    Member
    Posted 4 years ago #

    All I see is a textbox for my API key (already entered) and a box to discard spam comments after a month. Am I missing something?

  4. VeraBass
    Member
    Posted 4 years ago #

    You're looking at Akismet configuration under plugins (that's where you enter the key).

    Manage Comments -> Akismet is where you see the spam that Akismet catches and holds for you to look at. If there isn't any (ie you've deleted it) you just see a friendly message there.

    Next time you have spam there, before you delete it, scroll down to the bottom of the page and you should see the other options.

    Meanwhile you can block any ip address(es) in your .htaccess file.

    At the bottom of the file, add:

    deny from 64.158.138.28

    (that's a repeated and reported spam IP)

    You can enter as many of these as you need to, each on a new line.

  5. whooami
    Member
    Posted 4 years ago #

    askimet is an all around "spam" plugin and may or may not accomplish what you want.

    If you are really looking to block certain referers the most permanent solution is to use your .htaccess, assuming you have mod_rewrite available..

    Here is a good example:

    RewriteCond %{HTTP_REFERER} ^(.*)badsite(.*)$ [NC,OR]
    RewriteRule ^.* - [F]

    will block ANY referer that comes from a url that contains the string "badsite" (without the quotes)

    IP blocks work, if done correctly, but people that suugest that ought to include the caveat that they only work until the person you want to ban changes their IP. In cases like that you can block ranges, but it can be tricky path since you run the risk of banning legit passerbys.

    Also, realize too, that lots of people block cookies, and more people than you might realize clean their cookies. I do, for instance on EVERY browser shutdown. Planting a cookie is not a permanent solution by any means.

    I can help with your problem, if you need more .htaccess hints. Feel free to contact me privately at whoo->village-idiot.org (substitute @ for that arrow).

    Bear in mind though, if you do, that my mom is in the hospital so I have limited time and might not get back to you immediately. I will try to reply within 24 hours though.

  6. kitsunesniper
    Member
    Posted 4 years ago #

    I appreciate the help. I already have a bunch of blocked sites in my htaccess file, though - the problem is, every so often they still get through.

    I guess I have no choice but to block the entire country of Brazil.

    Thanks.

  7. whooami
    Member
    Posted 4 years ago #

    They dont get through if you use the proper regex's -- thats why I offered my help. If they are, then you are not.

    Good luck.

  8. kitsunesniper
    Member
    Posted 4 years ago #

    Oh I hadn't seen your email address... I'll send one to you now. Thank you. :)

  9. whooami
    Member
    Posted 4 years ago #

    I replied to your e-mail, I see you added a rule using the syntax above.. it worked just fine blocking me, I saw the hotlinked ( :<) flash just fine.

  10. kitsunesniper
    Member
    Posted 4 years ago #

    Sorry about that. Thanks for your reply, it helped out quite a bit.

    I'm replacing that link with a custom 403 error in hopes people will leave me alone. :)

  11. whooami
    Member
    Posted 4 years ago #

    no no, thats fine that I saw the flash -- I can spoof my referer so I tried the domain you mentioned in the e-mail. Thats a good thing that you are successfully blocking the referers you want to block, my unhappy smilie was because youre hotlinking, but thats another topic title (the evils of hotlinking).

  12. RoostersRail
    Member
    Posted 4 years ago #

    You might want to give this a go as well: I am about to install it and see how we get on. It is a set and forget plugin. Not sure how often it is updated though or if it needs to be that often.

    WordPress 2.0 / 1.5.x Plugin: Referrer Bouncer

    http://blog.taragana.com/index.php/archive/word-press-1-5-plugin-referer-bouncer/

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