How to block comments from a dynamic IP user

  • zapata

    (@zapata)


    18 years, 2 months ago

    I’m having problems with this visitor of a dynamic IP address. The visitor leaves comments after comments which are troll/hate/driving other visitors away from my blog. How can I stop this visitor from commenting. I do not wish to block the visitor from reading my blog, but commenting – I want for this visitor to be moderated.

    The visitors IP address is somewhat like this:
    68.237.xx.xx

    In my email it also shows as
    pool-68-237-xx-xx.ny325.east.verizon.net

    So I went into Options – Discussions and in the Comment Moderation Textfield I put this
    Line 1: pool-68-237
    Line 2: ny325.east.verizon.net

    Doesn’t work….Any ideas on how I can block anything from publishing comments if the IP or IP details have anything in line 1 and/or Line 2?

    If I put the complete IP Address in Moderation or BlackList text box, it works great, but tomorrow the spammer will have a new IP and will be able to comment in again.

    I don’t wish to block the visitor from visiting my blog, just want to block the visitor’s comments.

    Any Help will be highly appreciated. PLEASE HELP!!!!!

Viewing 6 replies - 1 through 6 (of 6 total)
  • fruitfly

    (@fruitfly)

    18 years, 2 months ago

    Have you tried adding the IP address to the moderation with wildcards? I can’t actually find any documentation as to whether or not that will work, but it’s worth a shot. So you’d put in: 68.237.*.*

    Other than that, does the person use the same email address or name on his/her comments? If so, you can add those to the moderation.

    If you want to keep this person from accessing wp-comments-post (thus keeping them from placing a comment at all), you can use .htaccess to do it.

    Add this to your .htaccess in your main WP directory (where the wp-comments-post.php file is):

    <Files wp-comments-post.php>
    order allow,deny
    deny from 68.237.*.*
    allow from all
    </Files>

    When he/she tries to post a comment, a 403 error page will appear instead. Keep in mind, this will block *any* comments from that IP block, so if there are others who use the same ISP, they may be blocked as well.

    But make sure you have a 403 error page – you can read about that at the section Using a Custom 403 in the Combatting Comment Spam/Denying Access codex entry.

    Thread Starter zapata

    (@zapata)

    18 years, 2 months ago

    Thank you FF, I will add the wild cards suggested by you right away. Will let u know if it works. THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!

    Thread Starter zapata

    (@zapata)

    18 years, 1 month ago

    Adding wild cards like 68.237.*.* is not working. I even tried %68.237% and %ny325.east.verizon.net% – no effect comments get posted by this stupid person.

    For last two weeks comments from this person have got very personal and acidic. it hurts when you get 20 comments encouraging you and the 21st comment is full of hatred. makes me wanna give up blogging for good.

    Isn’t there a way to send comments to moderation by entering a range of IPs or something like that.

    Would appreciate any comments.

    Chris_K

    (@handysolo)

    18 years, 1 month ago

    So use the .htaccess method fruitfly mentioned a few weeks ago.

    fruitfly

    (@fruitfly)

    18 years, 1 month ago

    If it were me, I would take the step of blocking the whole range of IPs from accessing wp-comments-post.php at all (instructions in my earlier reply). Yes, you might lose a few other people, but if he’s that annoying, it might be worth it.

    If this person already has your email address, then have your email address on the custom 403 page so that other folks can email you their comments.

    If he doesn’t already have that, then maybe set up a Yahoo address just for that, then block his email from your account.

    Depending on how awful the comments were, you could also report him to his ISP for harassment, though honestly, usually not much comes from that.

    Thread Starter zapata

    (@zapata)

    18 years, 1 month ago

    Thanks guys. As a user I would not like to “block” a whole range of IPs from using the comments section. I would rather like to see all those in that range – have their comments going to moderation.

    WP Tech – if there is any place else where I can file this comment as a “WP User would like to have a tool in your future releases” suggestion, please let me know.

Viewing 6 replies - 1 through 6 (of 6 total)
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