How to Build a Spam-Proof Website

If you have a blog or other website, you are subject to spam. The spam can take place in different forms. For example, if your email address is listed on your contact page (or elsewhere), once a spambot finds it, you will soon find yourself subject to junk emails. If you have a guest book or comment area, you also have a good chance of being hit by comment spam, which is typically a website link for questionable products. While there is no foolproof way to stop spam, there are steps you can take to protect your site.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Contact form
• HTML fode
• Add-ins
• Plug-ins
• Portable email address

1. Use a contact form rather than displaying your email address. By not listing your email address you will stop certain types of spam collection.

2. Encrypt and cloak any email address that appears in HTML code. Certain spambots search for HTML code on sites, and they can find your email within that coding. This means that even if your contact form forwards the message to your email address, a bot might be able to track it down in the HTML coding. By cloaking your HTML code with encryption software, your address will become invisible to spambots. Check the "Resource" section of this article for assistance cloaking your email.

3. Use a "CAPTCHA" program, which requires users to retype distorted text to prove they are not bots. These programs protect your site from comment or form spam and help protect your email address.

4. Forward emails from your site to a portable email address such as Hotmail or Gmail. You will be able to use the program's spam blocker and can change it if necessary.

5. Use a plug-in that fights email and blog spam. Check the "Resource" section of this article for a download site.

Resources

• Free Script to Cloak Your Email
• CAPTCHA Programs
• Spam Blocking Plug In