Simple Guides to Stop Hacks, Bots, and Spam on WordPress (Beginner Friendly)

Source: Dev.to

Introduction

If you run a WordPress site, you’ve probably seen at least one of these:

• Strange login attempts at all hours
• Spam comments with random links
• “User registration” spam (even if you didn’t ask for it)
• Sudden traffic spikes that don’t look like real visitors

The important thing to understand is that most attacks are not personal. They are automated bots trying the same “easy doors” on thousands of sites per hour. Your goal is to stop looking like an easy target without becoming a security expert.

Why Bots Hit Your Site

Bots don’t think like humans. They repeatedly scan for predictable locations:

• Common login addresses
• Common admin addresses
• Common WordPress paths that reveal what you run
• Common form targets, especially comments

Because the same patterns are used across the web, many sites get hit even when the owner does nothing wrong.

Layered Protection (Beginner‑Friendly)

Instead of installing dozens of plugins, use a few simple controls that work together. A “layered” approach means each layer blocks a different type of attack.

1. Tighten WordPress’s Built‑in Discussion Settings

These settings are free and surprisingly effective when configured correctly.

Recommended Settings

1. Hold comments with too many links – Moderate comments that contain more than a set number of links.
2. Use the moderation and block lists – Add known spammy words or IPs to reduce unwanted comments.
3. Turn on moderation for first‑time commenters – Prevent new commenters from publishing spam instantly.

If you’re not sure where these options are, see the official WordPress documentation for the Discussion Settings screen.

2. Add an Anti‑Spam Plugin

WordPress settings help, but an anti‑spam plugin provides a stronger filter.

Common Choices

• Akismet – Automatically checks comments and filters spam. Requires an API key; paid plans apply for commercial use.
  Akismet plugin page
• Antispam Bee – Blocks spam comments and trackbacks without captchas and without sending personal data to third parties.
  Antispam Bee plugin page

Practical tip: If you already receive heavy comment spam, start with one of these plugins. You can always switch later, but doing nothing costs you time every week.

3. Enable Brute‑Force Protection

Brute‑force attacks try many password attempts until something works. A good security tool limits attempts and blocks abusive behavior.

• Wordfence – Provides login‑rate limiting and other brute‑force protections.
  Wordfence plugin page

Benefits

1. Reduces the chance of a successful login attack.
2. Lowers server load from constant bot traffic.

If your site feels slow during attack bursts, enabling brute‑force controls often helps immediately.

Hide the Targets Bots Look For

Many anti‑spam and security setups react after bots arrive. A proactive approach is to remove or hide the obvious targets bots are programmed to hit.

WP Ghost for Path Hiding

WP Ghost focuses on changing and hiding common WordPress paths that bots typically target, including the comments URL.

Why this helps:
Bots are like someone trying the same 10 doors in every building. If your doors aren’t where they expect, many automated scripts fail and move on.

WP Ghost Features for Comments

• Activate Safe Mode or Ghost Mode
• Change the comments path
• Hide the comments path
• Enable brute‑force protection on the comments form

Simple WP Ghost Setup Flow

1. Install and activate WP Ghost
2. Enable the mode designed for path protection (Safe Mode or Ghost Mode, depending on your setup)
3. Change the comments path – Reduces automated comment spam that targets the default posting address.
4. Hide the comments path – Prevents bots from seeing an obvious target on common WordPress URLs.
5. Turn on brute‑force protection for the comments form – Blocks repeated attempts and reduces bot floods.
6. Test as a normal visitor – Open a post, submit a test comment, and confirm real visitors can comment while spam attempts are blocked or challenged.

Final Thoughts

By tightening WordPress’s native discussion settings, adding a reliable anti‑spam plugin, enabling brute‑force protection, and optionally hiding common paths with a tool like WP Ghost, you can keep most automated attacks at bay without needing deep security expertise. This layered approach lets you focus on growing your website—and making money—while staying out of spammers’ reach.