{"id":9019,"date":"2025-03-01T11:19:07","date_gmt":"2025-03-01T11:19:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/articles\/?p=9019"},"modified":"2026-02-12T10:32:19","modified_gmt":"2026-02-12T10:32:19","slug":"stop-wordpress-contact-form-spam","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/articles\/stop-wordpress-contact-form-spam\/","title":{"rendered":"How To Stop WordPress Contact Form Spam: 8 Proven Tips"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"bsf_rt_marker\"><\/div>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/wordpress-contact-form-spam-1.webp\" alt=\"Header Text - 8 Proven Tips to Prevent WordPress Contact Form Spam\" title=\"Hosted\u00ae Tutorial - How to Prevent WordPress Contact Form Spam: 8 Proven Tips\" class=\"wp-image-9029\" width=\"5000\" height=\"1950\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Have you ever received strange or unwanted messages through your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/hosting\/wordpress\" alt=\"Link to Hosted.com Website - WordPress Hosting\" title=\"Hosted.com - WordPress Hosting\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">WordPress<\/a> contact form? These spam messages can be annoying, time-consuming, and even harmful. This spam happens when bots or spammers flood your forms with fake messages, links, or advertisements. It can slow down your website, fill your inbox with useless emails, and pose <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/blog\/risks-and-realities-of-unsecure-websites\/\" alt=\"Link to Hosted.com Blogs - Risks And Realities Of Unsecure Websites\" title=\"Hosted.com - Risks And Realities Of Unsecure Websites\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">security risks<\/a>. If left unchecked, it can affect your site\u2019s performance and make it harder for real visitors to contact you. This is why preventing WordPress contact form spam is important \u2013 it <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/blog\/taking-web-hosting-security-to-the-next-level\/\" alt=\"Link to Hosted.com Blogs - Hosted.com - Taking Web Hosting Security To The Next Level\" title=\"Hosted.com - Hosted.com - Taking Web Hosting Security To The Next Level\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">keeps your site secure<\/a>, improves user experience, and ensures your contact form works properly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In this tutorial, we show you how to use the WPForms plugin to explore the best ways to stop spam before it reaches you. This plugin offers built-in spam protection, including reCAPTCHA, anti-spam protection, and blocklists, making it easy to keep your forms safe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading h4\" id=\"key-takeaways\">KEY TAKEAWAYS<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Spam bots can flood your WordPress contact forms with fake messages, making it harder to find real inquiries.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>WPForms has built-in spam protection tools to block bots automatically.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Adding Google reCAPTCHA or hCaptcha helps confirm that only real people can submit your form.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Use Akismet or CleanTalk to filter out spam messages before they reach your inbox.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Disabling copy-paste and autofill makes it harder for WordPress contact form spam bots to submit fake entries.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Set a minimum time requirement to stop bots from submitting forms instantly.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Block certain countries or IP addresses to prevent spam from known sources.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Filter email submissions with allowlists and denylists to ensure only trusted users can send messages.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A profanity filter keeps messages clean and professional.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Install anti-spam plugins to add extra protection against new spam techniques.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>AI-powered spam detection tools help catch spam that traditional filters might miss.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Use multiple spam prevention methods to get the best protection while keeping the form easy for real users.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-rank-math-toc-block\" id=\"rank-math-toc\"><h3 class=\"h4\">TABLE OF CONTENTS<\/h3><nav><ul><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#key-takeaways\">KEY TAKEAWAYS<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#common-types-of-word-press-contact-form-spam\">Common Types of WordPress Contact Form Spam<\/a><ul><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#spam-bots\">Spam Bots\u00a0<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#manual-spam\">Manual Spam<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#link-spam\">Link Spam\u00a0<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#8-proven-tips-to-stop-contact-spam-in-word-press\">Tips to Stop WordPress Contact Form Spam<\/a><ul><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#enable-wp-forms-anti-spam-protection-built-in-feature\">Enable WPForms Anti-Spam Protection (Built-in Feature)\u00a0<\/a><ul><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#anti-spam-token-system\">Anti-Spam Token System<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#java-script-based-validation\">JavaScript-Based Validation<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#honeypot-protection-hidden-fields-for-bots\">Honeypot Protection (Hidden Fields for Bots)<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#integrate-akismet-anti-spam-protection\">Integrate Akismet Anti-Spam Protection<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#implement-captcha-solutions\">Implement CAPTCHA Solutions\u00a0<\/a><ul><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#google-re-captcha\">Google reCAPTCHA\u00a0<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#h-captcha\">hCaptcha\u00a0<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#cloudflare-turnstile\">Cloudflare Turnstile\u00a0<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#use-custom-captcha-fields\">Use Custom CAPTCHA Fields\u00a0<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#restrict-submissions-by-country\">Restrict Submissions by Country\u00a0<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#block-spam-ip-addresses\">Block Spam IP Addresses\u00a0<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#configure-spam-filters\">Configure Spam Filters<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#block-copy-paste-submissions-disable-autofill\">Block Copy-Paste Submissions (Disable Autofill)\u00a0<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#use-ai-for-word-press-contact-form-spam-detection\">Use AI for WordPress Contact Form Spam Detection\u00a0<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#faqs\">FAQS<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#other-tutorials-of-interest\">Other Tutorials of Interest<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading h3\" id=\"common-types-of-word-press-contact-form-spam\">Common Types of WordPress Contact Form Spam<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Spam can appear in different forms, so understanding them helps you stop it before it becomes problematic. Let\u2019s look at the most common types of contact form spam that affect WordPress websites. &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading h4\" id=\"spam-bots\">Spam Bots&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Spam bots are small programs designed to fill out and submit forms automatically. They crawl the internet, looking for contact forms to target. Once they find one, they send fake messages, often containing random text, links, or advertisements.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These bots work fast, submitting spam to hundreds or thousands of websites within minutes. Because they are automated, they don\u2019t need a human to type the messages, making them one of the largest spam sources. WPForms has built-in tools such as <strong>modern anti-spam protection<\/strong> and <strong>reCAPTCHA <\/strong>that can block these bots before they submit anything.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading h4\" id=\"manual-spam\">Manual Spam<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Not all spam comes from bots. Some spammers manually fill out forms to send fake messages. These messages often promote products, services, or scams. Some try to trick you so that you click on a false link or provide sensitive information.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Because real people submit these messages, they can sometimes bypass basic spam filters. This is why extra security measures, such as blocking spam keywords and requiring email confirmation, can help reduce manual spam.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading h4\" id=\"link-spam\">Link Spam&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Link spam happens when spammers add harmful or promotional links in form submissions. These links can lead to scam websites, phishing pages, or malware-infected sites. Some spammers also try to use your contact form to post backlinks, hoping it will boost their site\u2019s search rankings.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Clicking on these links can be dangerous, as they can steal your data or install harmful software on your device. To stop this type of spam, set up word filters in WPForms to block certain keywords or URLs. You can also restrict the number of links users can submit in a form.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Once you understand these types of contact form spam, you can take the right steps to protect your WordPress site. In the coming sections, we explore the best ways to block spam and secure your forms using WPForms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading h3\" id=\"8-proven-tips-to-stop-contact-spam-in-word-press\">Tips to Stop WordPress Contact Form Spam<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In this section, we show you how to stop spam on WordPress contact forms using the following methods:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"1\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Enable WPForms Anti-Spam Protection<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Integrate Akismet Anti-Spam Protection<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Implement CAPTCHA Solutions<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Restrict Submissions by Country<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Block Spam IP Addresses<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Configure Spam Filters<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Block Copy-Paste Submissions<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Use AI for WordPress Contact Form Spam Detection.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading h4\" id=\"enable-wp-forms-anti-spam-protection-built-in-feature\">Enable WPForms Anti-Spam Protection (Built-in Feature)&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Spam bots always search for ways to submit fake messages through your contact forms. To stop them, WPForms has a built-in anti-spam protection feature that blocks spam before it reaches you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This hidden security feature works in the background and adds a special code to each form submission. When someone fills out your form, WPForms checks this code to ensure the request comes from a real visitor, not a bot. How does it do this?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">WPForms does this using a combination of <strong>anti-spam tokens<\/strong>, <strong>honeypots<\/strong>, and <strong>JavaScript validation<\/strong>. Here&#8217;s how it works when you enable WPForms anti-spam protection:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"anti-spam-token-system\"><strong><em>Anti-Spam Token System<\/em><\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">WPForms generates a unique token for each user when they load a form. This token is invisible and works in the background. When someone submits your form, WPForms checks whether the token is valid. If it\u2019s missing, expired, or incorrect, the submission is likely from a bot and is rejected. Since bots usually bypass the form and try to submit data directly, they don\u2019t generate a valid token, which helps detection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"java-script-based-validation\"><strong><em>JavaScript-Based Validation<\/em><\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The anti-spam feature requires JavaScript to work correctly. Real users usually have JavaScript enabled, while many bots don\u2019t process JavaScript properly. If it\u2019s disabled or missing, WPForms sees this as a red flag and may block the submission. This helps filter basic WordPress contact form spam bots that don\u2019t interact with JavaScript elements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"honeypot-protection-hidden-fields-for-bots\"><strong><em>Honeypot Protection (Hidden Fields for Bots)<\/em><\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">WPForms also includes a honeypot field, which is invisible to human users but visible to bots. If a bot fills out this hidden field, WPForms automatically marks the submission as spam. Since real users can\u2019t see or fill in the honeypot field, they are not affected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Now that you know how anti-spam protection works, let\u2019s see how to enable this:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Login to your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/articles\/wordpress-admin-dashboard\/\" alt=\"Link to Hosted.com Tutorials - WordPress Admin Dashboard Tips for Accessing and Using WP Admin\" title=\"Hosted.com - WordPress Admin Dashboard Tips for Accessing and Using WP Admin\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">WordPress dashboard<\/a>. Navigate to <strong>WPForms <\/strong>\u2192<strong> All Forms.<\/strong> Locate your form and click <strong>Edit<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image wp-block-image size-full\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/images\/kb\/tutorials\/Tut-OS-106-01.png\" alt=\"Prevent WordPress Contact Form Spam - Edit Your Form\" title=\"How To Prevent WordPress Contact Form Spam 8 Proven Tips - Edit Your Form\" width=\"1053\" height=\"381\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Once the form is opened, go to <strong>Settings <\/strong>\u2192 <strong>Spam Protection and Security<\/strong>. Now, find <strong>Enable modern anti-spam protection<\/strong> and turn it on. This is usually on by default, but it\u2019s a good idea to check. Lastly, click <strong>Save.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image wp-block-image size-full\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/images\/kb\/tutorials\/Tut-OS-106-02.png\" alt=\"Prevent WordPress Contact Form Spam - Enable Anti-spam Protection\" title=\"How To Prevent WordPress Contact Form Spam 8 Proven Tips - Enable Anti-spam Protection\" width=\"1059\" height=\"349\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Once enabled, WPForms will automatically check every form submission for spam and block fake entries. Since this is a built-in feature, it works without slowing down your site or affecting real users.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading h4\" id=\"integrate-akismet-anti-spam-protection\">Integrate Akismet Anti-Spam Protection<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/akismet.com\/\" alt=\"Link to Akismet - Spam Protection for Websites\" title=\"Akismet - Spam Protection for Websites\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Akismet<\/a> is an advanced anti-spam service. It\u2019s great for preventing spam comments but also works with contact forms when integrated with WPForms. It works by analyzing form submissions and comparing them against a massive spam database. It helps stop spam bots, fake messages, and suspicious submissions, reducing the time you spend deleting spam manually.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To use Akismet for blocking WordPress contact form spam, follow these steps:&nbsp; First, install and activate the <strong>Akismet Anti-Spam plugin<\/strong> and copy your <strong>API key<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image wp-block-image size-full\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/images\/kb\/tutorials\/Tut-OS-106-03.png\" alt=\"Prevent WordPress Contact Form Spam - Get Akismet Plugin\" title=\"How To Prevent WordPress Contact Form Spam 8 Proven Tips - Get Akismet Plugin\" width=\"431\" height=\"251\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Once you have installed and set up the <strong>Akismet plugin<\/strong>, the next step is to integrate it with your forms. To get started, create a new form or edit an existing form in <strong>WPForms<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image wp-block-image size-full\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/images\/kb\/tutorials\/Tut-OS-106-04.png\" alt=\"Prevent WordPress Contact Form Spam - Create or Edit WPForm\" title=\"How To Prevent WordPress Contact Form Spam 8 Proven Tips - Create or Edit WPForm\" width=\"1052\" height=\"372\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Once the form builder is open, go to <strong>Settings <\/strong>\u2192<strong> Spam Protection and Security<\/strong>. In the right-hand panel, locate <strong>Enable Akismet anti-spam protection<\/strong> and toggle it <strong>on<\/strong>. This feature ensures that WordPress contact form spam submissions are automatically detected and managed.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image wp-block-image size-full\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/images\/kb\/tutorials\/Tut-OS-106-05.png\" alt=\"Prevent WordPress Contact Form Spam - Enable Akismet Anti-spam Protection\" title=\"How To Prevent WordPress Contact Form Spam 8 Proven Tips - Enable Akismet Anti-spam Protection\" width=\"502\" height=\"219\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">WPForms also allows you to manage spam. If you enable <strong>Store spam entries in the database<\/strong>, Akismet will collect spam submissions rather than blocking them immediately. This lets you review suspected spam messages later. However, if you disable the spam storage option, Akismet will automatically block spam submissions, preventing them from reaching your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/articles\/wordpress-database-optimization-techniques\/\" alt=\"Link to Hosted.com Articles - The Ultimate Guide to WordPress Database Optimization Techniques\" title=\"Hosted.com - The Ultimate Guide to WordPress Database Optimization Techniques\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">WordPress database<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image wp-block-image size-full\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/images\/kb\/tutorials\/Tut-OS-106-06.png\" alt=\"Prevent WordPress Contact Form Spam - Enable or Disable Option to Store Spam in Database\" title=\"How To Prevent WordPress Contact Form Spam 8 Proven Tips - Enable or Disable Option to Store Spam in Database\" width=\"513\" height=\"231\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To further prevent spam bots, you can enable <strong>minimum time to submit<\/strong> and specify the number of seconds. This setting requires users to spend the specified minimum time on the form before submitting, helping to filter out automated bot submissions.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image wp-block-image size-full\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/images\/kb\/tutorials\/Tut-OS-106-07.png\" alt=\"Prevent WordPress Contact Form Spam - Enable Minimum Time to Submit Form\" title=\"How To Prevent WordPress Contact Form Spam 8 Proven Tips - Enable Minimum Time to Submit Form\" width=\"494\" height=\"268\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Once you have configured the spam protection options, click <strong>Save<\/strong> to apply the changes.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image wp-block-image size-full\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/images\/kb\/tutorials\/Tut-OS-106-08.png\" alt=\"Prevent WordPress Contact Form Spam - Save Changes\" title=\"How To Prevent WordPress Contact Form Spam 8 Proven Tips - Save Changes\" width=\"402\" height=\"53\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Remember, with Akismet enabled, any submission marked as spam by the system will not be saved unless you choose to store spam entries for later review. This ensures that only genuine form submissions reach your inbox.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading h4\" id=\"implement-captcha-solutions\">Implement CAPTCHA Solutions&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Another way to stop WordPress contact form spam is by using CAPTCHA solutions. CAPTCHA stands for Completely Automated Public Turing Test to Tell Computers and Humans Apart. It helps block spam by making users complete a simple test before submitting a form.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Fortunately, WPForms supports multiple CAPTCHA solutions to keep your contact forms secure. Let\u2019s explore 3 popular options:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"1\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Google reCAPTCHA<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>hCaptcha<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cloudflare Turnstile.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"google-re-captcha\"><strong><em>Google reCAPTCHA&nbsp;<\/em><\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Google reCAPTCHA helps websites tell the difference between real users and bots. It comes in 3 types:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"1\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>reCAPTCHA v2 (Checkbox): <\/strong>Users check a box that says, <strong>I&#8217;m not a robot<\/strong>.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Invisible reCAPTCHA: <\/strong>No checkbox; it runs in the background and verifies users automatically.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>reCAPTCHA v3:<\/strong> Works silently without user interaction; it gives a spam score to detect suspicious activity.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here\u2019s how to add Google reCAPTCHA to WPForms:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">First, sign in to your Google account. Next, go to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/u\/1\/recaptcha\/admin\/create\" alt=\"Link to Google - Create a Captcha\" title=\"Google - Create a Captcha\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Google reCAPTCHA Admin Console<\/a> to create a captcha. Type in a name for your <strong>reCAPTCHA<\/strong> (e.g., <strong>My Website reCAPTCHA<\/strong>). Choose <strong>reCAPTCHA type<\/strong>. Then, enter your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/articles\/wordpress-domain\/\" alt=\"Link to Hosted.com Articles - Choosing a WordPress Domain Name and Hosting - How to Choose and Register a Domain\" title=\"Hosted.com - Choosing a WordPress Domain Name and Hosting - How to Choose and Register a Domain\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">website domain name<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image wp-block-image size-full\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/images\/kb\/tutorials\/Tut-OS-106-09.png\" alt=\"Prevent WordPress Contact Form Spam - Register Website with Google reCAPTCHA\" title=\"How To Prevent WordPress Contact Form Spam 8 Proven Tips - Register Website with Google reCAPTCHA\" width=\"607\" height=\"320\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After that, specify the project name for the <strong>Google Cloud Platform<\/strong>. Accept the terms and click <strong>Submit <\/strong>to complete the registration.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image wp-block-image size-full\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/images\/kb\/tutorials\/Tut-OS-106-10.png\" alt=\"Prevent WordPress Contact Form Spam - Complete Your Site Registration with Google reCAPTCHA\" title=\"How To Prevent WordPress Contact Form Spam 8 Proven Tips - Complete Your Site Registration with Google reCAPTCHA\" width=\"770\" height=\"421\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You will then see <strong>Site Key<\/strong> and <strong>Secret Key<\/strong>, which you\u2019ll need to add reCAPTCHA to your WordPress forms. So, keep the tab open or copy these keys in a text file.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image wp-block-image size-full\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/images\/kb\/tutorials\/Tut-OS-106-11.png\" alt=\"Prevent WordPress Contact Form Spam - Site Key and Secret Key\" title=\"How To Prevent WordPress Contact Form Spam 8 Proven Tips - Site Key and Secret Key\" width=\"725\" height=\"227\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Now, go to <strong>WordPress Dashboard <\/strong>\u2192 <strong>WPForms <\/strong>\u2192 <strong>Settings<\/strong>. Click <strong>CAPTCHA<\/strong> and select <strong>Google reCAPTCHA.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image wp-block-image size-full\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/images\/kb\/tutorials\/Tut-OS-106-12.png\" alt=\"Prevent WordPress Contact Form Spam - Select Google reCAPTCHA\" title=\"How To Prevent WordPress Contact Form Spam 8 Proven Tips - Select Google reCAPTCHA\" width=\"1052\" height=\"523\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After that, scroll down a little. Choose your type of CAPTCHA and fill in the <strong>Site Key<\/strong> and <strong>Secret Key<\/strong> you generated earlier. Lastly, click <strong>Save Settings<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image wp-block-image size-full\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/images\/kb\/tutorials\/Tut-OS-106-13.png\" alt=\"Prevent WordPress Contact Form Spam - Provide Site Key and Secret Key\" title=\"How To Prevent WordPress Contact Form Spam 8 Proven Tips - Provide Site Key and Secret Key\" width=\"917\" height=\"509\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Now, you need to enable Google reCAPTCHA in your contact form. To do that, open <strong>WPForms <\/strong>\u2192 <strong>All Forms<\/strong> and open your desired contact form in the editor. Click <strong>Settings <\/strong>\u2192 <strong>Spam Protection and Security<\/strong>. Turn on <strong>Enable Google Checkbox v2 reCAPTCHA <\/strong>(this option will differ based on your CAPTCHA type) and click <strong>Save <\/strong>to apply the changes.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image wp-block-image size-full\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/images\/kb\/tutorials\/Tut-OS-106-14.png\" alt=\"Prevent WordPress Contact Form Spam - Enable Google reCAPTCHA\" title=\"How To Prevent WordPress Contact Form Spam 8 Proven Tips - Enable Google reCAPTCHA\" width=\"1123\" height=\"265\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Now, reCAPTCHA will protect you from WordPress contact form spam bots while allowing real users to submit messages easily.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-captcha\"><strong><em>hCaptcha&nbsp;<\/em><\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">hCaptcha is a privacy-friendly alternative to Google reCAPTCHA. It blocks contact form spam bots while respecting user privacy. Instead of using Google\u2019s tracking system, hCaptcha works independently and is GDPR-compliant, making it a great choice for privacy-conscious users.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here\u2019s how to set up hCaptcha in WPForms:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Go to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hcaptcha.com\/\" alt=\"Link to hCaptcha - Stop Bots and Human Abuse\" title=\"hCaptcha - Stop Bots and Human Abuse\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">hCaptcha<\/a> website and sign up for a free account.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image wp-block-image size-full\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/images\/kb\/tutorials\/Tut-OS-106-15.png\" alt=\"Prevent WordPress Contact Form Spam - Signup hCAPTCHA\" title=\"How To Prevent WordPress Contact Form Spam 8 Proven Tips - Signup hCAPTCHA\" width=\"745\" height=\"342\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Once you\u2019re in, click <strong>Generate<\/strong> to get your site keys. Ensure you save them in a text file for later use. Then, click <strong>Continue<\/strong> to move to the next step.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image wp-block-image size-full\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/images\/kb\/tutorials\/Tut-OS-106-16.png\" alt=\"Prevent WordPress Contact Form Spam - Generate Site Keys\" title=\"How To Prevent WordPress Contact Form Spam 8 Proven Tips - Generate Site Keys\" width=\"679\" height=\"435\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Click <strong>Add Site<\/strong> to register your website.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image wp-block-image size-full\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/images\/kb\/tutorials\/Tut-OS-106-17.png\" alt=\"Prevent WordPress Contact Form Spam - Register Website with hCAPTCHA\" title=\"How To Prevent WordPress Contact Form Spam 8 Proven Tips - Register Website with hCAPTCHA\" width=\"809\" height=\"334\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Fill in <strong>Name<\/strong> by providing a reference for a site or site key (in our example, we provided the site key we generated in the previous step).<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image wp-block-image size-full\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/images\/kb\/tutorials\/Tut-OS-106-18.png\" alt=\"Prevent WordPress Contact Form Spam - Enter Site Key\" title=\"How To Prevent WordPress Contact Form Spam 8 Proven Tips - Enter Site Key\" width=\"1000\" height=\"257\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then, enter your domain name.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image wp-block-image size-full\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/images\/kb\/tutorials\/Tut-OS-106-19.png\" alt=\"Prevent WordPress Contact Form Spam - Enter Domain Name\" title=\"How To Prevent WordPress Contact Form Spam 8 Proven Tips - Enter Domain Name\" width=\"963\" height=\"162\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Choose an <strong>hCAPTCHA challenge behavior of your choice<\/strong> and click <strong>Save<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image wp-block-image size-full\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/images\/kb\/tutorials\/Tut-OS-106-20.png\" alt=\"Prevent WordPress Contact Form Spam - Finish Website Registration with hCAPTCHA\" title=\"How To Prevent WordPress Contact Form Spam 8 Proven Tips - Finish Website Registration with hCAPTCHA\" width=\"1116\" height=\"457\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Next, go to <strong>WPForms <\/strong>\u2192 <strong>Settings<\/strong> in your WordPress dashboard. Click <strong>CAPTCHA<\/strong>. Select <strong>Captcha.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image wp-block-image size-full\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/images\/kb\/tutorials\/Tut-OS-106-21.png\" alt=\"Prevent WordPress Contact Form Spam - Use hCAPTCHA\" title=\"How To Prevent WordPress Contact Form Spam 8 Proven Tips - Use hCAPTCHA\" width=\"1055\" height=\"447\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then, enter your site and secret keys and click <strong>Save Settings<\/strong>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image wp-block-image size-full\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/images\/kb\/tutorials\/Tut-OS-106-22.png\" alt=\"Prevent WordPress Contact Form Spam - Save API Keys\" title=\"How To Prevent WordPress Contact Form Spam 8 Proven Tips - Save API Keys\" width=\"919\" height=\"461\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Now, open your form by navigating to <strong>WPForms <\/strong>\u2192 <strong>All Forms<\/strong>. Click <strong>Settings <\/strong>\u2192 <strong>Spam Protection and Security<\/strong>. Toggle on <strong>Enable hCaptcha<\/strong> and click <strong>Save<\/strong> to save your settings.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image wp-block-image size-full\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/images\/kb\/tutorials\/Tut-OS-106-23.png\" alt=\"Prevent WordPress Contact Form Spam - Enable hCAPTCHA\" title=\"How To Prevent WordPress Contact Form Spam 8 Proven Tips - Enable hCAPTCHA\" width=\"1113\" height=\"307\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">hCaptcha will now protect you from WordPress contact form spam bots, just like Google reCAPTCHA, but with stronger privacy controls.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><div style=\"margin-top: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px;\">\n<div class=\"bg-primary-xxlight rounded-md mt-3 mb-3 p-3 text-center border border-primary-xlight border-2x\">\n<p class=\"font09 m-0\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/hosting\/wordpress\" alt=\"Link to Hosted.com Website - WordPress Hosting\" title=\"Hosted.com - WordPress Hosting\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Host your WordPress site<\/a> securely with Hosted\u00ae, where our advanced security features like DDoS protection and daily backups protect your data.<br>Focus on growing your site while we handle the security and performance for you. <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"cloudflare-turnstile\"><strong><em>Cloudflare Turnstile&nbsp;<\/em><\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cloudflare.com\/application-services\/products\/turnstile\/\" alt=\"Link to Cloud Flare Blog - CAPTCHA Replacement Solution\" title=\"Cloud Flare Blog - CAPTCHA Replacement Solution\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Cloudflare Turnstile<\/a> is a new CAPTCHA alternative that works without frustrating users. Unlike traditional CAPTCHAs, it doesn\u2019t ask users to solve puzzles or click on images. Instead, it verifies them silently using browser behavior and security checks.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here\u2019s how to add Cloudflare Turnstile to WPForms: Go to the Cloudflare Turnstile page and click <strong>Get Started for free<\/strong> to create a Cloudflare account. You can click on <strong>Log in<\/strong> if you already have an account.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image wp-block-image size-full\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/images\/kb\/tutorials\/Tut-OS-106-24.png\" alt=\"Prevent WordPress Contact Form Spam - Sign Up Cloudflare Account\" title=\"How To Prevent WordPress Contact Form Spam 8 Proven Tips - Sign Up Cloudflare Account\" width=\"1000\" height=\"429\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Once you\u2019re in, you\u2019ll see the following screen. Click <strong>Add Widget<\/strong> to add a site.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image wp-block-image size-full\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/images\/kb\/tutorials\/Tut-OS-106-25.png\" alt=\"Prevent WordPress Contact Form Spam - Add a Site to Cloudflare Turnstile\" title=\"How To Prevent WordPress Contact Form Spam 8 Proven Tips - Add a Site to Cloudflare Turnstile\" width=\"1125\" height=\"450\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Write your widget name to identify it in the future. Click <strong>+ Add Hostnames<\/strong> to specify the domain name.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image wp-block-image size-full\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/images\/kb\/tutorials\/Tut-OS-106-26.png\" alt=\"Prevent WordPress Contact Form Spam - Register Website with Cloud Turnstile\" title=\"How To Prevent WordPress Contact Form Spam 8 Proven Tips - Register Website with Cloud Turnstile\" width=\"982\" height=\"468\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After that, choose <strong>Widget Mode<\/strong> and click <strong>Create<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image wp-block-image size-full\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/images\/kb\/tutorials\/Tut-OS-106-27.png\" alt=\"Prevent WordPress Contact Form Spam - Choose Widget Mode\" title=\"How To Prevent WordPress Contact Form Spam 8 Proven Tips - Choose Widget Mode\" width=\"1092\" height=\"480\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Now, you\u2019ll see the <strong>Site Key<\/strong> and <strong>Secret Key<\/strong>. Copy them into a file for later use.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image wp-block-image size-full\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/images\/kb\/tutorials\/Tut-OS-106-28.png\" alt=\"Prevent WordPress Contact Form Spam - Get Site and Secret Keys\" title=\"How To Prevent WordPress Contact Form Spam 8 Proven Tips - Get Site and Secret Keys\" width=\"515\" height=\"268\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Next, to enable Turnstile in WPForms, go to <strong>WPForms <\/strong>\u2192 <strong>Settings<\/strong> \u2192 <strong>CAPTCHA<\/strong> tab. Select <strong>Cloudflare Turnstile<\/strong>, enter your API keys, and click <strong>Save Settings<\/strong>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image wp-block-image size-full\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/images\/kb\/tutorials\/Tut-OS-106-29.png\" alt=\"Prevent WordPress Contact Form Spam - Enable Cloud Turnstile in WPForms\" title=\"How To Prevent WordPress Contact Form Spam 8 Proven Tips - Enable Cloud Turnstile in WPForms\" width=\"867\" height=\"559\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image wp-block-image size-full\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/images\/kb\/tutorials\/Tut-OS-106-29A.png\" alt=\"Prevent WordPress Contact Form Spam - Enable Cloud Turnstile in WPForms\" title=\"How To Prevent WordPress Contact Form Spam 8 Proven Tips - Enable Cloud Turnstile in WPForms\" width=\"869\" height=\"504\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Now, it\u2019s time to activate Turnstile in your contact form. Go to <strong>WPForms <\/strong>\u2192 <strong>All Forms<\/strong> and select your form.&nbsp; Click <strong>Settings <\/strong>\u2192 <strong>Spam Protection and Security<\/strong>. Turn on <strong>Enable Cloudflare Turnstile<\/strong> and save your form.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image wp-block-image size-full\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/images\/kb\/tutorials\/Tut-OS-106-30.png\" alt=\"Prevent WordPress Contact Form Spam - Activate Turnstile in WPForms\" title=\"How To Prevent WordPress Contact Form Spam 8 Proven Tips - Activate Turnstile in WPForms\" width=\"1102\" height=\"302\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Now, Turnstile will quietly protect your contact forms from spam without making users solve annoying tests.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"use-custom-captcha-fields\"><strong><em>Use Custom CAPTCHA Fields&nbsp;<\/em><\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">WordPress contact form spam bots are designed to fill out forms automatically, but adding a custom CAPTCHA field makes it harder for them to get through. Unlike standard CAPTCHA tools like Google reCAPTCHA, custom CAPTCHA fields let you create challenge questions that only real users can easily answer.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A custom CAPTCHA field is a simple question or challenge a visitor must answer before submitting a form. Since spam bots can\u2019t think like humans, they often fail these challenges, which helps keep your form free from fake submissions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To create an effective custom CAPTCHA, you need a question that is easy for humans but difficult for bots. Here are some good examples:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Math Questions: <\/strong>What is 5 + 3? or Solve 10 &#8211; 4.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Simple Word Questions:<\/strong> Type the word \u201cblue\u201d in the box.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Logic Questions:<\/strong> Which number is bigger, 2 or 9?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Multiple-Choice Questions:<\/strong> Pick the number seven from the list: 3, 7, 1, 5.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Since bots are not programmed to answer such questions correctly, these fields help block automated WordPress contact form spam effectively.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here\u2019s how you can add a custom CAPTCHA field in WPForms:&nbsp; Go to your WordPress dashboard. Click <strong>WPForms <\/strong>\u2192 <strong>All Forms<\/strong>. Select the form to add CAPTCHA protection. In the form editor, click <strong>Add Fields<\/strong>. Drag and drop <strong>Single Line Text <\/strong>or <strong>Multiple Choice<\/strong> into your form.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image wp-block-image size-full\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/images\/kb\/tutorials\/Tut-OS-106-31.png\" alt=\"Prevent WordPress Contact Form Spam - Add Multiple Choice Field\" title=\"How To Prevent WordPress Contact Form Spam 8 Proven Tips - Add Multiple Choice Field\" width=\"1055\" height=\"414\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then, click on the new field to open the field editor. Change the field label to a custom CAPTCHAquestion and update the choices. You can also add or remove the choices as per your requirements.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image wp-block-image size-full\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/images\/kb\/tutorials\/Tut-OS-106-32.png\" alt=\"Prevent WordPress Contact Form Spam - Update Field Lable and Choices\" title=\"How To Prevent WordPress Contact Form Spam 8 Proven Tips - Update Field Lable and Choices\" width=\"1120\" height=\"385\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Next, set the field as <strong>Required <\/strong>so users must answer before submitting. Additionally, provide a correct answer under <strong>Description <\/strong>to help users if needed.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image wp-block-image size-full\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/images\/kb\/tutorials\/Tut-OS-106-33.png\" alt=\"Prevent WordPress Contact Form Spam - Update Field Description and Make It Compulsory to Answer\" title=\"How To Prevent WordPress Contact Form Spam 8 Proven Tips - Update Field Description and Make It Compulsory to Answer\" width=\"391\" height=\"232\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Lastly, click <strong>Save <\/strong>in the top-right to apply changes.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-vivid-red-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-1b08d4829cc79b763aa0c33bf89981e0 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>IMPORTANT: <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-vivid-red-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-f5d844f8986afbbb73e68c09536ceb22 wp-block-paragraph\">For the best results, you may use CAPTCHA along with Akismet, WPForms\u2019 built-in spam protection, and custom CAPTCHA fields. This way, you can keep your contact form secure while making it easy for real visitors to reach you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading h4\" id=\"restrict-submissions-by-country\">Restrict Submissions by Country&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You can also restrict WordPress contact form spam submissions by country. This method is helpful if your business only serves customers from certain countries or if you frequently receive spam from specific locations. Here\u2019s how to restrict a country using WPForms:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Open your required form in the editor. Then, go to <strong>Settings <\/strong>\u2192<strong> Spam Protection and Security<\/strong> and do the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Activate <strong>Enable country filter<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Select <strong>Allow <\/strong>from the <strong>Country Filter<\/strong> dropdown.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Choose one or more countries.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Optionally, you can also update the <strong>Country Filter Message<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then, click <strong>Save <\/strong>to save your preferences.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image wp-block-image size-full\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/images\/kb\/tutorials\/Tut-OS-106-34.png\" alt=\"Prevent WordPress Contact Form Spam - Restrict Country-Specific Form Submissions\" title=\"How To Prevent WordPress Contact Form Spam 8 Proven Tips - Restrict Country-Specific Form Submissions\" width=\"1120\" height=\"308\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While here, you can also toggle on <strong>Enable keyword filter<\/strong> and click <strong>Edit keyword list<\/strong> to provide the keyword filter list. Using this feature is particularly useful for blocking profanity in form submissions.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image wp-block-image size-full\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/images\/kb\/tutorials\/Tut-OS-106-35.png\" alt=\"Prevent WordPress Contact Form Spam - Enable Keyword Filter\" title=\"How To Prevent WordPress Contact Form Spam 8 Proven Tips - Enable Keyword Filter\" width=\"455\" height=\"108\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading h4\" id=\"block-spam-ip-addresses\">Block Spam IP Addresses&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/articles\/wordpress-hacked\/\" alt=\"Link to Hosted.com Tutorials - WordPress Hacked - How to Check - Repair and Prevent Future Hacks\" title=\"Hosted.com - WordPress Hacked - How to Check - Repair and Prevent Future Hacks\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">WordPress hackers<\/a> and contact form spam bots often use specific IP addresses to flood your contact forms with fake messages. In this case, blocking spam IP addresses is a simple but effective way to stop these bad actors from submitting forms on your website.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, before blocking an IP, you need to identify suspicious activity. Here\u2019s how:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Go to <strong>WPForms <\/strong>\u2192 <strong>Entries <\/strong>in your WordPress dashboard. Look for repeated spam submissions coming from the same IP address. Copy the IP addresses of all the spammy submissions.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image wp-block-image size-full\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/images\/kb\/tutorials\/Tut-OS-106-36.png\" alt=\"Prevent WordPress Contact Form Spam - Access WPForms Enteries\" title=\"How To Prevent WordPress Contact Form Spam 8 Proven Tips - Access WPForms Enteries\" width=\"618\" height=\"359\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then, go to <strong>WordPress Dashboard<\/strong> \u2192 <strong>Settings <\/strong>\u2192 <strong>Discussion <\/strong>in the left-hand menu. In <strong>Disallowed Comment Keys<\/strong>, enter the IP addresses you want to block, ensuring each IP is on a separate line.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image wp-block-image size-full\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/images\/kb\/tutorials\/Tut-OS-106-37.png\" alt=\"Prevent WordPress Contact Form Spam - Block Spammers' IPs\" title=\"How To Prevent WordPress Contact Form Spam 8 Proven Tips - Block Spammers' IPs\" width=\"988\" height=\"326\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Once done, page down and click <strong>Save Changes.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Furthermore, if you\u2019re using <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/hosting\/wordpress\" alt=\"Link to Hosted.com Website - WordPress Hosting\" title=\"Hosted.com - WordPress Hosting\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">WordPress Hosting from Hosted\u00ae<\/a>, you can block IP addresses from your cPanel. To do that:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/knowledgebase\/cpanel\/login-to-cpanel\/\" alt=\"Link to Hosted.com KBs - How To Login To cPanel\" title=\"Hosted.com - How To Login To cPanel\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Sign in to the Hosted\u00ae cPanel<\/a>, head to <strong>Security<\/strong>, and click <strong>IP Blocker.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image wp-block-image size-full\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/images\/kb\/tutorials\/Tut-OS-106-38.png\" alt=\"Prevent WordPress Contact Form Spam - IP Blocker Settings\" title=\"How To Prevent WordPress Contact Form Spam 8 Proven Tips - IP Blocker Settings\" width=\"801\" height=\"274\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Enter the spam IP address or range to block multiple IPs. Then, click <strong>Add<\/strong> to save the blocklist.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image wp-block-image size-full\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/images\/kb\/tutorials\/Tut-OS-106-39.png\" alt=\"Prevent WordPress Contact Form Spam - Add an IP or Range to Blocklist\" title=\"How To Prevent WordPress Contact Form Spam 8 Proven Tips - Add an IP or Range to Blocklist\" width=\"522\" height=\"409\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">From now on, blocked IPs cannot access your entire website, not just your forms.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>TIP: <\/strong>You can also refer to the tutorial, How To Use The cPanel IP Blocker, to explore cPanel\u2019s IP Blocker feature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading h4\" id=\"configure-spam-filters\">Configure Spam Filters<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Spam filters help you control who can submit messages through your WordPress contact form. By using allowlists and denylists, you can decide which <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/articles\/wordpress-email\/\" alt=\"Link to Hosted.com Articles - WordPress Email and Hosting - Integration and Options\" title=\"Hosted.com - WordPress Email and Hosting - Integration and Options\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">email addresses<\/a> or domains are allowed and which are blocked. This method is useful to stop WordPress contact form spam while ensuring real users can still reach you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here\u2019s how to do it: Open your contact form in the editor that you want to protect. Click <strong>Fields<\/strong>, then <strong>Email<\/strong> in the form editor.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image wp-block-image size-full\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/images\/kb\/tutorials\/Tut-OS-106-40.png\" alt=\"Prevent WordPress Contact Form Spam - Add Email Field\" title=\"How To Prevent WordPress Contact Form Spam 8 Proven Tips - Add Email Field\" width=\"996\" height=\"368\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Next, click <strong>Email <\/strong>to open the field editor. Switch to <strong>Advanced<\/strong>. Scroll down to find <strong>Allowlist \/ Denylist<\/strong>. To allow only certain emails, enter them in the allowlist (e.g., <strong>*@yourcompany.com<\/strong>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Enter domains in the denylist (e.g., <strong>*@spam.com<\/strong>) to block spam emails. You can also block temporary emails like <strong>*@tempmail.com<\/strong> or <strong>*@10minutemail.com<\/strong>. Lastly, click <strong>Save <\/strong>and submit a test form using a blocked email to ensure the filter works.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image wp-block-image size-full\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/images\/kb\/tutorials\/Tut-OS-106-41.png\" alt=\"Prevent WordPress Contact Form Spam - Populate Allowlist in WPForms\" title=\"How To Prevent WordPress Contact Form Spam 8 Proven Tips - Populate Allowlist in WPForms\" width=\"1115\" height=\"472\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Now, WPForms will reject submissions from blocked emails and only accept allowed emails if an Allowlist is set up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You can also activate <strong>Enable Email Confirmation<\/strong> under <strong>General<\/strong> if your form submissions are from invalid or spammy emails.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image wp-block-image size-full\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/images\/kb\/tutorials\/Tut-OS-106-42.png\" alt=\"Prevent WordPress Contact Form Spam - Activate Email Confirmation\" title=\"How To Prevent WordPress Contact Form Spam 8 Proven Tips - Activate Email Confirmation\" width=\"354\" height=\"416\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading h4\" id=\"block-copy-paste-submissions-disable-autofill\">Block Copy-Paste Submissions (Disable Autofill)&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Some manual spammers and WordPress contact form spam bots often use copy-paste and autofill to submit spam messages on your contact forms quickly. By disabling this, you can reduce spam and encourage real users to type their details manually. This method helps keep your form entries clean and authentic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here\u2019s how to disable copy-pasting in WPForms using JavaScript:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the form editor, click <strong>Fields <\/strong>and then <strong>HTML<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image wp-block-image size-full\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/images\/kb\/tutorials\/Tut-OS-106-43.png\" alt=\"Prevent WordPress Contact Form Spam - Add HTML Field\" title=\"How To Prevent WordPress Contact Form Spam 8 Proven Tips - Add HTML Field\" width=\"1045\" height=\"369\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then, click on the field and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/articles\/add-javascript-to-wordpress\/\" alt=\"Link to Hosted.com Tutorials - Add JavaScript to WordPress Pages and Posts - 4 Easy Ways\" title=\"Hosted.com - Add JavaScript to WordPress Pages and Posts - 4 Easy Ways\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">paste the following JavaScript code<\/a> inside <strong>Code<\/strong>. Ensure you fill in <strong>Label<\/strong> to name this HTML block. It will help you identify the in-form builder. Then, click <strong>Save<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\"><code>&lt;script&gt;\ndocument.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\", function() {\n    let fields = document.querySelectorAll(\"input&#91;type='text'], input&#91;type='email'], textarea\");\n    fields.forEach(function(field) {\n        field.addEventListener(\"paste\", function(event) {\n            event.preventDefault();\n            alert(\"Copy-pasting is disabled for this field. Please type your response.\");\n        });\n        field.addEventListener(\"copy\", function(event) {\n            event.preventDefault();\n            alert(\"Copying is not allowed.\");\n        });\n    });\n});\n&lt;\/script&gt;<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image wp-block-image size-full\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/images\/kb\/tutorials\/Tut-OS-106-44.png\" alt=\"Prevent WordPress Contact Form Spam - Add HTML Block\" title=\"How To Prevent WordPress Contact Form Spam 8 Proven Tips - Add HTML Block\" width=\"1112\" height=\"413\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This above script detects all text input fields (including name, email, and message fields) and prevents pasting into these fields, ensuring users enter information manually. If someone tries to copy or paste, they see an alert saying: <strong>Copy-pasting is disabled for this field. Please type your response<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image wp-block-image size-full\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/images\/kb\/tutorials\/Tut-OS-106-45.png\" alt=\"Prevent WordPress Contact Form Spam - Copy-pasted Blocked Warning Message\" title=\"How To Prevent WordPress Contact Form Spam 8 Proven Tips - Copy-pasted Blocked Warning Message\" width=\"490\" height=\"184\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-vivid-red-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-71ff36e9aaaa7a4998f2e727b722c886 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>IMPORTANT:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-vivid-red-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-47dbc7e8bf1227447bb3562f8dc0d78c wp-block-paragraph\">Spam messages may get through, even with built-in spam protection in WPForms. That\u2019s why using dedicated anti-spam plugins is important to add an extra security layer to your contact forms. These plugins help detect, filter, and block WordPress contact form spam automatically, reducing unwanted submissions. Popular options include <em>Antispam Bee<\/em> and <em>Spam protection, Anti-Spam, FireWall by CleanTalk<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color h4 wp-elements-9fe2c1c4ea44fcf4231ff28700f2b282\" id=\"use-ai-for-word-press-contact-form-spam-detection\">Use AI for WordPress Contact Form Spam Detection&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Spam bots are becoming smarter, making it harder to block them using simple filters or <strong>CAPTCHAs<\/strong>. This is where artificial intelligence (AI) comes in. AI-powered spam detection can analyze form submissions in real time, identify spam patterns, and block unwanted messages automatically.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">AI spam detection works by learning from past spam entries and using that knowledge to filter out suspicious messages. Instead of blocking specific words or IP addresses, AI looks at multiple factors, such as message structure, language, and sender behavior, to determine if a submission is spam. This makes AI-powered spam filters more accurate and adaptable than traditional methods.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-c2daa20b7617220ac4b3110162a8b2f4 wp-block-paragraph\">Multiple WordPress anti-spam plugins use AI to identify and block spam effectively. Akismet is one of these. It scans form submissions (when integrated with WPForms), blog comments, and user messages in real time, checking them against its global spam database. So, ensure you use a dedicated anti-spam plugin to avoid WordPress contact form spam submissions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/hosting\/wordpress\" alt=\"Link to Hosted\u00ae - WordPress Hosting\" title=\"Hosted\u00ae - WordPress Hosting\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/wordpress-contact-form-spam-2.webp\" alt=\"Strip Banner Text - Stay secure with Hosted\u00ae\u2019s WordPress Hosting. [Get started]\" title=\"Stay secure with Hosted\u00ae\u2019s WordPress Hosting.\" class=\"wp-image-9030\" width=\"5000\" height=\"1117\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading h4\" id=\"faqs\">FAQS<\/h3>\n\n\n<div id=\"rank-math-faq\" class=\"rank-math-block\">\n<div class=\"rank-math-list \">\n<div id=\"faq-question-1740662788127\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h6 class=\"rank-math-question \"><strong>What are the most effective ways to prevent contact form spam in WordPress?<\/strong><\/h6>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>The best way to stop spam is to use multiple layers of protection. Relying on just one method, like CAPTCHA, may not be enough. Instead, combining built-in WPForms anti-spam tools provides stronger security. Also, AI-powered spam detection and dedicated anti-spam plugins like Akismet ensure a more advanced filtering system.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-question-1740662803943\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h6 class=\"rank-math-question \"><strong>How does spam affect my website\u2019s performance and security?<\/strong><\/h6>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>Spam can slow down your website, overload your email inbox, and expose your site to security threats. If too many spam messages are submitted, they can increase server load, affecting site speed. Some spam submissions also contain malicious links or phishing attempts, putting your data and users at risk. Therefore, blocking spam at the form level can protect your site from these threats and ensure a smooth user experience.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-question-1740662812829\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h6 class=\"rank-math-question \"><strong>What is the difference between spam bots and manual spam submissions?<\/strong><\/h6>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>Spam bots are automated programs that crawl the web and submit fake messages to contact forms. They often send bulk spam within seconds. With manual spam, real people manually fill out forms with promotional content, phishing links, or scam messages. Because these messages are typed by humans, they can sometimes bypass spam protection.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-question-1740662821627\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h6 class=\"rank-math-question \"><strong>Can AI be used to prevent spam in contact forms?<\/strong><\/h6>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>Yes. AI-powered spam detection is one of the most advanced ways to prevent spam. It can analyze form submissions in real time, detecting patterns indicating spam. AI-powered plugins use machine learning to identify and block new spam techniques, so are more effective than traditional spam filters. AI can also reduce false positives, ensuring real users can submit forms without issues.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-question-1740662835457\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h6 class=\"rank-math-question \"><strong>How can I test if my spam protection methods are working?<\/strong><\/h6>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>You can test if your spam protection methods are working by submitting a fake message. If it goes through, enable the minimum submission time feature. Use spam words like \u201cfree money\u201d to check filtering, and test with a spammy email domain to see if it&#8217;s blocked. You can also use a spam bot simulator to evaluate bot protection strength. Regular testing ensures spam filters work without affecting real users.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading h4\" id=\"other-tutorials-of-interest\">Other Tutorials of Interest<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8211; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/articles\/wordpress-comment-spam\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">How to Stop WordPress Comment Spam: 4 Effective Strategies<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8211; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/articles\/wordpress-blocks\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" alt=\"Link to Hosted.com Tutorials - WordPress Blocks Features and Site Customization Options\" title=\"Hosted.com - WordPress Blocks Features and Site Customization Options\">WordPress Blocks Features and Site Customization Options<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8211; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/articles\/unpublish-a-wordpress-site\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" alt=\"Link to Hosted.com Tutorials - How To Unpublish A WordPress Site - 3 Easy Ways\" title=\"Hosted.com - How To Unpublish A WordPress Site - 3 Easy Ways\">How To Unpublish A WordPress Site: 3 Easy Ways<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8211; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/articles\/wordpress-widgets\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" alt=\"Link to Hosted.com Tutorials - WordPress Widgets - How To Add and Use Them For Maximum Impact\" title=\"Hosted.com - WordPress Widgets - How To Add and Use Them For Maximum Impact\">WordPress Widgets: How To Add &amp; Use Them For Maximum Impact<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8211; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/articles\/wordpress-author-page\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" alt=\"Link to Hosted.com Tutorials - How To Create A Custom WordPress Author Page\" title=\"Hosted.com - How To Create A Custom WordPress Author Page\">How To Create A Custom WordPress Author Page<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p> Have you ever received strange or unwanted messages through your WordPress contact form? These spam messages can be annoying, time-consuming, and even harmful. This spam happens when bots or spammers flood your forms with fake messages, links, or advertisements. It can slow down your website, fill your inbox with useless emails, and pose security risks. If left unchecked, it can affect your site\u2019s performance and make it harder for real visitors to contact you. This is why preventing WordPres&#8230; <a alt='How To Stop WordPress Contact Form Spam: 8 Proven Tips' title='How To Stop WordPress Contact Form Spam: 8 Proven Tips' href='https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/articles\/stop-wordpress-contact-form-spam\/' class='read-more'>Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":9029,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[6,8,213,123],"tags":[343],"class_list":["post-9019","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-tutorials","category-website-development","category-wordpress-coding","category-wordpress-troubleshooting","tag-wordpress-contact-form-spam"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9019","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9019"}],"version-history":[{"count":23,"href":"https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9019\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12308,"href":"https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9019\/revisions\/12308"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9029"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9019"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9019"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9019"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}