As many of you no doubt recall, Searchblog is the target of some pretty determined comment spammers. To defeat them, I reluctantly implemented TypeKey, a comment registration system. But I really prefer allowing folks to comment as they wish to, without registration, and when Scot Hacker, my zen webmaster, suggested an alternative, I decided to go for it. (I have noticed a dropoff in comments since implementing TypeKey, and an increase in emails from readers saying “I’d post this as a comment but…..”). Many have very intelligent things to say but wish to remain anonymous, for example, and don’t want to go through the process of creating (and remembering) a fake TypeKey account.
Scot explains what we have implemented:
“Our concern is keeping spam out of my inbox and off this blog. The web host’s requirement is that the server not be strained by comment spam attacks. We’ve enabled Brad Choate’s excellent SpamLookup [http://bradchoate.com/projects/spamlookup/], a Swiss Army toolbelt of comment and trackback spam tools. We’ve just enabled SpamLookup’s passphrase option. TypeKey logins are no longer required, but you will have to answer a simple question with each comment submission.”
So, comment away, but you will have to answer a simple question to do so. If you all like this and it seems to be working, we’ll keep it instead of TypeKey. Thanks!