We have just installed Akismet on the WordPress umw.edu server. What does this mean?
Well, we have been using a free spam-filtering tool called TypePad Anti-Spam. While it works, its functionality left a lot to be desired: false positives and tons of emails in your inbox. At the time we launched the new UMW.EDU site, Akismet, the premier spam-fighting tool for WordPress, was becoming prohibitively expensive. Thanks to a revolt by higher education institutions (our own Jim Groom being among the most vocal), Akismet lowered its costs to something we can all manage. Full disclosure: The fee for the University is now only $550/year.
So, you should be receiving far fewer spams in your in-box. What reaches your in-box should be largely REAL emails. But, you’ll still want to check your site to make sure you’re not missing anything. To do so, simply check your Comments on the left-hand side of your site. This will give you a list of comments that have come in. Those in yellow are likely spam, but give it the once-over. If you are confident they are spam, trash them.
Akismet also integrates with Gravity Forms. If you are using Gravity forms, and do not like providing the CAPTCHA field (some folks find the words inscrutable and unreadable, because they are!), you may be able to get away without using it. I’m going to try to go without it for a week on the main UMW contact form and see what happens.
To read more about Akismet, visit http://akismet.com/
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