Akismet Review
by Paul Flyer
Akismet is a comment spam blocker for WordPress based blogs. With the release of WordPress 2.0, the Akismet plugin comes standard with the install.
I began using Akismet when I upgraded this site to WordPress 2.0 earlier this year. I give it a thumbs up!
Akismet works a little differently than other comment spam blockers. Instead of the spam algorithm being based inside code that resides on the host website, all spam detection technology is housed on the Akismet web server. Whenever a comment is left on a website, the Akismet plugin sends the comment back to the home web server. Akismet then performs its detection at that point. Akismet returns the comments back to the website either as a legitimate comment or lists it as spam. Users never need to check the spam. A spam comment is kept around for 15 days just in case. After 15 days, the spam is deleted.
The first weeks after implementing Akismet I kept a keen eye on the comments. In the end, it had only let one spam comment through and there were no legitimate comments caught as spam. Now I hardly pay attention to it, I just let it do its thing.
The advantage of providing spam detection offsite on another server is the collective “learning” that the spam detection software can amass. Instead of learning from just one site what is spam and what isnt, Akismet can learn from thousands of users.
I do recommended users watch Akismet in the first few weeks after installation. Watch and learn what comments it catches and which it lets through. If it makes a mistake, correct it and help it learn.
Requirements for using Akismet:
-WordPress based blog (maybe this is enough for some of you to make the switch!)
-WordPress.com API Key (simply sign up for an account at WordPress.com)
-Akismet plugin installed in the plugin directory of the WordPress installation
Be sure to review our list of recommended web tools.
