Is Akismet down?

Akismet is a trusted and popular spam fighting service that protects millions of WordPress sites from comment and contact form spam. It is a product of Automattic, the company behind WordPress.com. Akismet uses innovative technology and a vast database to identify and filter out spam, helping users to maintain the integrity of their website and improve user experience.

About Akismet

Akismet was launched in 2005 by Matt Mullenweg, co-founder of WordPress, as a response to the rampant problem of spam comments on blogs. Today, Akismet is protecting over 5 million websites and has caught over 400 billion spam comments. It uses machine learning and a vast database of spam to identify and block harmful content before it reaches a website.

Common Akismet Issues

While Akismet is highly effective, users may face certain issues. Some common issues include:

• False positives: Akismet may occasionally mark a legitimate comment as spam.
• Spam leakage: In some cases, spam comments may get through Akismet's filters.
• Connectivity issues: Problems can occur when trying to connect your website to the Akismet servers.

What to do when Akismet is down or not working?

If you are experiencing issues with Akismet, here are some steps you can take:

• Check Akismet's status: The Akismet status page provides real-time information about the service's uptime and any ongoing issues.
• Check your internet connection: Ensure that your internet connection is stable and working properly.
• Update Akismet: Ensure that you are using the latest version of Akismet. This can often fix bugs or issues.
• Contact support: If the problem persists, you can contact Akismet's support team for assistance.

Preventing Spam Without Akismet

If you are unable to use Akismet or are looking for additional ways to fight spam, there are other methods you can apply:

• Use CAPTCHA: CAPTCHA can be an effective way to filter out spam by requiring users to prove they are human before submitting a comment.
• Implement comment moderation: This gives you the ability to review and approve comments before they appear on your site.
• Block specific IP addresses: If you notice a lot of spam coming from a specific IP address, you can block it from your site.

Remember, while Akismet is a powerful tool, it's also important to regularly review your site's comments to ensure no legitimate comments are being marked as spam and no spam comments are getting through.