Title: Spam Destroyer
Author: Ryan Hellyer
Published: <strong>July 29, 2012</strong>
Last modified: April 29, 2026

---

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![](https://ps.w.org/spam-destroyer/assets/banner-772x250.png?rev=578639)

![](https://ps.w.org/spam-destroyer/assets/icon-128x128.png?rev=1050320)

# Spam Destroyer

 By [Ryan Hellyer](https://profiles.wordpress.org/ryanhellyer/)

[Download](https://downloads.wordpress.org/plugin/spam-destroyer.2.1.7.zip)

 * [Details](https://kea.wordpress.org/plugins/spam-destroyer/#description)
 * [Reviews](https://kea.wordpress.org/plugins/spam-destroyer/#reviews)
 *  [Installation](https://kea.wordpress.org/plugins/spam-destroyer/#installation)
 * [Development](https://kea.wordpress.org/plugins/spam-destroyer/#developers)

 [Support](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/spam-destroyer/)

## Description

Stops automated spam while remaining as unobtrusive as possible to regular commenters.
[The Spam Destroyer plugin](https://geek.hellyer.kiwi/products/spam-destroyer/) 
is intended to be effortless to use. Simply install, and enjoy a spam free website
🙂

### Credits

 * [omahoung](https://wordpress.org/support/users/omahoung/) – Bug reporting
 * [Stromhalm](https://wordpress.org/support/profile/stromhalm) – Bug reporting
 * [Donncha O Caoimh](http://ocaoimh.ie/) – Developer of Cookies for Comments, functionality
   of which is incorporated into Spam Destroyer
 * [Elliot Back](http://elliottback.com/) – Developer of WP Hashcash, functionality
   of which is incorporated into Spam Destroyer
 * [Marte Sollund and Ingvild Evje](http://nettsett.no/) – Bug reporting
 * [Brian Layman](http://eHermitsInc.com/) – Code advice
 * [Ronald Huereca](http://ronalfy.com/) – JS advice
 * [Shawn Gaffney](https://twitter.com/shawngaffney) – Bug reporting
 * [Kaspars Dambis](http://konstruktors.com/) – Bug reporting
 * [Jon Brown](http://www.wanderingjon.com/) – Added error message filter</br />

## Installation

Simply install and activate the plugin. No settings necessary.

For more information, visit the [Spam Destroyer plugin page](https://geek.hellyer.kiwi/products/spam-destroyer/).

## FAQ

Check out the FAQ on the [Spam Destroyer plugin](https://geek.hellyer.kiwi/products/spam-destroyer/)
page.

### Support

If you would like to file a bug report or ask a question, please do so in the WordPress.
org support forums.

### Who made the plugin?

The original developer of the plugin was [Ryan Hellyer](https://geek.hellyer.kiwi/),
but many others have contributed code to this project and are now listed as co-authors
of the plugin.

## Reviews

![](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/697e77d26a8c0f85b96030d832b2d62e19975f454c50825d67d6944f084732ef?
s=60&d=retro&r=g)

### 󠀁[Easy setup, works great](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/easy-setup-works-great-14/)󠁿

 [docmartinhk](https://profiles.wordpress.org/docmartinhk/) June 5, 2026 1 reply

Just seen message on WP dashboard saying I’ve been using Spam Destroyer for 4 years,
and would I leave a review.Well, at last, a quick review: this seems such a simple
plugin, just install, activate, and that’s it – I’ve barely had any spam whatsoever.
How splendid!

![](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/3d19723104cb6ca97b8c8f03badd0dfba8ab12ab643dd4044030a07a10843979?
s=60&d=retro&r=g)

### 󠀁[Worked perfectly](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/worked-perfectly-333/)󠁿

 [daenvil](https://profiles.wordpress.org/daenvil/) May 27, 2024

I was dealing with like 2/3 spam messages a week and since installing this ticket
I haven’t received a single one, so I’m really happy with it!

![](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/df13305c85c8f22741d842a127a3f935b4c64a10aaadce8aa1d18196e6c8f525?
s=60&d=retro&r=g)

### 󠀁[Seems to be working](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/seems-to-be-working-15/)󠁿

 [LBossart](https://profiles.wordpress.org/lbossart/) May 17, 2024

I haven’t had any spam for a week since installing, thanks!

![](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/b75775ed4d951049c15ecfd021de33690872e937597c6254019b12b4e9499be8?
s=60&d=retro&r=g)

### 󠀁[It works well!](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/it-works-well-139/)󠁿

 [Djordje – George – Giorgio](https://profiles.wordpress.org/djondesigns/) October
9, 2022

It works well! Very nice Plugin.

![](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/f8b52dc4d162de3d91f256522ce3f47357480577d592da0792e50ffa2a657f1f?
s=60&d=retro&r=g)

### 󠀁[Not working](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/not-working-3896/)󠁿

 [jeromebarbu](https://profiles.wordpress.org/jeromebarbu/) May 5, 2022 1 reply

All spam pass without any changes… I do not recommand at all

![](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/36aa895d1b34045b7f9ca36777a611802cbd045cab37e6201da2edfc58f1e89d?
s=60&d=retro&r=g)

### 󠀁[No update but still works](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/no-update-but-still-working/)󠁿

 [omahoung](https://profiles.wordpress.org/omahoung/) July 12, 2021 1 reply

The plugin hasn’t been updated for a while but it still works well.

 [ Read all 54 reviews ](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/spam-destroyer/reviews/)

## Contributors & Developers

“Spam Destroyer” is open source software. The following people have contributed 
to this plugin.

Contributors

 *   [ Ryan Hellyer ](https://profiles.wordpress.org/ryanhellyer/)
 *   [ Bjørn Johansen ](https://profiles.wordpress.org/bjornjohansen/)
 *   [ Milan Dinić ](https://profiles.wordpress.org/dimadin/)
 *   [ Brian Layman ](https://profiles.wordpress.org/brianlayman/)

[Translate “Spam Destroyer” into your language.](https://translate.wordpress.org/projects/wp-plugins/spam-destroyer)

### Interested in development?

[Browse the code](https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/spam-destroyer/), check
out the [SVN repository](https://plugins.svn.wordpress.org/spam-destroyer/), or 
subscribe to the [development log](https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/log/spam-destroyer/)
by [RSS](https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/log/spam-destroyer/?limit=100&mode=stop_on_copy&format=rss).

## Changelog

#### 2.1.7 (2026-04-29)

 * Version number bump to appease the WordPress plugin repo

#### 2.1.6 (2025-05-01)

 * Removing notice triggered by translation functionality load point

#### 2.1.5 (2025-05-01)

 * Including translation functionality

#### 2.1.4 (2024-04-18)

 * Minor change to remove “out of date” notice on WordPress.org

#### 2.1.3 (2021-10-21)

 * Minor change to remove “out of date” notice on WordPress.org

#### 2.1.3 (2019-04-19)

 * Minor change to remove “out of date” notice on WordPress.org

#### 2.1.2 (2019-03-07)

 * Fixing debbug notice in error returns

#### 2.1.1 (2018-03-18)

 * Fixing bug in admin notice GD detection

#### 2.1.0 (2018-03-18)

 * Added prefix to cookie to provide less work for those trying to do cookie auditing
 * Blocking comments when CAPTCHA is served but GD not enabled
 * Providing notice to let the admin know that the CAPTCHA system is not working
 * Providing option to disable the admin notice about CAPTCHA system not working

#### 2.0.7 (2016-19-06)

 * Added checks in file to see if WordPress is loaded.
 * Hooking class instantiation in later, due to taxonomies sometimes not being loaded
   in time.
 * Updating website domain in readme.txt file.

#### 2.0.6 (2015-11-26)

 * Fixing logged in user bug.

#### 2.0.5 (2015-10-29)

 * Removed the plugin review class due to strange errors.

#### 2.0.4 (2015-10-27)

 * Upgraded the plugin review class

#### 2.0.3 (2015-10-27)

 * Upgraded the plugin review class

#### 2.0.2 (2015-10-26)

 * Upgraded the plugin review class

#### 2.0.1 (2015-8-3)

 * Implemented text image CAPTCHA fallback for when comment detected as spam

#### 2.0 (2015-8-1)

 * Implemented text image CAPTCHA fallback for when comment detected as spam
 * Improved performance via selective loading of PHP files
 * Improved documentation
 * Added additional links on plugins page
 * Implemented time-limit for answering CAPTCHA questions
 * Addition of notices in back-end to describe what checks the comment passed
 * Removal of spam cleanout since redundant after addition of CAPTCHA fallback
 * Fixed bug which triggered legit comments to be detected as spam due to commenting
   too quickly. Time limit was adjusted from five seconds to two seconds to fix 
   this.

#### 1.4.3 (2014-12-24)

 * Support for WordPress 4.1+ added.
 * Added translation string specification in header.

#### 1.4.2 (2014-10-17)

 * Fixed a bug in the spam checking that (I think) would have cleared the content
   of bbPress posts for logged in users
 * Fixed various spellling errors and grammar wrongs
 * Updated version compatibility

#### 1.4.1 (2014-4-19)

 * Cleaning up PHPDocs

#### 1.4 (2014-3-21)

 * Now automatically deletes spam comments older than a set time (5 days)
 * Removed kill.php from trunk
 * Updated readme file for current WordPress Release

#### 1.3.2 (2013-6-24)

 * Fixed short cookie time bug thanks to Milan Dinić

#### 1.3.1 (2013-3-18)

 * Fixed bug which prevented user registration
 * Thanks to Marte Sollund and Ingvild Evje of [Nettsett](http://nettsett.no/) for
   an excellent bug report

#### 1.3 (2013-3-6)

 * Instantiated class to variable to allow for remove hooks and filters when necessary
 * Added redirect after spam comment detected
 * Added error notice on redirection due to spam comment detection

#### 1.2.5 (2012-8-19)

 * Changed from kill.php file to kill.js file
 * Allows for caching of payload
 * Allows for automatic script concatentation
 * Cookie creation achieved via raw JS
 * Key is passed to script via wp_localize_script()

#### 1.2.4 (2012-8-11)

 * Re-removed requirement for jQuery
 * Added try / catch to JS to ensure it doesn’t fail
 * Moved JS enqueue to form field area so that it only loads when needed
 * Added Bjørn Johansen to the contributor list
 * Added correct mime-type to JS file

#### 1.2.3 (2012-8-9)

 * Added requirement for jQuery due to bug with code introduced in 1.2.2

#### 1.2.2 (2012-8-9)

 * Removed need for jQuery

#### 1.2.1 (2012-8-9)

 * Moved script to footer on advice of Ronald Huereca and Bjørn Johansen
 * Fixed potential security flaw in kill.php

#### 1.2 (2012-8-5)

 * Fixed multisite and BuddyPress bugs
 * Added support for bbPress registrations
 * Added support for bbPress guest posting protection
 * Removed the “bad word” list

#### 1.1 (2012-8-5)

 * Added support for BuddyPress signup page
 * Added support for WordPress multisite signup page

#### 1.0.3 (2012-7-30)

 * Upgrade to documentation

#### 1.0.2 (2012-7-30)

 * Changed name to ‘spam-destroyer’

#### 1.0.1 (2012-7-30)

 * Cleaned up some legacy code from older implementations

#### 1.0 (2012-7-29)

 * Initial release

Any beta/alpha versions to be released in future, will be posted for download on
the [Spam Destroyer plugin page](https://geek.hellyer.kiwi/products/spam-destroyer/).

## Meta

 *  Version **2.1.7**
 *  Last updated **2 months ago**
 *  Active installations **6,000+**
 *  WordPress version ** 5.0 or higher **
 *  Tested up to **7.0**
 *  Language
 * [English (US)](https://wordpress.org/plugins/spam-destroyer/)
 * Tags
 * [anti-spam](https://kea.wordpress.org/plugins/tags/anti-spam/)[antispam](https://kea.wordpress.org/plugins/tags/antispam/)
   [buddypress](https://kea.wordpress.org/plugins/tags/buddypress/)[comments](https://kea.wordpress.org/plugins/tags/comments/)
   [spam](https://kea.wordpress.org/plugins/tags/spam/)
 *  [Advanced View](https://kea.wordpress.org/plugins/spam-destroyer/advanced/)

## Ratings

 4.6 out of 5 stars.

 *  [  47 5-star reviews     ](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/spam-destroyer/reviews/?filter=5)
 *  [  1 4-star review     ](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/spam-destroyer/reviews/?filter=4)
 *  [  1 3-star review     ](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/spam-destroyer/reviews/?filter=3)
 *  [  0 2-star reviews     ](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/spam-destroyer/reviews/?filter=2)
 *  [  5 1-star reviews     ](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/spam-destroyer/reviews/?filter=1)

[Your review](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/spam-destroyer/reviews/#new-post)

[See all reviews](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/spam-destroyer/reviews/)

## Contributors

 *   [ Ryan Hellyer ](https://profiles.wordpress.org/ryanhellyer/)
 *   [ Bjørn Johansen ](https://profiles.wordpress.org/bjornjohansen/)
 *   [ Milan Dinić ](https://profiles.wordpress.org/dimadin/)
 *   [ Brian Layman ](https://profiles.wordpress.org/brianlayman/)

## Support

Got something to say? Need help?

 [View support forum](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/spam-destroyer/)

## Donate

Would you like to support the advancement of this plugin?

 [ Donate to this plugin ](https://geek.hellyer.kiwi/products/spam-destroyer/)