I use the comment and trackback filters successfully and with the exception of those who sneak past my code word, it does a pretty good job. I do have to fish legit comments at times from the junk, but not a big deal.

My question is how to ban trackback spammers either from the unpublished list or the junk file.
You can do this to some degree in comments by using the drop down menu and clicking "ban commenter" (whether it works or not is hard to say) but with trackbacks, the drop down is not activated (gray) and there seems no way that I can find to add an IP of a spammer to a banned list.

Is this possible or am I missing something.
Hoping someone has some insight on this as I can find nothing in the user manual or knowledge base.

Using Movable Type with Yahoo Web Hosting.

Perry/Chicago

The Ban Commenter action applies only to TypeKey authenticated commenters - it will not have any effect on comments not posted via TypeKey, and does not relate to IP addresses at all.

To ban an IP address from commenting on or sending TrackBacks to your weblog, you would need to manually add the IP address to the IP Ban List, via the options on the Settings > IP Banning tab. If you are using Movable Type 3.2x or 3.3x, and do not see the IP Banning tab, you can enable this feature by adding the following directive to your mt-config.cgi file:



It is generally considered that IP banning is rather ineffective against the majority of spam, though. If you are attempting to block a spammer, a preferable measure may be to add the domain name(s) being used in the spam in SpamLookup's Keyword junk filter. Then no matter what IP is used by the spammer (spammers can quite easily change and spoof IP addresses), you will be protected.

You might also want to investigate the AutoBan plugin.

Sarah,
Thanks for getting back to me.
I have investigated the AutoBan Plugin and installed it and it might be working.

My single problem I am trying to address is a trackback spammer who is getting past the Trackback filter. They use the same IP every time.

Please advise where in the mt-config.cgi file do I add the ShowIPInformation 1 code?
I added it where I thought it looked right, but no sign of the IP Banning tab. And where should I be seeing the IP Banning tab? In the system overview?

And please advise as to where to access and add to the SpamLookup's Keyword junk filter.
No amount of searching is finding that either.

Also, I should have mentioned using MT 3.2ysb5.

Thanks again for your help.
Perry/Chicago

Anywhere in the file, as long as it is on its own line, and does not have a # at the beginning. The file should be edited in a plain text editor, and transferred in ASCII mode.



If SpamLookup is installed and enabled, you will find those settings on the System Overview > Plugins tab, and also the weblog-level Settings > Plugins tab. You will need to have System Administrator permissions to access these.

Thank You Sarah.
Those extra tidbits were just what I needed.
I did need to remove the # for the Ban IP to work and found the keyword filter just fine.
Here's hoping I can stop at least this one goof.

Thank you.

Perry/Chicago