How to stop reader from repeatedly hitting a post?
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Greetings!
Yesterday, a user found a post on my blog via a search-engine. They have been repeatedly re-reading the post via the same search-engine request. I’ve seen nearly 2,000 hits since yesterday just from this person. I tried to temporarily move the post into the trash, but the 404 page refers to my main blog page … so, traffic started to increase there. I also tried to password-protect the page to no avail … it seems like the hit-counter on wordpress.com still triggers at a password-protected page.
I know that it’s against WP policy to block IP addresses. Is there any way to issue a hard 404 with no reference to my blog in the body or something of that nature? These errant hits are skewing my stats.
I have the IP address, but I’d rather not post it in an open forum.
The search-engine terms used are: simulate mouse movement utility prevent
The post that the user is hitting is the “Preventing Windows Screen-Saver Activation” on the http://jimlawless.wordpress.com/ blog.
Thank you.
The blog I need help with is: (visible only to logged in users)
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Comment Blacklist here > Settings > Discussion
Comment Blacklist
When a comment contains any of these words in its content, name, URL, e-mail, or IP, it will be marked as spam. One word or IP per line. It will match inside words, so “press” will match “WordPress”.
Take note of the notation above. TheneEnter all personal data you have on this “reader” in the box, scroll down and click “Save Changes”. -
This isn’t comment-spam. As I understand it, the settings above will only prevent the reader from adding comments.
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This is a public forum. I have flagged this thread so tour Moderators will remove the link to your posts. That way you won’t have other curious types hitting it and screwing up your stats along with the current offender. If you want to contact Staff directly here’s the link > http://en.support.wordpress.com/contact/
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Understood but I posted the Comment Blacklist information anyway. Then I posted the link so you can contact Staff directly and get their advice.
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There really isn’t anyway to keep people from visiting your blog other than making it private. Blocking IP addresses is useless since IP addresses are no longer unique and ISP’s assign on IP address to a whole group of people – sometimes hundreds of them. Also, if the person were to go to a different location such as a wi-fi hotspot, they would have a different IP address. Even something as simple as rebooting a DSL or Cable modem would typically give them a different IP address.
Also, blocking an IP address means that you could potentially be blocking hundreds of others since IP addresses are no longer unique as they once were.
I use a Verizon mi-fi wireless internet device since we do not have cable or DSL available where we are, and each time I log in in the morning, I have a different IP address.
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Thanks for the info, thesacredpath, I’m aware of that. All of this traffic is coming from a single IP whose hostname resolves to a DSL customer. I believe it is the same machine as the source as the browser signature is identical and leading search terms are identical in each request.
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It sounds like what you may be experiencing is a really amateurish attack. I’m glad to hear it’s resolved. I’m sure support will look at your stats, see it’s resolved, and move on.
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