TypePad AntiSpam FAQ
What is TypePad AntiSpam?
Why release a Beta of TypePad AntiSpam?
Is TypePad AntiSpam only for TypePad users?
I'm a TypePad blogger. Do I need to do anything to use TypePad AntiSpam?
How does TypePad AntiSpam work if I'm not using TypePad?
Is there a TypePad AntiSpam plugin for Movable Type? How about for WordPress or other platforms?
What do I need to do to get started?
How much does TypePad AntiSpam cost?
How will you support the service?
How can I help make TypePad AntiSpam smarter?
Why are you open sourcing TypePad AntiSpam?
Won't TypePad Antispam being open source help spammers work around the system?
What is TypePad AntiSpam?
TypePad AntiSpam is a valuable new free tool in the fight against comment spam. Developed by Six Apart, TypePad AntiSpam blocks comment spam to improve the quality of your blog conversations and for the good of the blogosphere.
TypePad AntiSpam is a spam filtering service that combines several adaptive learning engines to score inbound comments, TrackBacks and PingBacks, and determine whether they are "spam" or "ham." The filters learn from user reports, enabling TypePad AntiSpam to quickly adapt to new spam attacks.
Why release a Beta of TypePad AntiSpam?
While we're proud of what we've been able to accomplish in filtering comment and TrackBack spam on TypePad, we know that as we open the service up to more users, that TypePad AntiSpam may encounter different types of spam that it hasn't seen yet, and hasn't had a chance to learn from. This is why we're designating the release as "beta" -- we expect the service to learn and get better from wider adoption. Your feedback and reporting of spam will help us continue to fight spam.
Is TypePad AntiSpam only for TypePad users?
No. TypePad AntiSpam is already integrated into the TypePad blogging service, so we've decided to make it available for no charge to bloggers on other platforms—including Movable Type and Wordpress software. We believe that all blogs should be safe, open and free from spam.
I'm a TypePad blogger. Do I need to do anything to use TypePad AntiSpam?
Not a single thing! TypePad bloggers already enjoy the protection of TypePad AntiSpam—it’s one of the benefits of our hosted service. In fact, thanks to your diligent spam reporting, TypePad AntiSpam becomes more effective every day, and adapts to new spam attacks in real time.
As a TypePad blogger, you play a key role in continuing to make TypePad AntiSpam better by clicking the “Report Spam” button in the List Comments screen. Before you click, please remember: only report a comment as spam when you feel that it came from a spammer. Reporting comments as spam just because you disagree with them or simply dislike them isn't cool. You can remove those comments from your blog by clicking “Unpublish” or “Delete.”
How does TypePad AntiSpam work if I'm not using TypePad?
Whenever a new comment is left on your blog, the TypePad AntiSpam plugin submits it to a web service at TypePad that analyzes its content and returns a simple “thumbs up” or “thumbs down” score. The plugin then passes the scored item to your blog software, which then chooses to publish or hold the item based on the score. TypePad AntiSpam also accepts reports of spam via the plugin, and these reports help train the system to identify and block new types of spam attacks.
Is there a TypePad AntiSpam plugin for Movable Type? How about for WordPress or other platforms?
Yes! TypePad AntiSpam is built in to Movable Type 4.2, and there is a plugin for Movable Type which is compatible with all versions of Movable Type 4, plus Movable Type 3.3 and Movable Type Enterprise 1.5. All future versions of Movable Type will ship with the plugin for TypePad AntiSpam pre-installed.
We're also shipping a plugin that is compatible with Wordpress versions 2.3, 2.5 and 2.6. You can download those plugins, get an API key and start using TypePad AntiSpam today. See the Get Started page for more information.
What do I need to do to get started?
If you're a TypePad blogger, you don't need to do anything; you're already enjoying the benefits of TypePad AntiSpam. All we ask is that if an unwanted comment does ever appear that you report it so that the system becomes even smarter and more effective.
If you use Movable Type or WordPress, all you need to get started is an API key and a plugin.
- Get an API key. All you'll need is a free TypePad profile; if you don't have a TypePad profile, creating one is simple and free. Visit www.typepad.com/profiles/ to learn more.
- Download the plugin. Visit Get Started to get a plugin for Movable Type 4, Movable Type 3.3, Movable Type Enterprise 1.5, Wordpress 2.3, 2.5 or 2.6.
- Install and configure the plugin. Once you've downloaded the plugin, you'll need to install and configure it for your system. Each plugin has installation docs included in the download.
How much does TypePad AntiSpam cost?
TypePad Antispam is free, and will always be free, regardless of the number of comments your blog receives. We are strongly committed to spam-free blogs and vibrant, healthy conversations. Charging for the service based on the number of comments processed would mean that we would actually benefit from the behavior of spammers. We don't make money from spam!
How will you support the service?
We may choose to provide enterprise-class services on top of TypePad AntiSpam at some point in the future. We will work with our customers who have specific requirements that go beyond the core TypePad AntiSpam service to define those service offerings and appropriate pricing models.
If your site or organization has unique needs that aren't met by TypePad AntiSpam, by all means, get in touch! (antispam@sixapart.com)
How can I help make TypePad AntiSpam smarter?
TypePad AntiSpam is an adaptive system that learns from the behavior of its users, and so the best—and simplest—thing you can do to help make the service better is to use it. If you receive a comment that is spam be sure to report it—with one simple click. The more people use TypePad AntiSpam, the faster the system will learn and the more accurate the system will become.
Why are you open sourcing TypePad AntiSpam?
To allow the development community to build on top of our antispam engine, helping to create an even better service for the good of the blogosphere. We believe that less spam is better for everyone. And many publishers are uncomfortable with the idea of sending comments through a third-party service, or have privacy policies that prohibit sending users' comments to another company without permission. You shouldn't have to give up great antispam protection just because you're strict about privacy.
Won't TypePad Antispam being open source help spammers work around the system?
We aren’t sharing all of the rules and logic that we run with our implementation of the TypePad AntiSpam engine. We are open sourcing the core engine, allowing others to build on top of our system allowing them to build and operate their own spam service. We believe that the development community is highly intelligent, and that their contributions to this project will make it even smarter and more effective.
