As a website owner, you may think it is useless and aimless for spammers to signup or register. However, the spammers’ aim is always sinister. They want to steal information, which can be in the form of email, files, banks details, documents in the media or even taking control of the website etc.

While finding such information, on the way they can damage the website as well.
Below is a summary of some details which may help you understand better the aim, purpose, and consequences from such attempts.

Aim of spam registration

• Steal email linked to the website. It can be through welcome email the spammer receive once registered.
• Get email linked to the contact form so contacting your through the contact form email
• Trying to get access to member areas and get more emails
• Trying to find bank details
• Other contact details linked to the websites such as phone numbers, postal address etc
• Members contact details and then start attacking them
• To get access to media files, paid contents, files etc
• To create hotlinking to the images of your site
• Create backlinks and then submitting to ranking websites
• Find vulnerabilities in the site and get control of the site by hacking it

Consequences of spam registrations to website owners

• Spammers run tasks in the backend which would utilise the site processing quota
• A huge spam activity can slow down your site
• Can damage your site reputation
• Can seriously damage your SEO
• Steal your products and sell on other sites for reduced prices
• Can hack the site and take control
• In the case of the hacked site, they would ask for money

Block spam registrations

Remember spammers use programmes which do all the spamming tasks automatically. So, they would not tired. So, you need to have an effective strategy.

• Must have an anti-spam and security programme or plugin installed. For instance, All In One WP Security & Firewall or Wordfence, Sucuri etc.
• Make sure that you have a reliable hosting provider, so hosting provider can keep scanning your website for any such serious attack.
• Keep an eye on your registered users.
• Block user or IP address if you find anything suspicious.
• Make sure that the site automatically blocks spammer for spammy and brute force attacks.
• You should receive an alert for new users, so you can verify them whether they are genuine.
• Make sure that your site is up to date (both theme and plugins)
• Never use nulled theme or plugins
• Always use theme or plugins which are from authentic companies/developers