Title: Disable Trackbacks Author: Automattic Published: September 8, 2008 Last modified: September 29, 2008 --- Search plugins This plugin **hasn’t been tested with the latest 3 major releases of WordPress**. It may no longer be maintained or supported and may have compatibility issues when used with more recent versions of WordPress. ![](https://s.w.org/plugins/geopattern-icon/disable-trackbacks.svg) # Disable Trackbacks By [Automattic](https://profiles.wordpress.org/automattic/) [Download](https://downloads.wordpress.org/plugin/disable-trackbacks.zip) * [Details](https://pcd.wordpress.org/plugins/disable-trackbacks/#description) * [Reviews](https://pcd.wordpress.org/plugins/disable-trackbacks/#reviews) * [Installation](https://pcd.wordpress.org/plugins/disable-trackbacks/#installation) * [Development](https://pcd.wordpress.org/plugins/disable-trackbacks/#developers) [Support](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/disable-trackbacks/) ## Description When it comes to spam and [pingbacks](https://codex.wordpress.org/Introduction_to_Blogging#Pingbacks)/ [trackbacks](https://codex.wordpress.org/Introduction_to_Blogging#Trackbacks), the vast majority by far is via trackbacks rather than pingbacks. Very, very few people use trackbacks for legitimate uses anymore (I’ve gotten less than 5 in the last 8 months) as WordPress, etc. all use pingbacks now as their primary ping method. I had already installed [Cookies For Comments](http://ocaoimh.ie/cookies-for-comments/) which successfully stops most spam comments but I still had to deal with the tons of trackback spam. So, I wrote this plugin. It will disable new trackbacks across your site, both legitimate and spam. However since very few people use trackbacks legitimately, this combined with Cookies For Comments should cut your spam down to next to zero. **Why should I use this plugin over one of those trackback validator plugins?** Most non-Akismet style anti-trackback spam plugins work by connecting to the URL that sent the trackback and looking for a link to your blog. The problem with this is that many spammers actually post links to your blog in their spam posts rendering those types of plugins useless. Even those that check the IP address to make sure it matches are beaten by spam blogs (aka splogs). In the end it’s up to you what to use for anti-spam, but I personally use Cookies For Comments, this plugin, and then Akismet to catch anything that makes it through. ## Installation Extract all files from the ZIP file, making sure to keep the file structure intact, and then upload it to `/wp-content/plugins/`. Then just visit your admin area and activate the plugin. That’s it! There’s no configuration needed (or even available). **See Also:** [“Installing Plugins” article on the WP Codex](https://codex.wordpress.org/Managing_Plugins#Installing_Plugins) ## Reviews There are no reviews for this plugin. ## Contributors & Developers “Disable Trackbacks” is open source software. The following people have contributed to this plugin. Contributors * [ Automattic ](https://profiles.wordpress.org/automattic/) * [ Alex Mills ](https://profiles.wordpress.org/viper007bond/) [Translate “Disable Trackbacks” into your language.](https://translate.wordpress.org/projects/wp-plugins/disable-trackbacks) ### Interested in development? [Browse the code](https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/disable-trackbacks/), check out the [SVN repository](https://plugins.svn.wordpress.org/disable-trackbacks/), or subscribe to the [development log](https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/log/disable-trackbacks/) by [RSS](https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/log/disable-trackbacks/?limit=100&mode=stop_on_copy&format=rss). ## Changelog **Version 1.0.0** * Initial release. ## Meta * Version **1.0.0** * Last updated **18 years ago** * Active installations **200+** * Language * [English (US)](https://wordpress.org/plugins/disable-trackbacks/) * Tags * [spam](https://pcd.wordpress.org/plugins/tags/spam/)[trackback](https://pcd.wordpress.org/plugins/tags/trackback/) * [Advanced View](https://pcd.wordpress.org/plugins/disable-trackbacks/advanced/) ## Ratings 5 out of 5 stars. * [ 1 5-star review ](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/disable-trackbacks/reviews/?filter=5) * [ 0 4-star reviews ](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/disable-trackbacks/reviews/?filter=4) * [ 0 3-star reviews ](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/disable-trackbacks/reviews/?filter=3) * [ 0 2-star reviews ](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/disable-trackbacks/reviews/?filter=2) * [ 0 1-star reviews ](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/disable-trackbacks/reviews/?filter=1) [Add my review](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/disable-trackbacks/reviews/#new-post) [See all reviews](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/disable-trackbacks/reviews/) ## Contributors * [ Automattic ](https://profiles.wordpress.org/automattic/) * [ Alex Mills ](https://profiles.wordpress.org/viper007bond/) ## Support Got something to say? Need help? [View support forum](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/disable-trackbacks/) ## Donate Would you like to support the advancement of this plugin? [ Donate to this plugin ](http://www.viper007bond.com/donate/)