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Spider Blocker

By Niteo

Security & Privacy / Security Scanning & Malware Protection

Spider Blocker Review - In-Depth Analysis

SpiderBlocker effectively blocks common bots that consume bandwidth and slow down your blog. It uses .htaccess to minimize website impact and is hidden from external scanners.

Performance Overview

WPS Score

6.91/10

User Rating

4/5 (based on 5+ reviews)

Active Installations

20,000+

Update Frequency

Below Average It is calculated using the weighted average of same category plugins.

Security Score

1 / 10 (Very Low Risk) It is calculated using the weighted average of all versions.

What It Does

Spider Blocker blocks most common bots that consume bandwidth and slow down your blog. It accomplishes this by using .htaccess file to minimize impact on your website. It is hidden from external scanners.

Spider Blocker is specifically designed for Apache servers with mod_rewrite enabled, allowing you to effortlessly safeguard your website from the most prevalent bots that hamper performance and drain resources.

With Spider Blocker, you can block unlimited bots from viewing your site, easily export and import rules, and benefit from a zero footprint solution.

Comparing to Alternatives

Spider Blocker is a straightforward plugin focused on blocking unwanted bots from accessing your WordPress site. Compared to other login security and brute force protection plugins, it offers a niche solution specifically targeting bad bots rather than login attempts or IP restrictions.

Top alternatives

Strengths

Simple and effective at blocking bad bots
Allows adding custom bots to block list
Does not interfere with multisite or admin access
Lightweight with minimal configuration needed

Weaknesses

Requires manual code adjustment for some server environments
Relies on .htaccess file being readable and writable
Limited features compared to comprehensive security plugins
No proactive login or firewall protection

User Sentiment Analysis

User feedback highlights the plugin's effectiveness and simplicity but also points out some technical and security concerns.

Positive highlights

"Very simple and effective" - Mike062
"Allows adding additional bots" - deleted
"Does what it promises to do" - Akshit Sethi
"Did not crash multisite or disable admin" - deleted

Common complaints

Does not work out of the box on some servers without code changes
Requires .htaccess to remain readable for proper function
Lack of clear information about plugin dependencies
Concerns about security if .htaccess is not properly managed

Weaknesses

Needs manual adjustment for server variables
Potential security risk if .htaccess is not maintained

Who Should Use This?

Best for

Users looking for a lightweight, no-frills plugin to block known bad bots from their WordPress site without complex setup.

Not ideal for

Those seeking comprehensive login security, brute force protection, or firewall features should consider more robust security plugins.

Pricing & Value

Free version includes

The free version provides basic bot blocking functionality, including the ability to add custom bots to the block list, making it a cost-effective solution for simple bot management.

Final Verdict

Spider Blocker is a straightforward and effective plugin for blocking unwanted bots, ideal for users who want a simple solution without extra features.

However, it requires some technical knowledge to adjust for certain server environments and depends on proper .htaccess management, which may not suit all users.