In today’s digital age, website security is of utmost importance. One of the biggest threats to website security is the use of VPNs and proxies. While VPNs and proxies can be useful tools for users to protect their privacy and access content that may be blocked in their region, they can also be used to circumvent website security measures, such as IP blocking and geolocation restrictions.
As a website owner, it is important to be able to block VPN and proxy traffic to your site in order to prevent unauthorized access, malicious activity, and content scraping. Fortunately, there are several WordPress plugins available that can help you block VPN and proxy traffic.
In this guide, we will explore the use of the “Proxy & VPN Blocker” plugin for WordPress, which allows you to block VPN and proxy traffic to your site based on IP address. We will walk you through the steps to install and configure the plugin, and show you how to test it to ensure that it is working properly. With the help of this guide, you will be able to add an extra layer of security to your WordPress site by blocking VPN and proxy traffic.
How to install and use plugin Block VPN and Proxy traffics
Initially, you will have to install the “Proxy & VPN Blocker” plugin on your WordPress website. You can access the plugin page at https://wordpress.org/plugins/proxy-vpn-blocker/ or search for it in the WordPress admin plugins page.
If you have opted for the free version of the plugin, the recommended settings to follow are as follows:
Once you have installed and activated the plugin, navigate to the installed plugin page on your WordPress Admin dashboard. Locate the “Proxy & VPN Blocker” plugin from the list of installed plugins and click on the “Settings” option.
Once you have accessed the plugin settings page, ensure that the option for “Querying” and “Detects VPN” is enabled. The remaining settings can be left at their default values.
Set to restrict on specifics post and page only (Recommended)
Blocking VPN and proxy users from accessing your entire website may not be necessary. It is advisable to restrict access only to specific pages or posts that are vulnerable to invalid visitor data caused by VPN or proxy usage. Refer to the screenshot below for instructions on how to achieve this.
To politely request visitors who are using VPN or proxy applications to turn them off, you may want to modify the default “Access Denied” message. Here is an example message you can use:
“Hello! Our system has detected that you are using a Proxy or VPN. Please consider disabling it to access this website. By refraining from using Proxies or VPNs to access our website, you will greatly help us to serve better content in the future. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.”
After modifying the message, remember to click on the “Save Settings” button to ensure that the changes are saved.
Optional
You have the option to obtain an API Key to increase the number of daily queries for the “Proxy & VPN Blocker” plugin. As a free user without the API Key, you will be limited to 100 queries per day. If your website receives more than 100 visitors who use VPN or proxy applications, you may need to activate the API Key to increase your daily queries to 1,000 (Free).
In case you require additional features beyond what the free version of the “Proxy & VPN Blocker” plugin offers, you may need to upgrade to a paid version.
Conclusion
In conclusion, blocking VPN and proxy traffic to your WordPress website can significantly enhance its security and protect it from unauthorized access, malicious activity, and content scraping. The “Proxy & VPN Blocker” plugin for WordPress provides an effective solution for blocking VPN and proxy traffic based on IP address.
To utilize this plugin effectively, you should install it and activate it on your WordPress website, ensure that the “Querying” and “Detects VPN” options are enabled, and restrict access to specific pages or posts that are vulnerable to invalid visitor data caused by VPN or proxy usage. Additionally, it is recommended to customize the “Access Denied” message to politely request visitors using VPN or proxy applications to turn them off.
You can also obtain an API Key to increase the number of daily queries available to you or consider upgrading to a paid version for more advanced features.
By following the steps outlined in this guide, you will be able to enhance the security of your WordPress website and protect it from VPN and proxy threats.
I hope that you found this post useful!
