LukaCodes

LukaCodes AntiSpam Shield is a lightweight, no-bloat plugin that protects your WordPress comment section and contact forms from spam. Five independent tools, one settings page. <a href="https://lukacodes.com/comment-shield-docs/" rel="nofollow ugc">Read the full documentation</a>.
<ul>
<li>Disable Website Field — Removes the URL/website field from the comment form. Works with all themes, including those that hardcode the field (CSS fallback included).</li>
<li>Strip Links from Comments — Automatically removes all <code><a href></code> hyperlinks from comment content — both on display and before saving to the database. Spammers get zero benefit from posting links.</li>
<li>reCAPTCHA v3 — Adds Google’s invisible bot-score protection. No checkbox, no puzzle, no friction for real users. Bots are silently blocked server-side.</li>
<li>Cloudflare Turnstile — A privacy-friendly CAPTCHA alternative. Mutually exclusive with reCAPTCHA v3 — enabling one automatically disables the other.</li>
<li>Login Shield — Adds CAPTCHA to the WordPress login form (<code>wp-login.php</code>). Stops brute-force bots silently.</li>
<li>Registration Shield — Adds CAPTCHA to the WordPress registration form. Blocks bot account creation.</li>
<li>WPForms Integration — Apply the same CAPTCHA protection to WPForms Lite — using the same keys you already configured, no extra setup.</li>
</ul>
All features are independent — enable only what you need.
<h4>Login & Registration Shield</h4>
Version 1.1.2 adds CAPTCHA protection to <code>wp-login.php</code>:
<ul>
<li>Login Shield — Hooks into <code>wp_authenticate_user</code> for server-side verification after credentials are checked. Returns a <code>WP_Error</code> if CAPTCHA fails — WordPress displays it as a normal login error.</li>
<li>Registration Shield — Hooks into <code>registration_errors</code> to add CAPTCHA validation during registration. Works alongside all other WordPress registration validations.</li>
</ul>
Both are independently togglable in the settings panel. Admins already logged in are never affected.
<h4>WPForms Integration</h4>
Version 1.1.0 introduces CAPTCHA protection for WPForms Lite:
<ul>
<li>Hooks into <code>wpforms_display_submit_before</code> to inject the CAPTCHA widget before the submit button.</li>
<li>Hooks into <code>wpforms_process</code> for server-side token verification.</li>
<li>Works with both reCAPTCHA v3 (invisible) and Cloudflare Turnstile (visible widget).</li>
</ul>
Note: WPForms Pro includes its own native CAPTCHA integration — this feature is intended for WPForms Lite users only.
<h4>Why AntiSpam Shield?</h4>
Most anti-spam plugins are heavy, require accounts, or add ugly CAPTCHAs. LukaCodes AntiSpam Shield is different:
<ul>
<li>~30 KB total — no external libraries, no jQuery dependency</li>
<li>Settings page with live key testing — verify your reCAPTCHA or Turnstile keys before enabling</li>
<li>Link stripping preview — paste any comment text and see exactly what gets removed</li>
<li>Graceful fallback: if Google’s or Cloudflare’s API is unreachable, comments are held for moderation (never lost)</li>
<li>Trusted users (administrators) bypass CAPTCHA checks automatically</li>
<li>Mutual exclusion: reCAPTCHA v3 and Cloudflare Turnstile cannot be active at the same time</li>
<li>WP Coding Standards compliant — fully escaped output, nonce-protected AJAX</li>
</ul>
<h4>reCAPTCHA v3 — How it works</h4>
When a visitor submits a form, JavaScript silently requests a score token from Google. The token is sent with the submission and verified server-side against your minimum score threshold (configurable from 0.1 to 1.0). No user interaction required.
<h4>Cloudflare Turnstile — How it works</h4>
A Turnstile widget is rendered inside the form. When the visitor completes the challenge, a token is submitted and verified server-side against the Cloudflare API.
<h3>Third-Party Services</h3>
This plugin optionally uses the following third-party services:
<h4>Google reCAPTCHA v3</h4>
A service provided by Google LLC.
<ul>
<li>What it does: Detects bots and spam on your comment form and contact forms without user interaction.</li>
<li>When data is sent: Only when reCAPTCHA v3 is enabled. A token is sent to <code>https://www.google.com/recaptcha/api/siteverify</code> on each form submission.</li>
<li>What data is sent: The visitor’s IP address and a reCAPTCHA token.</li>
<li>Google Privacy Policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy</li>
<li>Google Terms of Service: https://policies.google.com/terms</li>
</ul>
<h4>Cloudflare Turnstile</h4>
A service provided by Cloudflare, Inc.
<ul>
<li>What it does: Presents a privacy-friendly CAPTCHA widget on comment and contact forms.</li>
<li>When data is sent: Only when Cloudflare Turnstile is enabled. A token is sent to <code>https://challenges.cloudflare.com/turnstile/v0/siteverify</code> on each form submission.</li>
<li>What data is sent: The visitor’s IP address and a Turnstile token.</li>
<li>Cloudflare Privacy Policy: https://www.cloudflare.com/privacypolicy/</li>
<li>Cloudflare Terms of Service: https://www.cloudflare.com/website-terms/</li>
</ul>
Both services are entirely optional. If you do not enter API keys or enable either CAPTCHA, no data is sent to any third party.

LukaCodes AntiSpam Shield

Block comment spam, brute-force logins and bot registrations with reCAPTCHA v3 or Cloudflare Turnstile. Lightweight, no bloat.

R.Sabbir

SecureGate Captcha Lite is a high-performance security suite built to safeguard your WordPress site from intrusive spam, malicious bots, and brute-force attacks. Leveraging professional-grade tools like Cloudflare Turnstile alongside our unique Math and Character CAPTCHA fallback system, we ensure your site remains impenetrable while maintaining a seamless, privacy-first experience for legitimate users.
Protect Your Store – <a href="https://woocommerce.com/products/securegate-captcha/" rel="nofollow ugc">Upgrade to Pro Now</a>
<h4>Why Choose SecureGate Captcha Lite?</h4>
Complete Protection 
Secure all critical WordPress forms including admin login, user registration, password reset, and comment submissions. Each form can be individually enabled or disabled based on your needs.
Privacy-First Approach 
Built with GDPR compliance in mind. Uses Cloudflare Turnstile for privacy-focused bot detection and includes a self-hosted fallback CAPTCHA that requires zero external API connections.
Lightning Fast Performance 
Optimized code that loads only when needed. No bloat, no unnecessary requests, and fully compatible with all major caching plugins to ensure your site remains fast.
Smart Rate Limiting 
Intelligent rate limiting prevents brute-force attacks by tracking failed login attempts and automatically locking out suspicious IP addresses temporarily.
Easy to Configure 
Intuitive admin interface with clear settings for CAPTCHA providers, protected forms, and security rules. Get started in minutes with sensible defaults.
<h4>Core Features</h4>
CAPTCHA Providers
<ul>
<li>
Cloudflare Turnstile – Modern, privacy-focused CAPTCHA with excellent UX
<ul>
<li>Free forever with generous limits</li>
<li>Invisible verification for most users</li>
<li>No user frustration with image puzzles</li>
<li>Privacy-compliant (no cookies or tracking)</li>
<li>Easy API key setup</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>
Built-in Fallback CAPTCHA – Self-hosted protection that works always
<ul>
<li>Math challenges (simple arithmetic)</li>
<li>Warped text recognition challenges</li>
<li>No external dependencies or API keys</li>
<li>GDPR compliant by design</li>
<li>Perfect for restricted networks</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
Protected Forms
<ul>
<li>WordPress Login – Protect admin and frontend login forms from credential stuffing</li>
<li>User Registration – Stop spam bot registrations instantly</li>
<li>Password Reset – Prevent password reset abuse and email flooding</li>
<li>Comment Forms – Block spam comments without moderation queues</li>
</ul>
Security Features
<ul>
<li>Rate Limiting – Configure maximum failed attempts before temporary lockout</li>
<li>Automatic IP Blocking – Temporary bans for suspicious IPs based on behavior</li>
<li>Customizable Thresholds – Set your own limits for attempts and lockout duration</li>
<li>Admin Exemptions – Administrators are automatically exempt to prevent lockouts</li>
<li>IP Allowlisting – Bypass CAPTCHA for trusted IP addresses</li>
</ul>
Privacy & Compliance
<ul>
<li>GDPR Ready – Anonymized IP logging with automatic expiration</li>
<li>Data Minimization – Only essential data is stored as transients</li>
<li>7-Day Auto-Cleanup – All logs automatically deleted after 7 days</li>
<li>No External Tracking – Built-in CAPTCHA requires no third-party services</li>
<li>User Control – Administrators can disable all logging if desired</li>
</ul>
Performance Optimizations
<ul>
<li>Conditional Loading – Scripts load only on protected pages</li>
<li>Zero Impact – No performance degradation on unprotected pages</li>
<li>Cache Friendly – Works seamlessly with WP Rocket, W3 Total Cache, LiteSpeed Cache</li>
<li>Lightweight Assets – Optimized CSS and JavaScript for minimal footprint</li>
<li>Database Efficiency – Uses WordPress transients instead of permanent database rows</li>
</ul>
<h4>Perfect For</h4>
<ul>
<li>Bloggers – Protect comments from spam without moderation</li>
<li>Membership Sites – Secure registration and login processes</li>
<li>Business Websites – Prevent fake registrations and form abuse</li>
<li>Personal Blogs – Simple setup with powerful protection</li>
<li>Portfolio Sites – Keep contact forms and comments spam-free</li>
</ul>
<h4>Technical Specifications</h4>
<ul>
<li>WordPress Version: 5.8 or higher</li>
<li>PHP Version: 7.4 or higher (PHP 8.0+ recommended)</li>
<li>Multisite Compatible: Yes</li>
<li>Translation Ready: Yes (with .pot file included)</li>
<li>Performance Impact: Negligible (loads only on protected forms)</li>
<li>Browser Support: All modern browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge)</li>
</ul>
<h4>Supported CAPTCHA Providers</h4>
Cloudflare Turnstile 
Turnstile is Cloudflare’s modern, privacy-preserving alternative to traditional CAPTCHAs. It uses sophisticated browser challenges that are invisible to most legitimate users while effectively blocking bots.
Built-in Fallback CAPTCHA 
Our self-hosted CAPTCHA system offers two challenge types: 
– Math Challenges: Simple arithmetic problems (e.g., “What is 7 + 3?”) 
– Text Recognition: Warped text characters requiring human recognition
Both are effective against automated bots while remaining accessible to humans.
<h4>Comparison with Other CAPTCHA Plugins</h4>
Unlike many CAPTCHA plugins that rely solely on external services, SecureGate Captcha Lite provides: 
– Multiple provider support with automatic fallback 
– Self-hosted option for complete independence 
– Advanced rate limiting built-in 
– Modern, user-friendly admin interface 
– Regular updates and active development 
– Clean, well-documented code
<h3>Privacy & Data Collection</h3>
What Data Does This Plugin Collect?
SecureGate Captcha Lite is designed with privacy as a core principle:
Stored Locally (in your WordPress database as transients): 
* Anonymized IP addresses (last octet removed) 
* Timestamp of verification attempts 
* Success/failure status of CAPTCHA verifications 
* Failed attempt counters for rate limiting
NOT Stored: 
* User emails or usernames 
* Personal identifying information 
* Browser fingerprints 
* Tracking cookies (plugin-side) 
* Permanent user profiles
External Service Data: 
When Cloudflare Turnstile is enabled, user browser data is sent to Cloudflare for bot detection. Please review <a href="https://www.cloudflare.com/privacypolicy/" rel="nofollow ugc">Cloudflare’s Privacy Policy</a> for details.
When using the Built-in CAPTCHA, NO external services are contacted.
Data Retention: 
All logs are stored as WordPress transients and automatically deleted after 7 days. Administrators can disable logging entirely in settings.
Right to Erasure: 
No personal data is collected that would require manual erasure requests under GDPR.
<h3>Support & Documentation</h3>
Need Help?
<ul>
<li>Documentation: Visit the <a href="https://wordpress.org/plugins/securegate-captcha-lite/" rel="ugc">plugin page</a> for guides and tutorials</li>
<li>Support Forum: Get help from the community at <a href="https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/securegate-captcha-lite/" rel="ugc">WordPress.org Support</a></li>
<li>Bug Reports: Report issues on the support forum</li>
<li>Feature Requests: Share your ideas on the support forum</li>
</ul>
Response Time: 
We monitor the support forum regularly and aim to respond within 24-48 hours for most queries.
<h3>Credits & Acknowledgments</h3>
Developed with ❤️ by R.Sabbir
Special Thanks: 
* Cloudflare team for Turnstile 
* WordPress community for feedback 
* Early adopters and beta testers
Third-Party Services: 
When Cloudflare Turnstile is enabled, this plugin connects to Cloudflare’s servers for CAPTCHA verification. By using Turnstile, you agree to Cloudflare’s <a href="https://www.cloudflare.com/website-terms/" rel="nofollow ugc">Terms of Service</a> and <a href="https://www.cloudflare.com/privacypolicy/" rel="nofollow ugc">Privacy Policy</a>.
<h3>About the Developer</h3>
R.Sabbir is a WordPress security specialist focused on creating user-friendly security solutions for WordPress sites. With years of experience in web development and security, the SecureGate Captcha plugin series aims to make enterprise-grade security accessible to everyone.
Other Plugins: 
* Stay tuned for more security-focused WordPress plugins!
<h3>Rate This Plugin</h3>
If SecureGate Captcha Lite has helped protect your site, please consider <a href="https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/securegate-captcha-lite/reviews/#new-post" rel="ugc">leaving a 5-star review</a>. Your feedback helps us improve and motivates continued development!

SecureGate Captcha Lite

Complete site security with Cloudflare Turnstile, Math & Character CAPTCHA. High-performance protection for Login, Registration, and Comment forms.

LukaCodes AntiSpam Shield vs SecureGate Captcha Lite