Team beta version

Note: This plugin requires HTTPS to function (due to Web Crypto API usage).
The Story: The Forging of the Ultimate Defense
This project began with a simple goal: to create a lightweight honeypot trap to catch basic bots. But during development, we faced a harsh reality: Simple traps are obsolete. Modern AI bots and headless browsers can easily step over traditional defenses. A basic trap was no longer enough; we needed a fortress.
So, we forged a completely new architecture. We added Proof of Work, Behavioral Analysis, and Rate Limiting. What started as a simple honeypot evolved into a 15-layer invisible firewall. Like a samurai’s blade, it operates with absolute precision—completely invisible to your real customers, yet ruthlessly executing a “Silent Kill” on spam bots before they ever reach your inbox or database.
Samurai Honeypot protects every Contact Form 7 and WPForms form with fifteen independent defense layers. 
Each layer contributes a score, and blocked submissions are handled by a 3-Tier Triage System:
<h4>3-Tier Triage System</h4>
<ul>
<li>Tier 1 (Pass): Score below the threshold (default 50) — email is sent normally.</li>
<li>Tier 2 (Quarantine): Score between the threshold and 99 — email is silently suppressed (Silent Kill) and the submission is saved to the built-in Quarantine Log for admin review.</li>
<li>Tier 3 (Drop / Instant Kill): Score of 100 or higher — email is silently suppressed and the submission is permanently dropped without logging. This protects your database from bloat during DDoS or mass bot attacks.</li>
</ul>
Warning — False Positives: Depending on your environment, legitimate emails may occasionally be flagged as spam. Enterprise proxies, strict corporate firewalls, outdated browsers, VPNs, and unusual network configurations can trigger detection layers. You MUST check the Quarantine Log periodically to identify and recover any false positives. The plugin cannot distinguish all edge cases automatically.
<h4>Defense Layers</h4>
<ol>
<li>JS Injection Gate — Blocks bots that cannot execute JavaScript. Tokens are fetched via REST API for full page-cache compatibility.</li>
<li>Polymorphic Honeypot — Decoy field name is cryptographically derived per token (not exposed in the API response), hidden from humans via CSS.</li>
<li>Token Signature — HMAC-SHA256 signed stateless token with IP and Form ID binding.</li>
<li>Time Trap — Detects impossibly fast submissions. Browser autofill is automatically exempt.</li>
<li>Proof of Work — SHA-256 computational challenge via Web Crypto API that forces CPU cost on bots.</li>
<li>Behavioral Entropy — Hash-verified human-like event counters: mouse, keyboard, touch, scroll. Uniqueness tracking detects script reuse.</li>
<li>Headless UA Block — Server-side User-Agent check instantly blocks known headless browsers and automated tools (Headless Chrome, Puppeteer, PhantomJS, Selenium, Playwright, Nightmare, Electron). Toggleable in settings for E2E testing compatibility.</li>
<li>Headless Detection — Detects automated browser environments (navigator.webdriver, plugin count, window.chrome, language count).</li>
<li>UA Age Detection — Scores based on Chrome version age. 2+ years: +10, 3+ years: +20, 4+ years: +30. Bots often use hardcoded old User-Agent strings that never update.</li>
<li>Rate Limiting — Per-IP submission rate limiting with IPv6 /64 normalization.</li>
<li>Replay Protection — Atomic token consumption (INSERT IGNORE) + TTL expiry enforcement.</li>
<li>IP Blacklist — Manually configured IP/CIDR blacklist for known bad actors.</li>
<li>Content: URL Limit — Flags messages containing more URLs than the configured threshold.</li>
<li>Content: BBCode — Detects BBCode link syntax (<code>[url=...]</code>) that never appears in legitimate form submissions.</li>
<li>Content: Denylist — Matches against WordPress Disallowed Comment Keys (Settings > Discussion).</li>
</ol>
<h4>Key Features</h4>
<ul>
<li>3-Tier Triage — Pass, Quarantine (with local log), or Drop. No legitimate message is lost without a trace — quarantined submissions are saved for admin review.</li>
<li>Built-in Quarantine Log — Blocked Tier 2 submissions are saved to a local database table (up to 1,000 entries, FIFO). View date, score, trigger reasons, and full form data from the admin panel. No external plugin required.</li>
<li>DDoS-Resilient Tier 3 Drop — Submissions scoring 100+ are immediately dropped from memory without any database write. This prevents database exhaustion during mass bot attacks.</li>
<li>GDPR Compliant — No cookies, no external service calls, no plugin-specific PII stored. IP addresses are one-way hashed with a site-specific salt before any storage — raw IPs never touch the database. No consent banner required.</li>
<li>Stateless Tokens — No database writes for token generation; prevents DoS via DB bloat.</li>
<li>Zero Trust Client — All client-submitted data is verified server-side with HMAC signatures and hash integrity checks.</li>
<li>Zero Configuration — Activate and all Contact Form 7 / WPForms forms are protected automatically.</li>
<li>Cache Compatible — Tokens are fetched via REST API, so page caching works fine.</li>
<li>Multiple Forms — Works correctly with multiple forms on the same page.</li>
<li>IP Whitelist / Blacklist — Whitelist trusted IPs or CIDR ranges to skip all scoring. Blacklist known bad IPs to add +100 score instantly. Optionally whitelist all logged-in WordPress users.</li>
<li>Headless Browser Blocking — Server-side User-Agent check instantly blocks Headless Chrome, Puppeteer, Selenium, and other automated browsers (+100 score). Enabled by default; can be toggled off for E2E testing.</li>
<li>Content Rules — Detect spam patterns in form content: excessive URLs, BBCode link syntax, and WordPress Disallowed Comment Keys matching.</li>
<li>Trusted Proxy Support — Optional mode for Cloudflare and reverse proxy environments with IP range validation.</li>
<li>Lightweight — Three PHP files, no external dependencies, no jQuery.</li>
</ul>

Samurai Honeypot for Forms

Invisible 15-layer anti-spam for Contact Form 7 & WPForms. Score-based 3-Tier Triage silently blocks bots — no CAPTCHA, no user friction.

WPExperts.io

Ryan

Add extra Spam Protection functionalities to your Contact Form 7 forms with CF7 Apps.
Contact Form 7 is one of the most popular form plugins for WordPress, but it lacks many advanced features that modern websites need. CF7 Apps adds extra Spam Protection functionalities to your Contact Form 7 forms, introducing honeypot and hCaptcha options.
👉 Get Support: <a href="https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/contact-form-7-honeypot/" rel="ugc">Click Here</a> 
👉 Check out the <a href="https://cf7apps.com/docs/?utm_source=wp_org&utm_medium=readme&utm_campaign=documentation" rel="nofollow ugc">Documentation</a>
<h3>What CF7 Apps Can Do for You ?</h3>
Right out of the box, CF7 Apps includes:
✅ Honeypot App 
✅ hCaptcha App 
✅ Database Entries App 
✅ Redirection App 
✅ Webhook App 
✅ ACF Integeration 
✅ AI Form Generator
💡 <a href="https://cf7apps.com/submit-idea/?utm_source=wp_org&utm_medium=readme&utm_campaign=suggest_a_feature" rel="nofollow ugc">Suggest a Feature</a>
And that’s just the beginning.
🌟 Save and Manage CF7 Form Submissions 
The Entries Database App stores all Contact Form 7 submissions directly to your WordPress database. Easily filter entries by form or date, view individual CF7 submissions, and export or delete them when needed. This ensures you never lose important leads or messages, even if emails fail to deliver.
🌟 Add a Honeypot Field to Prevent Spam
Our Honeypot Contact Form 7 extension creates a hidden field inside your Contact Form 7 forms. Real users never see it, but bots do—and that’s how the bots fall for the trap. It blocks automated spam before it even hits your inbox.
🌟 Add hCaptcha to Contact Form 7
Protect your forms from spam bots using hCaptcha, a privacy-friendly alternative to Google reCAPTCHA. This extension integrates directly with CF7 and works instantly after setup. No coding is required, and no extra plugins are needed. Just set up your site keys and you’re done.
🌟 Manage & View Contact Form 7 Entries
Store, view, and manage all your Contact Form 7 submissions directly inside your WordPress dashboard. This extension logs every form entry automatically, giving you an organized record of user submissions. No coding or third-party tools required just activate and start tracking instantly.
🌟 Redirect Users After Form Submission
Easily redirect users to any internal or external page after submitting a form. This extension lets you control the post-submission experience with custom URLs, thank-you pages, or marketing funnels. No coding needed configure your redirect URL and it works immediately.
🌟 Send Form Data via Webhooks
Automatically forward your Contact Form 7 submission data to any external service using webhooks.This extension enables seamless API integrations, automation workflows, and third-party connections. No additional plugins or coding required just add your webhook URL and you’re ready to go.
🌟 Integrate ACF Fields into Your Forms
Easily pull Advanced Custom Fields (ACF) data into your Contact Form 7 forms using the built-in ACF field tags. This integration lets you map and display your custom ACF fields directly inside CF7 without any extra plugins or coding. Just enable the feature, select your ACF fields, and your form is ready to use.
🌟 Generate Forms Instantly with AI
Create powerful Contact Form 7 forms in seconds using the built-in AI Form Generator. Simply enter your requirements, and the AI will generate a complete, ready-to-use form tailored to your needs, with no manual setup or coding required. Just enable the feature, provide your prompt, and your form is ready to go.
NOTE: 
The best thing is that both features work independently. You can run them alone or together based on your site’s needs.
<h3>Real Use Cases for CF7 Apps</h3>
With the CF7 Apps, you can do the following: 
 ✔️ Trap bots using a honeypot field without affecting users 
 ✔️ Add hCaptcha to Contact Form 7 for privacy-first anti-spam 
 ✔️ Store and manage Contact Form 7 entries directly in WordPress 
 ✔️ Redirect your Contact Form 7 submissions to any internal or external page. 
 ✔️ Send your form data to any third-party service or custom endpoint through our Webhook. 
 ✔️ Display dynamic ACF field values inside your Contact Form 7 forms for personalized entries. 
✔️ Instantly generate dynamic, ready-to-use forms with AI based on your input and requirements.
<h3>Why Should You Install CF7 Apps?</h3>
<ul>
<li>Works exclusively with Contact Form 7</li>
<li>Modular design — activate only the features you need</li>
<li>Lightweight — no unnecessary code or bloat</li>
<li>Built for form security, user control, and advanced customization</li>
<li>Continuously updated with new apps and requested features</li>
</ul>
We built CF7 Apps for users who want more power without abandoning the simplicity of Contact Form 7.
<h3>Try Our Other Awesome WordPress Plugins</h3>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://wordpress.org/plugins/post-smtp/" rel="ugc">Post SMTP:</a> Reliable WordPress email delivery plugin with detailed email logs and multiple SMTP integrations. </li>
<li><a href="https://wordpress.org/plugins/gutena-forms/" rel="ugc">Gutena Forms:</a> Create modern, responsive contact forms directly in the Gutenberg block editor. Includes advanced fields, spam protection (reCAPTCHA & Cloudflare Turnstile), and entry management. </li>
<li><a href="https://wordpress.org/plugins/wp-easy-pay/" rel="ugc">WP EasyPay:</a> Accept Square payments and donations easily on your WordPress site. </li>
<li><a href="https://wordpress.org/plugins/password-protected/" rel="ugc">Password Protected:</a> Secure your WordPress site, posts, pages, and categories with simple password protection. </li>
<li><a href="https://wordpress.org/plugins/file-manager-advanced/" rel="ugc">Advanced File Manager:</a> Manage and organize WordPress files effortlessly from your dashboard. </li>
<li><a href="https://wordpress.org/plugins/wc-shop-sync/" rel="ugc">WC Shop Sync:</a> Add Square payments and sync WooCommerce products, customers, and orders with Square POS. </li>
<li><a href="https://wordpress.org/plugins/mycred/" rel="ugc">myCred:</a> Add gamification, rewards, ranks, and a points management system to your WordPress website. </li>
<li><a href="https://wordpress.org/plugins/bookify/" rel="ugc">Bookify:</a> Your complete online bookings and appointment scheduling solution for WordPress. </li>
<li><a href="https://wordpress.org/plugins/aio-login/" rel="ugc">All In One Login:</a> Secure your WordPress login page, change wp-login.php URL, and add social logins including Google, Facebook, Microsoft, and LINE. </li>
<li><a href="https://wordpress.org/plugins/new-user-approve/" rel="ugc">New User Approve:</a> Control new user registrations by approving or denying signups. </li>
<li><a href="https://wpexperts.io/" rel="nofollow ugc">WP Experts WooCommerce Store:</a> Explore premium WooCommerce plugins and solutions by WPExperts.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Contribute or Report Issues</h3>
Do you have a feature request or bug to report? Contact us via the <a href="https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/contact-form-7-honeypot" rel="ugc">official Support Channel.</a>

CF7 Apps – Honeypot, Database, Redirection, Webhook, and Addons for Contact Form 7

Its not working. I did everything i can on the youtube every possible solution but its not working still sending.

Hi I think i found out that your plugin has a conflict to my https://wordpress.org/plugins/multiline-files-for-contact-form-7/ if this is activated.

its not working

didn't help to prevent attacker sending spam a lot.
just not sending the form when honeypot is filled is too much of information for an attacker.

Lots of Spam


It worked better before, now the attackers go past it and there is a lot of spam.


Before it was better


This used to be a simple, free, honeypot plugin for CF7It has been taken over and now it is a useless piece of bloatware.


I feel betrayed


I've been using this plugin for several years and even published a tutorial in French (Comment configurer Honeypot for Contact Form 7) on my own website to help people set it up right.



I really liked the way it was lightweight, efficient, and non-invasive. What a pity to discover in an update: yet another totally useless dashboard.



I understand the need for upsells to fund the development process, I really do. But it pisses me off to see this enshitification something that was high-quality before.



It really makes people want to fork the plugin to clean it up.



Please bring us back the quality plugin you made, and stop with the useless option pages for pity's sake.


yet another totally useless dashboard


The honeypot either don't work at all, or is blocking everything for no reason, with everything detected as spam.



ContactForm7 is a truely good plugin. But instead of adding new broken/useless features everywhere (AI generated forms ? seriously ?), please juste make sure the basics work fine.



Honeypot never worked. Adding a simple 2+2 = ? was infinitely more efficient in blocking spam.


Broken antispam

Add hCaptcha, Honeypot, and Redirection to Contact Form 7 with CF7 Apps, and generate forms effortlessly with AI. Improve form security, keep it light …

Samurai Honeypot for Forms vs CF7 Apps – Honeypot, Database, Redirection, Webhook, and Addons for Contact Form 7