WordPress Trackbacks & Pingbacks
Went into my email today to find another Trackback request. I thought I had put that option off within Genesis. Yes I had put it off on Genesis, but apparently it was all still on within WordPress settings.
Put Trackback Off
In dashboard - Settings - Discussion - Default article settings
you will find this:
The second checkbox allows your site to receive ping-backs and trackbacks. This was also checked for me and it was giving me those emails. It was once a good functionality for blogs, until spam bots abused it to post all sorts of scams and pornographic content sites towards your blog to gain back-links.
On top of that people can misuse the trackback option for so called DDoS attacks (Distributed Denial of Service) type of hacking and abuse attacks.
Trackback is heavy for the server and it is unnecessary for your site. It adds load that you don't need (makes your site slower if you would get a lot of them), so put it off. It also saves you for emails.
I am still looking in how to make my site faster. Google PageSpeed wants me to change all sorts of stuff in CSS and Javascript, but this is all because of plugins that I don't have much control over, or do I?
What do you suggest I concentrate on?
Recent Comments
8
I am so glad you shared this information, because just yesterday I was reviewing the entire layout of the page I was on in my WordPress Website builder, and I noticed both of those had a check mark there. I thought it must be a good thing or default with my theme, if I had not checked them. I will change this immediately, because oh the embarrassment if pornography, or other unacceptable content was on my site!!! No way!!
Great Share, Thank you,
Tracy
Hi Steven, what plugins do you have? members were told to get rid of cache plugins and anything having to do with speed they are included with SiteSpeed. Keeping them will cause problems.
Also, all that stuff Google PageSpeed wants you to fix is taken care of with SiteSpeed as SiteSupport told me. We don't touch those.
You can turn off the trackbacks and pingbacks on each page and post in 'edit' at the bottom. It's the one before turning comments on.
Everytime I write up a post I have a checkoff list and it includes turning them off. Is Genesis just for trackbacks and pingbacks? because you can do it manually. Too many plugins causes your speed to be slow.
Hi Patsy! Thanks for your reply!
Genesis is part of StudioPress theme. Genesis is the framework and my theme (Metro Pro) is the child theme and active theme.
I know that I have a lot of plugins, but I am unable to get rid of them really:
- AddToAny Share Buttons (share and follow on buttons)
- All In One SEO Pack (you know what that is)
- Contact Form 7 (contact form)
- EWWW Image Optimizer (image optimizer)
- Easy Forms for MailChimp (email collection)
- Taqyeem (reviews plugin)
- Taqyeem - Buttons Addon (reviews plugin addon)
Then there is one more plugin that is only active when on dashboard:
- Dashboard Wordcount
Google Page Insight says:
46% on Mobile
61% on Desktop
Server response
As for the trackbacks and pingbacks, they are not under my post but they are there what I showed in the blogpost above.
Steven
Thanks Steven. I have EWWW Image Optimizer I added it when we got SiteSpeed it was recommended.
I don't get the Share buttons for me it would be a waste to have along with Mailchimp, and the 2 for reviews? I have never heard of plugins for reviews.
I have Benchmark for my Subscriber sign up form they have an autoresponder also among more features I'm sure Mailchimp has. There is a double optin for spam protection and fake sign ups.
The best part is it's free for what I have and...it's NOT a plugin! They have a ton of options for free.
100 % mobile
99% desktop and my loading speed for mobile is 3 seconds.
I have a couple of blog posts about speeds and my results.
Seriously, I would get rid of 1/2 of what you have. You should have the SSL Insecure Content Fixer plugin it goes with the SiteSSL (HTTPS) that is in SitePlus+.
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Thanks Steven. Helpful, am going to check my WP discussion settings now... Hmm... I also had the first one checked (now unchecked) but the 2nd one was already unchecked so not sure how I still get Trackbacks. Ho hum. Another day, another mystery to solve.