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Spamming Attack Mitigation & Website Security Recovery
Security incident response for a WordPress service-business website: automated spamming/email abuse at high volume, emergency hardening, and a stable recovery with ongoing monitoring.
Incident Overview
On September 6, the website experienced a severe automated spamming attack intended to disrupt operations and damage performance/lead flow. The incident included high-volume spam activity and repeated access attempts from multiple locations.
Spam Volume
120,000+
spam emails within 24 hours
Response Window
18 hours
to stabilize and recover
Approach
Layered
firewall + blocking + form protection
Impact
- Email systems overwhelmed by automated spam volume
- Increased security risk due to repeated access/login attempts
- Potential SEO and reputation impact from instability and spam signals
- Immediate need to protect lead flow while minimizing disruption for real visitors
Response & Mitigation
I implemented a fast, layered response designed to reduce automated abuse immediately, then harden the site to prevent reoccurrence. Sensitive details (exact IPs/rules) are intentionally withheld for security.
1) Containment
Firewall protections applied to block suspicious traffic patterns and reduce automated access.
2) Blocking at Scale
High-risk traffic sources were blocked and the attack surface was reduced through targeted restrictions.
3) Form & Spam Prevention
reCAPTCHA added across forms to prevent automated submissions and bot-driven email abuse.
4) Geo-based Restrictions (when needed)
Access restrictions were applied for regions generating repeated malicious traffic during the incident.
5) Verification & Monitoring
Post-mitigation verification and continued monitoring to ensure stability and prevent recurrence.
Result
- Website stabilized and secured after mitigation
- Spam volume reduced to normal levels
- Ongoing monitoring in place for continued protection
- Lead flow restored and site operations returned to normal
Need Emergency WordPress Protection?
If your site is facing spam abuse, brute-force attempts, or unusual traffic spikes, I can assess the situation and implement a layered protection plan focused on safety, stability, and long-term prevention.
