What is Form Spam?
Form spam is when your web forms are submitted by a user or a script to send spam to the receiver of the form. This is different to standard email spam where the spam is sent directly to an email address. Form spam is submitted to and processed by your form processor which then sends it to the form delivery email address. Form spam is less sinister than standard spam or form hijacking which are both single action mass distribution.
How is Form Spam Sent?
Form spam can simply be a real user sending you unsolicited information by completing your form. In most cases this information will be for something in which you have absolutely no interest or desire to even be associated with.
Increasingly however form spam is being automatically generated by scripts. If you receive large volumes of form spam emails then it is likely it is an automated script submitting your form.
How do I prevent Form Spam?
Methods for stopping Form Span include:
- Use your email client to filter spam emails. Various tools on the WebX360 Network can also help reduce spam.
- Have the form processing script perform data validation. Check for required fields and email address validation. In a Form1 processor setting the Defined Required Form Fields and the Defined Email Address Form Field provides this functionality. JavaScript field validation offers no protection as it only runs in a browser, and only if JavaScript is enabled.
- Best of all, upgrade your online forms scripts so they are utilizing a technology called CAPTCHA which forces the user to enter a randomly generate code when submitting information through an online form. WebX360 clients' who have migrated to the new form scripts have not reported any online form related SPAM issues.
If you are interested in upgrading your online form please contact us for more information.
