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Install mod_spamhaus Apache module to fight comment spam

mod_spamhaus is an Apache module for DNS Block Listing that protects web services by denying access to particular IP addresses. It can stop spam relaying via web form URL injection, and block HTTP DDoS attacks from bot-nets.

It queries sbl-xbl.spamhaus.org, taking advantage of the Spamhaus Block List (SBL) and the Exploits Block List (XBL).

1. Install the package

apt-get install libapache2-mod-spamhaus


Apache is automatically restarted and the module is enabled. If you would like to test the module you can add a line to your hosts file to make it think that your IP address is blocked (pico /etc/hosts)

127.0.0.4 1.0.168.192.sbl-xbl.spamhaus.org


Replace 1.0.168.192 with your IP address and reverse it. The IP address 192.168.0.1 should read 1.0.168.192.

By default, only POST, PUT, OPTIONS, CONNECT methods are blocked. You can add GET to the list of methods blocked in /etc/apache2/mods-enabled/mod-spamhaus.conf to block the spammers from seeing your website.