Extending StatTraq and Spam Control

April 1st, 2005, by Rich.

I spent a while chatting with StatTraq author Randy Peterman over the last few days, we’re both interested in how to remove (or hide) referral spam from site usage statistics in order that they may be a realistic and meaningful reflection of actual human visitors.

After a little hacking I’m pleased to say that I now have a version of StatTraq that can automatically identify referral spam as it arrives. Every hit is still still added to the database, but hits from spammers are marked as such, which means that when the stats are viewed, spam can be excluded.

Interestingly this also means that spam statistics can also be analysed.

I’m going to be working with Randy (as time permits us both) in order to get these additions integrated into the main release.

I already have a cleanup-script so existing stat-traq users will be able to cleanse their database and not lose any of their existing data about visitors or spammers.

Beta testers, developers & people with requests and suggestions ; please leave a message.

greg Says:
April 9th, 2005 at 1:24 pm

Hi!

I’d like to betatest your ref-spam-blockers on my wordpress block. is that possible?

thanks
greg

rich boakes Says:
April 11th, 2005 at 7:16 am

You’re on the list Greg, I’ll send you something as soon as it’s usable, installable and unlikely to destroy anything thay you may care for. I notice that your stats are free many of the referral spam domains that I normally see - are you currently removing them by hand?

rags Says:
September 17th, 2005 at 12:22 am

Could you send me the script, I would like to test it as well. Thanks

Dan Says:
February 28th, 2006 at 2:08 am

I’d like a look at that script too if possible.

Rok Says:
April 4th, 2006 at 1:31 pm

Rich,

while persuading the link you have given to me in my Problem query of “mostwanted post”. The “http://www.randypeterman.com/StatTraq”. Since it is not responding, I googled around and found this post link.

Can you give me the link of statraq. Which is perfect i.e. does has spam control, faster and does not hog bandwidth.

boakes.org