This document summarizes Anthony Bubel's presentation on spam and the WordPress ecosystem. It finds that while spam levels have remained steady, spamming techniques are evolving to target specific sites and users through increased obfuscation, hijacked websites, direct contact, and non-English spam. Emerging trends like new generic top-level domains may also impact future spam levels if used by spammers. Overall, the document outlines ongoing changes in spamming strategies and content while the amount of spam identified remains largely consistent over the past few years.

1. WordCamp US 2015
The State of Spam
Anthony Bubel, Automattic
Spam and the WordPress Ecosystem

2. 25%

3. Points of Entry
W O R D P R E S S . C O M
B B P R E S S
C O M M E N T S
C O M M E N T I N G P L AT F O R M S
P L U G I N S
U S E R R E G I S T R AT I O N S
B U D D Y P R E S S
C O N TA C T F O R M S

4. By the Numbers

5. Steady As She Goes
2013 2014 2015
96% 98%94%
percentage of content submissions identified as spam
4 7 B 9 6 B 7 7 B

6. Low Quality False Positive Reports
2013 2014 2015
11m 5m36m
as determined systematically at response time

7. Low Quality False Positive Reports
2013 2014 2015
75% 58%90%
percentage of total false positive reports

8. Low Quality Missed Spam Reports
2013 2014 2015
102m 97m108m
as determined systematically at response time

9. Low Quality Missed Spam Reports
2013 2014 2015
91% 95%92%
percentage of total missed spam reports

10. 3-Year Reporting Trust Increase

11. Seasonality
of spam occurs
in
35%
Over
Q4

12. Evolutionary Notes

13. . X Y Z
. T O P
. C L U B
. S C I E N C E
New gTLDs
2 0 K
1 0 K
3 K
4 K
. S P A C E
7 K
spam appearances per hour

14. New gTLDs not much
of a factor…yet.

15. The (Continued) Rise of the Human Spammer

16. Increased Targeting
10%
top
of daily active sites
90%
make
of requests

17. Increased Targeting
1%
top
of daily active sites
70%
make
of requests

18. Maximum Obfuscation
IᑎᗪℰᑭℰᑎᗪℰᑎT 【⁑➒➊⁑9910255145】 DwAℝka
ℜussℐan ℂaℓℓ gℐℜℒs ℐn DwAℝka DeLhI escoℜts
servIcES In Mohan Garden TagOrE GaRdeN
ℋousewife ℋigℌ ℙroℱile Collage ℊiℛℒs MOdElS
FemaLe ForeIGner PunJabi KasHMiRi Low rate
cheap price cost picture video number 3 5 7
A S C I I / U N I C O D E C O N F U S A B L E S
N O N - P R I N T I N G C H A R A C T E R S

19. Payload Hosts: A Glimpse
W E B S . C O M
Y O U T U B E . C O M
2 5 K
2 0 K
T U M B L R . C O M
spam appearances per hour
R E D D I T. C O M
7 K
3 K
FA C E B O O K . C O M 2 0 K
PA S S I O N Z C A R E E R S . C O . U K 1 0 K

20. Hacked WordPress sites make
great payload hosts…update!

21. Bad Words

22. S A L E
S E T S
U G G
J A C K E T S
K L A S S
G E N E R I C
C H E A P
P O L O
G O O S E
O U T L E T
C I A L I S
C A N A D A
A U S T R A L I A
M O N C L E R
C H E R
V I A G R A
P R I C E
M A R A N T
K O R S
D V D
B O X
I S A B E L
L O U B O U T I N
R A L P H
M I C H A E L

23. Popular Spammy Words
M I C H A E L K O R S
D V D
1 . 1 7 M
3 . 4 M
C I A L I S
comment_content spam appearances per hour
M O N C L E R
5 0 0 K
1 . 2 M
L O U B O U T I N 3 1 0 K
V I A G R A 3 3 9 K
R A L P H L A U R E N 2 . 6 M
C H E A P 1 . 5 M

24. Fashion knockoffs and
prescription drugs still the
most prevalent spam topics.

25. Usurping the Prince

26. Hacking for Hire
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skype; ************

27. Fake Technical Support
Microsoft windows 10 tech support @1(855)-999-8045
Phone number |Help Desk|? **CALL @1(855)-999-8045
to get wonder solutions for all your Microsoft
windows 10 technical issues call 1(855)-999-8045
for wonder solutions for your all issues regarding
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windows 10 technical support phone number.**
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that's the reason there are lots of the issues
occurred after the installation of windows 10 the
common issues with windows 10 are.

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want i have initiate allot of friends and family
member, young and old ,if you have interest and you
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you want will defiantly be yours contact <a
href="mailto:vampireword74@gmail.com">vampireword74
@gmail.com</a> today and be one of us or you can
call on +2348105217305

29. Korean Megaspam
시알리스 정품 판매 (( fao8,net )) 정품 시알리스 판매,최음제 판
매하는곳,정품 레비트라 판매 n시알리스 정품 판매 ((
fao8,net )) 정품 시알리스 판매,최음제 판매하는곳,정품 레비트라
판매 n시알리스 정품 판매 (( fao8,net )) 정품 시알리스 판매,
최음제 판매하는곳,정품 레비트라 판매 n시알리스 정품 판매 ((
fao8,net )) 정품 시알리스 판매,최음제 판매하는곳,정품 레비트라
판매 n시알리스 정품 판매 (( fao8,net )) 정품 시알리스 판매,
최음제 판매하는곳,정품 레비트라 판매 n시알리스 정품 판매 ((
fao8,net )) 정품 시알리스 판매,최음제 판매하는곳,정품 레비트라
판매 n시알리스 정품 판매 (( fao8,net )) 정품 시알리스 판매,
최음제 판매하는곳,정품 레비트라 판매 n시알리스 정품 판매 ((
fao8,net )) 정품 시알리스 판매,최음제 판매하는곳,정품 레비트라
판매 n시알리스 정품 판매 (( fao8,net )) 정품 시알리스 판매,
최음제 판매하는곳,정품 레비트라 판매 n시알리스 정품 판매

30. Korean Megaspam
강남러시아오피や강남백마오피のo1o - 2156 - 2312 도실장 강남백마
방 강남백마문의 강남백마오피예약 강남권백마추천 강남역백마예약 강남역
러시아백마오피실장번호 강남백마실장번호안내강남러시아오피や강남백마오
피のo1o - 2156 - 2312 도실장 강남백마방 강남백마문의 강남백마
오피예약 강남권백마추천 강남역백마예약 강남역러시아백마오피실장번호
강남백마실장번호안내강남러시아오피や강남백마오피のo1o - 2156 -
2312 도실장 강남백마방 강남백마문의 강남백마오피예약 강남권백마추천
강남역백마예약 강남역러시아백마오피실장번호 강남백마실장번호안내강남러
시아오피や강남백마오피のo1o - 2156 - 2312 도실장 강남백마방 강
남백마문의 강남백마오피예약 강남권백마추천 강남역백마예약 강남역러시
아백마오피실장번호 강남백마실장번호안내강남러시아오피や강남백마오피の

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32. Moving Forward

33. More humans.
The rise of new gTLDs.
More gimmicks.
Better user judgment.
Increased obfuscation.
…more spam.
More direct human contact.

34. Thank you.