=== MUTE – Contact Form Spam Blocker Without CAPTCHA ===
Contributors:      rrk14mat
Tags: contact form spam, spam blocker, anti-spam, ai bot, spam protection
Requires at least: 5.5
Tested up to:      7.1
Requires PHP:      7.4
Stable tag:        1.2.6
License:           GPL-2.0-or-later
License URI:       https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-2.0.html

Stop spam and AI bot attacks from your contact forms. No CAPTCHA, no friction. Bots are blocked silently while real inquiries get through.

== Description ==

**NEWS:** Stronger spam protection for Contact Form 7 (version 1.2.6).

**Supported form plugins:** Contact Form 7, WPForms, Gravity Forms, Elementor Forms, Ninja Forms, Jetpack Forms, Forminator, Snow Monkey Forms, MW WP Form, Fluent Forms

**SPAM NEVER STOPS.**
**Start with your site.**
**── MUTE : Good for the world.**

Still getting spam through your contact form? Tons of junk flooding your inbox every day?

Every day, countless WordPress site owners open their inbox to find it buried under fake inquiries, promotional garbage, and suspicious links — all submitted through their own contact form. Real customer messages get lost. You waste time sorting through it all. And no matter how many times you delete them, the spam just keeps getting sent again.

**MUTE is a spam blocker that puts an end to that — silently, automatically, and without making your real visitors jump through any hoops.**

= The Problem You're Probably Dealing With =

You're not alone. These are the situations we hear about every day:

* You run a restaurant. Your contact form was meant for customer inquiries — but every time you open it, it's full of scam emails and unsolicited sales links. Exhausting before the day even starts.
* You manage an e-commerce site. Your inquiry form is buried under spam every night. Real customer questions keep getting pushed to the back, and response times are slipping.
* You run a salon. A message from a new client gets lost among spam emails. By the time you reply, they've already moved on.
* You're in sales at a small business. Every morning you sift through virus-laden links and shady solicitations just to find the one real lead that came in overnight.
* Your team has started ignoring the contact form because it's mostly junk — sales pitches, phishing emails, fraudulent messages. Real customer needs go unanswered.
* You added CAPTCHA to stop the spam. Customers complained it was frustrating to use, inquiries dropped — and it's not really helping anyway. The spam kept coming.
* You've tried other anti-spam plugins. Bots still slip through. The junk never stops.
* People keep trying to sell you SEO services and marketing tools through your contact form. Every morning, your inbox is full of sales pitches instead of real customer messages.

Bots (automated programs) are constantly crawling the web, hunting for unprotected contact forms to exploit. Once they find yours, the fake submissions keep getting sent again and again. Standard solutions like CAPTCHA ask your real visitors to prove they're human — that friction costs you leads.

There's a better way.

= Protect Your Contact Form from AI Attacks =

AI has made spam bots far more convincing. Today's AI-powered bots don't just fill in a form and hit send — they imitate real people: opening the page like a visitor, moving the mouse, typing at a human pace, and pausing before they submit. Their messages read naturally too, so neither your eyes nor a simple spam filter can tell them apart. And because these messages arrive through your own contact form, they are easy to trust. That makes your form an entry point that is often overlooked.

MUTE is built to tell a real visitor from a program that is pretending to be one. It does not rely on the wording of the message — it checks how the form is actually being used, and stops automated submissions before they reach your inbox, even when they are disguised as human. It is a free first step that any small business can take today.

MUTE protects your contact form only. It does not replace antivirus software or a firewall, and it does not stop messages typed and sent by a real person.

= How MUTE Solves It =

MUTE works as a silent spam blocker running in the background of your site. It detects bot behavior before a form is ever submitted — no puzzles, no checkboxes, no interruption for real visitors.

**How it works:**

* A lightweight script loads automatically on every page of your site
* It checks form activity using multiple detection layers
* Bots are identified and blocked before their fake submissions ever reach your inbox
* Real visitors experience absolutely nothing different — their messages go through normally

The result: your inbox contains only real inquiries from real people.

= What Changes After You Install MUTE =

* The restaurant owner who dreaded opening the contact form can now check it without stress — every message there is a real inquiry.
* The e-commerce team that was always behind on replies can now respond to real customer questions quickly. Better response times, better service.
* The salon staff who worried about missing a new client's message can now reply with confidence — every message that arrives is real.
* The sales team member who wasted every morning sorting through junk can now get to real leads immediately. More time for actual work.
* Staff who had lost trust in the contact form now check it every day — because they know what's there is genuine.
* Real visitors never encounter a CAPTCHA. Your form stays smooth and easy to use.

Your contact form does what it was always meant to do: connect you directly with real customers. Checking it goes from a chore to a natural part of the day.

= Key Features =

* **Silent spam protection** — blocks bots automatically, with zero impact on real visitors
* **No CAPTCHA required** — no friction, no puzzles, no drop-off in form completions
* **Works with popular form plugins** — Contact Form 7, WPForms, Gravity Forms, Elementor Forms, Ninja Forms, Jetpack Forms, and more
* **One-line installation** — activate the plugin and it works. No settings to configure
* **Live stats in your WordPress dashboard** — see how many spam submissions have been blocked
* **Free for up to 100 blocks a month** — free forever, no credit card required
* **Past 100, blocking pauses for the rest of the month** — you are never charged automatically; the count resets on the 1st
* **$3.00/month (excl. tax) removes the limit** — unlimited blocking, nothing to maintain

= Requirements =

A free MUTE account is required. Sign up at [mute-it.com](https://mute-it.com/en/?utm_source=wporg&utm_medium=readme&utm_campaign=requirements) — no credit card required. The free plan covers up to 100 blocks per month; past that, blocking pauses until the 1st of the next month. A $3.00/month plan removes the limit.

= External Services =

This plugin relies on the MUTE spam protection service (api.mute-it.com), operated by Ryu-Raku Inc. The service is required for the plugin to work.

Data sent to the service:

* **Your site's domain and the plugin version** — to show your plan and monthly block count in the WordPress admin screen.
* **Your email address and company or site name** — only when you press the "Start for free" button, to create your MUTE account.
* **Information about form submissions on your site** — the sender's IP address, browser and request information, country and a one-time verification value may be sent to detect and block spam. IP addresses of blocked submissions are kept for up to 90 days.

A script from the service is also loaded on your public pages to run spam detection.

We never collect the contents of form submissions, or the names, email addresses or messages of the people who contact you.

* Service URL: https://mute-it.com/en/
* Terms of Service: https://mute-it.com/en/legal/terms/
* Privacy Policy: https://mute-it.com/en/legal/privacy/

== Installation ==

1. Go to **Plugins > Add New** in your WordPress admin panel.
2. Search for **MUTE**.
3. Click **Install Now**, then click **Activate**.
4. Open the **MUTE** menu in your WordPress admin panel.
5. Check your email address and site name, then click **"Start for free"**. Your free plan starts right away — up to 100 blocks per month.
6. That's it. The spam blocker starts automatically — no additional setup needed.

**Note:** If you previously added the MUTE script tag manually, please remove it after activating this plugin to avoid duplicate insertion.

== Frequently Asked Questions ==

= My inbox is full of spam from my contact form. Can MUTE help? =

Yes — that's exactly the problem MUTE is designed to solve. Once installed and activated, MUTE silently blocks bot-generated spam before it ever reaches your inbox. There is no warmup period — blocking begins as soon as the plugin is active.

= Can MUTE stop AI attacks? =
Yes, for your contact form. AI-powered bots now imitate human behavior — moving the mouse, typing at a human pace, and writing natural-looking messages. MUTE looks at how the form is being operated, not just at what the message says, so it can stop automated submissions sent by AI and bots even when they pretend to be human. It protects the contact form only, and messages typed by a real person are not blocked.

= Do I need an account? =

Yes. A free MUTE account is required. Sign up at [mute-it.com](https://mute-it.com/en/?utm_source=wporg&utm_medium=readme&utm_campaign=faq) — no credit card needed. The free plan covers up to 100 blocks per month.

= Will it affect real visitors or hurt my conversion rate? =

No. Real visitors submitting your forms are never affected. Unlike CAPTCHA, MUTE adds zero friction — your visitors won't see any puzzles, checkboxes, or delays. Only bots are blocked.

= Does it work with Contact Form 7? =

Yes. MUTE works with Contact Form 7, WPForms, Gravity Forms, Elementor Forms, Ninja Forms, Jetpack Forms, and any other contact form plugin that uses standard HTML forms and JavaScript.

= Do I need to configure anything after installing? =

No. Once you've activated the plugin and connected your MUTE account, it works automatically. There are no settings to configure and no rules to set up.

= Does it work on multisite? =

Each site (domain) requires its own MUTE account. If you run multiple sites under different domains, please register a separate account for each.

= What happens when I reach the free monthly limit? =

The free plan covers up to 100 blocks per calendar month. Once you pass that, blocking pauses for the rest of the month and your WordPress admin panel shows a prompt to upgrade. The count resets on the 1st of each month and blocking restarts automatically. Your contact forms keep working either way.

= Can I cancel anytime? =

Yes. From the MUTE dashboard you can either cancel your subscription (billing stops, you stay on the free plan) or close your account entirely at [mute-it.com](https://mute-it.com/en/dashboard/?utm_source=wporg&utm_medium=readme&utm_campaign=faq).

= I'm getting spam even with reCAPTCHA enabled. Will MUTE help? =

Yes. MUTE uses a completely different detection method and does not interfere with existing CAPTCHA setups. Instead of asking visitors to solve puzzles, it identifies bots through invisible signals in how the form is used.

= I just launched my site and I'm already getting spam. How soon does MUTE start working? =

MUTE starts blocking bots as soon as you activate the plugin and connect your account. No warmup period needed.

= Will MUTE stop SEO and marketing sales pitches from coming through my form? =

If those messages are sent by bots — and most of them are — MUTE will block them. Messages submitted manually by a real person will always get through.

= Are there cases where MUTE won't work? =

MUTE protects forms rendered directly on your page. It does not support forms embedded via iframe (e.g., JotForm, Typeform, Cognito Forms). If you use dynamic forms loaded by SPA frameworks (React, Vue, Next.js) or forms replaced by A/B testing tools, MUTE may not function correctly. Please verify compatibility on the free plan before subscribing.

As of version 1.0.20, forms that appear after the page has loaded — Elementor pop-ups, modal windows, and multi-step forms — are protected, as are forms that submit via Ajax. If your setup is unusual, you can confirm it on the free plan before subscribing.

== Screenshots ==

1. See how much spam was blocked — right inside your WordPress admin, no extra tools needed
2. Your MUTE account dashboard — plan status, registered domain, and monthly spam reports
3. Register from the WordPress admin and start on the free plan — no settings to configure

== Changelog ==

= 1.2.6 =
* Stronger spam protection for Contact Form 7.

= 1.2.5 =
* Stronger spam protection for Fluent Forms.

= 1.2.4 =
* Stronger spam protection for MW WP Form.

= 1.2.3 =
* Stronger spam protection for WPForms.
* Performance and reliability improvements.

= 1.2.2 =
* Improved spam detection accuracy.
* MUTE now detects and blocks even more spam.
* Form submissions now complete faster.

= 1.2.1 =
* Performance and reliability improvements.

= 1.2 =
* You can now start using MUTE with a single click, right from the WordPress admin screen.
* Error messages are now easier to understand.

= 1.0.20 =
* Improved protection for forms that submit via Ajax, including WPForms, Ninja Forms, Elementor Forms, and Forminator.
* Forms that appear after the page has loaded — Elementor pop-ups, modal windows, and multi-step forms — are now protected too.
* Improved compatibility with Snow Monkey Forms, MW WP Form, and Gravity Forms.
* The plugin's own hidden fields are now removed before other plugins read the submission, so they no longer show up in notification emails, auto-replies, or saved entries.

= 1.0.19 =
* Improved compatibility with third-party form plugins.
* Fixed an issue where the admin screen could show an outdated registration status.

= 1.0.18 =
* Clearer wording about the free plan: 100 blocks a month, free forever, no credit card required.
* The admin screen now states what happens at the limit — blocking pauses for the rest of the month and you are never charged automatically.
* The registration button now reads "Register and start for free".

= 1.0.17 =
* New free plan: up to 100 blocks per calendar month, with no time limit. The 14-day trial has been replaced by this plan.
* The admin screen now shows how many blocks you have used this month and when the count resets.
* Blocking pauses when the monthly free limit is reached and restarts automatically on the 1st.

= 1.0.16 =
* Minor fixes.

= 1.0.15 =
* Spam blocking now follows the account status: it stays active during the free trial and on paid plans, and stops when the trial ends without an upgrade.

= 1.0.14 =
* Enhanced spam detection accuracy.

= 1.0.13 =
* Minor optimization related to page loading speed.

= 1.0.12 =
* Resolved minor errors.

= 1.0.11 =
* Enhanced spam detection accuracy.
* Improved internal processing reliability.

= 1.0.10 =
* Improved compatibility with Contact Form 7.
* Enhanced spam detection accuracy.
* Strengthened internal processing compatibility.

= 1.0.9 =
* Compatibility and stability improvements.

= 1.0.8 =
* Added automatic spam IP reporting in the background.

= 1.0.7 =
* Improved bot detection accuracy.

= 1.0.6 =
* When signing up from WordPress, the site domain is now pre-filled automatically on the registration page.

= 1.0.5 =
* Fixed Japanese translation for subscription buttons (changed to "有料プランに申し込む").

= 1.0.3 =
* Admin panel now auto-reloads on focus for all states, including after paid plan upgrade.

= 1.0.2 =
* Japanese WordPress users are now directed to the Japanese dashboard.

= 1.0.1 =
* Minor improvements.

= 1.0.0 =
* Initial release.

== Upgrade Notice ==

= 1.2.6 =
Stronger spam protection for Contact Form 7. Update recommended.

= 1.2.5 =
Stronger spam protection for Fluent Forms. Update recommended.

= 1.2.4 =
Stronger spam protection for MW WP Form. Update recommended.

= 1.2.3 =
Stronger spam protection for WPForms. Update recommended.

= 1.2.2 =
More accurate spam detection, more spam blocked, and faster form submissions. Update recommended.

= 1.2.1 =
Performance and reliability improvements. Update recommended.

= 1.2 =
You can now start using MUTE with a single click, right from the WordPress admin screen. Update recommended.

= 1.0.20 =
Now covers forms that submit via Ajax (WPForms, Ninja Forms, Elementor, Forminator) and forms that appear after the page loads. Update recommended.

= 1.0.19 =
Compatibility and display fixes. Update recommended.

= 1.0.18 =
Clearer wording for the free plan on the admin screen. Optional update.

= 1.0.17 =
The 14-day trial is replaced by a free plan: 100 blocks per month, no time limit. Update recommended.

= 1.0.14 =
Improved spam detection accuracy. Update recommended.

= 1.0.0 =
Initial release.