Compatibility
Minecraft: Java Edition
Platforms
Creators
Details
ProtectCord - Advanced IP Protection for Minecraft
Protect your Minecraft server from VPNs, proxies, bots, and malicious connections with real-time IP intelligence.
ProtectCord uses advanced IP reputation data to automatically block suspicious connections before they can harm your server. Perfect for preventing alt accounts, bot attacks, and maintaining a trustworthy player base.
✨ Key Features
- 🛡️ Real-Time IP Verification - Every connection is checked against our threat intelligence database
- 🚫 Block VPNs & Proxies - Stop ban evaders and alt accounts in their tracks
- ⚠️ Risk-Based Blocking - Configurable threat levels from LOW to CRITICAL
- 🌐 Multi-Platform Support - Works on Paper, Spigot, Folia, BungeeCord, and Velocity
- 📢 Discord Integration - Get real-time alerts when suspicious players are blocked
- ✅ Smart Whitelist System - Bypass protection for trusted players, IPs, or UUIDs
- ⚡ Lightweight & Fast - Async IP checks won't slow down your server
- 📊 Built-in Statistics - Monitor your API usage and blocked connections
🎮 Supported Platforms
Platform | Versions | Best For |
---|---|---|
Spigot | 1.8.8 - 1.21+ | Legacy servers and vanilla Spigot |
Paper | 1.13 - 1.21+ | Modern optimized servers |
Folia | 1.19+ | High-performance multithreaded servers |
BungeeCord | 1.8.8 - 1.21+ | Proxy networks (Waterfall compatible) |
Velocity | 1.8.8 - 1.21+ | Modern proxy networks |
📥 Quick Setup
1️⃣ Get Your Free API Key
- Visit protectcord.com
- Create a free account
- Generate an API key from the dashboard
- Free API key includes 32 requests per minute!
2️⃣ Install the Plugin
- Download the correct version for your platform from Modrinth
- Drop the JAR into your
plugins/
folder - Start your server (config files will generate automatically)
- Add your API key to
plugins/ProtectCord/config.yml
- Run
/protectcord reload
or restart - Done! Your server is now protected ✅
💡 For Network Owners
Running a BungeeCord or Velocity proxy? Install only on the proxy for network-wide protection. This saves API calls and protects all your backend servers with one installation!
⚙️ Configuration
Simple, powerful configuration with sensible defaults:
# Your ProtectCord API key
api-key: "YOUR_API_KEY_HERE"
# What to block
enable-ip-check: true
block-vpn: true # Block VPN connections
block-proxy: true # Block proxy servers
block-datacenter: false # Block datacenter IPs (hosting providers)
block-bogon: true # Block invalid/bogus IPs
# Risk threshold - how strict should blocking be?
# Options: LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH, CRITICAL
blocked-risk-level: "HIGH"
# Discord webhooks (optional)
discord-webhook:
enabled: false
url: ""
events:
denied: true # Alert when players are blocked
accepted: false # Alert when players connect
whitelisted: true # Alert when whitelisted players join
error: true # Alert on API errors
Note: Velocity users use config.toml
format instead of YAML
🎯 Commands & Permissions
All commands require the protectcord.admin
permission (default: OP)
Main Commands
Command | Description |
---|---|
/protectcord reload |
Reload config and whitelist |
/protectcord stats |
View API usage and limits |
/protectcord check <player|ip> |
Manually check an IP |
/protectcord list |
View all whitelisted entries |
Whitelist Commands
Command | Description |
---|---|
/protectcord whitelist add player <name> |
Whitelist a player |
/protectcord whitelist add uuid <uuid> |
Whitelist a UUID |
/protectcord whitelist add ip <address> |
Whitelist an IP address |
/protectcord whitelist remove <type> <value> |
Remove from whitelist |
Command Aliases: /pc
, /protect
Permissions
Permission | Description | Default |
---|---|---|
protectcord.admin |
Access to all commands | OP |
protectcord.bypass |
Bypass IP checks (reserved for future use) | false |
🛡️ How It Works
Detection System
ProtectCord checks every connecting player against our threat intelligence database:
- ✅ VPN Detection - Identifies virtual private networks used to hide real IPs
- ✅ Proxy Detection - Detects HTTP/SOCKS proxies and anonymizers
- ✅ Datacenter IPs - Flags hosting providers (common for bots)
- ✅ Risk Scoring - AI-powered risk assessment from UNKNOWN to CRITICAL
- ✅ Bogon Detection - Blocks invalid/reserved IP ranges
Risk Levels Explained
Level | What It Means | Default Action |
---|---|---|
UNKNOWN | Not enough data | ✅ Allow |
LOW | Clean IP address | ✅ Allow |
MEDIUM | Some suspicious activity | ✅ Allow (configurable) |
HIGH | Known malicious activity | ❌ Block |
CRITICAL | Active threat/attacker | ❌ Block |
Tip: Customize blocking threshold with blocked-risk-level
in your config!
Automatic Bypasses
Smart detection automatically allows:
- Localhost -
127.0.0.1
,::1
- Private networks -
192.168.x.x
,10.x.x.x
,172.16-31.x.x
- Whitelisted players - Configured via commands or config file
📢 Discord Webhook Integration
Get notified instantly when suspicious players try to connect!
Setup in 30 Seconds
1. Create Discord Webhook
- Server Settings → Integrations → Webhooks → New Webhook
- Copy the webhook URL
2. Add to config:
discord-webhook:
enabled: true
url: "https://discord.com/api/webhooks/YOUR_WEBHOOK_HERE"
events:
denied: true # Get alerts when players are blocked
3. Reload: /protectcord reload
What You'll See
- 🔴 Connection Denied - Player blocked (includes IP, reason, risk level)
- 🟢 Connection Accepted - Player allowed (optional)
- 🔵 Whitelisted Join - Trusted player connected
- 🟠 API Error - Problem with IP check
❓ FAQ
Is this free to use? Yes! Our free API key includes 32 requests per minute which is plenty for most servers.
Will this lag my server? No! IP checks are 100% asynchronous and won't block the main thread. Most checks complete in under 100ms.
Can I whitelist my staff/friends?
Absolutely! Use /protectcord whitelist add player <name>
or whitelist by UUID/IP for permanent bypass.
What if a legitimate player gets blocked?
Whitelist them with /protectcord whitelist add player <name>
. You can also adjust blocked-risk-level
to be less strict.
Does this work with offline mode? Yes, but we recommend online mode for better security. The plugin works on both.
Can I use this on a proxy network? Yes! Install only on the proxy (BungeeCord/Velocity) for network-wide protection. Don't install on backend servers.
What happens if the API is down? By default, players are allowed to connect if the API is unreachable. This prevents lockouts during maintenance.
Where is my data stored? Only IP addresses are sent to the ProtectCord API for checking. No player data, UUIDs, or usernames are transmitted. See our privacy policy.
🚀 Why Choose ProtectCord?
Advantages Over Other Anti-VPN Plugins
✅ Real-time threat intelligence - Updated constantly, not outdated databases ✅ Risk scoring system - More nuanced than simple block/allow ✅ Multi-platform support - One solution for all server types ✅ Active development - Regular updates and improvements ✅ Great support - Fast response times on Discord ✅ Free forever - No hidden costs or paywalls
Perfect For
- 🎮 PvP Servers - Stop ban evaders from using VPNs
- 🏰 Survival Servers - Prevent alt accounts and griefing
- 🎪 Network Owners - Protect all servers with one installation
- 🛡️ Hub Servers - Block bots before they can spam
- ⚔️ Competitive Servers - Ensure fair play with IP verification
🔧 Troubleshooting
"API KEY NOT CONFIGURED!" error
- Get your API key from protectcord.com/dashboard
- Add it to
plugins/ProtectCord/config.yml
- Run
/protectcord reload
Players getting blocked incorrectly
- Check the reason:
/protectcord check <player>
- Whitelist them:
/protectcord whitelist add player <name>
- Or lower strictness: Change
blocked-risk-level
toHIGH
orCRITICAL
Rate limit exceeded
Free tier: 32 requests/min (approximately 1 player every 2 seconds)
Solutions:
- Use whitelist for regular players to reduce API calls
- On proxies, only install on the proxy (not backend servers)
- Private/local IPs are automatically bypassed (no API call)
Discord webhook not working
- Verify webhook URL is correct
- Make sure
enabled: true
- Check Discord channel permissions
- Look for errors in console
📊 Statistics & Monitoring
Track your protection in real-time:
/protectcord stats
Shows:
- Plan type (Free)
- Requests used today
- Rate limit (32 requests/minute)
- API status
🌐 Links & Support
- 🌍 Website: protectcord.com
- 📖 API Documentation: api.protectcord.com
- 🎫 Dashboard: protectcord.com/dashboard
- 💬 Discord Support: protectcord.com/discord
Need help? Join our Discord server for fast support!
📜 License
MIT License - Free to use, modify, and distribute
💖 Support the Project
- ⭐ Star this project on Modrinth
- 💬 Join our Discord community
- 📝 Leave a review and share your experience
- 🐛 Report bugs or suggest features
Protect your server today with ProtectCord - Because prevention is better than moderation.
Made with ❤️ for the Minecraft community