When browsing websites, you have probably encountered small tests in which you must confirm that you are “not a robot” in order to access certain content. This is the famous Captcha , a security system designed to detect possible bots and prevent abusive traffic.
Considering that over 40% of online traffic comes from bots, and many of them are programmed to manipulate pages and steal data, it’s understandable that we encounter these mini-challenges on a regular basis.
In this article I will explain why you should use it on your website, what types exist and how you can easily set it up.
A Captcha is a question-answer security measure in
Which we must prove that we are real users and not a robot or automated program. It is an acronym that, translated from English, means “ automatic public Turing test to differentiate computers from humans ”.
The ” automatic public Turing test” first appeared in the late 1990s, at the height of the Internet boom.
Initially, they consisted of images with distorted letters, which the user had to write correctly. The idea behind this was that a machine would not be able to interpret the characters, while a human could easily do so.
Over the years, programs have learned to overcome this filter,
Which has led to the development of different types of authentication tests, ranging from simple images to mathematical problems. We will go into more detail on this later.
What is a Captcha for?
In general, a Captcha serves to ensure that all actions carried out within a website are done by people and not by machines or robots.
Based on this, it is useful to prevent hackers from using programs to infiltrate a page’s data in order to obtain sensitive data, in order to use it for their own purposes, such as sending unwanted ads or misleading advertising by email.
They also prevent multiple actions performed by bots, such as mass registrations on the same platform, buying tickets outside the limit, manipulating survey results, sending aggressive comments, spam, etc.
Instead of focusing only on transactions, the real potential of using a WhatsApp number database is in creating meaningful connections. Think about using whatsapp number database your database as a community, not just a list of people, as there are people there who are willing to interact with your business if you approach them the right way.Consider throwing invite-only parties or releasing behind-the-scenes material made just for people in your database.
This type of system can even protect a website from cyber attacks.
Therefore, Captcha not only acts as a protective barrier, it also gives the user a sense of trust.
If your site also has an SSL certificate and the HTTPS security protocol , you will be conveying that you care about the security of your audience, and therefore, you will generate trust in your website.
Main types of Captcha and their examples
There are many types of security systems. Let’s review the most commonly used ones on websites.
As I told you at the beginning, the test consists of 29 most visited blog topics 2024 the user correctly typing a combination of letters and numbers.
Captcha often displays disjointed, blurred, elongated, darkened or distorted characters, so that bots cannot recognize them.
Some text confirmation techniques have combinations that are difficult for even humans to decipher, but they commonly allow the word to be refreshed so that an easier one appears.
Visual image validation systems have gradually
replaced text validation systems. In most cases, the test consists of recognizing and selecting certain elements within a group of images.
You have probably seen Captchas on more canada email lead than one occasion in which you have to select traffic signs, traffic lights, buses or trains.
These are the most common image validation systems. And if you’re wondering why they have an urban theme, it’s because the images come from the huge Google Street View library.
Audio system
Audio Captcha
It is a text Captcha, except that in this case it includes a voice command that mentions the letters and numbers that appear on the screen. It is an alternative testing method for people with low or no vision.
Mathematical problems
Captcha problem solving
It consists of overcoming simple mathematical tests,
The idea behind this type of security check is that bots would have a hard time recognizing the question and coming up with the answer.
One variant consists of small word problems, in which we must complete a word or follow a sequence.
Logical Questions
Although they are not very common, some Captchas appeal to logical or easy-to-answer questions.
The thing is that in many cases the answer doesn’t matter much. You just have to type in an answer or select a predetermined one for the system to interpret that you are a person and not a robot.
Social media captcha
You will see many of these authentication procedures when registering on a website.
Instead of filling in your private information, you have the option to link a social media profile (Facebook or Google in most cases).
This alternative prevents massive bot registrations and will give you a greater sense of security, since by linking your social networks you no longer need to share your personal data.
Advantages and disadvantages of Captcha
Adding this type of system to your website will bring you multiple benefits, most of them linked to your security. However, this system is not without its critics, so its use also has some arguments against it.
Advantages of using it
It is an almost universal method to deter spammers or hackers from trying to compromise your website.
Keeps your site data safe, especially your contact list, subscribers, and leads.
Its installation is simple in most cases,
and does not require advanced configurations.They are easy for the average user to solve, and if someone were to have a hard time, they could simply refresh the page to see a different test.
Disadvantages of this type of verification
With the development of robots and automated programs, some authentication tests have become somewhat complicated, to the point of being almost impossible for some users.
Building on the previous point, hard-to-crack validation systems could reduce conversion rates on eCommerce sites.
These security mechanisms are not
entirely foolproof. Some experts have identified certain security gaps, especially in text-based codes.
The main criticism regarding the use of this procedure is that they are not always compatible with people with visual limitations or the elderly, who often require web accessibility tools.
