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Great and easy-to-use alternatives to CAPTCHA
Bots out there looking to do some malicious things are always a present danger on the internet. The damage or inconvenience they have cost people is enough to warrant websites looking for ways to block their entry. This is why CAPTCHA was invented — it was an extra line of defense that kept those pesky bots out. It’s being said though, many have found them cumbersome and often difficult to execute properly.
This is why we have compiled some of the best alternatives to CAPTCHA that work just as well and are easier for users to do:
What is Captcha?
CAPTCHA stands for Completely Automated Public Turing test and it was designed to be able to tell real humans from the bots. It often entails picking out certain objects from a group of pictures or copying out a series of warped and stretched letters. These are relatively difficult for computers or bots to do but are easy for most humans.
They are often used for the following:
Keeping polls accurate.
Limiting bots from registering for services.
Preventing false comments or creating false accounts.
Preventing ticket inflation.
The problem is though that sometimes CAPTCHAs are difficult to perform. Some people just cannot answer them correctly and end up very frustrated. Also, they are not applicable for some browsers, leaving some websites vulnerable. This has led many website owners or app makers to use alternatives to CAPTCHA that are less of a hassle and work perfectly with their platforms.
Below are some of the most common and favoured alternatives to CAPTCHA currently available online:
1. The Honeypot Trap
This is one of the most popular alternatives because it is invisible to the user. A honeypot trap is written on the CSS of a website and it will trigger the validation process to fail if there is anything entered into its field — usually a bot.
Basically, there are hidden fields hidden on a form that serve as traps. These fields are not seen by humans and, thus, cannot be written on. A spam bot though cannot tell the difference and will try to fill all the fields it can. When the false field is filled then the system recognizes it as a bot and automatically prohibits verification — barring the bot from moving any further.
This eliminates the use of CAPTCHA or user tests altogether. That being said, there are some problems with this method. For instance, it might not work if the users have CSS off. A lot of users also have browsers that have auto-fill features, this might mean a regular person might be mistaken for a bot because the browser itself tries to fill the trap fields.
2. Gamification
This type might either still be a hassle for some users but will definitely be fun for most. In this alternative, a game is introduced instead of a CAPTCHA. What all the users have to do is drag the correct items on the screen into a box. It can also be other games like one that involves planting or matching types. Normal bots do not have the power to distinguish one item from the other, but a human can — this allows for a non-CAPTCHA method of verification that also adds a layer of interactivity to the site.
This, though, might not work for all websites in a stylistic sense. There are also those who might find even this kind of verification too difficult or too much of a chore to perform every time.
3. Skill Testing Question
Simple questions of logic, grammar, or math are also a fun way to prove people are really people. These questions are often so simple that a child could answer them but are impassable for most bots. If done well though, they can also provide your site with a sense of humour and user interaction that visitors come to appreciate.
It, of course, depends on what you’re looking to be for your users. This alternative is definitely easy enough to identify the humans from the computers, but the simplicity of the questions might be too silly for you or the user to take seriously.
4. Slider
If you’re looking for one of the easiest possible CAPTCHA alternatives, then use slider. It simply requires the user to slide a bar left or right to prove they’re human. The sliding bottom remains invisible to bots but is easy for a human to see and swipe on. It is also applicable for mobile versions of your website or apps.
A CAPTCHA or more complicated alternatives might prove to be difficult to do with the smaller screens of many mobile phones. All this requires is a sliding bottom and an instruction for the user to slide in order to continue.
5. Check box
For the final and probably easiest of all the CAPTCHA alternatives, all you need to do is require the user to check a box to prove he or she is not a robot. Not much thought or effort is required for this. This might seem too simple a task to deceive but the very act of checking or unchecking a box is the proof of choice that robots do not have.
The only requirement for this step is that you are clear with the instructions. This is especially necessary since many people are unaware of what spambots are.
Conclusion
Those were the main alternatives that you can use as opposed to CAPTCHA. They will definitely serve their purpose. Well, so long as they’re used properly. It is also important to note that, in the end, all these types of user verifications are used for the same purpose — to keep bots or automatic users from messing around with our systems. Many of them might be a hassle or take up too much time to do but they are essential in keeping the internet as safe as possible.
It’s a great desire to make verification easy for users but the user will be even safer if you ensure that bots or other malicious things are kept out for good.
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How to Prevent Form Spam without Captcha?
Analytics Insight
4-6 minutes
Prevent Form Spam without Captcha
Form spam is not only annoying, but it can be detrimental to your business. Spambots scour the internet every second, looking for weaknesses in your security. If one can get through, you could suffer a devastating malicious attack on your system. Cyberattacks can cripple businesses, so rock-solid cybersecurity is a must for any company. In the past, CAPTCHA was the go-to tool to prevent spam. Yet, it was a cumbersome system that frustrated users and is now dead. Luckily, there are many ways to prevent spam without CAPTCHA. Let’s take a look at a few so that you can beef up your security against form spam.
Use Session Cookies To Your Advantage
There are many other ways to determine whether a user is a bot other than filling out blurry forms. One of the most effective ways is by using session cookies. That way, you can track how long each user spends on your website.
The general rule of thumb goes like this:
Humans tend to spend a good bit of time on your site as they read posts and consider your services.
On the other hand, Bots will only spend a few seconds on your site before submitting a form.
Using cookies is a non-invasive way to check if your users are human or not. The significant problem users had with CAPTCHA tests was how intrusive they were. There were even studies conducted portraying how negative CAPTCHA was for conversion rates. On average, around 15% of users would abandon a site if presented with a CAPTCHA test. With session cookies, you can double-check your forms without bothering your users.
Block Spam IP Addresses
Hundreds of spambots can originate from one IP address. Once you determine which IP address is sending you loads of spam, block them! You may not be aware of how easy it is to block an IP address from your website. Here’s what you need to do:
Head into the settings for your website editor.
Select notifications.
Click show smart tags for user IP addresses.
And just like that, you’ll know the IP address of every email that gets sent to you. From there, all you have to do is identify the IP address or addresses that are sending you spam. To block them, you can either:
1. Ask for help from your web hosting company to block the IP address.
2. Download a security plugin that allows you to block the address.
Blocking IP addresses is another non-invasive security measure to prevent spam. Your users won’t have to do anything, and you can get rid of those pesky spambots.
Implement Double Opt-In Forms
For your most important forms, such as user creation and selling products, a double opt-in is a great idea. It might take a bit of time to do, and it requires some effort from your users, but it’s well worth the effort. A double opt-in form works like this:
1. Your user enters their phone number or email address.
2. You send a verification code or link to their contact information.
3. A physical user must follow the link or enter the code to verify that they’re a human being.
Bear in mind that you don’t need to do this for every single form on your website. If a form simply allows you to download a free video or PDF, for example, you won’t need one. Double opt-ins are extraordinary security measures to protect your critical forms. Try to use them sparingly, though, as they do require an extra step from your users.
Use reCAPTCHA
In today’s age, reCAPTCHA is the successor to CAPTCHA forms. Ever since Google killed off CAPTCHA, they’ve been using reCAPTCHA as a replacement. It works similarly to a CAPTCHA test, without all the hassle.
Instead of a blurry block of text, users simply have to check a box that confirms they’re not a robot. Checking this box takes only a second, making it far more convenient than CAPTCHA tests. A reCAPTCHA box will help you filter out copious amounts of spam from your website.
Summing It Up
By now, you should know of more than a few ways to prevent spam without CAPTCHA tests. CAPTCHA may be gone, but there are many viable replacements in its wake. Spambots may constantly be changing and evolving, but our security measures are as well.