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Author Topic: Use of strange captcha system for spam users  (Read 2855 times)

NEXUS2345

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Use of strange captcha system for spam users
« on: December 05, 2016, 05:20:05 PM »

As I host a website myself, I understand the need for websites to filter certain traffic to avoid spam bots and the like. However, I find the method used here to be a bit strange, as it would be quite easy for a computer to interpret and solve. Surely something like Google's ReCAPTCHA system would be better to ensure that users are legitimate?
The only reason I am even aware of this is because a couple of the UK server's my VPN provider uses have been flagged apparently, but I am still curious as to the reason for using such a simple and possibly insecure one.
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burakkucat

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Re: Use of strange captcha system for spam users
« Reply #1 on: December 05, 2016, 06:19:37 PM »

Hmm . . .

There's a lot you don't see, as a user of this site and forum.

What you do not see can be listed under two headings. The first heading, quite simply, can be illustrated by asking just how many pure spam postings to this forum do you see as a member of the Kitz community? The second heading, the contents of which I will not discuss, consists of all the processes that keep both human spammers and spam-bots "over the hills and far away".  ;)
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kitz

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Re: Use of strange captcha system for spam users
« Reply #2 on: December 05, 2016, 07:33:11 PM »

Quote
I find the method used here to be a bit strange, as it would be quite easy for a computer to interpret and solve.

In what way strange or insecure?  I am not going to discuss intricate details in public, but I have several different layers which IMHO are far more effective than recaptcha is or ever was.   (I used to use recaptcha many, many years ago - until it was cracked).
« Last Edit: December 06, 2016, 11:33:24 PM by kitz »
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NEXUS2345

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Re: Use of strange captcha system for spam users
« Reply #3 on: December 05, 2016, 10:56:22 PM »

Right. This makes more sense now. To be honest, it was my believing that there was only a single layer of prevention in place, that being the math question triggered by IP through Project Honeypot (I believe?). I understand why you may be against the use of reCaptcha, but the math question thing seemed a bit too basic to me. To Google's credit, while there was a story about it being cracked, they have since improved it significantly, and will soon be introducing an 'invisible' reCaptcha system.

Now that I know that there is a multilayered approach to spam protection here, I really do appreciate just how much work you have put into this site Kitz. Thank you for all your work.  ;D
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kitz

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Re: Use of strange captcha system for spam users
« Reply #4 on: December 06, 2016, 02:32:26 AM »

>> that being the math question triggered by IP through Project Honeypot (I believe?).

No. 
« Last Edit: December 06, 2016, 11:15:04 PM by kitz »
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Chrysalis

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Re: Use of strange captcha system for spam users
« Reply #5 on: December 06, 2016, 09:05:11 PM »

recaptcha is horrible, often I cannot even read what it says.
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