reCAPTCHA Protection

Hey all – and you know who you are – please stop deploying the reCAPTCHA tech whereby I have to select 15,000+ fire hydrants before I can submit a message to you. I can assure you, I know what a fire hydrant looks like.

4 Likes

That’s annoying (I feel the same way 😅) but Google control all that unfortunately.

I always have to recognise “store fronts” to login to my own sites and forums and things which is weird… but it’s the most popular captcha tool out there at the moment so not much of an alternative? Or maybe there is?

2 Likes

Good grief, “store fronts”. I can’t even tell. I do know what a fire hydrant is, but the “store front” has me stumped. Not to mention the pedestrian crossing which may take up one pixel of one of the squares – computer says “no”.

Anyway, for a while there, it was simply “tick the box”. Now it’s click click click click click click click click click click click click click click click click click click click click click click click click click click click click click click .

Life is surely too short?

1 Like

@yuzoolthemes 52 views and only one other angry person :-D

1 Like

If it’s not something I really really need or want, I give up. This has got a be killing conversions on sites that use it.

2 Likes

I agree, it’s nuts!

What site are you talking about?

I’m almost always logged in to Google, so all I ever see is a “I’m not a robot” box. The only time I see the fire hydrants and store fronts is when in Incognito mode on porn sites.

So either sign in or reduce your porn time.

Plenty of sites actually – and I don’t use Google Chrome.

I am actually a little disappointed that Google considers me safe enough to only ask me if I’m a robot. I can’t recall how long ago that I was asked to identify the fire hydrants.

It got me thinking that perhaps there is an opportunity here, for someone to create a form stack that just looks like the Re Captcha box, but requires a tick box to allow the form to be sent. I.e a form where there is no Re Captcha system, and just a box that looks like the I am not a Robot tick box.

My understanding is Google while “tracking” you attempts to determine from your movements (navigation, mouse speed, typing speed , etc.) that you are not a robot.
You get these ridiculous sets of sometimes endless tiny pictures if you failed the initial test(movement) or haven’t been “tracked” long enough (not logged into google , incognito mode, privacy or ad blocking extensions, etc) or your movements are like a robot(fast, smooth without pausing).

It’s interesting technology, and if you’re a heavy google user (signed in, use google search a lot) it’s easier then the old Captcha system just check a box. The problem is the “fall back” if Google isn’t sure is way over the top.

I think it’s may impact your conversion rates. Most studies show any kind of reCaptcha does drive down responses. Now if your site users “pass” the initial tracking test and just have to check a box it’s great and easier than any other “human test”. But if they failed that tracking test you probably have a good chance that you have lost a potential client.

Right – happens to me all the time. It used to be just a tick, but now the insane image clicking. Not why/when it started up…

Serves you right, you bloody robot.

1 Like

Same for me, I used to just check the box and done. Now I get the tiny little pictures (multiple sets) “most” of the time.

I would guess like most things google does they tweaked it. Probably some spammers have hacked the human behavior thing and figured out how to Emulate What google was looking for.

Yes life is too short!