Author Topic: Who else is sick of difficult word verifications on the web? (Read 112,009 times)

CodeTRUCKER · « **Reply #25 on:** March 21, 2008, 09:29 AM »

On a scale of 1-10 (10 = highest) I have to say I have only been inconvenienced to a level three, but I certainly understand inequities like Carol pointed out.

There are a lot of really bright folks here that comprise a vast resource for creativity and a pool of supply. Is it out of the realms of probability that the likes of us could come up with a solution? The way I see it, someone will come up with a solution. Why can't that someone be us?

The forum itself would be a terrific test bed once there was something to try.

mitzevo · « **Reply #26 on:** March 21, 2008, 09:42 AM »

It's up to the developer to make user friendly products (just like software [annoyances], bad practices, etc.).. If the captcha is done correctly, then it shouldn't be too much of a problem to pass.. Then again, they (some developers) try not to make it too easy, for obvious reasons.

Some captcha's won't make you think angry thoughts, and some will.. What can ya do?

Tekzel · « **Reply #27 on:** March 21, 2008, 03:26 PM »

They don't bother me at all, I see them as a necessary, and barely bothersome, evil. I have no trouble using them and appreciate that they significantly reduce, or entirely eliminate, automated spam on forums. I have seen some forums that didn't use them rendered completely unusable.

J-Mac · « **Reply #28 on:** March 21, 2008, 09:05 PM »

I absolutely hate 'em!! Some times I could swear I entered the correct characters but they are rejected. Since I never saw any complaints here or elsewhere I was starting to think I was one of the few who have issues with them.

Jim

Renegade · « **Reply #29 on:** March 22, 2008, 12:29 PM »

Quote from: mitzevo on March 21, 2008, 09:42 AM

It's up to the developer to make user friendly products (just like software [annoyances], bad practices, etc.).. If the captcha is done correctly, then it shouldn't be too much of a problem to pass.. Then again, they (some developers) try not to make it too easy, for obvious reasons.

Unfortunately you're wrong there. (I posted about it here.)

The ability of machines (software) to solve CAPTCHAS is so good, that you can no longer create a CAPTCHA that is reliably easy for a human, but difficult for a machine. The same goes for audio versions.

The RECAPTCHA project poses a solution to this problem, however, if you look at it closely, they're processing a LOT of text automatically, then choosing the ones that are specifically difficult for machines. However, this is not currently an apriori type of thing that you can do. It relies upon experience in seeing that a machined failed for a specific word.

The downshot is that no matter what you do from a development stand point, you will fail. The moment you make a CAPTCHA that is reasonable for a human, a machine can solve it easier.

It's really a catch-22.

For more information, search for stuff like "cracking captchas" or "captcha ocr" etc. You'll see that there's a wealth of information on how to do it.

Eóin · « **Reply #30 on:** March 22, 2008, 01:46 PM »

It's only catch-22 if you're looking for a 100% solution. If you are looking just to reduce to torrent of spam then they most definitely DO work, I've seen so on my own site.

Also as a user I much prefer to see sites allow posting by answering a CAPTCHA over requiring you to register with a valid email just to add a comment.

Renegade · « **Reply #31 on:** March 23, 2008, 04:35 AM »

Quote from: Eóin on March 22, 2008, 01:46 PM

It's only catch-22 if you're looking for a 100% solution. If you are looking just to reduce to torrent of spam then they most definitely DO work, I've seen so on my own site.

Also as a user I much prefer to see sites allow posting by answering a CAPTCHA over requiring you to register with a valid email just to add a comment.

Good points and agreed!

Eóin · « **Reply #32 on:** March 23, 2008, 03:02 PM »

I suppose it's really only security through obscurity. Making minor tweaks to the login page just to force spammers to custom their bots for your site could be easily as affective for small sites.

PhilB66 · « **Reply #33 on:** March 29, 2008, 01:57 AM »

A few interesting links:

PWNtcha - captcha decoder (If you don't make it to the end of the page... here's the links to two related articles: Using AI to beat CAPTCHA and Breaking a Visual CAPTCHA).

[OT] BTW, if you're fond of Pussies (all kinds and shapes), be sure to check Sam's porn collection (index of /porn/) in the leisure section. If you're not sure... here's a heads-up

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Man with huge cock
[attach]

cthorpe · « **Reply #34 on:** March 29, 2008, 06:48 AM »

I am finding more and more that stump me. My personal rule is that two consecutive images that are too hard for me to decipher successfully results in me forgoing registration or posting or whatever. The only time I'll stick it out is there is something very important at stake.

And does anybody else find the audio verification found on some sites oddly unsettling at times? They just sound creepy with all the bizarre background noise and mumbling voices...

Deozaan · « **Reply #35 on:** March 29, 2008, 06:59 AM »

Quote from: PhilB66 on March 29, 2008, 01:57 AM

A few interesting links:

PWNtcha - captcha decoder

I just saw "Goatse" for the first time from that link! Where's the emoticon for stabbing out my eyes?

mitzevo · « **Reply #36 on:** December 18, 2008, 09:10 AM »

Quote from: Deozaan on March 29, 2008, 06:59 AM

Quote from: PhilB66 on March 29, 2008, 01:57 AM
A few interesting links:

PWNtcha - captcha decoder

I just saw "Goatse" for the first time from that link! Where's the emoticon for stabbing out my eyes?

Looks like you found the blowing out the brains one.. rofl

f0dder · « **Reply #37 on:** December 18, 2008, 09:12 AM »

Quote from: Deozaan on March 29, 2008, 06:59 AM

I just saw "Goatse" for the first time from that link! Where's the emoticon for stabbing out my eyes?

Oh, goatse isn't that bad. Tubgirl? Lemonparty? 2girls1cup? Bat-man? Google them, do not. Being on IRC and clicking links will scar your mind irreversibly, and de-sensitize you to anything.

PhilB66 · « **Reply #38 on:** December 18, 2008, 10:09 AM »

OMG... I googled "Lemonparty"... SHOCKING

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

[attach]

scancode · « **Reply #39 on:** March 22, 2009, 04:15 PM »

(it's easy to guess which word is OCRable by reCaptcha and which one isnt) [ quarrel fuck ] passed the captcha just fine.

Now... the audio captcha... OMFG I CAN'T PASS A SINGLE ONE!

wtf.mp3 (25.7 KB)

Eóin · « **Reply #40 on:** March 22, 2009, 04:27 PM »

That audio one makes no sense whatsoever. And while we're on the subject again, Megaupload has gotten pretty difficult recently

[attachimg=#]

[attachimg=#]

[attachimg=#]

allen · « **Reply #41 on:** March 22, 2009, 05:22 PM »

Quote from: Eóin on March 22, 2009, 04:27 PM

That audio one makes no sense whatsoever. And while we're on the subject again, Megaupload has gotten pretty difficult recently

Generally, I don't mind re:captcha's --I can usually figure them out without much trouble and they are some times amusing. But that megaupload one... brutal. I'd close the browser window. That audio one -- wtf is that?

scancode · « **Reply #42 on:** March 22, 2009, 05:58 PM »

Quote from: Eóin on March 22, 2009, 04:27 PM

That audio one makes no sense whatsoever. And while we're on the subject again, Megaupload has gotten pretty difficult recently

(see attachment in previous post) (see attachment in previous post) (see attachment in previous post)

As for the megaupload's captcha, try setting a background color to black (it's a transparent gif). It becomes quite easy!

Set-captcha-to-black bookmarklet:

Code

javascript:(function(){var%20newSS,%20styles='td%20{%20background:%20black%20!%20important;%20color:%20white%20!important%20}%20:link,%20:link%20*%20{%20color:%20#0000EE%20!important%20}%20:visited,%20:visited%20*%20{%20color:%20#551A8B%20!important%20}';%20if(document.createStyleSheet)%20{%20document.createStyleSheet("javascript:'"+styles+"'");%20}%20else%20{%20newSS=document.createElement('link');%20newSS.rel='stylesheet';%20newSS.href='data:text/css,'+escape(styles);%20document.getElementsByTagName("head")[0].appendChild(newSS);%20}%20})();

=>

=> HNZ1

Quote from: allen on March 22, 2009, 05:22 PM

That audio one -- wtf is that?

A reCaptcha of course!

Deozaan · « **Reply #43 on:** March 22, 2009, 06:31 PM »

That's an awesome tip, scancode!

MegaUpload's captcha isn't so bad once you realize there are 4 characters. The first 3 are letters and the final 1 is a number.

40hz · « **Reply #44 on:** March 22, 2009, 06:53 PM »

[attach]

rgdot · « **Reply #45 on:** March 22, 2009, 07:00 PM »

Don't like them and in my experience all versions are broken or bypassable. On the forum of which I am an admin I have set up a question and answer and in around the 8 months since spam has been close to zero.

Eóin · « **Reply #46 on:** March 22, 2009, 07:10 PM »

Cool trick scancode!

Deozaan · « **Reply #47 on:** March 22, 2009, 07:10 PM »

Quote from: rgdot on March 22, 2009, 07:00 PM

Don't like them and in my experience all versions are broken or bypassable. On the forum of which I am an admin I have set up a question and answer and in around the 8 months since spam has been close to zero.

The true solution is word problems!

"In A.D. 2009, tragedy was beginning. Sally is on a train traveling west at ninety-nine miles per hour. Johnny is on a different train, on the same track, traveling east at four-hundred-thirty-eight miles per hour. The trains are two thousand six hundred fifty-three miles apart. Sally and Johnny are on the way to destruction. They have no chance to survive. How long do they have left to make their time? (You may assume that all Zigs are taken off.)"

wreckedcarzz · « **Reply #48 on:** March 22, 2009, 07:48 PM »

Quote from: Deozaan on March 22, 2009, 07:10 PM

The true solution is word problems!

"In A.D. 2009, tragedy was beginning. Sally is on a train traveling west at ninety-nine miles per hour. Johnny is on a different train, on the same track, traveling east at four-hundred-thirty-eight miles per hour. The trains are two thousand six hundred fifty-three miles apart. Sally and Johnny are on the way to destruction. They have no chance to survive. How long do they have left to make their time? (You may assume that all Zigs are taken off.)"

ROFL

cranioscopical · « **Reply #49 on:** March 22, 2009, 07:54 PM »

Quote from: Deozaan on March 22, 2009, 07:10 PM

The true solution is word problems!

"In A.D. 2009, tragedy was beginning. Sally is on a train traveling west at ninety-nine miles per hour. Johnny is on a different train, on the same track, traveling east at four-hundred-thirty-eight miles per hour. The trains are two thousand six hundred fifty-three miles apart. Sally and Johnny are on the way to destruction. They have no chance to survive. How long do they have left to make their time? (You may assume that all Zigs are taken off.)"

Sally and Johnny started off travelling in opposite directions and they're already farther apart than the circumference of the Earth, so who can say?
I didn't want to join that forum anyway!