How reCAPTCHA v3 Works on Hamshack.ca
In light of recent scams, Hamshack.ca has implemented reCAPTCHA v3, a security tool developed by Google, to protect the website from spam and abuse. This tool is designed to ensure that a real person, not a bot (automated software), is interacting with the site. Here’s how it works in simple terms:
- Background Monitoring:
- When a visitor comes to Hamshack.ca, reCAPTCHA v3 runs quietly in the background without interrupting the visitor’s experience.
- It observes various factors, such as how the visitor moves the mouse or interacts with the page, to determine whether the visitor is a human or a bot.
- Scoring System:
- reCAPTCHA v3 assigns a “score” to each visitor based on their behavior. This score ranges from 0.0 to 1.0, where 1.0 means it’s very likely a human, and 0.0 means it’s very likely a bot.
- Hamshack.ca sets a threshold for this score. For example, if the threshold is set to 0.5, any visitor scoring below this will be suspected as a bot.
- Invisible to Users:
- Unlike previous versions of reCAPTCHA, which often required users to solve puzzles or click checkboxes, reCAPTCHA v3 works invisibly in the background. Visitors don’t have to do anything extra; they can just use the site normally.
- Form Submission:
- When a visitor submits a contact form or any other form on Hamshack.ca, reCAPTCHA v3 sends the score along with the form data to the server.
- The server then decides what to do based on the score. If the score indicates a high likelihood of being a human, the form submission proceeds normally. If the score indicates a potential bot, the server might block the submission or take additional steps to verify the user.
Example Scenario on Hamshack.ca:
- Don VE7DXE, a real ham radio enthusiast, visits Hamshack.ca to buy an item. reCAPTCHA v3 runs in the background, observes how Don interacts with the site, and assigns him a high score (e.g., 0.9). The Message to Seller form works fine and the transaction process proceeds successfully because the score indicates Don is a human.
- SpamBot, an automated script, tries to submit the form to flood Hamshack.ca with spam. reCAPTCHA v3 monitors its interaction and notices patterns typical of bots. SpamBot gets a low score (e.g., 0.2). Based on this score, the server blocks the submission, preventing spam.
Benefits for Hamshack.ca Users:
- User-Friendly: No annoying puzzles or checkboxes for users to deal with.
- Efficient: Continuously protects the website without requiring user interaction.
- Accurate: Uses sophisticated algorithms to effectively differentiate between humans and bots.
Limitations:
While reCAPTCHA v3 is highly effective at blocking bots and automated email-sending programs, it may not deter a determined individual who is manually sending multiple messages. In the case of the most recent scam, it is likely that the high volume of users who received the same email indicates the scam was conducted programmatically.
However, reCAPTCHA cannot stop someone from manually sending multiple emails. If you receive messages that raise suspicion, it is best to delete them and not engage. Remember to trust your ‘gut feeling’ and exercise due diligence when buying and selling items online.
73 Don VE7DXE
The post reCAPTCHA v3 Added to Hamshack.ca first appeared on Hamshack.