Website Security vs Hackers

“The eternal fight between good and evil.”

Keeping your website secure is key to ensuring that both you and your customers can have peace of mind when doing business online. There’s no need to fret about cyber attacks as there are many steps you can take to protect your website from hackers. Installing SSL certificates is one way to ensure that all data transmission between your server and website users is kept confidential. Regularly updating software and plugins is another effective way to stay on top of website security. Don’t forget to update passwords and restrict access to sensitive data to ensure utmost protection. Implementing firewalls, performing regular security scans, and backing up data are also some great practices to maintain website security. A best practice is staying informed about the latest threats and regularly reviewing your security practices to safeguard your website and customers’ data.

What is Captcha and Why use it?

CAPTCHAs are designed to prevent bots from accessing websites. They do this by asking users to complete a challenge that is easy for humans to do but difficult for bots. For example, a CAPTCHA might ask users to identify all of the images that contain traffic lights.

The last major update to Google Captcha was in May 2023. This update introduced reCAPTCHA v3, which is a more sophisticated version of reCAPTCHA that is designed to be invisible to humans, but still difficult for bots to solve.

ReCAPTCHA v3 uses a variety of factors to determine whether a user is a human or a bot, such as 

  • the user’s IP address
  • browser history, 
  • mouse movements

This allows reCAPTCHA v3 to be more accurate than previous versions of reCAPTCHA, while also being less disruptive to human users.

Possible Reasons for problems with Captcha?

There are a few possible reasons why a captcha might not authorize a login.

  • The captcha was not solved correctly. This is the most common reason. Make sure to read the instructions carefully and solve the captcha exactly as instructed.
  • The captcha was solved too quickly. Some captchas are designed to prevent bots from solving them too quickly. If you solve the captcha too quickly, it may be rejected.
  • The captcha was solved too slowly. Some captchas are designed to prevent bots from solving them too slowly. If you solve the captcha too slowly, it may be rejected.
  • Your IP address is being blocked. If you are trying to login from a new IP address, or an IP address that is known to be associated with bots, your login may be rejected.

There are a few common types of email addresses that are more likely to be blocked by captcha. These include:

  • Disposable email addresses. Disposable email addresses are created for a single use and then discarded. They are often used by spammers and bots, so captchas are more likely to be used to block them.
  • Free email addresses. Free email addresses are often used by people who do not want to give out their real email address. They are also often used by spammers and bots, so captchas are more likely to be used to block them.
  • Email addresses from unfamiliar domains. If you are using an email address from a domain that is not well-known, it is more likely to be blocked by captcha. This is because captchas are designed to protect websites from spam and abuse, and unfamiliar domains are more likely to be associated with spam and abuse.

University and Corporate emails Blocked with Captcha?

There are a few reasons why corporate or university emails might be blocked by Captcha.

  • IP address: Spammers often use shared IP addresses, so websites may block all traffic from those IP addresses. If your corporate or university network uses a shared IP address, you may be blocked by a captcha.
  • Domain: Some domains are more likely to be used by spammers than others. If your corporate or university email address is from a domain that is known to be associated with spam, you may be blocked by Captcha.
  • Behavior: If you are logging in to a website from a new IP address or device, or if you are logging in frequently, the website may block you as a security measure. If you are using a corporate or university email address, you may be more likely to be blocked because these addresses are often used by employees who travel and need to access websites from different locations.

 

If you are having trouble logging in to a website because your corporate or university email address is being blocked by a Captcha, there are a few things you can try.

  • Contact the website’s customer support: The website’s customer support may be able to help you resolve the issue.
  • Use a different email address: If you have another email address that you can use, try using that instead.
  • Try logging in from a different device or network: If you are able to log in from a different device or network, it may be that your IP address is being blocked.
  • Wait a few minutes and try again: Sometimes, websites will block users for a short period of time if they are logging in too frequently. If you wait a few minutes and try again, you may be able to log in without being blocked.

 

If you have tried all of the above and you are still having trouble logging in, you may need to contact your corporate or university IT department for help.

Why Autofill Can Cause Problems

Autofill is a convenient feature that allows you to save and automatically fill in your login credentials, credit card information, and other personal data on websites. However, autofill can also be a security risk. If your autofill data is compromised, it could be used by attackers to gain unauthorized access to your accounts.

There are a few things you can do to disable autofill and improve your login security:

  • Disable autofill in your browser. Most browsers have an option to disable autofill. To do this, open your browser’s settings and look for the “autofill” or “passwords” section. In this section, you can disable autofill for all websites or for specific websites.
  • Use a password manager. A password manager is a secure way to store your passwords. When you use a password manager, you only need to remember one master password. The password manager will then generate and store strong passwords for all of your other accounts.
  • Enable two-factor authentication (2FA). 2FA adds an extra layer of security to your accounts by requiring you to enter a code from your phone in addition to your password when you log in. 2FA is available for most major websites and services.

By taking these steps, you can disable autofill and improve your login security.

When You Can't Login

There are a few ways to work around this issue. One way is to disable autofill passwords for websites that require CAPTCHAs. Another way is to use a password manager that can bypass CAPTCHAs.

Here are some tips for working with CAPTCHAs:

  • Make sure your browser is updated
  • Disable autofill passwords for websites that require CAPTCHAs.
  • Use a different browser
  • Use your browser in Incognito, or Private mode
  • Use a password manager, not Autofill.

 

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