CAPTCHAs (Completely Automated Public Turing test to tell Computers and Humans Apart) have been around for over 20 years, and they are still one of the most common security measures used to prevent bots from accessing websites. However, the rise of CAPTCHA-breaking services has made it more difficult for website owners to protect their websites from attack.
CAPTCHA-breaking services are typically offered as a subscription service. The cost of the services varies depending on the number of CAPTCHAs that need to be solved. The services are available for purchase online, and there are a number of different providers to choose from.
The services are used by cybercriminals to bypass security measures on websites, such as login pages and registration forms. The services work by having human workers solve CAPTCHAs on behalf of bot operators. The human workers are typically paid a small amount of money for each CAPTCHA that they solve.
The emergence of CAPTCHA-breaking services is a serious threat to website security. Websites that rely on CAPTCHAs to protect themselves from bots are now vulnerable to attack. Website owners should take steps to mitigate this risk, such as using more sophisticated CAPTCHAs or implementing other security measures.
Here are some tips for website owners who are concerned about the security of their websites:
- Use a variety of security measures. Don't rely on CAPTCHAs alone to protect your website. Use a combination of security measures, such as IP address blocking and user authentication.
- Use a more sophisticated CAPTCHA. There are a number of different CAPTCHA technologies available. Use a CAPTCHA technology that is more difficult for bots to solve.
- Monitor your website for suspicious activity. If you see an increase in bot traffic to your website, take steps to investigate the issue.
By following these tips, you can help to protect your website from attack.
In addition to the tips mentioned above, website owners can also consider using the following security measures:
- Web application firewalls (WAFs). WAFs can help to block malicious traffic from reaching your website.
- DDoS protection. DDoS attacks can overwhelm your website with traffic, making it unavailable to legitimate users. DDoS protection can help to mitigate the impact of DDoS attacks.
- Malware scanning. Malware scanning can help to detect and remove malicious software from your website.
By implementing a layered security approach, you can make it more difficult for cybercriminals to successfully attack your website.
The new service that uses human solvers to bypass CAPTCHAs will have a significant impact on websites. Websites that rely on CAPTCHAs to protect themselves from bots are now vulnerable to attack. This service will make it easier for cybercriminals to access websites and carry out malicious activities, such as spamming, phishing, and data theft.
Cybersecurity teams will face a number of challenges in trying to mitigate the risks posed by this new service. One challenge is that the service is constantly evolving, making it difficult to keep up with the latest changes. Another challenge is that the service is relatively inexpensive, making it accessible to a wide range of cybercriminals.
Cybersecurity teams will need to adopt a layered security approach to protect their websites from attack. This means using a combination of different security measures, such as CAPTCHAs, IP address blocking, and user authentication. By using a layered approach, cybersecurity teams can make it more difficult for cybercriminals to successfully attack their websites.
Here are some specific challenges that cybersecurity teams will face:
- Identifying and blocking malicious traffic: The service uses human solvers to bypass CAPTCHAs, which makes it difficult for cybersecurity teams to identify and block malicious traffic.
- Mitigating the impact of DDoS attacks: DDoS attacks can overwhelm websites with traffic, making them unavailable to legitimate users. The service could be used to launch DDoS attacks against websites, making it difficult for cybersecurity teams to mitigate the impact of these attacks.
- Detecting and removing malware: The service could be used to distribute malware to websites. Cybersecurity teams will need to be vigilant in detecting and removing malware that is distributed through this service.
Despite these challenges, there are a number of things that cybersecurity teams can do to protect their websites from attack. These include:
- Using a variety of security measures: Don't rely on CAPTCHAs alone to protect your website. Use a combination of security measures, such as IP address blocking and user authentication.
- Using a more sophisticated CAPTCHA: There are a number of different CAPTCHA technologies available. Use a CAPTCHA technology that is more difficult for bots to solve.
- Monitoring your website for suspicious activity: If you see an increase in bot traffic to your website, take steps to investigate the issue.
This post appeared originally on Chahak Mittal's Medium blog.
