CAPTCHA: A SECURITY MEASURE AGAINST SPAM ATTACKS

Pawar S.E, Bauskar Makarand M

Abstract: A CAPTCHA is challenge response test used to ensure that the response is generated by humans. CAPTCHA test are administrator by machines to differentiate between humans and machine. Because of this reason CAPTCHAs are also known as the Reverse Turing Test as contrast to Turing Test which is administrated by humans. CAPCHA is used as a simple puzzle, which restricts various automated programs (also known as internet-bots) to sign-up e-mail accounts, cracking passwords, spam sending etc. A common type of CAPTCHA requires user to recognize the letters from a distorted image, since normal human can easily recognize the CAPTCHA, while that particular text cannot be recognized by bot. In short CAPTCHA program challenges the automated program, which trying to access private data. So, CAPTCHA helps in preventing the access of personal mail accounts by some unauthorized automated spamming programs.

Keywords: CAPTCHA, Security, Spam Attacks, Reverse Turing Test

DOI: https://doi.org/10.15623/ijret.2013.0205021