Simplified Spambot Registration Process
Posted: Fri Nov 25, 2022 12:35 pm
I have simplified the anti-spambot process in the hopes that the improved security of our upgraded platform will help catch fake registration applications.
This is only involves new membership registration applications.
In the past with our old software, we would get a huge number of fake applications. We have had almost no fake applications in the past few months. Unfortunately, we made two changes that could have affected the low fake count. First we changed the spambot question to a rather complicated format and about the same time we upgraded the software platform. Both could have affected the results. That said, my experience suggests it is the platform that has helped significantly. As a test, I have changed the qualifying question to a much simpler format. Time will tell if we will need to go back to a more complicated question.
As background information, there are several methods of screening out fake (bot) applications. One of the most popular today is what is called "reCAPCHA" where they ask you to click on the box that says "I am not a robot". Seems simple enough, but it is very complex and relies of a huge Google database to detect the characteristics of the application information entry process. On top of that, there is a significant of "back-end" on my part to make it operational for our site.
Most "experts" favor the "Q and A" process which we use today. It is pretty simple to set up (and maintain) and can be very effective based on the question. Over the past few months our question has been rather complicated and has "turned off" a few applicants. We have used multiple questions that alternate for each application. I have reduced that to one rather simple question.
Jim
This is only involves new membership registration applications.
In the past with our old software, we would get a huge number of fake applications. We have had almost no fake applications in the past few months. Unfortunately, we made two changes that could have affected the low fake count. First we changed the spambot question to a rather complicated format and about the same time we upgraded the software platform. Both could have affected the results. That said, my experience suggests it is the platform that has helped significantly. As a test, I have changed the qualifying question to a much simpler format. Time will tell if we will need to go back to a more complicated question.
As background information, there are several methods of screening out fake (bot) applications. One of the most popular today is what is called "reCAPCHA" where they ask you to click on the box that says "I am not a robot". Seems simple enough, but it is very complex and relies of a huge Google database to detect the characteristics of the application information entry process. On top of that, there is a significant of "back-end" on my part to make it operational for our site.
Most "experts" favor the "Q and A" process which we use today. It is pretty simple to set up (and maintain) and can be very effective based on the question. Over the past few months our question has been rather complicated and has "turned off" a few applicants. We have used multiple questions that alternate for each application. I have reduced that to one rather simple question.
Jim