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Google reCAPTCHA Keys | Easy On Humans, Hard On Bots Toolkit

So, What are Google reCAPTCHA Keys? And how do they work? Ever done a search at Google and get a message saying you need to type some characters to keep searching? Those characters are called a CAPTCHA. Basically, CAPTCHA is a method designed to help someone prove they aren’t an automated program hitting Google.

Sometimes Google can mistake a human for programs like these, and the Google Security blog sheds more light today on how this can happen. Google Developers Codelabs provide a guided, tutorial, hands-on coding experience. And most codelabs will step you through the process of building a small application or adding a new feature to an existing application.

They cover a wide range of topics such as Android Wear, Google Compute Engine, Project Tango, and Google APIs on iOS. But, today, we are going to look into details of what Google reCAPTCHA Keys are. How they work, their benefits, and how to use them.

What Are Google reCAPTCHA Keys?

Google reCAPTCHA Keys offers a free service to your website safeguarding it from spam and abuse. With the keys algorithm using an advanced risk analysis engine and adaptive CAPTCHAs. In return, this especially helps to keep automated software from engaging in abusive activities on your site. And generally, it does this while letting your valid users pass through with ease.

The new way to stop bots

Additionally, through Google’s reCAPTCHA developers’ workspace ( Google codelab) you’ll clearly note that you’ll be provided with more than just the spam protection. Hundreds of millions of CAPTCHAs are solved by people every day. These reCAPTCHA add-ons make positive use of this human effort by channeling the time spent translating CAPTCHAs into annotating images.

As well as building machine learning datasets. For example, as soon as Google’s reCAPTCHA Keys are solved, human efforts facilitate a variety of solutions such as to digitize text, annotate images, and build machine learning datasets. And, of course, this, in turn, helps preserve books, improve maps, and solve hard AI problems.

Why Use Google reCAPTCHA Keys?

Google reCAPTCHA Keys are as important as the SiteOrigin page builder on your WordPress site. Whereby, the page builder gets a real kick out of building awesome products that you and I use online every day. Including, theme designs, page blocks, post builders, and addon plugins necessary and useful to every website designer and developer.

Google reCAPTCHA Keys

If more interested, you can read and learn more about SiteOrigin Page Builder | For WordPress Themes & Plugins. Google explains that a CAPTCHA can be triggered by automated processes sometimes caused by worms, proxy search traffic going through infected computers or DSL routers.

As well as from some SEO ranking tools. It also says that it has seen an increase in malware being installed on computers that perform these types of automated queries. This means that; if you ever get one of these CAPTCHAs, you simply need to verify yourself. By entering the characters to continue searching. But, you may also want to scan your computer for viruses and malware.

Related Topics;
  1. Chatbots
  2. What is Socialbot?
  3. SEO Basics: What is Googlebot?
  4. Malicious Bots – What Are They and How Can You Avoid Them?

How To Create Google reCAPTCHA Keys

I am so excited to introduce to you the new reCAPTCHA version 3 by Google. Not to mention, it helps you detect abusive traffic on your website without any user friction. And in the end, it returns a score based on the interactions with your website. Providing you with more flexibility to take appropriate actions.

That said, it’s obvious that the biggest question running in your mind right now is; how do you create Google reCAPTCHA Keys? But, before that how do you even choose the right Keys for your general site and online bots use?

Well, to understand this, it is important to realize, for example, Google offers 4 types of reCAPTCHA Keys. This is provided especially when creating or affiliating to a new site. And for web users, you can get the user’s response token in one of three ways.

3 ways to access tokens include;
  1. g-recaptcha-response POST parameter when the user submits the form on your site.
  2. grecaptcha.getResponse(opt_widget_id) after the user completes the reCAPTCHA challenge.

As an example, below is an illustration showcasing the backend of Google Developers reCAPTCHA Key platform.

 4 Types of Google reCAPTCHA Keys

Without further ado, lets breakdown the main reCAPTCHA Keys that Google Platform provides. However, it is equally important to point out that, the Google reCAPTCHA Keys were initially five. Not until the v1 reCAPTCHA Key was shut down since March 2018. Ushering in the usage of the remaining four reCAPTCHA Keys.

The 4 Google reCAPTCHA Keys include:
  1. v3 reCAPTCHA Keys,
  2. the v2 reCAPTCHA Keys (“I’m not a robot” Checkbox),
  3. v2 reCAPTCHA Keys (Invisible reCAPTCHA badge),
  4. and v2 reCAPTCHA Keys (Android)

1. V3 reCAPTCHA Key

Notably, reCAPTCHA v3 allows you to verify if an interaction is legitimate without any user interaction. Whereby it is a pure JavaScript API returning a score. Giving you the ability to take action in the context of your site like;

  • requiring additional factors of authentication,
  • sending a post to moderation,
  • or throttling bots that may be scraping content.

2. V2 reCAPTCHA Key or Checkbox

For your information, the reCAPTCHA v2 (“I’m not a robot” Checkbox) requires the user to click a checkbox. In that case, indicating that the user is not a robot. This will either pass the user immediately (with No CAPTCHA) or challenge them. For instance, to validate whether or not they are human. As can be seen through the image below;

reCAPTCHA v2

Google’s reCAPTCHA v2 is one of the best commonly used Keys suitable for brand new websites. Surprisingly, this is the simplest option to integrate with on new sites. It only requires two lines of HTML code to render the checkbox.

3. V2 reCAPTCHA Badge or Invisible

Remarkably, the invisible reCAPTCHA Key badge does not require the user to click on a checkbox. Instead, it is invoked directly when the user clicks on an existing button on your site. In addition, it can be invoked through a JavaScript API call. And in order to alter this behavior, you can edit your site security preference under advanced settings.

Google reCAPTCHA Key

Generally, the integration requires a JavaScript callback when reCAPTCHA verification is complete. Whereas, by default, only the most suspicious traffic will be prompted to solve a captcha.

4. V2 reCAPTCHA for Android

Correspondingly, the Google reCAPTCHA v2 Key Android library is part of the Google Play services SafetyNet APIs. And equally important, this library provides native Android APIs that you can integrate directly into an app.

In the same fashion, you should set up Google Play services in your app and connect to the (GoogleApiClient). Of course, that’s before even invoking the reCAPTCHA API. This will either pass the user through immediately (without a CAPTCHA prompt) or challenge them. And in the light of validating whether they are human or robot.

How Do I Use reCAPTCHAs?

With the release of version 5.1 of Contact Form 7, Google’s reCAPTCHA version 3 (v3) became the default. Then again, Google’s reCAPTCHA v3 does away with the (“I’m not a robot” checkbox). For beginners and pro webmasters alike, below is a more simplified step-by-step guide YouTube tutorial on how to Install Google reCAPTCHA v3.

This happens, in particular, on a contact form page, but it loads and runs on every page. While adding an obtrusive badge, well, everywhere. However, the main usage is determined by;

1. Site visits usage 

Google explains that the more pages the reCAPTCHA v3 script run on, the more accurate it will be. Above all, in determining whether visitors are human or bots. In their FAQ, they also state that the badge can be hidden. But, you are allowed to hide the badge as long as you include the reCAPTCHA branding visibly in the user flow.

2. The hidden keys

Google doesn’t offer more information about how Invisible reCAPTCHA works. But the system probably analyzes things like the typing speed, cursor movements, and the rate of scrolling to determine whether a visitor is a human or a bot. Furthermore, Google Bots often do the opposite. Whereas, they look for certain elements and work as quickly as possible. So, what’s the best way to hide the badge everywhere but on the contact form page(s)? Enter CSS3’s “not” selector.

Takeaway,

Finally, I hope you have gathered enough information in regards to the above topic. As can be seen, the CAPTCHA keys provide you with advanced security — State of the art spam & abuse protection for your website. In addition, they provide ease of use — Low friction, effortless interaction for your users.

And lastly, they provide the creation of value — Apply the human bandwidth to benefit people everywhere. All in all, if you have additional information, contributions, or even suggestions, please Contact Us. You can also share some or more of your thoughts in the comments box below this post. Also, read and learn more about Website Development | 7 Principles of a User-friendly Site.

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