* * * * *
                                        
                               A reverse captcha
                                        
Several months ago I added a hidden field to my Email Notification Signup
form [1] (and later, renamed the script to flush out any spammers that cached
the script location [2]) and boy, was I getting spammed through that script
[3]. 

The thought of using such a techique as a reverse captcha [4] never occured
to me. Hiding a form element such that normal users won't see it, but
spambots will, and rejecting any request with that field filled in. What a
neat idea. 

Of course, that's assuming I ever get around to having comments on my blog … 

[1] gopher://gopher.conman.org/0Phlog:2007/05/10.2
[2] gopher://gopher.conman.org/0Phlog:2007/05/15.2
[3] gopher://gopher.conman.org/0Phlog:2007/07/29.1
[4] http://bjorkoy.com/past/2007/8/1/battle_comment_spam_with_an/

Email Sean Conner at sean@conman.org

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