By now, you’ve likely run into a CAPTCHA, short for “Completely Automated Public Turing test to tell Computers and Humans Apart.” It’s a security tool designed to distinguish real people from bots interacting with a website.
You’ve likely seen it in the form of quick tasks like deciphering distorted text, identifying objects in images or simply checking the “I’m not a robot” box. These steps help websites prevent large-scale spam in comment sections, block bot-driven account creation and curb activities like ticket scalping.
But be aware: There’s a new scam disguised as a routine CAPTCHA. Instead of prompting users to check a simple “I’m not a robot” box, the fake page walks you through a series of keyboard steps instead. Or, you might check the box and get prompted with an error message that instructs you to type a sequence to override it. It typically asks you to press Windows (or perhaps Command, if using a Mac) + R, then Ctrl + ...
English (US)