Image Verification √ aka CAPTCHA
 

I'm so disappointed in XC5, it is just not ready for prime time.

Is the a CAPTCHA feature for new user registration in XC5? I can't find it.

Is there something else that is better I don't know about?

Re: Image Verification √ aka CAPTCHA
 

I don't see Image Verification anywhere either. I actually dislike this method of bot checking, and would prefer a human test or a honeypot.

Re: Image Verification √ aka CAPTCHA
 

Hello YakMan!

First of all, please, update your 5.0.12 version to the latest 5.0.14 or even try to work with 5.1.1 beta with included responsive design based on Bootstrap and LESS and fulfillment statuses: http://www.x-cart.com/downloadxc5beta

Here is the info about this beta: http://blog.x-cart.com/5-0-13-plus-5-1-0-beta.html

Regrading the CAPTCHA feature. I strongly do not recommend to use this feature, since it decrease the real customer conversation. There are a lot of examples of CAPTCHAs which pick off real customers. That's why the XC5 core team will not develop this module.

I like what Mike said. Human test or honeypot is much better solution. There are 3d-party professional services (like http://akismet.com/) to stop SPAM and I believe that such integration is right way.

Re: Image Verification √ aka CAPTCHA
 

Hi Everyone,

What honeypot solution do you prefer?
There is a number of solutions out there on the market, but which one is the best according to your opinion?

Alex

Re: Image Verification √ aka CAPTCHA
 

I like the techniques described in this article: http://www.smartfile.com/blog/captchas-dont-work-how-to-trick-spam-bots-with-a-smarter-honey-pot/

I have used similar methods on sites with much success. On one site that received thousands of spam submissions per day, we reduced it to 3 or 4 per day!

In my mind there are 2 major categories of bots, those with JS enabled and those without. A good solution provides options to deal with both. Of course there is a third that can't be stopped, the human spam bots!

Re: Image Verification √ aka CAPTCHA
 

Mike, thank you for sharing the article. That can be a very popular plugin for X-Cart 5 ;)

But we think it is better to stick with a service like Akismet that improves their anti-spam technology every day and fights with constantly developing spam bots.
$5/mo is not a big deal IMHO to fight with spam and not to have a burden of updating your anti-spam software regularly. A service like Akismet will do the job for you while all you need to have is an integration with them.

What do you think?

Re: Image Verification √ aka CAPTCHA
 

I think integration with Akismet is a good idea. Certainly we need to consider that option.

Re: Image Verification √ aka CAPTCHA
 

After all we come up with even two modules:
Akismet integration
and
Antispam which is really cool and powerful module that implements multiple ways to fight spam in X-Cart based online shops.

Re: Image Verification √ aka CAPTCHA
 

This is awesome! Kill the spam.

Re: Image Verification √ aka CAPTCHA
 

Alex on the Akismet module - if installed but not setup (no API is entered) it still tries to run resulting in errors showing to customer. This shouldn't happen right - the code should check if the module is active and setup then run it... Right now it runs no matter what