CAPTCHAs and the UX
We encounter them almost every day in the digital world: CAPTCHAs. These little tests, in which we have to mark streetlights in pictures or enter distorted letters and numbers, are a nuisance for most internet users. But does it have to be this way? Originally developed to distinguish bots from real people, CAPTCHAs play an important role in protecting online services. But what impact do they have on the user experience (UX)? In the following, we will look at the different aspects of CAPTCHAs, analyse their impact on the UX and discuss the special features of Trustcaptcha that address the user experience.
What is a CAPTCHA anyway?
CAPTCHAs are a security measure that verifies that the person carrying out an online interaction is actually a human and not an automated bot. The most common types of CAPTCHAs are
- Text-based CAPTCHAs: The user must enter distorted letters or numbers
- Image-based CAPTCHAs: The user must select certain objects in an image, e.g. all fields with traffic lights.
- Audio CAPTCHAs: An alternative method for users with impaired vision, where an audio sequence is played back for the user to enter.
Challenges of traditional CAPTCHAs for the UX
Before we look at Trustcaptcha approaches, it is important to understand why traditional CAPTCHAs are often perceived as annoying:
- Ease of use: Many CAPTCHAs are frustrating and time-consuming. Manually entering distorted text or identifying objects in images takes time and can test users' patience, especially if verification fails and you have to start from scratch. This is increasingly common as puzzles become more complex.
- Accessibility: Visually or hearing impaired users often encounter problems when solving CAPTCHAs. Image-based CAPTCHAs are a hurdle for the visually impaired, while audio CAPTCHAs are difficult to solve for the hearing impaired.
- Mobile users: CAPTCHAs are particularly challenging on mobile devices. The small screens and touch operation increase the error rate and can lead to frustration.
How Trustcaptcha improves the user experience
This is where Trustcaptcha comes in and offers numerous functions that are specifically aimed at improving the user experience. You should look out for the following functions when choosing a CAPTCHA solution:
1. No annoying puzzles
Advances in AI and image recognition have ensured that bots are already solving traditional CAPTCHAs faster than humans. Providers who stick to image puzzles are therefore forced to provide users with increasingly complex and time-consuming tasks. This leads to annoyed customers, long delays and a high bounce rate. Another problem with image puzzles is their further development. While many people already no longer understand the tasks, they are also becoming increasingly complex to counteract better bots. However, this development cannot continue indefinitely, as companies are losing more and more users to the complex puzzles.
The solution to this is to completely dispense with image puzzles or other user tasks. The CAPTCHA then runs in the background and does not require the active participation of the user. This means that the desired content can be accessed more quickly and without interruptions. This reduces frustration and increases the likelihood that users will stay on the website and perform their desired actions. Trustcaptcha utilises this principle. Thanks to the hybrid security process, consisting of two independent mechanisms, our solution works by analysing user data and an automated proof-of-work mechanism providing a high level of security. There are no puzzles with Trustcaptcha.
2. You decide how you deal with users
A good CAPTCHA is characterised by the fact that it is up to you how you deal with the results. Instead of simply passing or failing, Trustcaptcha returns a bot score that you can use to determine how to proceed. This enables a much more differentiated approach. Users who are recognised as real people experience fewer interruptions. Suspicious activity can be scrutinised more closely and special measures, such as email verification, can be taken. This enables more personalised opportunities, more customers for you and a better experience for your users.
3. The trust of your customers
Many of the CAPTCHA solutions are known for their questionable privacy practices. This reduces the trust of potential customers and creates negative associations. Not with Trustcaptcha. With us, all data is processed in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). The CAPTCHA servers are located exclusively in data centres within the European Union. Users can be sure that their data is protected and processed in accordance with data protection regulations, which strengthens trust in your website. This is particularly important for European companies that must comply with strict data protection regulations.
For companies that want to minimise the amount of data, Trustcaptcha also offers a minimal data mode. In this mode, only the absolutely necessary data is transmitted, which pleases privacy-conscious users.
4. Accessibility through technology
By dispensing with riddles, Trustcaptcha is already optimised for accessibility. The design is also created with easy comprehension and legible contrast in mind. In addition, the CAPTCHA starts automatically when the input fields are being filled in, making it more accessible and quicker to complete. This makes Trustcaptcha ideal for all users, including those with disabilities and ensures an inclusive user experience.
1. No annoying puzzles
Advances in AI and image recognition have ensured that bots are already solving traditional CAPTCHAs faster than humans. Providers who stick to image puzzles are therefore forced to provide users with increasingly complex and time-consuming tasks. This leads to annoyed customers, long delays and a high bounce rate. Another problem with image puzzles is their further development. While many people already no longer understand the tasks, they are also becoming increasingly complex to counteract better bots. However, this development cannot continue indefinitely, as companies are losing more and more users to the complex puzzles.
5. Further benefits to Trustcaptcha
Trustcaptcha offers a variety of configuration options that further contribute to improving the UX:
- The CAPTCHA duration can be customised. This allows you to shorten or extend the duration, tailored to the requirements and performance of your users' devices.
- Individual IP addresses or IP ranges can be placed on an allow or block list. This enables targeted control over access and reduces unnecessary burdens for known users.
- The CAPTCHA box supports both light and dark designs that adjust manually or automatically based on system settings.
- Trustcaptcha supports a growing number of European languages and offers automatic language detection, which improves the user experience.
Should you require further features, please feel free to contact us.
Trustcaptcha helps companies, governments and organizations worldwide to ensure the security, integrity and availability of their websites and online services and to protect them from spam and abuse. Benefit today from the GDPR-compliant and invisible reCAPTCHA alternative with a known bot score and multi-layered security concept.
Protect yourself and the privacy of your customers! Find out more about Trustcaptcha
