Infosec glossary entry

CAPTCHA

CAPTCHA:
Completely Automated Public Turing test to tell Computers and Humans Apart

A CAPTCHA is a security measure designed to determine whether a user is a human or a machine. It typically involves presenting users with a challenge, such as recognizing distorted text, selecting images, or solving puzzles. A task that is hard to solve for bots but (relatively) easy for humans. CAPTCHAs help prevent automated bots from accessing websites or online services, thereby enhancing security and reducing the risk of spam, fraud, and abuse.


By jean-christoph

March 16, 2022

spam, websec

this might interest you as well

Lessons from Sun Tzu’s “The Art of War” in Cybersecurity: Timeless Wisdom or Outdated Tactics?

Introduction Sun Tzu’s "The Art of War" is a legendary strategic treatise written more than 2,500 years ago. Its enduring principles of warfare strategy have transcended military boundaries, influencing disciplines from business management to competitive sports. In today’s digital age, its relevance is increasingly apparent in the cybersecurity landscape, particularly for CISOs of medium-sized enterprises,

Read More

Ransomware Resilience Starts in the Mind: Overcoming Cognitive Biases and Decision-Making Errors in Cybersecurity

Why We Keep Losing Despite Stronger Security Controls Over the past three years, businesses have almost doubled their confidence in cybersecurity—rising from 32% in 2021 to 54% in 2024 (The Global Cost of Ransomware Study, 2025). Despite this, ransomware’s impact has only grown: 40% of affected companies suffered significant revenue losses, 58% experienced operational downtime,

Read More

AI Cyber Security 2025: Key Threats and Essential Strategies for Your Business

Artificial Intelligence is transforming businesses and industries worldwide, but with this transformation comes unprecedented challenges. The recent launch of Cisco AI Defense, a specialized AI security solution, highlights the urgency of securing AI applications. According to Cisco, only 29% of enterprises feel fully prepared to detect and prevent unauthorized manipulations of AI systems. This low

Read More