hCaptcha - Detailed Review

How do I integrate hCaptcha into my online service?

Integrating hCaptcha into your online service is relatively straightforward. hCaptcha offers hundreds of pre-built open source integrations, as well as native integrations in many online platforms. If you are switching from reCAPTCHA, there is a specific guide to help you make the transition, which often takes only a few minutes and involves changing just a few lines of code.

How long is a typical visitor’s hCaptcha session?

A typical visitor’s hCaptcha session is about the same as a traditional CAPTCHA, lasting between 3-10 seconds, depending on the difficulty mode set for your site.

When are multiple captchas required?

Multiple captchas may be required based on the computed confidence in the visitor’s humanity, the site difficulty setting, and other security factors. If a user fails a captcha, a new one will be presented to the user to ensure the visitor is not a bot.

How does hCaptcha compare with reCAPTCHA?

hCaptcha offers several advantages over reCAPTCHA. It provides more control over the difficulty level needed for your site and does a better job of protecting users’ privacy. hCaptcha is API-compatible with reCAPTCHA V2 and includes all its features, plus additional advanced features in its Enterprise version, such as custom threat models and detailed bot scores.

How does hCaptcha secure the service?

hCaptcha follows secure development lifecycle practices, runs an internal red team and Security Operations Center, and receives regular external penetration tests. It also maintains a bug bounty program to encourage responsible disclosure by outside researchers. hCaptcha has been externally audited to verify compliance with industry-standard security controls, including ISO 27001 certification and the SOC 2 Type II Security trust principle.

Is there a way to send even less information to hCaptcha?

Yes, hCaptcha cares about user privacy and offers solutions to minimize data collection. For example, you can use Privacy Pass, a cryptographically secure alternative that helps maintain user privacy. hCaptcha Enterprise customers also have options to pre-blind all user data, ensuring no personal data reaches hCaptcha.

What are the differences between hCaptcha Pro and hCaptcha Enterprise?

hCaptcha Pro is a simpler tool that can be enabled quickly and is suitable for basic CAPTCHA needs. hCaptcha Enterprise, on the other hand, is a comprehensive anti-abuse and bot mitigation platform that includes features like passive (No-CAPTCHA) modes, risk scores, custom threat models, and rich analytics. It is more suitable for large online services needing sophisticated defenses against various threats.

How is hCaptcha Pro billed?

hCaptcha Pro is billed either annually or monthly, with a base subscription that includes 100,000 evaluations per month. Additional evaluations are billed at $0.99 per 1,000 requests. The monthly price is $139 if paid month-to-month or $99 with an annual subscription discount.

How does hCaptcha ensure compliance with data privacy regulations?

hCaptcha prioritizes user privacy and ensures compliance with data privacy regulations like GDPR, CCPA, and others. It minimizes data collection and offers features such as Privacy Pass and the ability to pre-blind user data for Enterprise customers, making compliance straightforward without sacrificing security.

What kind of challenges does hCaptcha present to users?

hCaptcha challenges users with tasks that are difficult for bots to automate, such as selecting images from a grid that contain specific objects (e.g., cars). This approach leverages human abilities to understand context and meaning in visuals, which is a significant hurdle for bots.

How do I handle the response from hCaptcha in my application?

When a user completes an hCaptcha challenge, your server receives a passcode that needs to be verified with the hCaptcha server API. You should use a POST request to send the passcode and other required parameters to the verification endpoint. The response will include a `success` field that indicates whether the passcode is valid. You should only proceed with your normal business logic if `success` is `true`.