SpiderServe Web Design

There is an ongoing debate about the use of Captcha images on website and whether they should be used.

The argument from those people against using Captcha images is that spam is not the fault of the genuine website user, so why should they be faced with what are often very hard to read images, just to be able to send an email via a website.

Obviously, the argument in favour of them is that they dramatically reduce spam.

So who’s responsibility should it be?
Personally, I have no problem with the use of Captcha images, but as a Webmaster I understand how much spam you can receive without implementing it.
But if I want people to use my website, shouldn’t it be down to me to ensure that measures put in place to combat things that don’t affect my customers don’t have any impact on my customers? For example, a Captcha code exists to make a webmaster’s life easier – it does not offer any advantage to my website user to complete a Captcha code.

I have tried to use a number of measures to combat spam, none of which have yet worked. But I do believe that us web developers should look beyond the Captcha code to try and find an effective spam deterrent that does not impact the users of our websites.

I would like to hear other’s opinions on this subject. Do you get frustrated with the Captcha codes and do they bother you?