EDIT.

Things are brighter with Orange

Edited by deleted (Wed 13-Jun-07 17:33:32)

The system you describe makes a lot more sense from a security point of view than that which PlusNet have implemented. The check is not performed when logging in, but, as indicated by the OP, when actually composing an e-mail.

It's true that no system such as this will be ideal for everyone, but this one doesn't seem to be particularly well thought out, or helpful. Especially not when there are still gaping holes elsewhere

Edited by h0tblack (Wed 13-Jun-07 18:33:01)

Something that would read out the characters, perhaps. Or something that complied with the Disability Discrimination Act, maybe. I'll add it to my list of laws broken by plusnet.

It's pretty easy to create a login for webmail, you just signup a free PAYG account. With that you can then send email with webmail. The Captcha image is there as a safety net to stop a spammer from using a script to send email via Webmail. Adding in a delay or tarpitting or limit on the number of mails that a username can send per day but isn't going to be as effective as the Captcha.

When you put it like that I can see how the system could be abused by spammers. Although with adequate system for picking up abuse I'm sure it wouldn't be difficult to dissuade people from doing so.

I still don't think the system is ideal in it's current form though, ignoring the possible circumvention techniques, it could well be seen as an accessibility issue as others have (more strongly but correctly) mentioned.

Hopefully it can be fine tuned over time and you won't stick with the system as it is, but I now understand PlusNet's reasoning for implementing it. Thanks Dave.

Have you seen the capatcha that uses pictures of ducks and kittens? The idea is that computers/scripts can tell the difference between kittens and other animals.

I think we either need something like that, or biometric ID that isn't fooled by melted gummy bears..

In reply to:

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isn't going to be as effective as the Captcha.

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But if it is OFTEN so difficult to read so that it PREVENTS sending out any emails, you might as well just close down Squirrelmail!!

Before now it has taken me upto 6 attempts to send a valid email - sorry, but I want a working email system, I do NOT have the time to play silly games of "Guess the Graphic"!!

It is noticeable that you DON'T put that same constraint on someone using the mail2web interface.

Before anyone asks, the mail2web interface is far better at receiving/sending emails, but it DOESN'T let you check/manage the Spam Folder to retrieve those emails that have been wrongly sent to the Spam Folder!!

In reply to:

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can't see it helpful to any partially sighted people

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Don't have to be down to the level of "partially sighted"!! I'm at the level of needing the occasional use of low-powered Reading Glasses & I'm finding it difficult!!

Even more reason PN will have to look into it and how it plans to let partially sighted people who
fall under the Disability Discrimination Act use this system.

Just to be clear, PlusNet have absolutely nothing to do with mail2web.com, they don't run it, they don't pay for it, they have no links with the company that does. They just suggested it as an alternative way of getting your e-mail when they couldn't sort out a solution themselves.