Hey helpers! This is an email that will explain a new upcoming change to the process of how you register your nick. There will be as of Friday the 9th an extra step when you want to register a nick. This extra step includes for most the well known process of CAPTCHA. WHAT IS CAPTCHA? Captcha is a test made by a program that supposedly only humans can pass but not computers. The most common scenario is an image of a word or phrase that computer programs can't read that you have to type into an input field to complete a subscription or registration. HOW WILL IT WORK ON DALNET? - When you issue the usual registration command to nickserv you will be asked to answer a simple random question. This question is also to be sent to nickserv. If the answer is correct you will be sent the normal AUTH email that will have to be completed as usual. If the answer is wrong you will be asked to try again. - The questions will be random and they will change so no one can guess what they are or create a script to circumvent the captcha. WHY CAPTCHA ON DALNET? - This is to prevent or at least make it harder for A) malicious users to register a large number of nicks and use them as flood bots and drones b) nick chasers using bots and scripts to register status nicks. - This is to prevent registered drone flood as well as to give our fellow users a fighting chance to get the nick they want without having to fight against automatic scripts. WHAT CAN YOU DO? - Help users with the commands - You are allowed to help them with the answer they are asked upon registration. The idea is so that humans will register nicks and not bots/drones. So it is ok to give them the answer if they ask. Remember we have non-english speakers who may not fully understand the question, simple or not. WHAT YOU MUST _NOT_ DO!!! - You are not allowed to help a user to create a script to register nicks. - You are not allowed to gather the answers and give them to users that they then can use with a script. SUMMARY - Captcha will be enabled sometime this Friday. - You are allowed to help them with commands and answers. - Do not help anyone circumvent the idea of captcha!!! If you have questions you are welcome to email me or talk to me online. Regards, Car`a`carn <caracarn@dal.net> mozilla.se.eu.dal.net <irc.dal.net> IRC Operator - CSOp Help Committee Team Lead Helpdesk Team Lead MassAds & Exploits Team Member