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Spammers Learn to Outsource Their Captcha Needs

lukeknipe writes "Guardian Unlimited reporter Charles Arthur speaks with a spammer, discussing the possibility that his colleagues may be paying people in developing countries to fill in captchas. In his report, Arthur discusses Nicholas Negroponte's gift of hand-powered laptops to developing nations and the wide array of troubles that could arise as the world's exploitable poor go online." From the article: "I've no doubt it will radically alter the life of many in the developing world for the better. I also expect that once a few have got into the hands of people aching to make a dollar, with time on their hands and an internet connection provided one way or another, we'll see a significant rise in captcha-solved spam. But, as my spammer contact pointed out, it's nothing personal. You have to understand: it's just business."

4 of 221 comments (clear)

  1. I call job theft! by hclyff · · Score: 4, Funny

    Damn those developing countries, stealing all the decent jobs from the hard working Americans.

  2. Re:it is just business by Eggplant62 · · Score: 3, Funny

    Easier solution: Kill all those with tiny penes. Only the well-endowed should be allowed to live, thus no need for penis pills. QED.

  3. Just business? by Yaztromo · · Score: 5, Funny

    I'm currently hiring 3rd world citizens to kick spammers in the crotch.

    To the spammers: it's nothing personal. You have to understand: it's just business.

    Yaz.

  4. Re:A long-time problem by Don'tTreadOnMe · · Score: 2, Funny
    Just having a person type some "distorted" text verbatim is a bit christian...

    Maybe it's just too early in the morning for me, but what does that mean? That typing distorted text is easy? That it's smart/dumb? That it makes you love your neighbor as you would have them love you?