Name: EasyCalcCheck Captcha (ECCC)
Version: 5.1.3.0-PRO (Joomla! 5) / 4.4.0.0-PRO (Joomla! 4) / 3.3.2.0-PRO (Joomla! 3)
Type: Captcha Plugin
License: GPLv3
Description: This plugin effectively protects a Joomla! website from spam messages and fraudulent registrations.
Download: ECCC - EasyCalcCheck Captcha Downloads
Protection against spam messages and spam registrations with internal checks
The plugin protects Joomla! core forms that support the plugin group Captcha like the user or contact component from the core or any third-party extension supporting the Captcha implementation provided by the application. It is a simplified version of the plugin EasyCalcCheck Plus Pro with five internal anti-spam check mechanisms: an arithmetical problem, a time lock, a hidden field, a JavaScript field and a self-defined question.
Features
- Arithmetical Problem
- Involves simple calculations that humans can solve easily.
- Limits automated entries as bots typically can't solve these problems.
- Easy to implement, requiring minimal system resources.
- Offers adjustable complexity.
- Time Lock
- Measures the time taken to fill a form; bots usually fill out forms instantly, whereas humans take longer.
- Provides an effective barrier against automated spam attacks.
- Automatic function that requires no input from the user.
- Hidden Field
- Invisible to human users but detectable by bots.
- Bots usually fill out all fields, hence, filling out a hidden field indicates spam.
- Simple to implement in any form.
- JavaScript Field
- Requires the user to have JavaScript enabled, which many bots do not.
- Helps detect and block bots since they can't execute or interpret JavaScript like a web browser.
- Self-Defined Question
- Customisable and flexible; can be as unique and creative as you want.
- Effective against bots since they usually can't understand the context or unusual questions.
- Allows for a site-specific or target audience-specific approach to anti-spam.
- Requires some thought to create a question that is easy for your target audience to answer but hard for a bot.
Installation
Install EasyCalcCheck Captcha with the help of the Installer component as usual. Then configure and activate the plugin in System -> Plugins -> System - EasyCalcCheck Captcha - ECCC. Go to System -> Global Configuration and set this plugin as the Default Captcha.
Changelog
+ = Added - ! = Removed - ^ = Changed - # = Fixed
Latest release
Version 5.1.3.0-PRO - 2024-08-10
- + Added Protection for Ajax forms option. This option will protect forms that send requests to the server using Ajax. Note: Please be aware that the calculation task should not be reset in this scenario, and the values should be retained in the session. Only enable this option if absolutely necessary. Thanks to Niels N. for requesting this feature!
Version 5.1.3.0-PRO - 2024-08-10
- + Added Protection for Ajax forms option. This option will protect forms that send requests to the server using Ajax. Note: Please be aware that the calculation task should not be reset in this scenario, and the values should be retained in the session. Only enable this option if absolutely necessary. Thanks to Niels N. for requesting this feature!
Version 5.1.2.0-PRO - 2024-05-10
- + Improved Pro Security Token validation check. The Pro package contains a token file with an individual security token linked to the user account that is checked against the validation server for authenticity. If the file is missing or the token is invalid, you cannot edit the settings and use the extension. The Pro Security Token field has been extended to handle incorrect tokens and blocked accounts. If you encounter an error message related to the token, download the Pro version with your Pro subscription from the linked download page and install it again!
- Attention: The Pro extension will not work correctly if the token file or custom field is missing or modified. Never edit or remove the files to ensure correct functionality.
Version 5.1.1.0-PRO - 2024-04-19
- + Input numbers for the calculation task are not reset in Ajax requests so that the task can be solved in another Ajax request if the input in the initial request is incorrect. The plugins listens to the
ajaxvariable set totruein the request. - # Added the support for the legacy method using the
triggerEvent()function since some 3rd party extensions are still using the deprecated way to trigger plugin events. Thanks to Sigrid for reporting the issue!
Version 5.1.0.0-PRO - 2024-04-17
- + Subscriber Interface: The plugin has been rewritten to utilise the subscriber interface, enhancing its integration and performance capabilities.
Version 5.0.0.0-PRO - 2023-10-23
- + First Pro release for Joomla! 5.x based on ECCC Pro version 4.3.0.0-PRO
- + The plugin "Behaviour - Backward Compatibility" is not required. The extension only uses supported classes in Joomla! 5.
Version 4.4.0.0-PRO - 2024-08-08
- Increased technical requirements for Joomla! 4: Increasing Technical Requirements 2024 - Core & PHP for Joomla! 4 Pro Extensions.
- ^ Updated the installation script to enable the uninstall process in higher core versions.
- + Added Protection for Ajax forms option. This option will protect forms that send requests to the server using Ajax. Note: Please be aware that the calculation task should not be reset in this scenario, and the values should be retained in the session. Only enable this option if absolutely necessary. Thanks to Niels N. for requesting this feature!
Version 4.3.0.0-PRO - 2023-10-11
- + Improved Installation Script: Updated the installation script to check for the highest compatible version of Joomla automatically! This feature aims to prevent issues that may arise from using incompatible core versions, thereby ensuring a smoother installation process.
Version 4.2.0.0-PRO - 2023-07-28
- + JavaScript field - A hidden field is inserted via JavaScript in the protected form to prevent data transmission from spambots. The field will not load if JavaScript is disabled. With this feature in place, spambots that do not have JavaScript support are effectively prevented from flooding the form with spam.
- ^ Replaced jQuery with pure JavaScript code and removed the dependency of the jQuery library.
Version 4.1.1.0-PRO - 2023-07-25
- + Ensure that a form containing the same captcha ID is checked accurately when called multiple times on a single page. This includes both the calculation field and the hidden field. Thanks to Silke G. for reporting it!
Version 4.1.0.1-PRO - 2023-03-30
- ^ Improved the support for extensions not transferring the result of the calculation check in the onCheckAnswer trigger event. Thanks to Bea for reporting it!
Version 4.1.0.0-PRO - 2023-02-10
- Increased technical requirements for Joomla! 4: Increasing Technical Requirements - Core & PHP for Joomla! 4 Pro Extensions.
- + Significantly improved the support for non-standard usage of the captcha class implementations from third-party extensions (e.g. entered value from the user is not transmitted to the check function, CSS class is set wrongly, checks are not reloaded due to Ajax submissions and other issues). Thanks to Michael H. for reporting it!
- + Internal code optimisations.
- ^ Updated all calls to the session class to use the new syntax (prefix.name).
Version 4.0.3.1-PRO - 2022-09-11
- # Fixed custom field name issue.
Version 4.0.3.0-PRO - 2022-09-09
- + Added Pro Security Token validation check. The Pro package contains a token file with an individual security token linked to the user account and checked against the validation server for authenticity.
- ^ Multiple internal code optimisations.
Version 4.0.2.0-PRO - 2022-02-15
- + Added ID check handling to allow several forms on the same page with differents IDs (for instance forms by RSForms). Thanks to Barbara A. (COOLCAT creations) for reporting the issue!
Version 4.0.1.0-PRO - 2021-11-12
- + Added the built-in Download Key Manager support to enter your Pro Update ID without installing the update helper plugin.
Important: Please copy your personal Pro Update ID using the second copy button in the Pro ID Manager and enter the key in System - Update - Update Sites - Select the entry of the Pro extension and enter the ID into the Download Key field. - ^ Code optimisations
Version 4.0.0.0-PRO - 2021-09-12
- + First Pro release for Joomla! 4.x based on ECCC Pro version 3.3.1.0-PRO
Version 3.3.2.0-PRO - 2022-02-15
- + Added ID check handling to allow several forms on the same page with differents IDs (for instance forms by RSForms). Thanks to Barbara A. (COOLCAT creations) for reporting the issue!
Version 3.3.1.0-PRO - 2021-06-16
- ^ Maintenance release
- ^ Changed the version number specification. The first number stands for the supported major Joomla! version. The following three numbers follow the Semantic Versioning Specification (SemVer), as it used to be previously.
- ^ Updated custom field
- ^ Code optimisations
Version 3.3.0-PRO - 2021-02-10
- + Invisible Checks Only - It's now possible to only use the time lock and hidden field checks without showing a visible captcha. Thanks to Christoph W. for the request!
- ^ Updated language files
- ^ Code optimisations
Version 3.2.2-PRO - 2021-01-19
- ^ Maintenance release
- ^ Updated language files
- ^ Code optimisations
Version 3.2.1-PRO - 2020-09-02
- ^ Improved whitespace handling of the global captcha class. Thanks to Guido (Kunze Medien) for the request!
Version 3.2.0-PRO - 2020-08-29
- + Captcha Template - Template file can be overwritten using a template override. Thanks to Guido (Kunze Medien) for the request!
- + Global captcha class is added to the input field generated by ECCC. Thanks to Guido (Kunze Medien) for the request!
- First release with increased technical requirements: Increasing Technical Requirements - Joomla! Core & PHP for Pro & Free Extensions
- ^ Updated language strings
- ^ Updated custom field
Version 3.1.1-PRO - 2020-01-19
- First Pro release based on ECCC version 3.1.1-FREE
Version 3.2.0-FREE - 2020-01-27
- First release with increased technical requirements: Increasing Technical Requirements - Joomla! Core & PHP for Pro & Free Extensions
- ^ Updated language strings
- ^ Updated custom fields
Version 3.1.1 - 2019-06-21
- + Custom Field - Pro Button
- # Fixed validation logic if no self-defined question is set - Thanks to Re:Later for reporting it!
Download
Overview of all downloads of the extension: ECCC - EasyCalcCheck Captcha Downloads