Traditionally, when you log into a website, you’re required to enter a username (or, in many cases, your email address) along with a password that you created. In some cases, the system may provide you with an initial password, but it’s usually recommended—or required—that you change it to one of your own. A strong password typically consists of a mix of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and sometimes special characters such as @ or !.
While this method has worked well for many years, advances in technology—including artificial intelligence and automated bots—have made it easier for attackers to attempt unauthorized logins. To counter this, many services now require an additional verification step, such as a code sent to your phone or email. This not only confirms that you are the authorized account holder, but also helps ensure you’re a real person rather than a bot attempting to gain access.
The same applies to those sometimes annoying human verification CAPTCHAs. While they are still used on many websites to prevent—or at least slow down—automated bots from submitting forms, CAPTCHAs have their own challenges. In some cases, they’ve become so difficult that even legitimate users struggle to solve them. At the same time, automated bots have grown more sophisticated and can sometimes bypass CAPTCHAs that were originally designed to be easy for humans but nearly impossible for machines