Captcha - reCaptcha Plugin
Protect User Registration & Contact Form
Joomla! is intrinsically spam proof.
First, by default all published email links within the main content of a Joomla! website are protected from bots by javascript code.
And second, the Joomla! CMS includes an optional Captcha - reCaptcha Plugin to help stop bots from abusing the Contact Form (when published).
User Registration (when activated) can also be protected.
Use of the Captcha - reCaptcha Plugin requires a Google account.
Note:
User Login is not protected by the Captcha - reCaptcha Plugin.
Nor are Password Reset and Reminder Fields.
Getting Started
The Captcha - reCaptcha Plugin is disabled by default in a WYNCHCO Website Design.
Reason: its use requires Captcha Keys.
You can acquire Captcha Keys when you visit the following link and select GET STARTED.
Note: The Plugin works using reCaptcha v2 Captcha Keys,
Google Pricing
Scroll down the screen when you visit the above link to view pricing.
At the time of writing reCaptcha v2 Captcha Keys can be used for free for up to 1 million 'assessments' per month.
This could change of course.
And it should be noted that some 3rd party extension developers enable you to use alternative Captcha - reCaptcha Key providers.
Global Configuration Captcha Settings
When you choose to use Captcha - reCaptcha with your website, we recommend NOT changing the Default Captcha setting in the Global Configuration screen.
Instead, toggle the Default Captcha setting in the Options screen for the Contacts and Users components.
Reason: if the setting is changed in the Global Configuration screen then Users with Special Permissions will be required to confirm they are human every time they want to save their work when editing an Article in the Front End.
This is extremely annoying.