Solving a captcha is a common task on the internet, and it’s not overly complex; it usually only takes a few seconds. However, there are users who prefer to bypass this process and automate it, allowing a robot or browser extension to handle it on their behalf. Is it possible to solve a captcha automatically within your web browser? Yes, and we’ll explain how to do it if you’d like to eliminate the need for manual input.
CAPTCHA stands for “Completely Automated Public Turing test to tell Computers and Humans Apart.” In simpler terms, it’s a tool or test designed to distinguish between humans and robots, often used as a security or verification measure when accessing a webpage. While the concept of a Turing test is quite old, it has evolved over the years, and you’ve likely encountered it many times on websites to prove that you’re a human. Captchas typically present simple questions or tasks aimed at preventing spam or automated clicks on webpages.
These tasks can be as straightforward as solving a simple math problem, selecting images that contain specific objects (like streetlights), or identifying letters in a distorted or rotated box. Such tasks are challenging for machines but easily surmountable by humans, regardless of their cultural or intellectual background. However, you don’t always need to solve them yourself; there are Chrome extensions available that promise to automatically solve captchas when they appear on webpages. Is it worthwhile to use them? Well, it depends. These extensions are not instantaneous, as they take a few seconds to solve each puzzle. Moreover, their main limitation is that they can only handle specific types of captchas, as we’ll explore in the following sections.
Buster to solve captchas
Buster is a browser extension compatible with Google Chrome (also available for Firefox) that offers the promise of automatically solving captchas. It’s not that we lack the ability to solve captchas ourselves, as we usually can, but rather that we might prefer to avoid spending time searching for objects like streetlights, palm trees, or traffic lights. Buster is essentially a robot designed to prove it’s not a robot, although it’s not flawless. The extension receives regular updates to maintain its functionality.
Using Buster is quite straightforward. You can visit any website with captcha or reCAPTCHA tests to verify its functionality. Once installed in your browser, navigate to the relevant test and click on “I’m not a robot.” A visual test will appear, requiring you to select specific items. During this process, you’ll notice the Buster icon located at the bottom. Click on it, and Buster will automatically handle the captcha for you.
We’ve tested Buster, and it does work in many cases, but it’s not foolproof, and there may be instances where it fails. Additionally, keep in mind that to enable Buster to solve captchas, you need to grant it the “can read and change site data” permission, which can be configured to work only when you interact with the extension, always, or never. The most convenient option is the first one, although it’s likely to function only when you actively use the extension, not continuously.
Is it worth using? Well, that depends. We’ve found that Buster successfully solves visual captchas on numerous occasions, but it’s not effective with all captcha types commonly found on the internet. Moreover, it requires certain permissions to read and modify data from the websites you visit, which means you should keep a close eye on Chrome extensions or those in any other browser, as they can potentially serve as entry points for malware.
Other alternatives
While Buster is widely recognized and frequently downloaded for this purpose, it’s not the sole option available, nor was it the first. Various extensions aim to help you bypass or automatically solve captchas while browsing the internet or in specific scenarios. Their primary goal remains the same: saving you time and sparing you the need to continuously tackle these challenges.
PrivacyPass
Another extension designed to handle captchas is PrivacyPass, accessible on both Chrome and Firefox browsers. As the name implies, its mission is to address the “riddles” frequently encountered when using Tor or a VPN. PrivacyPass operates discreetly in the background, working to reduce the number of captchas you encounter.
It’s worth noting that PrivacyPass doesn’t automatically solve captchas but rather seeks to diminish their frequency, resulting in fewer interruptions while you navigate online. As with any application or extension of this nature, we recommend monitoring its permissions and being cautious of potential security risks, such as malware, when installing such tools.
2Captcha Solver
A cursory glance at the Chrome Web Store reveals a considerable disparity in user reviews between Buster and 2Captcha Solver, with the latter garnering only 27 reviews compared to Buster’s 400+. Nevertheless, it serves as an alternative promising automatic captcha resolution on any website.
The extension itself is free to download, but there’s a catch: you must create an account on their website to fund your balance, which allows you to resolve captchas. Each captcha typically costs around 2.99 cents (approximately two cents, give or take). This fee is deducted from your balance as you successfully solve captchas.
The primary drawback of 2Captcha Solver is the associated cost, as you need to pay a few cents for each captcha solved. Whether it’s worth trying depends on your preferences and whether you’re seeking an alternative to Buster for captcha resolution.
