Fix

Challenge/Response Beats IM Spam

By Adam Pash on November 21, 2008 at 4:00 AM

Mac OS X only: Free Adium plug-in Challenge Response prevents instant messaging spam by requiring unknown users to answer a quick challenge question before interrupting you with their message. Challenges would look something like, “What is the square root of 49 in numerical form?” which requires a response of “7,” but you can customise your own question and answer. Once a user answers correctly (i.e., verifies intelligence), Challenge/Response adds that user to a whitelist and they won’t be challenged again. There’s always the chance that the challenge and response might confuse an actual human enough that they’ll just give up on IMing you, but if you’re used to a lot of IM spam, Challenge/Response is a must. Challenge/Response is a free download, Mac OS X only, requires Adium. Thanks Jason!

Challenge/Response [Adium Xtras]


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Comments (AU Comments | US Comments)

  • robdew
    November 21, 2008 at 6:32 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • portezbie
    November 21, 2008 at 6:30 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • Jrsy is back to being the dude, playing the dude disguised as an
    November 21, 2008 at 6:17 AM

    My challenge:

    "What is the average speed velocity of a swallow?"

    Jrsy is back to being the dude, playing the dude disguised as another dude

  • Jrsy is back to being the dude, playing the dude disguised as an
    November 21, 2008 at 6:15 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • AlanR
    November 21, 2008 at 6:11 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • Git Em SteveDave loves this guy-->
    November 21, 2008 at 6:54 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • bdragonmsl
    November 21, 2008 at 6:52 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • Jrsy is back to being the dude, playing the dude disguised as an
    November 21, 2008 at 6:47 AM

    @FreakinSyco: Exactly.

    I accept your IM now...

    Jrsy is back to being the dude, playing the dude disguised as another dude

  • CountryJustice
    November 21, 2008 at 6:46 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • FreakinSyco
    November 21, 2008 at 6:41 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • AlanR
    November 21, 2008 at 6:40 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • carleeto
    November 21, 2008 at 6:59 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • WendyBear
    November 21, 2008 at 6:24 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • Jrsy is back to being the dude, playing the dude disguised as an
    November 21, 2008 at 7:38 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • Phoshi
    November 21, 2008 at 7:31 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • mathmonkey
    November 21, 2008 at 7:42 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • kamnet
    November 21, 2008 at 8:24 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • speed1961
    November 21, 2008 at 8:32 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • SheetalLavitz
    November 21, 2008 at 8:59 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • AlanR
    November 21, 2008 at 10:07 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • Kamigoroshi
    November 21, 2008 at 10:21 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • addiktion
    November 21, 2008 at 5:25 PM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

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