Abstract: Techniques for authenticating a login that avoid the imposition of memorization burdens on users of a computer system. The present techniques include determining whether an appropriate token is stored on a client system that originates the login, authenticating a login by communicating with a user via a secondary communication channel, and authenticating a login by engaging in a private question/private answer dialogue with a user.
Abstract: A human test that is based on a human conceptual capability. A human test according to the present techniques includes posing a question that is selected to exercise a human conceptual capability, obtaining an answer to the question, and comparing the answer to a correct answer that would be rendered by a human being.
Abstract: Techniques for protecting a service provider from abuse include methods for protecting an object that is intended to be rendered to an authentic human client of the service provider from capture as well as methods for protecting against using low-paid laborers to abuse a service provider.
Abstract: Techniques for defense against unwanted communications by striking back against the beneficiaries of the unwanted communications include identifying a communication channel to a beneficiary of an unwanted communication and sending a communication via the communication channel to the beneficiary such that the communication imposes a cost to the beneficiary. The cost to the beneficiary may be used to deter further unwanted communication from the beneficiary.