How to Adjust Google reCAPTCHA Security Settings

How to Adjust Your Google reCAPTCHA Security Settings

Overview

If you notice an increase in spam submissions through your PhotoBiz forms, you can increase the security preference for your Google reCAPTCHA key. This makes reCAPTCHA more strict when evaluating form activity and can help reduce automated spam submissions.

This guide walks you through accessing your Google reCAPTCHA settings and increasing the security preference for the reCAPTCHA key used with your PhotoBiz website. You can return to this setting at any time if you need to adjust the level again.

Why You May Be Receiving More Spam Submissions

Spam activity can change over time as automated bots change the way they interact with websites. This means you may begin receiving more spam even when your Google reCAPTCHA setup is still working correctly.

Increasing the Security Preference makes Google reCAPTCHA more strict when evaluating submissions. This can help reduce unwanted form submissions without requiring you to replace your existing reCAPTCHA keys.

STEP ONE

Go to the Google reCAPTCHA Admin Console and sign in to the Google account that manages the reCAPTCHA key used with your PhotoBiz website.

Open the reCAPTCHA site or key associated with the website where you are receiving spam submissions.

STEP TWO

Click the gear icon in the upper-right corner to open the settings for your reCAPTCHA key.

Locate the Security Preference setting. This controls how strictly Google reCAPTCHA evaluates activity before allowing a form submission.

FINAL STEP

Move the Security Preference slider to the right to increase the security level. A higher setting makes reCAPTCHA more strict and can help reduce spam submissions getting through your forms.

After adjusting the slider, click Save at the bottom of the page.

Your updated security preference will apply to the reCAPTCHA key used with your PhotoBiz website. Continue monitoring your form submissions to see whether the amount of spam decreases.

If You Are Still Receiving Spam

If spam submissions continue after increasing the security preference, you can return to the same setting and move the slider farther to the right.

It can be helpful to make adjustments gradually and monitor your forms between changes. This allows you to find a balance that reduces spam without making it unnecessarily difficult for legitimate visitors to submit your forms.

You should also confirm that you adjusted the reCAPTCHA key associated with the PhotoBiz website receiving the spam.

If Legitimate Visitors Have Trouble Submitting Forms

A higher security preference can make reCAPTCHA more strict when evaluating visitors. If legitimate clients begin having difficulty submitting your forms after you increase the setting, return to the Security Preference slider and lower it slightly.

Save the change and test your form again.

When to Replace Your reCAPTCHA Keys Instead

Adjusting the security preference is a good first step when your forms are working normally but you have started receiving more spam.

If your Submit button is not working, form submissions are failing, or reCAPTCHA itself appears to be preventing submissions, changing the security preference may not resolve the issue. In that situation, see Form Submit Button Not Working? How to Reset Google reCAPTCHA Keys for instructions on creating and connecting new reCAPTCHA keys.

Helpful Notes

Google reCAPTCHA settings are managed through your Google account, not from the PhotoBiz control panel.
The Security Preference applies to the reCAPTCHA site or key you are editing, so make sure you select the one associated with the correct PhotoBiz website.
An increase in spam does not necessarily mean your reCAPTCHA keys are broken.
If spam begins increasing again in the future, you can return to the Google reCAPTCHA settings and adjust the security preference as needed.
Google may provide alerts or notices in your reCAPTCHA account if it detects issues that require your attention.

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