Researchers Warn Fake CAPTCHAs Are Growing Cyber Threat, Stealing Data Through Malware Disguised As Human Verification Tests

We’ve all seen those little boxes online asking us to prove we’re not robots. A quick click on “I’m not a robot,” or solving a small puzzle, and we move on with our browsing. It feels routine, harmless, and almost invisible in our daily internet use. But that familiar step isn’t always safe.

As a new way for spreading malware, cybercriminals are also exploiting fake CAPTCHA pages.These false checks don't protect consumers; they trick them into doing harmful things like downloading files or inserting hidden commands into their systems.If the attacker makes one mistake, they can get into your system.

Researchers in security have identified that fake CAPTCHAs are spreading through compromised websites, phishing emails, and fraudulent ads. The Threat Research and Information Analytics Division (TRIAD) at CloudSEK found a clever new fraud that spreads the Lumma Stealer malware, which mostly affects Windows users. Hackers create fake websites that are quite similar to Google's real CAPTCHA pages. These sites are hosted on well-known content delivery networks (CDNs) to make them look more trustworthy. CDNs help them load faster and look real.

Clicking on the false CAPTCHA itself isn't usually dangerous; it's complying with the instructions it gives that gets you into trouble. That's when hackers take over.If someone goes to one of these fake sites, they are misled into opening the Run box on their computer, press Ctrl + V to paste a hidden command, and then press Enter.This makes users unintentionally perform a hidden command that downloads the Lumma Stealer malware from a server far away. This spyware is made to steal private information, like login information and personal data.

Experts say that you can determine the difference between real and fake CAPTCHAs by looking at the queries they make. Real CAPTCHAs only ask users to do simple things like picking pictures, inputting garbled text, or checking a box. Fake CAPTCHAs, on the other hand, often ask you to do things that are out of the ordinary, such downloading files, letting browser notifications, or giving up personal information. Another helpful tip is to always double-check the website's address, since false sites sometimes have spelling mistakes, weird characters, or domains that you don't know.

Fake CAPTCHA scams highlight how easily cybercriminals can disguise threats as routine online tasks.They pose serious risks to industries like e-commerce and online gaming, where stolen accounts can cause heavy financial damage. For regular users, the lesson is simple as always be cautious with unfamiliar links and never blindly trust every “I’m not a robot” box that appears on your screen. Staying alert is the best defense against falling into such traps.

Information referenced in this article is from The Indian Express