Using random name fields for input to fight spambots

Question

I'm considering using random input names for registration form. It would be done this way:

1. User requests register form site.
2. Create random names for input fields and save them to user's session.
3. Render form and display it to the user.

I just wonder if that method gives me anything. If session driver is a cookie - it's encrypted and secured in the best possible way using third party library which I consider as save enough. If user don't except cookies I can refuse registration.
To remove cookies as potential security risk I can store sessions in database. This seems more secure but also might overload the server(?).
My question is quite simple. Is there any sense to implement such feature?

Answer 1

The standard approach is to have a hidden text field. That is a field with type=text, but with CSS rules applied to it so that it's invisible.

markup:

<input type="text" name="put_some_innocuous_name_here" class="some_innocuous_css_class_name_here" value="" />

CSS:

input.some_innocuous_css_class_name_here {
    display: none;
}

PHP:

if ((isset ($_POST ['put_some_innocuous_name_here']))
&& ($_POST ['put_some_innocuous_name_here'] != ''))
{
    throw new Exception ('Suspected bot!');
}

The way this works is quite simple. A normal user will never see your hidden text field because CSS rules will keep it hidden. therefore a real user will never fill it out.

However, most spambots aren't aware of CSS. They just parse the form markup and they see a text field that appears to need filling out. So they fill the field out with some random data. Because a form field that should never be seen by a normal user has been filled out, this means you're probably dealing with a bot.

Don't use input type=hidden for this, because most spambots are smart enough to notice them and ignore them.

Answer 2

A little late but I have created an class file which does exactly what you need you can find it here. You just need to pass the name of the form through a function example.

<input type="text" name="<?php echo $obj->DynamicName("fieldName")?>"/>

and once the form is submitted it will populate $_POST['fieldName'] with appropriate data as soon as you create its object.

Answer 3

Try checking the IP against known spammers lists, it's very effective. Good examples would be Botscout and Spambusted. I've tried both, and they reduced my spammer bot registrations.