Provided by: libauthen-captcha-perl_1.023-6_all 
NAME
Authen::Captcha - Perl extension for creating captcha's to verify the human element in
transactions.
SYNOPSIS
use Authen::Captcha;
# create a new object
my $captcha = Authen::Captcha->new();
# set the data_folder. contains flatfile db to maintain state
$captcha->data_folder('/some/folder');
# set directory to hold publicly accessible images
$captcha->output_folder('/some/http/folder');
# Alternitively, any of the methods to set variables may also be
# used directly in the constructor
my $captcha = Authen::Captcha->new(
data_folder => '/some/folder',
output_folder => '/some/http/folder',
);
# create a captcha. Image filename is "$md5sum.png"
my $md5sum = $captcha->generate_code($number_of_characters);
# check for a valid submitted captcha
# $code is the submitted letter combination guess from the user
# $md5sum is the submitted md5sum from the user (that we gave them)
my $results = $captcha->check_code($code,$md5sum);
# $results will be one of:
# 1 : Passed
# 0 : Code not checked (file error)
# -1 : Failed: code expired
# -2 : Failed: invalid code (not in database)
# -3 : Failed: invalid code (code does not match crypt)
##############
ABSTRACT
Authen::Captcha provides an object oriented interface to captcha file creations. Captcha
stands for Completely Automated Public Turning test to tell Computers and Humans Apart. A
Captcha is a program that can generate and grade tests that:
- most humans can pass.
- current computer programs can't pass
The most common form is an image file containing distorted text, which humans are adept at
reading, and computers (generally) do a poor job. This module currently implements that
method. We plan to add other methods, such as distorted sound files, and plain text
riddles.
REQUIRES
GD (see http://search.cpan.org/~lds/GD-2.11/)
Digest::MD5 (standard perl module)
In most common situations, you'll also want to have:
A web server (untested on windows, but it should work)
cgi-bin or mod-perl access
Perl: Perl 5.00503 or later must be installed on the web server.
GD.pm (with PNG support)
INSTALLATION
Download the zipped tar file from:
http://search.cpan.org/search?dist=Authen-Captcha
Unzip the module as follows or use winzip:
tar -zxvf Authen-Captcha-1.xxx.tar.gz
The module can be installed using the standard Perl procedure:
perl Makefile.PL
make
make test
make install # you need to be root
Windows users without a working "make" can get nmake from:
ftp://ftp.microsoft.com/Softlib/MSLFILES/nmake15.exe
METHODS
MAIN METHODS
"$captcha = Authen::Captcha->new();"
This creates a new Captcha object. Optionally, you can pass in a hash with
configuration information. See the method descriptions for more detail on what they
mean.
data_folder => '/some/folder', # required
output_folder => '/some/http/folder', # required
expire => 300, # optional. default 300
width => 25, # optional. default 25
height => 35, # optional. default 35
images_folder => '/some/folder', # optional. default to lib dir
keep_failures => 0, # optional, defaults to 0(false)
debug => 0, # optional. default 0
"$md5sum = $captcha->generate_code( $number_of_characters );"
Creates a captcha. Image filename is "$md5sum.png"
It can also be called in array context to retrieve the string of characters used to
generate the captcha (the string the user is expected to respond with). This is useful
for debugging. ex.
"($md5sum,$chars) = $captcha->generate_code( $number_of_characters );"
"$results = $captcha->check_code($code,$md5sum);"
check for a valid submitted captcha
$code is the submitted letter combination guess from the user
$md5sum is the submitted md5sum from the user (that we gave them)
If the $code and $md5sum are correct, the image file and database entry will be
removed.
If the $md5sum matches one in the database, and "keep_failures" is false (the
default), the image file and database entry will be removed to avoid repeated attempts
on the same captcha.
$results will be one of:
1 : Passed
0 : Code not checked (file error)
-1 : Failed: code expired
-2 : Failed: invalid code (not in database)
-3 : Failed: invalid code (code does not match crypt)
ACCESSOR METHODS
"$captcha->data_folder( '/some/folder' );"
Required. Sets the directory to hold the flatfile database that will be used to store
the current non-expired valid captcha md5sum's. Must be writable by the process
running the script (usually the web server user, which is usually either "apache" or
"http"), but should not be accessible to the end user.
"$captcha->output_folder( '/some/folder' );"
Required. Sets the directory to hold the generated Captcha image files. This is
usually a web accessible directory so that the user can view the images in here, but
it doesn't have to be web accessible (you could be attaching the images to an e-mail
for some verification, or some other Captcha implementation). Must be writable by the
process running the script (usually the web server user, which is usually either
"apache" or "http").
"$captcha->images_folder( '/some/folder' );"
Optional, and may greatly affect the results... use with caution. Allows you to
override the default character graphic png's and backgrounds with your own set of
graphics. These are used in the generation of the final captcha image file. The
defaults are held in:
[lib install dir]/Authen/Captcha/images
"$captcha->expire( 300 );"
Optional. Sets the number of seconds this captcha will remain valid. This means that
the created captcha's will not remain valid forever, just as long as you want them to
be active. Set to an appropriate value for your application. Defaults to 300.
"$captcha->width( 25 );"
Optional. Number of pixels high for the character graphics. Defaults to 25.
"$captcha->height( 35 );"
Optional. Number of pixels wide for the character graphics. Defaults to 35.
"$captcha->keep_failures( [0|1] );"
Optional. Defaults to zero. This option controls whether or not the captcha will
remain valid after a failed attempt. By default, we only allow one attempt to solve
it. This greatly reduces the possibility that a bot could brute force a correct
answer. Change it at your own risk.
"$captcha->debug( [0|1|2] );"
Optional. Sets the debugging bit. 1 turns it on, 0 turns it off. 2 will print out
verbose messages to STDERR.
TODO
sound file captcha: Incorporating distorted sound file creation.
SEE ALSO
The Captcha project:
http://www.captcha.net/
The origonal perl script this came from:
http://www.firstproductions.com/cgi/
AUTHORS
Seth T. Jackson, <sjackson@purifieddata.net>
Josh I. Miller, <jmiller@purifieddata.net>
First Productions, Inc. created the cgi-script distributed under the GPL which was used as
the basis for this module. Much work has gone into making this more robust, and suitable
for other applications, but much of the origonal code remains.
COPYRIGHT AND LICENSE
Copyright 2003, First Productions, Inc. (FIRSTPRODUCTIONS HUMAN TEST 1.0)
Copyright 2003 by Seth Jackson
This library is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms of
the GNU General Public License as published by the Free Software Foundation; either
version 2 of the License, or (at your option) any later version. (see license.txt).
This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY;
without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
See the GNU General Public License for more details.
You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License along with this program;
if not, write to the Free Software Foundation, Inc., 59 Temple Place - Suite 330, Boston,
MA 02111-1307, USA