CodeSOD: Solve a Captcha to Continue

Z encountered a recurring captcha on his company's website, showing the same image of a scribbled "5" each time. Upon inspecting the source code, he discovered the captcha's flawed implementation. The HTML displayed a static image, and the provided instructions were for users to click a number to proceed. While commented-out code suggested random image selection, it was apparently not implemented correctly. The developer hardcoded "5" as the correct answer, making the captcha easily bypassable. The image file itself was named "5.gif," further simplifying exploitation. This situation highlights a security vulnerability where the captcha's intended purpose was undermined by a simple coding error. The author then muses on the broader implications of captchas, suggesting they are often used for AI training rather than just bot prevention. They posit that future tests will also serve a hidden data-gathering purpose. The text concludes with an advertisement for a package and container management system called ProGet.