Definition: A CAPTCHA is a method that sweepstakes sponsors use to ensure that a human is actually entering the contest or sweepstakes, and not a bot, an automatic entry service, or a software program.
CAPTCHAs work by displaying a series of distorted letters and numbers somewhere on the sweepstakes entry form. The entrant needs to type those letters and numbers into a box before the entry will be accepted. CAPTCHAs are often distorted or placed on a confusing background pattern so that software programs cannot easily identify the letters and numbers by their shape.
Why the funny name? CAPTCHA is an acronym that stands for "Completely Automated Public Turing test to tell Computers and Humans Apart."
