What is reCAPTCHA?

Creating forms on your website allows visitors to send you messages, but it has one drawback: Both humans and non-humans can access the forms added to your website. Non-human programs that automatically fill out forms and submit them create spam. You can eliminate most spam by adding “reCAPTCHA” to your website. reCAPTCHA will verify that the submission process is done by a human, not an automated one. reCAPTCHA does a great job of eliminating most of these unwanted submissions without being invasive to your visitors.

You can integrate reCAPTCHA on your forms to help prevent spam submissions. Signing up for a free account is easy, and the steps are simple to complete. When you have completed the integration with ReCaptcha, all of your public forms will contain the spam prevention check at the end of the form.

Note: reCAPTCHA is optional - BUT . . . 

• If you choose NOT to integrate reCAPTCHA, you will receive an emailed notice that a form submission has been made. You will then need to go to forms and view the messages online. If you wish to respond, you must copy and paste the email address into your email processor as the Forms responses list is only a list. You cannot respond directly from the list.
• If you choose to integrate reCAPTCHA on your website, you will get an email containing the message from the form. You can then reply to the email.

Setup Instructions for reCAPTCHA:

From the black admin bar on the left, click Settings > Integrations and scroll down to see the reCaptcha area.

Note: You will need a Google email account to set up reCAPTCHA, so if you don't already have one, pause and create one at:
https://support.google.com/mail/answer/56256?hl=en

• You can learn more about reCAPTCHA here: https://www.google.com/recaptcha/.
• Apply for your own reCAPTCHA keys here: https://www.google.com/recaptcha/admin/create

1. On the reCAPTCHA site, click the "Admin Console" link at the top right of the screen.
2. Setting up a reCAPTCHA for multiple websites on the same account is possible. Therefore, it is essential to distinguish this account from another with a meaningful label. Give your account a label or name. The name of your website works well.
3. Select the option "reCAPTCHA V3."
4. You must add ALL the domain names associated with your website. If you are unsure what domain names are associated with your website, you can go to your website's "Settings" and "Domains & Email," where you will find a list of ALL associated domain names.
   Note: within reCAPTCHA, a domain name should not use HTTP, HTTPS, or www.
   1. A correct domain name: mychurch.com
   2. incorrect domain name: www.mychurch.com
   3. incorrect domain name: https://mychurch.com
5. Accept the reCAPTCHA Terms of Service.
6. Indicate whether or not you (and any other owners you've added) would like to get alerts.
7. Submit the form. You will see two alphanumeric keys on the screen - a Site Key and a Secret Key.
8. Copy and Paste these keys into the fields also named 'Site Key' and 'Secret Key' on the integrations page of your website.
9. Save the integrations page. (you may have to scroll down to see the save button on the bottom left.
   Once you have added these keys and saved the page, reCAPTCHA will automatically protect all the forms your website currently has and will create in the future.

reCAPTCHA will stop the automated (non-human) filling out of your forms which is the most common reason for receiving email with content not relating to your website. Remember that real people get paid to fill out these forms with advertising messages. Spam blockers do not stop real people.