The Quick-Check Security Question

Why a simple math question shows up on some forms.

What it is

A lightweight, human-friendly check (a basic addition question) that appears on public-facing forms like sign-in and registration. It's there to slow down automated bots without making you solve a frustrating image puzzle.

Why not a normal CAPTCHA?

Traditional image-based CAPTCHAs (picking crosswalks out of photos, distorted text) are frustrating for real people and don't always play nicely with accessibility tools. A simple math question is quick for a person to answer and still meaningfully harder for basic automated scripts.

Frequently asked questions

What if I get the math wrong?
You'll see a validation error and can just try again — the question changes each time the form loads.

Why do I have to answer this every time I log in?
It appears on every submission of certain forms as a consistent, ongoing layer of bot protection — not just a one-time check.

Is this the same as two-factor authentication?
No — this is unrelated to your identity or password; it's purely a bot-versus-human check. Two-factor authentication (a code sent to your phone or app) isn't currently offered on XKD.org.

Which forms have this check?
Public-facing forms that don't require you to already be logged in — like sign-in, registration, and password recovery — since those are the ones automated bots would otherwise target most.