Researchers Show Google’s New Hand‑Wave reCAPTCHA Can Be Defeated Using a Stock Photo

Google introduced a new version of its reCAPTCHA that relies on a hand‑wave gesture. Security researchers demonstrated that the system can be bypassed using a generic stock photo. The test involved presenting the image to the reCAPTCHA widget during verification. The bypass highlights potential weaknesses in the gesture‑based approach. Google has not yet commented on the findings or any planned mitigations. The discovery raises questions about the reliability of visual‑gesture challenges. Experts suggest additional layers of verification may be needed for high‑risk sites. The incident could prompt a review of anti‑bot technologies across the industry.