{"id":274649,"date":"2026-01-16T12:06:28","date_gmt":"2026-01-16T12:06:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wordpress.org\/plugins\/puzzle-gate\/"},"modified":"2026-02-02T12:24:22","modified_gmt":"2026-02-02T12:24:22","slug":"puzzle-gate","status":"publish","type":"plugin","link":"https:\/\/pcd.wordpress.org\/plugins\/puzzle-gate\/","author":15554828,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_crdt_document":"","version":"1.0.1","stable_tag":"1.0.1","tested":"6.9.4","requires":"6.3","requires_php":"7.4","requires_plugins":null,"header_name":"Puzzle Gate - Login Security with Smart Puzzle CAPTCHA","header_author":"WP Square","header_description":"Secure your WordPress login page with a puzzle-based CAPTCHA to stop bots and automated attacks.","assets_banners_color":"0d4867","last_updated":"2026-02-02 12:24:22","external_support_url":"","external_repository_url":"","donate_link":"","header_plugin_uri":"","header_author_uri":"","rating":0,"author_block_rating":0,"active_installs":0,"downloads":190,"num_ratings":0,"support_threads":1,"support_threads_resolved":0,"author_block_count":0,"sections":["description","installation","faq","changelog"],"tags":{"1.0.0":{"tag":"1.0.0","author":"wpsqr","date":"2026-01-16 12:12:01"},"1.0.1":{"tag":"1.0.1","author":"wpsqr","date":"2026-02-02 12:24:22"}},"upgrade_notice":[],"ratings":[],"assets_icons":{"icon-256x256.png":{"filename":"icon-256x256.png","revision":3440954,"resolution":"256x256","location":"assets","locale":""}},"assets_banners":{"banner-772x250.png":{"filename":"banner-772x250.png","revision":3440954,"resolution":"772x250","location":"assets","locale":""}},"assets_blueprints":{},"all_blocks":[],"tagged_versions":["1.0.0","1.0.1"],"block_files":[],"assets_screenshots":{"screenshot-1.png":{"filename":"screenshot-1.png","revision":3440954,"resolution":"1","location":"assets","locale":""},"screenshot-2.png":{"filename":"screenshot-2.png","revision":3440954,"resolution":"2","location":"assets","locale":""}},"screenshots":{"1":"<strong>Puzzle Gate<\/strong>","2":"<strong>Settings<\/strong>"},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"plugin_section":[],"plugin_tags":[11324,1229,1178,15773],"plugin_category":[54],"plugin_contributors":[230764],"plugin_business_model":[],"class_list":["post-274649","plugin","type-plugin","status-publish","hentry","plugin_tags-anti-bot","plugin_tags-login-security","plugin_tags-protection","plugin_tags-puzzle","plugin_category-security-and-spam-protection","plugin_contributors-wpsqr","plugin_committers-wpsqr"],"banners":{"banner":"https:\/\/ps.w.org\/puzzle-gate\/assets\/banner-772x250.png?rev=3440954","banner_2x":false,"banner_rtl":false,"banner_2x_rtl":false},"icons":{"svg":false,"icon":"https:\/\/ps.w.org\/puzzle-gate\/assets\/icon-256x256.png?rev=3440954","icon_2x":"https:\/\/ps.w.org\/puzzle-gate\/assets\/icon-256x256.png?rev=3440954","generated":false},"screenshots":[{"src":"https:\/\/ps.w.org\/puzzle-gate\/assets\/screenshot-1.png?rev=3440954","caption":"<strong>Puzzle Gate<\/strong>"},{"src":"https:\/\/ps.w.org\/puzzle-gate\/assets\/screenshot-2.png?rev=3440954","caption":"<strong>Settings<\/strong>"}],"raw_content":"<!--section=description-->\n<p><strong>Puzzle Gate<\/strong> is a next-generation WordPress security plugin that replaces annoying traditional CAPTCHAs with an <strong>intelligent, interactive puzzle system<\/strong>. Unlike conventional image\/text CAPTCHAs that rely on external services and frustrate users, Puzzle Gate offers a fast, self-hosted solution that's both highly secure and surprisingly user-friendly.<\/p>\n\n<h3><strong>Why Website Owners Choose Puzzle Gate:<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n<p><strong>Blocks Automated Login Attacks<\/strong> - Advanced puzzle logic stops bots before they can even attempt authentication<br \/>\n   <strong>Zero External Dependencies<\/strong> - No Google services, no tracking, complete privacy compliance<br \/>\n   <strong>Lightning Fast<\/strong> - Adds just 200ms to your login page load time<br \/>\n   <strong>Mobile-First Design<\/strong> - Works perfectly on all devices without compromising security<br \/>\n   <strong>GDPR\/Privacy Compliant<\/strong> - No external API calls, no user data sharing<br \/>\n   <strong>Accessibility Focused<\/strong> - Screen reader compatible with alternative input methods<\/p>\n\n<h3><strong>How It Works (The Smart Way):<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Interactive Puzzle Challenge<\/strong> - Users arrange randomized symbols into logical order<\/li>\n<li><strong>Server-Side Validation<\/strong> - Each puzzle is uniquely generated and hashed for maximum security<\/li>\n<li><strong>Automatic Bot Blocking<\/strong> - Failed attempts trigger puzzle regeneration<\/li>\n<li><strong>Seamless Login Experience<\/strong> - Humans solve it in seconds, bots can't crack it<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n<p>Puzzle data is generated server-side, hashed securely, and expires automatically to prevent replay attacks.<\/p>\n\n<h3><strong>Features<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n<h3>Core Security<\/h3>\n\n<ul>\n<li>Drag-and-drop puzzle CAPTCHA system<\/li>\n<li>Server-side validation with WordPress salts<\/li>\n<li>Automatic puzzle expiration (configurable)<\/li>\n<li>Brute-force attack protection<\/li>\n<li>Nonce-based replay attack prevention<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<h3>Administration &amp; Control<\/h3>\n\n<ul>\n<li>Simple settings panel in WordPress admin<\/li>\n<li>Adjustable puzzle difficulty (4-12 symbols)<\/li>\n<li>IP whitelisting capabilities<\/li>\n<li>Failed attempt threshold configuration<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<h3>User Experience<\/h3>\n\n<ul>\n<li>Fully responsive design<\/li>\n<li>Mobile-optimized interface<\/li>\n<li>Keyboard navigation support<\/li>\n<li>Screen reader compatibility<\/li>\n<li>Visual feedback for interactions<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<h3>Technical Excellence<\/h3>\n\n<ul>\n<li>100% self-hosted solution<\/li>\n<li>No external API dependencies<\/li>\n<li>Lightweight codebase<\/li>\n<li>Regular security updates<\/li>\n<li>Compatible with most security plugins<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<h3>Admin Configuration<\/h3>\n\n<p>Puzzle Gate includes a settings page where administrators can:<\/p>\n\n<ul>\n<li>Enable or disable the puzzle CAPTCHA<\/li>\n<li>Set puzzle difficulty (number of symbols)<\/li>\n<li>Enable the puzzle only after X failed login attempts<\/li>\n<li>Whitelist trusted IP addresses<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<h3>Documentation<\/h3>\n\n<p>Full documentation is available on our website:\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sigmasqr.com\/\">Puzzle Gate Documentation<\/a><\/p>\n\n<h3>Troubleshooting<\/h3>\n\n<ol>\n<li>Ensure the Puzzle Gate plugin is activated and your WordPress version is at least 5.2.<\/li>\n<li>Deactivate other plugins to check for conflicts.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n<!--section=installation-->\n<ol>\n<li>Upload the <code>puzzle-gate<\/code> folder to the <code>\/wp-content\/plugins\/<\/code> directory<br \/>\n<strong>OR<\/strong> install via the WordPress Plugins screen.<\/li>\n<li>Activate the plugin through the <em>Plugins<\/em> menu.<\/li>\n<li>Go to <strong>Settings \u2192 Puzzle Gate<\/strong> to configure options.<\/li>\n<li>Log out and visit the login page to see the puzzle in action.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n<!--section=faq-->\n<dl>\n<dt id=\"will%20this%20slow%20down%20my%20login%20page%3F\"><h3>Will this slow down my login page?<\/h3><\/dt>\n<dd><p>No. The puzzle is lightweight and optimized to load quickly.<\/p><\/dd>\n<dt id=\"can%20bots%20solve%20this%20puzzle%3F\"><h3>Can bots solve this puzzle?<\/h3><\/dt>\n<dd><p>The puzzle logic, nonce binding, expiration, and hashing make automated solving extremely difficult.<\/p><\/dd>\n<dt id=\"what%20happens%20if%20a%20user%20fails%20the%20puzzle%3F\"><h3>What happens if a user fails the puzzle?<\/h3><\/dt>\n<dd><p>The puzzle is regenerated and must be solved again before login is allowed.<\/p><\/dd>\n<dt id=\"does%20it%20work%20on%20mobile%20devices%3F\"><h3>Does it work on mobile devices?<\/h3><\/dt>\n<dd><p>Yes. The puzzle is fully responsive and automatically switches to a dropdown-based interface on mobile devices.<\/p><\/dd>\n\n<\/dl>\n\n<!--section=changelog-->\n<h4>1.0.1<\/h4>\n\n<ul>\n<li>Performance optimizations on the login page<\/li>\n<li>Minor UI and accessibility improvements<\/li>\n<li>Code cleanup and stability fixes<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<h4>1.0.0<\/h4>\n\n<ul>\n<li>Initial release<\/li>\n<li>Puzzle #1: Order the Symbols<\/li>\n<li>Admin settings panel<\/li>\n<li>Accessibility fallback<\/li>\n<li>Secure nonce-based validation<\/li>\n<\/ul>","raw_excerpt":"Stop bots in their tracks with a human-friendly puzzle CAPTCHA for WordPress logins.","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pcd.wordpress.org\/plugins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/plugin\/274649","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pcd.wordpress.org\/plugins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/plugin"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pcd.wordpress.org\/plugins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/plugin"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pcd.wordpress.org\/plugins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=274649"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pcd.wordpress.org\/plugins\/wp-json\/wporg\/v1\/users\/wpsqr"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pcd.wordpress.org\/plugins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=274649"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"plugin_section","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pcd.wordpress.org\/plugins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/plugin_section?post=274649"},{"taxonomy":"plugin_tags","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pcd.wordpress.org\/plugins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/plugin_tags?post=274649"},{"taxonomy":"plugin_category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pcd.wordpress.org\/plugins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/plugin_category?post=274649"},{"taxonomy":"plugin_contributors","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pcd.wordpress.org\/plugins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/plugin_contributors?post=274649"},{"taxonomy":"plugin_business_model","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pcd.wordpress.org\/plugins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/plugin_business_model?post=274649"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}