JuSun/Getty Images Follow ZDNET:  Add us as a preferred source  on Google. ZDNET’s key takeaways Malicious CAPTCHAs are becoming increasingly popular as a lure.   They increased 563% in use over 2025. Spotting a fake CAPTCHA can be challenging, but here’s how.  CAPTCHAs can be annoying, but they provide a level of user verification that can help web services defend against a range of cyber threats.  Unfortunately, they can also be employed as malicious lures that target visitors, and appear to be becoming a weapon of choice for modern cybercriminals.  Also: Why enterprise AI agents could become the ultimate insider threat According to CrowdStrike’s 2026 Global Threat Report , published earlier this month, fake CAPTCHA lures are being adopted at breakneck speed by attackers hoping to compromise your devices. Over the past two years, their popularity has increased to the point that malicious browser update lures are being retired in favor of them.  What is a CAPTCHA?…