buster

Buster is a browser extension that helps you get through reCAPTCHA challenges without having to click on fire hydrants or crosswalks. Instead of solving the visual puzzle, it switches to the audio version of the challenge and uses speech recognition to transcribe and answer it automatically. You click a button at the bottom of the reCAPTCHA widget, and Buster does the rest. It is available for Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Opera.

The project's motivation is stated plainly in the README: reCAPTCHA challenges are often harder for real people than for automated systems. Factors like cognitive ability, native language, cultural familiarity with the images shown, or the type of device or network you are on can make these tests disproportionately difficult for humans. Buster was built to give regular users access to the same kind of automated solving that bots already use, leveling that playing field.

Beyond the basic browser extension, there is an optional companion app called the client app. This separate program runs on your Windows, Linux, or macOS computer and simulates user interactions more convincingly, which improves the extension's success rate. The README points to a separate repository for instructions on downloading and installing it.

The extension is installable directly from the Chrome Web Store, Firefox Add-ons, Microsoft Edge Add-ons, and Opera Add-ons pages. The source code is available here on GitHub. The project is funded through Patreon, PayPal, and Bitcoin contributions from supporters, and the README also lists a commercial sponsor.

Buster is released under the GNU General Public License v3.0, meaning anyone can use, modify, and share the code as long as derivative versions carry the same license.