# Examples ## Tracking Spam Bots Like a Pro with GA and HashCash - Extension Page: [Captcha - HashCash](/software/joomla/plugins/captcha-hashcash) ![Tracking Spam Bots Like a Pro with GA and HashCash](https://cdn.richeyweb.com/images/articles/plg_captcha_hashcash/blog-post/ga-event.webp) Forget bots vanishing after a failed attack. With [Captcha - HashCash](/software/joomla/plugins/captcha-hashcash)’s latest feature, every stumble turns into a clue you can track and outsmart. This isn’t just a CAPTCHA—it’s a bot-hunting machine that transforms your Joomla forms into a security goldmine. Imagine knowing who’s attacking, how they’re doing it, and where they’re hitting—all without bothering your users. That’s Detection Profiling, and it’s your key to staying ahead. ## The Power of Detection Profiling ### How It Works (Quick Recap) HashCash already stops bots with its invisible, JavaScript-driven proof-of-work puzzle. The new twist? When a bot trips our detection—like faking an event that doesn’t bubble or isn’t trusted—we don’t just block it. We profile it. A CustomEvent fires, loaded with prefixed details: hashcash\_ip, hashcash\_ua, attack method, target form, and more. One line of code sends this intel to Google Analytics (GA), where the real fun starts. ![](https://cdn.richeyweb.com/images/articles/plg_captcha_hashcash/blog-post/ga-event.webp) ## Setting Up Google Analytics: Step-by-Step Ready to turn your Joomla site into a bot-tracking powerhouse? Outstanding! Of course, you'll need GA4 to do it, and if you need a plugin to help with that - check out my [System - Google Tag Manager](/software/joomla/plugins/system-google-tag-manager) plugin. Like all of my Joomla extensions, it's free. Here’s how to hook HashCash into GA, updated for 2025’s interface: 1. Enable Custom Dimensions - In GA: Admin > Data Display > Custom Definitions > Create Custom Dimension. - Add these dimensions exactly as shown (Scope: Event, Active: Yes): - HashCash Bot IP Description: “IP address of the bot” Parameter: hashcash\_ip - HashCash Bot UA Description: “User Agent of the bot” Parameter: hashcash\_ua - HashCash Bot Event Description: “This tells us how the event was triggered. Values should be one of: Event, CustomEvent, or Object” Parameter: hashcash\_event\_type - HashCash Bot Target Description: “This tells us which element was used to trigger the calculation to start. Only the form is allowed to trigger the calculation.” Parameter: hashcash\_target - HashCash Bot Bubbles Description: “The change event must bubble from the input element to the form. If it didn’t bubble, it’s a bot. True/False value” Parameter: hashcash\_bubbles - HashCash Bot Trusted Description: “Trusted events are those triggered by form interaction. If the event isn’t trusted, it was manually triggered (100% bot)” Parameter: hashcash\_trusted - HashCash Bot Nonce Description: "Bot manipulated the hidden nonce field" Parameter: hashcash\_nonce ![](https://cdn.richeyweb.com/images/articles/plg_captcha_hashcash/blog-post/ga-dimensions.webp) 2. Set Up the Event - In GA: Admin > Data Display > Events > Create Event. - Name: hashcash\_bot. - Conditions: Set “event\_name” equals hashcash\_bot (matches your gtag("event", "hashcash\_bot", detail) call). - Check “Copy parameters from the source event” (this grabs your hashcash\_ prefixed data automatically—no mapping needed). - Save it. Your prefixed parameters keep everything tidy and conflict-free. ![](https://cdn.richeyweb.com/images/articles/plg_captcha_hashcash/blog-post/ga-create-event.webp) 3. Add It as a Key Event - In GA: Admin > Data Display > Key Events. - Click “New key event.” - Enter the event name: hashcash\_bot. - Save. GA sets it up automatically as a key event for priority tracking in reports. 4. Add the Listener Code - Slip this into your site (via a custom JS module or template override): ```

window.addEventListener("plg_captcha_hashcash", function(e) {

  var detail = e.detail;

  function gtag() {

      window.dataLayer.push(arguments);

  }

  gtag("event", "hashcash_bot", detail);

}); ``` - If GA’s tracking code is live (via your template or a plugin), this pushes the data automatically. 5. Test the Setup - Using a standard Joomla contact form (with Captcha - HashCash installed, configured, enabled, and activated in Global Configuration), trigger bot detection like this: ```

document.getElementById('contact-form').dispatchEvent(new CustomEvent('change')); ``` - This fakes a bot action by firing a change event directly on the form (no bubbling, not trusted—pure bot bait). - Warning: Your CPU will spike as HashCash’s bot trap kicks in (if the “Punish Bots” option is enabled). Refresh the page or close it to stop the spike. - In GA: Realtime > Events. Look for hashcash\_bot and check the properties (e.g., hashcash\_ip, hashcash\_ua). 6. Build a Custom Report - In GA: Reports > Library (at the very bottom of the menu, almost a footer) > Create new report > Create detail report > choose the first option “Blank.” - Title: “HashCash Bot Tracking.” - Type: Explorer. - Metrics: Event Total. - Dimensions: hashcash\_ip, hashcash\_event\_type, hashcash\_target. - Filter: Include Event Category = hashcash\_bot. - Save it. Now you’ve got a bot-tracking hub. ## Seeing the Magic: What You’ll Discover Day one: A bot at 123.45.67.89 tries a non-trusted CustomEvent on your contact form—GA logs it. Day two: Same IP, new UA, hitting your bug report page with no bubbling. By week’s end, you’ve got a hit list: IPs to block, forms to reinforce, and a playbook of bot failures (non-trusted? Wrong target?). It’s not just data—it’s ammo. Crank up HashCash’s difficulty or let Splorkwizzle the Quack tally the wins. ## Why It Matters This isn’t just a CAPTCHA—it’s a security sidekick that sharpens with every attack. Prove your site’s locked tight, spot threats early, and rest easy knowing you’re not just stopping bots—you’re tracking them like a pro. 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