Google captcha

  • 2 September 2018
  • 2 replies
  • 413 views

Over the last month or so, I’ve been getting a captcha every day when I search something on google. It does not happen on WiFi, only when I’m on the cricket LTE network. Anyone have any ideas on how to troubleshoot this?

2 replies

Update: I believe I’ve noticed a common connection, the issue seems to be (at least for me) specific to the .113.xxx subnet range. If anyone else can note their IP when experiencing the Reported Issue, could confirm this IP pool is to blame.

I have this same Reported Issue on iPhone and I am about to cancel my service with Cricket as I believe it is something to to with the service itself, so is probably not going to be resolved any time soon.

My Root Cause conclusion: some of the IP addresses issued by the cricket service are flagged by Google as generating suspicious activity. Why this is I don’t know, but end users experience the Reported Issue when they are assigned one of these IP addresses to their mobile device.

Here are the troubleshooting steps taken when experiencing the Reported Issue that have led to this conclusion. When Google prompts for reCAPTCHA on Cellular data connection via Cricket Wireless:

Attempt to use another search engine such as Yahoo! On mobile device via Mobile Safari web browser, works as expected.

Attempt to use Google search engine via another web browser on mobile device such as Chrome or Opera, prompts for reCAPTCHA.

Switch from Cellular Data to WiFi, works as expected.

Do one of the following to cause a new IP to be assigned to the mobile device: reboot the device, switch device into Airplane Mode momentarily then reconnect to cellular data, works as expected if a new IP has been assigned (some areas may not have many IPs in pool available).

Everything I can deduce is pointing to the IP address on the network being the culprit. As stated above, a usable work around is to toggle Airplane Mode to obtain a new IP address, but given I am paying for a service, I personally do not feel I should have to live with a work around when other service providers can provide service that works as expected without the need for a workaround.
I have this same Reported Issue on iPhone and I am about to cancel my service with Cricket as I believe it is something to to with the service itself, so is probably not going to be resolved any time soon.

My Root Cause conclusion: some of the IP addresses issued by the cricket service are flagged by Google as generating suspicious activity. Why this is I don’t know, but end users experience the Reported Issue when they are assigned one of these IP addresses to their mobile device.

Here are the troubleshooting steps taken when experiencing the Reported Issue that have led to this conclusion. When Google prompts for reCAPTCHA on Cellular data connection via Cricket Wireless:

Attempt to use another search engine such as Yahoo! On mobile device via Mobile Safari web browser, works as expected.

Attempt to use Google search engine via another web browser on mobile device such as Chrome or Opera, prompts for reCAPTCHA.

Switch from Cellular Data to WiFi, works as expected.

Do one of the following to cause a new IP to be assigned to the mobile device: reboot the device, switch device into Airplane Mode momentarily then reconnect to cellular data, works as expected if a new IP has been assigned (some areas may not have many IPs in pool available).

Everything I can deduce is pointing to the IP address on the network being the culprit. As stated above, a usable work around is to toggle Airplane Mode to obtain a new IP address, but given I am paying for a service, I personally do not feel I should have to live with a work around when other service providers can provide service that works as expected without the need for a workaround.

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