Embodiments of the present invention provide an approach for enhancing computer interaction challenge-response tests (e.g., Completely Automatic Public
Turing Test to Tell Computers and Humans Apart, or
CAPTCHA). Furthermore, embodiments of the present invention provide an approach for introducing advertising in such challenge-response tests, such that users are presented with opportunities to learn about or reinforce brands. In a typical embodiment, when a user attempts to access content (e.g.,
web content), the user will be presented with a
CAPTCHA test. The
CAPTCHA test typically includes an advertisement (e.g., logo,
label, etc.) and an associated question for the user to answer. Along these lines, the advertisement is generally selected based on the user's
demographics (e.g., interests, gender, age, etc.). If the user successfully responds to the question and / or responds within a certain amount of time, a reward can be determined (e.g., access to the content, preferred placement in a
queue for computing resources, etc.). In one embodiment, a cumulative points total can be maintained for the user based on cumulative responses to CAPTCHA tests. In this embodiment, the CAPTCHA tests presented to the user can have increasing levels of difficulty with corresponding rewards.