This post was most recently updated on September 5th, 2019
Programmatic buying has exploded over the years and as the industry grows so does cybercrime. From non-human traffic to malvertising, cybercrime is evolving. The best protection we have against cybercriminals is to be prepared.
Malvertising, also known as malicious advertising, is the process of distributing malware through online advertising. Cybercriminals sneakily inject malware into legitimate ad networks and web pages.
It’s best to be wary of sites on which you see layers after layers of overwhelming ads. Apart from these ads being a nuisance, they can also be very unsafe. Malvertisers uses distant servers to push these viruses with the goal of infecting users.
1) The first way is via download, a common method used by cybercriminals. Unsuspecting users click on an ad and unknowingly infect their device. Pops, like pop-ups or unders, are the most popular channel.
2) The second option does not require users to click an ad. The approach is more subtle and is called “drive-by download”. The infection starts as a webpage load and progresses as malicious in-line code fetches software in the background. So, if you’re favorite site is starting to result in redirects, it’s best to stay away from it for a while.
Malware can track user’s online activities by digging into historical data of the sites we visit, the web searches we perform, and links we click. User data is then processed, collected and packaged to be sold to the highest paying advertiser by ad tech companies who developed the bug.
It pays to be aware and informed but being proactive is the best defense. Here’s are a few ways to protect yourself:
If you think your site is infected and you are unsure of what to do, we strongly recommend going to the experts. A company called RiskIQ specializes in detecting possible infringements from the publisher’s digital assets. Use the form here so we can connect you to a representative.
Contact MonetizeMore and we can advise on the best methods you can take to ensure ad quality.
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He is the resident expert in Ad Optimization covering areas like Adsense Optimization, DFP Management, and third-party ad network partnerships. Kean believes in the supremacy of direct publisher deals and holistic optimization as keys to effective and consistent ad revenue increases.
Email him directly at: kean@monetizemore.com
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