Ad fraud is the use of deceptive techniques to generate profit from online advertising. It can take many forms, but generally involves creating fake traffic or clicks on ads in order to generate revenue for the perpetrators. Ad fraud can be perpetrated by individuals or organized groups, and can occur on both desktop and mobile devices.
One common type of ad fraud is click fraud, which involves generating fake clicks on ads in order to generate revenue for the person or group responsible. This can be done through the use of automated bots, or by paying people to click on ads. Another common type of ad fraud is impression fraud, which involves creating fake traffic or views of an ad in order to generate revenue. This can be done through the use of automated bots, or by using stolen or compromised devices to view the ad.
Ad fraud can have significant consequences for both advertisers and consumers. Advertisers may lose money as a result of paying for fake traffic or clicks, and consumers may be exposed to fraudulent or malicious content as a result of ad fraud. It is important for advertisers to be aware of the risks of ad fraud and to take steps to protect themselves, such as using reputable ad networks and monitoring traffic and clicks on their ads.