Botlab (previously known as botlab.io) is a non-profit, volunteer based research foundation focused on research, publication and open-source development related with

ad fraud Ad fraud (also referred to as ''Click Fraud or PPC Fraud)'' is concerned with the practice of fraudulently representing online advertisement impressions, clicks, conversion or data events in order to generate revenue. Ad-frauds are particularly po ...

malvertising Malvertising (a portmanteau of "malicious software (malware) advertising") is the use of online advertising to spread malware. It typically involves injecting malicious or malware-laden advertisements into legitimate online advertising networks ...

privacy violations The right to privacy is an element of various legal traditions that intends to restrain governmental and private actions that threaten the privacy of individuals. Over 150 national constitutions mention the right to privacy. On 10 December 194 ...

and other malicious practices in the advertising supported internet. Botlab's global volunteer network works towards the goal of more transparent and more secure internet.

Media Coverage

A paper authored by Botlab, ''Compendium of Ad Fraud Knowledge'' has been widely covered in the media including a

Financial Times The ''Financial Times'' (''FT'') is a British daily newspaper printed in broadsheet and published digitally that focuses on business and economic current affairs. Based in London, England, the paper is owned by a Japanese holding company, Nikke ...

cover story. The paper is a collaboration with World Federation of Advertisers, whose members collectively represent 90% of the world's US$700 advertising budgets. WFA published the paper as an official guideline document to its members for understanding and countering ad fraud. Botlab researchers were featured in two additional

cover stories during 2015 and 2016 one of which was ''Big Read'' '','' a major editorial piece of the week in Financial Times print. In addition Botlab's work and commentary have been widely featured in ad industry press, events and social media .

Research

During 2016 Botlab's ''Ad Fraud Council'' was the author of World Federation of Advertisers guidance on ad fraud to its members titled ''Compendium of Ad Fraud Knowledge.'' Botlab also contributed as co-author to ''Independent auditing of online display advertising campaigns,'' a research paper accepted to Hotnets academic conference in 2016 and was a major contributor in ''Entropy Method for Detecting Invalid Traffic at Scale'', a paper introducing an open source method for large scale detection of invalid traffic.

Open Source Contributions

During 2015 and 2016 Botlab made available three open source solutions focused on detection and prevention of advertising fraud: * Denylist - a

blacklist Blacklisting is the action of a group or authority compiling a blacklist (or black list) of people, countries or other entities to be avoided or distrusted as being deemed unacceptable to those making the list. If someone is on a blacklist, ...

consisting of over 130 million data center IP addresses * Sitemind - a site research tool for researchers and media planners to counter ad fraud * Nameles - an

entropy Entropy is a scientific concept, as well as a measurable physical property, that is most commonly associated with a state of disorder, randomness, or uncertainty. The term and the concept are used in diverse fields, from classical thermodyna ...

based detection and filtering solution to counter ad fraud

Collaboration with Trade associations

In addition to being listed as one of the partners by World Federation of Advertisers, since Botlab's founding in early 2015 its Principal Mikko Kotila acted as the co-chair for I-COM's Data Science Board, I-COM is a global trade body backed by 100 associations in 40 countries, today, exploring the creation of business value from Marketing Data & Measurement.

References

{{Reflist Cybercrime