Google unveils click-fraud figures
Google is to allow its advertisers to see the scale of the problem of click fraud in an attempt to reassure them that they are not paying over the odds for their ads placed through Google.
Google is to allow its advertisers to see the scale of the problem of click fraud in an attempt to reassure them that they are not paying over the odds for their ads placed through Google.



From forensic cyber to encryption: InfoSec17
Security technologist Bruce Schneier’s insights and warnings around the regulation of IoT security and forensic cyber psychologist Mary Aiken’s comments around the tensions between encryption and state security were the top highlights of the keynote presentations at Infosecurity Europe 2017 in London.
By submitting your personal information, you agree that TechTarget and its partners may contact you regarding relevant content, products and special offers.
You also agree that your personal information may be transferred and processed in the United States, and that you have read and agree to the Terms of Use and the Privacy Policy.
Click fraud is commonly conducted by website owners wanting to generate increased demand from advertisers by ramping up increased views of their ads, or rivals to advertisers wanting to increase their operating costs by generating multiple clicks on their ads.
Google will now allow its advertisers to view the amount of fraudulent clicks it detects on their ads for the first time.
Up until now, the click fraud figures have remained secret with Google simply removing fraudulent clicks from invoice figures and not charging for them.
It is making the detection figures available to advertisers to try and convince them that click fraud is not a major issue, despite itself being involved in a high-profile court case, where it is accused of not doing enough to counter the problem or adequately compensating victims.
Advertisers will now see for themselves what percentage of fraudulent clicks make up the total views of each advert, although there is no guarantee that Google detects every fraudulent click.
More details on Google’s plan are available here:
http://adwords.blogspot.com/2006/07/estimating-invalid-clicks.html
Vote for your IT greats
Who have been the most influential people in IT in the past 40 years? The greatest organisations? The best hardware and software technologies? As part of Computer Weekly’s 40th anniversary celebrations, we are asking our readers who and what has really made a difference?
Vote now at: www.computerweekly.com/ITgreats
Read more on IT risk management
-
Why businesses must think like criminals to protect their data
-
Security Think Tank: Use awareness, education and controls to halt cryptojacking
-
Security Think Tank: Awareness is a good starting point to counter fileless malware
-
Security Think Tank: Human, procedural and technical response to fileless malware
Start the conversation
0 comments