OAT-003 Ad Fraud

This is an automated threat. To view all automated threats, please see the Automated Threat Category page. The OWASP Automated Threat Handbook - Wed Applications (, print), an output of the OWASP Automated Threats to Web Applications Project, provides a fuller guide to each threat, detection methods and countermeasures. The helps to correctly identify the automated threat.

OWASP Automated Threat (OAT) Identity Number
OAT-003

Threat Event Name
Ad Fraud

Summary Defining Characteristics
False clicks and fraudulent display of web-placed advertisements.

Description
Falsification of the number of times an item such as an advert is clicked on, or the number of times an advertisement is displayed. Performed by owners of web sites displaying ads, competitors and vandals.

See OAT-016 Skewing instead for similar activity that does not involve web-placed advertisements.

Other Names and Examples
Advert fraud; Adware traffic; Click bot; Click fraud; Hit fraud; Impression fraud; Pay per click advertising abuse; Phoney ad traffic

CAPEC Category / Attack Pattern IDs

 * 210 Abuse of Functionality

WASC Threat IDs

 * 21 Insufficient Anti-Automation
 * 42 Abuse of Functionality

OWASP Attack Category / Attack IDs

 * Abuse of Functionality