The Internet is a global network of computers and devices that can communicate with each other via a common protocol known as an IP address. Every time you go online, visit a website, or use an app, your IP address determines where you are and what kind of information you can access.
There are many reasons why people might want to hide their IP addresses when using the Internet. One reason is because it can help them avoid being tracked. Another is that it can allow them to watch content from countries they wouldn’t otherwise be able to access, such as video on demand services or live streams.
VPNs and proxies are increasingly popular tools that encrypt and route all traffic from a device towards a server in another location. This is often used by organised setups such as click farms or botnets, but it can be useful for casual users too.
Ad fraud
Organized ad fraud or click fraud operators use VPNs and proxy servers to switch IP addresses rapidly, which can help them perform large amounts of VPN fraud score in a short amount of time. This type of fraud is referred to as click fraud, and it can be a costly problem for business owners.
Despite this, some people will still use a VPN when they want to remain anonymous and protect their personal information from being hacked. This can be a good idea, especially if you’re worried about your credit card or other sensitive data being stolen.
A VPN also allows users to change their location whenever they want, so it can be a good tool for those looking to buy goods or services in different countries. However, this is not a 100% safe way to do so, as you’re still exposing your true location.
Click fraud
In order to make ad fraud harder to detect, ad networks will often block the IP address of a user who uses a VPN or a proxy. This means that the advertiser can no longer identify who is clicking on their ads, and this prevents the ad from being displayed.
PPC fraud
The VPN and proxy are also used by attackers who are trying to steal ad revenue from businesses. These attacks can be a serious threat to ad campaigns as they can easily wreak havoc with a campaign.
Fraudulent traffic originating from a VPN or a proxy is often spotted by Google and Bing ads platforms, which means that advertisers can stop the attacks before they can affect their ad results. This is important because it can save a lot of money and help the business avoid having to waste ad spend on ineffective campaigns.
How to combat VPN and proxy click fraud
In order to fight VPN and proxy click fraud, it’s essential to use IP geolocation and other advanced heuristics. These can be a great addition to your security setup and will boost your detection capabilities.
IP Geolocation API
Unlike most other fraud detection systems, IP geolocation analyzes your website and apps’ traffic to determine the location of each user. This information can identify the country of origin for the visitor, and it can also help determine whether or not your website is vulnerable to cybercrime and attack.