DoubleVerify Exposes ‘ViperBot,’ a New Global Fraud Scheme Attempting to Defraud Advertisers of Over $8 Million Each Month

Rhea-AI Summary

DoubleVerify (NYSE: DV) has uncovered a sophisticated advertising fraud scheme called ViperBot, which aims to siphon over $8 million monthly from connected TV and mobile video ad spends. ViperBot manipulates ad verification by stripping tags and redirecting them, evading detection. Although DV’s technology effectively protects its clients, the scheme currently affects over five million devices and up to 85 million ad requests daily. DV’s Fraud Lab utilizes advanced methods to combat such fraud, ensuring campaign integrity and promoting a secure advertising ecosystem.

Positive

• Discovery of ViperBot enhances DV's reputation as a frontrunner in ad fraud prevention.
• DV's customers are currently shielded from the ViperBot scheme, demonstrating effective fraud protection.
• ViperBot's detection and mitigation by DV reinforces confidence in its technology.

Negative

• ViperBot poses a significant threat to ad investments, undercutting performance when protective measures are absent.
• The scheme exploits high-value channels like CTV and mobile, making them attractive targets for fraudsters.

The two most popular channels for advertisers – connected TV and mobile – are affected, with fraudsters stripping measurement provider tags and redirecting them to avoid detection

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- DoubleVerify ("DV"), (NYSE: DV), a leading software platform for digital media measurement, data and analytics, today announced the discovery of “ViperBot,” a sophisticated advertising fraud scheme that attempts to steal over $8 million each month in ad spend across two of the industry’s most in-demand channels: connected television (CTV) and mobile video.

Through ViperBot, fraudsters strip the code that verifies ad impressions and then conceal and redirect this code through real devices to hide the fraudulent activity in an attempt to go undetected. While DV customers are currently protected from the scheme, it continues to spoof more than five million devices and up to 85 million ad requests per day, undercutting ad investments and performance when solutions that can protect against ViperBot are not implemented.

“ViperBot is one of the most sophisticated fraud schemes that DV has ever identified,” said Mark Zagorski, CEO at DoubleVerify. “The dynamic nature of fraud schemes underscores the fact that advertisers need a partner who is laser focused on protecting their interests – and who operates independent of the media transaction to remain neutral when determining the quality of inventory,” said Mark Zagorski, CEO at DoubleVerify. “Efficient and transparent media buying leads to better outcomes for brands. By uncovering ViperBot, we are able to give brands greater confidence in their digital investment while ensuring campaign performance.”

ViperBot relies on both the well-documented occurrence of verification stripping and a new tactic, discovered by DV, called “verification redirection.” Verification stripping is the removal of verification tags previously set by a measurement provider. As this normally causes measurement discrepancies, fraud schemes that rely on verification stripping can regularly be identified by advanced measurement companies. DV, for example, has protected its clients against verification tag fraud for years.

With ViperBot, fraudsters have taken verification stripping to the next level. Fraudsters are not only removing verification tags from the ad being delivered – they are also reinserting them inside of cheap ad slots running on real devices in an attempt to prevent detection. This makes it difficult for unsuspecting measurement providers to recognize that any fraudulent activity is taking place. Upon identifying the new tactic, DV immediately blocked the falsified impressions and ad requests. Although ViperBot ultimately affected verification tags from all verification providers, DV quickly detected and mitigated the scheme – ensuring protection for DV customers.

“As fraudsters continue to evolve and aggressively target high-value inventory types, measurement providers need to catch up,” said Jack Smith, Chief Product Officer, DoubleVerify. “We’re seeing this happen in CTV and mobile inventory, where higher CPMs make it a more attractive target, but this new redirection tactic can be applied across many environments.”

DV’s technology is powered by the DV Fraud Lab, a dedicated team of data scientists, mathematicians and analysts from the cyber-fraud prevention community. The Fraud Lab relies on a variety of approaches to detect fraud — from AI and machine learning to manual review.

“The DV Fraud Lab is singularly focused on detecting, neutralizing and mitigating new threats, giving advertisers much-needed campaign protection and performance,” added Zagorski. “This is in service of our overall mission – to build a better advertising ecosystem for everyone.”

To help educate and inform the broader industry of the ViperBot discovery and discuss mitigation, advertisers, publishers and platform partners can view DV’s findings here.

About DoubleVerify
DoubleVerify is a leading software platform for digital media measurement and analytics. Our mission is to make the digital advertising ecosystem stronger, safer and more secure, thereby preserving the fair value exchange between buyers and sellers of digital media. Hundreds of Fortune 500 advertisers employ our unbiased data and analytics to drive campaign quality and effectiveness, and to maximize return on their digital advertising investments – globally.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220324005263/en/

Press

Chris Harihar

Chris@crenshawcomm.com

Source: DoubleVerify

FAQ

What is ViperBot discovered by DoubleVerify?

ViperBot is an advanced fraud scheme identified by DoubleVerify that attempts to steal over $8 million monthly from digital ad spends through connected TV and mobile platforms.

How does ViperBot affect advertisers using DoubleVerify?

ViperBot impacts advertisers by redirecting ad verification tags, leading to potential loss of ad spend and campaign performance when protective measures are not implemented.

What protective measures does DoubleVerify provide against ViperBot?

DoubleVerify employs sophisticated technology and its Fraud Lab to detect and block fraudulent impressions and ad requests associated with ViperBot.

What are the implications of the ViperBot scheme on the stock DV?

The emergence of ViperBot highlights both the challenges in digital advertising and DoubleVerify’s role in combating these threats, which could impact investor confidence in DV.

How many requests does ViperBot spoof daily?

ViperBot spoofs up to 85 million ad requests daily across more than five million devices.