As ad networks become more sophisticated, so do the bots that roam them. Simple User-Agent blocking is no longer enough. To stay ahead in 2024, you need to understand behavioral fingerprinting and network consistency checks.
The Evolution of Bots
In the past, bots were dumb scripts. Now, we face headless browsers (like Puppeteer) that render JavaScript, scroll pages, and even click buttons. Detecting these requires more than just checking IP addresses.
1. Browser Fingerprinting
Real browsers have specific "fingerprints" based on their canvas rendering, font capabilities, and screen resolution. Bots often leave inconsistencies—like claiming to be an iPhone but having a screen resolution of 1920x1080 (a desktop size). AdFortress.pro checks for these mismatches instantly.
2. Timezone & IP Correlation
If a user's IP address claims they are in New York (EST), but their browser's Javascript Timezone reports 'Asia/Shanghai', you are almost certainly dealing with a proxy or VPN user. This simple but effective check catches 30% of fraudulent traffic.
3. Data Center IP Databases
Residential proxies are expensive. Most low-effort fraud comes from Data Center IPs (AWS, DigitalOcean, etc.). Maintaining an up-to-date database of these ranges is critical. We update our IP lists daily to ensure you block the latest server farms.
Pro Tip:
Never rely on a single metric. The most accurate detection comes from weighting multiple factors (IP score + Device consistency + User Behavior) to make a final decision.
Why Server-Side is King
Client-side (JS) detection happens after the page loads. By then, the bot has already seen your content. Server-side PHP detection happens before any HTML is sent. This is the only way to truly "cloak" your page and ensure your safe page is the only thing a bot ever sees.