Jan 29, 2009
Click Forensics today released its latest figures on click fraud for the fourth quarter of 2008. Figures show that it has jumped to the highest point since 2006.
The average click fraud rate grew to 17.1 percent , up from 16.0 percent in Q3 2008 and from 16.6 percent for Q4 2007.
The average click fraud rate of ads appearing on search engine content networks, including Google AdSense and the Yahoo Publisher Network, was 28.2 percent. That's up from 27.1 percent rate reported for Q3 2008 and down slightly from 28.3 percent for Q4 2007.
"Based on the data we tracked in Q4 2008, it seems that the online advertising industry is not immune to the growing tide of cybercrime during this recessionary period," said Tom Cuthbert, president of Click Forensics.
"The overall click fraud rate was the highest ever in Q4 2008. In addition, we've started to see old schemes like click farms reemerge. Advertisers should pay close attention to these types of threats in their online campaigns throughout the year."
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