AdSecure Releases '2020 Violations Report' on Cyber Crime

AdSecure Releases '2020 Violations Report' on Cyber Crime

DUBLIN — AdSecure has released its "2020 Violations Report" detailing cyber criminal activity throughout the prior year.

A rep explained how AdSecure analyzed more than 1 million ad campaigns "across multiple regions, devices and browsers" for its partners between January 1 and December 31, 2020. "These findings provide insights into cyber criminal behavior throughout the year: Where they were most prolific, how they delivered their attacks, their malicious weapons of choice, and what AdSecure's detections revealed in order to stop and protect end users from malicious ads."

Following are a number of findings in the "2020 Violations Report":

Key Insights

42.48% of scans detected some form of malvertising: Compared to 2019, AdSecure detected 4,248 violations (up 57%) out of every 10,000 scans in 2020. The main types were adware, malware, scareware, phishing URL, auto downloads and auto redirects.

Malvertisers can place malvertising throughout the digital ad flow

Cyber criminals can place threats inside the ad format creative, and in the landing page to which the ad redirects; the bad actor then locks the user on the landing page whilst malware automatically downloads to the victim’s device. AdSecure found 10.01% of analyses contained at least three violations and 4.21% contained at least two violations; those are up 3.1% and 4.76%, respectively, compared to 2019.

The COVID effect

During the first lockdown of 2020 malicious attacks grew exponentially, hitting a peak of +116.14% on 28 March. AdSecure detections discovered that some malvertisers used ad creatives using logos of well-known brands including the World Health Organization, Google Play, Walmart, Amazon and Intermarché for phishing URL and auto-download violations.

Top GEOs for malvertising attacks

Throughout 2020, as lockdowns were lifted and then reintroduced, AdSecure tracked which GEOs were the biggest prime targets for malvertising attacks. AdSecure detected that the United States was the top GEO for malvertising attacks followed by other English-speaking GEOs Canada, United Kingdom and Australia. Brazil, France and India were also top targets.

Malvertisers' weapons of choice

AdSecure looked at the top-five GEOs for violations in 2020 and discovered that both Scareware 48.84% and Browser Lockers at 43.63% were, by far, the most common choice for malvertisers. The top GEO for Scareware was Israel with a huge 90.24% of the country's detections. India had the most Browser Locker detections at 78.84%. 

Germany had the largest share of Malware detections at 5.35%. The top country for Phishing URL was Brazil at 14.89%.

AdSecure Sales Manager Bryan Taylor noted that, throughout 2020, "malvertisers showed how quick they could be to adapt to new situations in order to extract profit from bad ads."

"There is opportunity in crisis, and the COVID-19 pandemic provided the perfect cover with which to manipulate digital consumers through online ads," continued Taylor. "From social engineering scams that play off the iconography of major brands, to scareware attacks that took advantage of the massive increase of remote workers and the very fear of the virus itself, bad actors showed no qualms about extracting profit from misery."

These types of behavior will likely continue into 2021, said Taylor.

"With more people online than ever before, malicious, misleading and scam ads will continue to challenge the digital advertising industry," he noted. "In order to stop these ads from harming end users, dissolving consumer trust, and weakening the overall ecosystem, digital platforms and publishers need the resolve to tackle the problem head on, and the right tools to eliminate them."

Read the complete "2020 Violations Report" attached to this story; for additional details, reach AdSecure at contact@adsecure.com.

AdSecure-Violations-report-2020

Related:  

Copyright © 2025 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More News

2025 XBIZ Amsterdam Website Launches With Call for Speakers

XBIZ is pleased to announce that the website for its annual European conference, XBIZ Amsterdam, is now live.

NC Governor Vetoes Bill Targeting Adult, Could Face Override

North Carolina Governor Josh Stein today vetoed a bill imposing new regulations that adult industry observers have warned could push adult websites and platforms to ban most adult creators and content.

25,000 Sign Petition to Legalize Pornography in Ukraine

An OnlyFans model’s petition to decriminalize pornography in Ukraine has amassed the 25,000 signatures required for official consideration by President Volodymyr Zelensky.

WannaCollab Joins Pineapple Support as Supporter-Level Sponsor

WannaCollab has joined the ranks of over 70 adult businesses and organizations committing funds and resources to Pineapple Support.

FSC Unpacks SCOTUS Age Verification Ruling in Webinar

The Free Speech Coalition conducted a public webinar Tuesday to help adult industry stakeholders understand the Supreme Court’s recent decision in FSC v. Paxton, and its potential implications.

UK Lawmaker Calls for Appointment of 'Porn Minister'

Baroness Gabrielle Bertin, the Conservative member of Parliament who recently convened a new anti-pornography task force, is calling for the appointment of a “minister for porn,” according to British news outlet The Guardian.

FSC Toasts Jeffrey Douglas for 30 Years of Service

n the very same evening when the adult industry was hit hard by the Supreme Court ruling supporting Texas’ controversial age verification law, HB 1181, members of the Free Speech Coalition board, staff and supporters gathered to celebrate Jeffrey Douglas’ 30 years as board chair — a fitting reflection of his reputation as an eternal optimist.

TTS Opens UK Testing Location

Talent Testing Service (TTS) has opened a new U.K. location in Ware, Hertfordshire.

FSC: Age-Verification Laws Go Into Effect in South Dakota, Georgia, Wyoming on July 1

The Free Speech Coalition (FSC) has published a statement regarding new age verification laws set to go into effect tomorrow in South Dakota, Georgia, and Wyoming.

FSC Responds to Supreme Court Decision on Texas AV Law

The Free Speech Coalition (FSC) has released a statement responding to last week's Supreme Court decision on FSC v. Paxton, the Texas age verification law.

Show More