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Traffic Fraud Inflates Video Site Popularity

Posted by kdawson on from the forced-visit-traffic dept.

Dotnaught writes "A new study by spyware researcher Ben Edelman finds that spyware-driven traffic inflation is common, particularly at video sites. The study identifies Bolt.com, GrindTV.com, Broadcaster.com, Away.com, RooTV.com, and Diet.com as the beneficiaries of spyware-driven traffic. 'Our measurement systems are inaccurate for the amount of trust we'd like to put into them,' Edelman said. 'So that's the puzzle: How do you build an advertising economy when the number can't be trusted?'"

4 of 114 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Who?? by psaunders · · Score: 5, Funny

    I care even less...in fact, I only came in here because the footer below the abstract said "7 of 9 comments". Ripped off, she's not even here.

    --
    Karma police, arrest this man. He talks in math. He buzzes like a fridge. He's like a detuned radio.
  2. Easy by kjart · · Score: 2, Funny

    How do you build an advertising economy when the number can't be trusted?

    Just do what TV studios do - pretend that the numbers are real.

  3. How? by kestasjk · · Score: 2, Funny

    How do you build an advertising economy when the number can't be trusted?
    Micropayments right? Everyone wins (except discount viagra merchants and pornography websites).
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    // MD_Update(&m,buf,j);
  4. Re:Who?? by QuickFox · · Score: 4, Funny

    I don't think they can afford to mix-and-match Good Google/Bad Google Unfortunately they can. They actively promote and encourage domain squatting.
    --
    Terrorists can't threaten a country's freedom and democracy. Only lawmakers and voters can do that.