Cookie Stuffing – The Negative Side Of Website Cookies

1. Cookie Stuffing – The Negative Side of Website Cookies Affiliate marketing is an innovative technique that brings promising opportunities for companies these days. Stating it as a quintessential tool in this digitalized world is not an exaggeration. After all, it generates traffic and profitable outcomes for marketing teams and establishments. It is an effective approach for every company. But any wrong implementation can make the overall process challenging. That's where cookies come in as a savior solution. Marketers must ensure that the sales remain attributed to individuals who clicked on any ad displayed on the affiliate's website or digital profile. And cookies are the most common ways to do that. But what are cookies? And are they beneficial? Welcome to this post that elucidates the importance of cookies and the repercussions of cookie stuffing. Let's dive into the given narration to learn the ins and outs of cookie dropping. So, how does it occur? An Overview of Cookies and Its Negative Facet Cookies are small data files and information. They connect website visitors to any establishment's website via traffic patterns. Users' browsers have these cookies, which websites can access. Websites can place these cookies to store users' information. So, the next time a user revisits the page, they don't require sharing their contact details. But there are a few negative impacts of cookies. Websites can use cookies to read from and write data for various purposes. They use them to monitor prospects' browsing history. Now, here's another concept: first-party cookies and third-party cookies. VIRUSPOSITIVE Phone + 91 - 124 - 2666031 Email- sales@viruspositive.com Sector-48, Gurugram-122001 Vipul Trade Center, Unit#130-131,440,

2. Websites can generate first-party cookies. But only third-party vendors can generate third-party cookies. The prior one recognizes users' login details and provides personalized options based on prior activities. Besides, it saves login data, cart details, and more. On the other hand, third-party vendors advertise third-party cookies using customers' private information. They display the targeted ads. Since they can track users browsing history, cookies are a critical component of affiliate marketing. But did you know cookies can also create false attribution in the form of cookie stuffing? What Is Cookie Dropping or Stuffing? Nefarious actors drop third-party cookies on advertisers'websites. It's a source to earn a commission because cookies can monitor a user's browsing history. It increases a visitor's ease of revisiting a website. But malicious actors impose crimes and threats to use cookies in a negative manner. That's where cookie-dropping or stuffing becomes an illegal practice. Affiliate networks operate on models to pay commissions. And since they can drive traffic to the websites of advertisers, marketers use them to track visitors' history. Soon after tapping on the link and buying from the website, affiliates make the payments. Here, third-party cookies become useful for fraudsters to monetize sales. Repercussions of Cookie Stuffing: How Do Malicious Actors Get the Benefit? A brand cannot become successful overnight. But losing the reputation can take a second. Given that brand image is an important component of a company, fraudsters use affiliate cookie stuffing and hit its brand reputation. Affiliates promote advertisers' products on websites & other social platforms to get paid for completed transactions. Threat actors use cookie dropping as a mode to earn money without getting legal users. So, they pose a threat to the company's brand reputation & budget. VIRUSPOSITIVE Phone + 91 - 124 - 2666031 Email- sales@viruspositive.com Sector-48, Gurugram-122001 Vipul Trade Center, Unit#130-131,440,

3. •Collect User Data With Ease Another way threat actors use cookie stuffing is by collecting visitors' data. They store private information like browsing history, contact details, and shopping preferences. They use the information for marketing. So, it leads to a breach of visitor data policy & loss of customers due to poor UX. •Monitoring Their Browser Histories Cookies can monitor a user's browsing history. It offers a customized experience to the end-users. The sensitive and private data needs approval from users. But affiliates use them by recording them without informing the customers. These acts lead to the loss of customers' trust. It also hampers the company's reputation too. A publisher may run the cookie-stuffing script inadvertently. Or it may be a user installing the extension. But ultimately, both these circumstances affect the brand image and customer experience. Suppose a user visits the affiliate website, clicks on the advertisements, and lands on their website for purchase. The advertiser will attach a cookie to monitor the visitor's journey. Once they find the customer's path via the affiliate network, they will provide them with a commission. So, the best way to combat this condition is by choosing reliable affiliate cookie-stuffing prevention solutions. Shield Your Business from Malicious Actors with VPT's Solutions As a pioneer in the field of affiliate fraud management protection, Virus Positive Technologies uses disruptive methodologies. VPT professionals can recognize the non-compliant behaviors that may damage a company's reputation. The company uses the best cookie hijacking tool alongside prevention solutions based on customized client requirements. Besides, their digitized solutions can prevent brand reputation and offer customers an intuitive experience. Consult the professional at Virus Positive Technologies to understand their services in brief. VIRUSPOSITIVE Phone + 91 - 124 - 2666031 Email- sales@viruspositive.com Sector-48, Gurugram-122001 Vipul Trade Center, Unit#130-131,440,