Here are the Ins & Outs of Cookie Stuffing: Why Do They Occur?

1. Here are the Ins & Outs of Cookie Stuffing: Why Do They Occur? Cookies are small data files to connect website visitors to the company's website through traffic patterns. Websites read from & write data to the cookies for different purposes. They use cookies to monitor prospects'(or customers') browsing history when they visit the website twice or more. The first-party cookies get generated by the company's website. It identifies users logging in & offers customized options depending on previous activities. In addition, it also saves the cart details, login data, and more. The third-party cookies get generated by third-party vendors. They help advertise by using customers' information to display targeted advertisements. Cookies come with specified parameters such as: •Name •Value •expiration date •path •Domain and more These parameters determine their prime use. While it's an impactful technique, it has its share of consequences. So, what is cookie stuffing? What Is Cookie Stuffing and How Does It Work? Also termed cookie stuffing, it's an illegitimate technique involving a third party to drop various affiliate cookies on the browser. It aims to claim commissions of sale occurring from the same browser. Cookie stuffing steals the credit of someone else's attribution. Considered a black hat digital marketing tactic, session dropping gets practiced by malicious actors. VIRUSPOSITIVE Phone + 91 - 124 - 2666031 Email- sales@viruspositive.com Sector-48, Gurugram-122001 Vipul Trade Center, Unit#130-131,440,

2. The fraudster joins a community or collaborates with affiliate marketers. Each time someone visits the nefarious actor's website, they attach third-party cookies to the web browser. If the prospect visits the website the second time or makes a purchase, the cookie makes it appear that the lead generation occurred by the affiliate. Consumers need to click through from the affiliate's website to the advertiser's website, thereby making a purchase to legitimize commissions. Cookie stuffing allows advertisers to pay out commissions, and fraudsters earn the amount. A Few Cookie Stuffing Methods Used by Nefarious Fraudsters After a malicious actor implements methods for affiliate cookie stuffing, they need to own unauthorized remote access to cookies. To achieve their sole purpose, they hijack customers' web sessions. That way, they steal their private details & gain access to their systems. They implement the following methods: •Adware/Malware Malware or adware are nefarious programs that steal valuable information from prospects. Threat actors use them to penetrate session cookies. They induce malware and adware in the customer's system to attract user clicks. Soon after the user clicks on that pop-up ad, nefarious affiliates inject cookies into the user's browser & monetize sales from the browser. Adware is the software solution that displays ads as pop-ups after it gets installed on the system. Marketers can make the right use of them for promotions. However, they also have negative impacts. They may change users' browser settings and add spyware. Also, the adware injects the user system with affiliate cookies & earns a commission. •Click Hijacking Cookie hijacking is a non-legitimate technique through which webmasters break into different websites to steal cookies. This process allows for watching the customer's following details: ✓Browsing activity ✓Credit card information ✓Passwords VIRUSPOSITIVE Phone + 91 - 124 - 2666031 Email- sales@viruspositive.com Sector-48, Gurugram-122001 Vipul Trade Center, Unit#130-131,440,

3. ✓Other private details The fraudster steers click elements like CTA buttons, blank spaces, a search bar, and a footer for inserting the affiliate cookies. When a customer clicks on that hijacked component on the domain and makes the purchase, an affiliate will earn the commission for the sale. As a result, it is a favorable outcome for the nefarious actor. Affiliates also make a commission without generating legitimate traffic to the advertiser's website. •Session Fixation Session fixation attack permits the attacker to hijack a valid user session. The attack explores several limitations of a web application's process of managing a session ID. While authenticating the customers, it does not assign any new session ID. So, that makes it possible for them to use an existing session ID. The attack comprises obtaining valid session IDs. That encourages the user to authenticate with the session ID and hijack a user- validated session. The attacker needs to provide the legitimate web application session ID and try to allow the user's browser to use it. The session fixation web-based attacks may get established in different ways, specifically through session identifiers accepted from URLs or nefarious posts. The easiest process is sending an email that seems to have come from a trustworthy entity. After the user opens the mail and clicks on the link, the threat actor tweaks the web server session. They may also redirect them to the fixed valid session to accomplish their intentions. Shield Your Brand Identity with VPT's Monitoring Solutions VPT's adroit team of professionals will implement disruptive methods to identify session hijacking prevention strategies. Virus Positive Technologies secures your brand identity with the most suitable affiliate management services. Opt for their prevention solutions and protect your customers' journey. Seek consultation from the team today to recover your advertising revenues. The team incorporates sought-after methodologies to protect your brand from fraud. VIRUSPOSITIVE Phone + 91 - 124 - 2666031 Email- sales@viruspositive.com Sector-48, Gurugram-122001 Vipul Trade Center, Unit#130-131,440,