Whether you’re deciding how to use bots for security management or looking to find the perfect bot management solution for your company, you’ll want to know what criteria to consider. You’ll also want to consider how you can ensure that the bots you’re managing don’t turn out to be malicious.
Keeping false positives to a minimum level
Choosing the perfect bots for your security management strategy and knowing what is a bot in computer terms is daunting, but one that can be made easier with the proper false-positive management solution. However, a small number of bad bots can be a nightmare for any online business, and it is essential to take measures to minimize the risk of being victimized by bots.
The best way to ensure you get the best bots for your security needs is to assess all your web properties thoroughly. During this process, you may have to tweak the rules on your website to stop bots from wreaking havoc on your online store. This is especially true if you are a retailer or have an ecommerce presence.
The most crucial element of your bot detection strategy is identifying and thwarting bad bots, including those trying to masquerade as humans. A sound bot management system should help you identify, mitigate and stop malicious bots while delivering an enhanced user experience.
The most impressive and accurate way to do this is to have an advanced bot detection solution. These solutions should feature a multi-layered approach that allows you to detect and block all known and unknown bots from gaining access to your network. In addition, the best of these solutions should provide you with detailed reports so that you can make informed resource allocation decisions.
JS in the browser helps detect bots in real time.
Using JavaScript in the browser is one way to detect bots in real-time. It may not always work, though. This is because mobile browsers cannot perform the same tasks as a standard browser.
Bots are programmed to do things that human users would find mundane. For example, they might collect information from other websites and then feed that content back to the user. Similarly, they might reload pages multiple times to get the most out of the site.
One of the more sophisticated solutions for bot detection uses a combination of JavaScript and client-side analysis. This allows defenders to identify bot traffic and block it. They can do this by analyzing access logs to discover patterns of behavior. This method also will enable defenders to identify and whitelist agents that are known to do good work.
A more simplistic approach to bot detection uses a technique called fingerprinting. This is done by collecting hundreds of client-side indicators. Using these, the system can classify traffic as human or bot. Typically, the former will require fewer resources, while the latter will need more.
Another technique is the use of static analysis tools. These will allow you to identify your environment’s most significant bad bots. Alternatively, some companies have taken a stab at artificial intelligence to identify bot traffic. Using machine learning, they can scan for anomalies in traffic patterns.
Criteria for selecting a bot management solution
Whether you have an existing bot management solution or are in the market for one, choosing the right bot management solution is crucial to protecting your business from a growing cyber threat. Therefore, you should look for the following critical criteria when evaluating different solutions.
The main difference between a good bot detection solution and a bad one is the ability to detect and respond to attacks. The ideal solution should be able to differentiate between good and bad bots, use real-time signals, and leverage historical experience. It should also provide risk classification validation by using a challenge feedback loop.
An effective bot-stopping solution should integrate with the security ecosystem, include fingertip access to data, and provide timely root cause analysis. It should also have an SLA and offer false favorable rates. Finally, the vendor should provide a detailed dashboard that gives users a visual representation of how the bots affect their security and performance.
Choosing a vendor with a product vision aligned with your organization’s needs is essential. In addition, the vendor must cover all customer touchpoints, including web applications, APIs, and mobile apps. It should also be responsive to customer requests and transparent about its planned enhancements.
Keeping your platform safe from long-term evolution requires a continuous process of tuning and tweaking. A vendor should continuously update its false-positive management system. This ensures that the bots are stopped without negatively impacting your site’s performance.
Identifying good bots from malicious ones
Identifying good bots from malicious ones is a critical element of security management. The primary difference between the two is their intent.
Good bots can help streamline operations and improve customer experience. Bad bots, however, are often used to skew data or conduct malicious activities. They can also take over accounts and hoard resources.
Detecting a lousy bot is tricky because they are often programmed with malicious intentions. For example, they can steal information, perform account takeovers, and launch distributed denial-of-service attacks.
The best way to detect and mitigate bots is to employ a layered approach. Using a combination of AI, machine learning, and data can help organizations identify and respond to malicious bots before they happen.
The ideal solution for bot detection should be able to recognize and differentiate between good and bad bots, utilizing real-time signals. This includes behavior, device, and network signals. It should also be able to analyze historical insights and provide anomaly detection. Ultimately, the right bot detection solution should be able to identify even the most sophisticated attack.
Sophisticated bots can simulate human behavior with high accuracy. They can also use legitimate user agents to disguise themselves. These bots can act as actual users and interact with apps and websites like humans.
