System and method for detecting classes of automated browser agents

摘要

A method for determining if a web browser is being operated by a human or a non-human agent, based on analysis of certain aspects of how a user interacts with a webpage. By placing a code snippet into the code of a webpage prior to a given user accessing that webpage, one is able to evaluate the user's actions in order to predict the type of user. The predictions are made by acquiring information on how the user loads, navigates, and interacts with the webpage and comparing that information with statistics taken from a control group. Performance metrics from all webpages containing similar code elements are compiled by analysis servers and made available to the operator of a webpage through a variety of reporting mediums. By compiling such performance metrics, the method helps combat and prevent malicious automated traffic directed at advertisements and other aspects of a given webpage.

主权项

1. A method for detecting automated browser agents, comprising: inserting a means for detecting information into a page HTML code before a page is sent to a user's browser, sending said page to a user's browser, wherein said means causes immediate and continued data collection of user interaction information once a user has loaded the page, and transmitting via asynchronous HTTP posts said user interaction information to an analysis server, wherein said analysis server compares said user interaction information with pattern characteristics for humans and pattern characteristics for automated browser agents (botprints), thus forming a report on automated browser agent activity based on a qualitative evaluation of performance metrics collected; and
making a conclusion on a probability of the user being the automated browser agent (a bot).