IP spoofing is a type of cyberattack where someone disguises their IP address to hide their true identity. The attacker modifies data packets to use a fake source IP address. This makes the traffic appear to come from a different device or location than it actually does.
How IP spoofing works
When computers communicate online, they use IP addresses to identify each other. Think of an IP address like a return address on a letter. With IP spoofing, attackers change this "return address" to deceive the receiving system.
The fake IP address can make traffic look legitimate when it's not. This helps bad actors avoid detection and circumvent security measures.
Why fraudsters use IP spoofing
In click fraud schemes, criminals use IP spoofing to generate fake clicks that look real. They want to drain advertisers' budgets while avoiding fraud detection systems.
IP spoofing helps them create clicks that appear to come from:
- Different geographic locations
- Multiple unique visitors
- Legitimate IP ranges
- Residential networks instead of data centers
Common IP spoofing techniques
Fraudsters have several methods for spoofing IP addresses:
How to protect against IP spoofing
While IP spoofing is hard to prevent entirely, you can reduce your risk. Using click fraud detection software helps identify suspicious patterns. These tools look for signs of spoofed IPs in your ad traffic.
Other protective measures include:
- Implementing IP verification systems
- Monitoring traffic patterns for anomalies
- Using authentication protocols
- Working with reputable ad networks
