Automated bots are becoming an increasingly pervasive and dangerous threat to online security, warns a recent report by cybersecurity leader Thales. The 2024 Imperva Bad Bot Report reveals that nearly 50% of all internet traffic in 2023 came from bots, marking a 2% increase from the previous year. This is the highest level of bot traffic recorded since monitoring began in 2013.
Of particular concern is the rise of bad bots, which accounted for 32% of web traffic in 2023, up from 30.2% in 2022. Meanwhile, traffic from human users decreased to 50.4%. Bad bots pose a significant financial risk to organizations, costing them billions of dollars annually through attacks on websites, APIs, and applications.
One of the key findings of the report is the growing use of generative AI, which has led to an increase in the volume of simple bots. These bots, fueled by large language models, are responsible for activities such as web scraping and automated crawling. Additionally, account takeover attacks increased by 10% in 2023, with 44% of these attacks targeting API endpoints.
APIs have emerged as a popular vector for automated bot attacks, with cybercriminals exploiting business logic vulnerabilities to gain access to sensitive data or user accounts. This makes them a prime target for abuse. Every industry is affected by bots, with gaming experiencing the highest proportion of bad bot traffic, followed by retail, travel, and financial services.
Another concerning trend is the use of residential internet service providers (ISPs) by bad bots to masquerade as legitimate users. This technique allows the bots to evade detection, with bad bot traffic originating from residential ISPs reaching 25.8% in 2023.
“As more AI-enabled tools are introduced, bots will become omnipresent. Organizations must invest in bot management and API security tools to manage the threat from malicious, automated traffic,” advises Nanhi Singh, General Manager of Application Security at Imperva.
Protecting against automated bots is now paramount for organizations seeking to safeguard their online services and data. Deploying advanced bot protection and API security tools can help mitigate the risks associated with these malicious actors. As automated bots continue to evolve and pose new challenges, organizations must be proactive in their defense strategies to ensure the integrity and security of their digital assets.
In addition to the information provided in the article, it is important to consider current market trends surrounding the rise of automated bots and the challenges they present to online security.
Current Market Trends:
1. Increasing Bot Traffic: The Thales report highlights that bots accounted for almost 50% of all internet traffic in 2023, indicating a significant increase compared to previous years. This trend suggests that the prevalence and impact of automated bots are growing rapidly.
2. Generative AI: The use of generative artificial intelligence has led to a surge in the volume of simple bots. These bots, powered by large language models, engage in activities like web scraping and automated crawling. This trend indicates that bot creators are utilizing advanced technologies to enhance their capabilities.
3. API Attacks: API endpoints have become a popular target for automated bot attacks. Cybercriminals exploit business logic vulnerabilities in APIs to gain unauthorized access to sensitive data or users’ accounts. This highlights the need for robust API security measures to counter these attacks effectively.
Forecasts:
1. Continued Growth of Bot Traffic: It is anticipated that the percentage of bot traffic on the internet will continue to rise in the coming years. As more AI-enabled tools become available, bots will become even more pervasive, posing greater threats to online security.
2. Evolution of Bot Tactics: Automated bots will likely continue to evolve, utilizing more sophisticated techniques to evade detection and bypass security measures. This could include the use of advanced AI algorithms, machine learning, and behavioral analysis to mimic human behavior.
Key Challenges and Controversies:
1. Financial Impact: Bad bots pose a significant financial risk to organizations, costing them billions of dollars annually through attacks on websites, APIs, and applications. The financial losses incurred by organizations due to bot attacks highlight the urgency to address this issue effectively.
2. Masquerading as Legitimate Users: The use of residential ISPs by bad bots to appear as legitimate users is a challenging aspect of bot detection and prevention. This technique allows bots to evade detection systems and potentially go undetected while carrying out malicious activities.
Advantages of Automated Bots:
1. Efficiency and Scalability: Automated bots can perform repetitive and time-consuming tasks at a much faster rate than humans. This can be advantageous for businesses in various industries, particularly in sectors like e-commerce, customer support, and data analysis.
2. Data Aggregation and Insights: Bots can be used to collect and analyze large amounts of data from various sources, enabling businesses to gain valuable insights and make informed decisions.
Disadvantages of Automated Bots:
1. Cybersecurity Threats: Bots can be leveraged for malicious purposes, including launching DDoS attacks, stealing sensitive information, spreading malware, and conducting fraud. This poses significant risks to individuals, organizations, and the overall security of the internet.
2. Ethical Concerns: The use of bots for illegitimate activities raises ethical questions, particularly when it comes to privacy invasion, unauthorized data harvesting, and manipulation of online platforms.
For more information on bot-related topics and online security, you may find the following resources helpful:
– Thales – Fighting Bots with Thales
– Imperva (main domain link) – A leading cybersecurity company providing solutions to protect against bot attacks and safeguarding digital assets.