Fake traffic

[total21]

I am new to traffic trading, and I would like to find out the following things:

a) How hard is it for people to generate fake traffic? This could be with different IPs, geos, anything can be done with good knowledge of Linux and programming, I think.
b) How hard is it to detect something like this, and how does it work with the Trade Expert script? Can I catch it all, or is it possible that I may be trading with fake traffic people for like two or more years (now), and not knowing it, until better solutions for detecting it come out?
c) How would you estimate the number of fake traffic in all networks of xxx traffic trading sites? Would it be like 10%, 20% possibly, more?
d) I heard that traffic brokers like TrafficHolder.com and TrafficShop.com have fake traffic in the mix too. How does the situation look like as far as this.

With xxx traffic trading (and also other niches of the Internet) traffic is $$$, so people will be constantly working on something like this. I mean if a fake hit opens a popunder on my site, and I make money, I technically don't care, but something like this probably decreases revenue from other types of ads, like banners, lets say.

I will be researching this further too, and also work on figuring out how to manage everything in Linux (advanced). Like, what programs I could use, how to process this data, and so on (Like when I ordered a certain amount of traffic from Traffic Holder and Traffic Shop, I was showing only about 65-70% of it in Google Analytics stats. I contacted both companies, and I was told to send them server logs. I am planning to work on traffic trading, and buying and selling traffic possibly, so I would like to get to the bottom of this, also Linux wise, if I can).

If other people work on something like this, and other types of xxx sites, we can do some info exchange over email or Skype too.

Thanks.

[Rock]

Hello, total21.

Thank you for your post. However, you're covering quite a few questions and suggestions, and it might be better to open them as individual topics in the future.

a) How hard is it for people to generate fake traffic? This could be with different IPs, geos, anything can be done with good
knowledge of Linux and programming, I think.

I'm probably not the best person for this question (and don't want to suggest methods to anyone ). You could search the web, talk to the webmasters... But I can assure you: when and if a new method is invented/reported, we analyze it and implement appropriate countermeasures, if they don't exist within TE3 yet.

b) How hard is it to detect something like this, and how does it work with the Trade Expert script? Can I catch it all, or is it
possible that I may be trading with fake traffic people for like two or more years (now), and not knowing it, until better solutions
for detecting it come out?

TE3 has several highly effective "anti cheat" features, for example “Auto blocking” module (TE3 will automatically block IPs that meet the auto blocking rules), Cheat logs (detection of repetetive occuring IPs and other types of abnormal traffic activities), etc. As you know, a lot depends on the webmaster - you have to analyze the traffic. And TE3 is a great tool in this respect as well - it tracks numerous parameters which can help you monitor quality, quantity, productivity, etc. TE3's Overview menu is also completely customizable - personalize it and you'll be able to manage your traffic most efficiently.

c) How would you estimate the number of fake traffic in all networks of xxx traffic trading sites? Would it be like 10%, 20% possibly,
more?

I honestly don't know and wouldn't want to speculate. In the end it's up to you to choose/approve trades, set the rules, follow you trading philosophy... TE3 gives you the tools you need, it's up to you to utilize them.

d) I heard that traffic brokers like TrafficHolder.com and TrafficShop.com have fake traffic in the mix too. How does the situation
look like as far as this.

We don't have information about specific traffic brokers. Even if what you say is true, it's hard to believe this would be common practice. Our advice: before you decide on a specific broker, check out what other webmasters say about them.

Best regards,
Rock