Uncovering a Major Ad Fraud Scheme Targeting Android Apps
Integral Ad Science (IAS) recently revealed an extensive ad fraud operation known as "Vapor," which used fake Android apps to trick advertisers. This fraud scheme affected over 56 million app downloads and generated more than 200 million fraudulent bid requests every day. The fraudulent apps displayed disruptive, full-screen video ads that offered no real user engagement, causing significant losses to advertisers.
The IAS Threat Lab, working with industry partners, helped identify and 186 app take down these deceptive apps from the Google Play Store. Thanks to the swift response, these fraudulent apps were removed, and users were protected through Google Play Protect. IAS continues to monitor these evolving fraud tactics to safeguard the digital advertising ecosystem.
This discovery highlights the growing need for vigilance in detecting and preventing ad fraud in the mobile app industry.
💻 app list
📈 report