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Securing Online Advertising: Rustlers and Sheriffs in the New Wild West

Benjamin G. Edelman
Harvard University - HBS Negotiations, Organizations and Markets Unit

September 11, 2008

Harvard Business School NOM Working Paper No. 09-039

Abstract:
Read the news of recent computer security guffaws, and it's striking how many problems stem from online advertising. Advertising is the bedrock of web sites that are provided without charge to end users, so advertising is everywhere. But advertising security gaps are equally widespread: from malvertisement banner ads pushing rogue anti-spyware software, to click fraud, to spyware and adware, the security lapses of online advertising are striking.

During the past five years, I have uncovered hundreds of online advertising scams defrauding thousands of users - not to mention all the web's top merchants. This chapter summarizes some of what I've found - and what users and advertisers can do to protect themselves.

Working Paper Series

Date posted: September 15, 2008 ; Last revised: June 19, 2009

Suggested Citation

Edelman, Benjamin G., Securing Online Advertising: Rustlers and Sheriffs in the New Wild West (September 11, 2008). Harvard Business School NOM Working Paper No. 09-039. Available at SSRN: http://ssrn.com/abstract=1267311

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Contact Information

Benjamin G. Edelman (Contact Author)

Harvard University - HBS Negotiations, Organizations and Markets Unit ( email )

Soldiers Field
Boston, MA 02163
United States

HOME PAGE: http://people.hbs.edu/bedelman