Bad bots sophistication level 2023

In 2023, most of the worldwide website traffic is generated by humans but bot traffic is constantly increasing. Fraudulent traffic through bad bot actors also exists at various levels of sophistication. Over the last two years, the amount of advanced bad bots exploded, doubling what was registered in the previous years. However, simple bad bots have increased by over 6 percent compared to the previous year, suggesting a decrease in the number of moderate bad bots.

Sophistication level of bad bots worldwide from 2020 to 2023

Characteristic	Simple	Moderate	Advanced
2020	42.9%	40.4%	16.7%
2021	34.4%	39.7%	25.9%
2022	33.4%	15.4%	51.2%
2023	39.6%	12.4%	48.1%

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Release date

April 2024

More information

Region

Worldwide

Survey time period

2020 to 2023

Supplementary notes

Data regarding earlier periods than 2023 were taken from previous reports. The source defines the sophiscation level of bad bots as:

" • SIMPLE Connecting from a single, ISP-assigned IP address, this type connects to sites using automated scripts, not browsers, and doesn’t self-report (masquerade) as being a browser.

• MODERATE Being more complex, this type uses “headless browser” software hat simulates browser technology—including the ability to execute JavaScript.

• SOPHISTICATED Producing mouse movements and clicks that fool even sophisticated detection methods, these bad bots mimic human behavior and are the most evasive. They use browser automation software, or malware installed within real browsers, to connect to sites.

• ADVANCED PERSISTENT BOTS (APBs) APBs are a combination of moderate and sophisticated bad bots. They tend to cycle through random IP addresses, enter through anonymous proxies and peer-to-peer networks, and are able to change their user agents. They use a mix of technologies and methods to evade detection while maintaining persistence on target sites."

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