Digital auditing system and method for detecting unauthorized activities on websites

Abstract

An auditing system (10) is provided for detecting at least one unauthorized operational activity in at least one website, and includes a processor coupled to at least one database (34) for storing data related to the at least one unauthorized operational activity. The processor is programmed to detect the at least one unauthorized operational activity in the at least one website using a monitoring module (22) configured to monitor the at least one website via a network (16) and provide unauthorized operational status information about the at least one website using a plurality of status messages generated based on the data, and a detection module (24) configured to examine the plurality of status messages and detect an anomaly caused by the at least one unauthorized operational activity.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62 / 419,681, filed on Nov. 9, 2016, Atty Docket No. MAGL-0001-01-US-e, titled “DIGITAL AUDITING SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETECTING UNAUTHORIZED ACTIVITIES ON WEBSITES,” the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated by reference herein.FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE[0002]The present disclosure generally relates to digital auditing systems, and more particularly, to an auditing system for detecting unauthorized activities performed on websites.BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE[0003]Conventional display advertisement, for example, in electronic environments and platforms, including publisher sites, commerce (e-commerce) sites, mobile applications, all forms of search engines and browsers, provides a universal method for illustrating various products, such as commercial goods and professional services, by offering business opportunities from small scale industries to large scale...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present digital auditing system is designed to detect and prevent unauthorized activities on websites. It monitors various user information, advertisement related data, and logs to alert against any unauthorized activity. The system can also remove malicious content from websites to protect businesses from fraud and cyber-attacks. Additionally, advertisers can limit payment on non-viewable advertisements and prevent fraudsters from using deceptive techniques. Publishers can also limit risks associated with skimming of advertisement revenue. Overall, the system helps to mitigate liabilities and assists government entities in detecting syndicated practices or extended illegal enterprises.

Problems solved by technology

Business organizations often host their business on multiple websites to reach new markets and customers as conventional marketing and advertising methods can be less effective than online advertising strategies.

However, in the conventional display advertisement, business transactions are vulnerable to cyber-attacks and security threats.

Such cybercrime has become a fast growing underground, unlawful activity committed by savvy perpetrators.

In certain cases, these perpetrators unsuspectedly manipulate financial or other related information of the business organizations for monetary gains and business advantages.

Thus, detecting such unauthorized activities has become a new challenge in a cyber world.

Unfortunately, conventional antivirus software or malware detection systems are ill-equipped to perform effective warning and discovery of the unauthorized activities on the websites due to lack of detectable footprints or signatures left by the perpetrators.

Manual manipulation of related data or covert replacement of a character string by automated software cannot be readily detected by conventional auditing systems.

As a result, advertisers, publishers, platform providers and associated networks are all subject to a vast variety of digital theft, fraud, damages and liabilities.

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