Unique Ad Identifier for Malicious Activity Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems fail to accurately identify and address malicious advertisements due to the disjointed efforts between security vendors and ad tech companies, lacking the ability to match threat detection information from security vendors with advertisement delivery data, which hampers the removal of malicious ads and prevents future malicious activities.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method that associates each advertisement with a unique identifier, allowing security applications to inform the advertisement platform about malicious activity, enabling security actions such as preventing further transmission of the advertisement and reporting to security vendors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional products for detecting malicious advertisements are used, then malicious activity can be detected, but accurate identification of the specific advertisement is not possible
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the advertisement delivery process into distinct components, each with its own identifier. The advertisement ID is separated from the ad content and transmitted independently through multiple channels (gateway, endpoint, ad tech platform), allowing each component to be tracked and identified individually for precise malicious ad detection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary advertisement identifier that acts as a bridge between the ad delivery system and security detection systems. This unique ad ID serves as a mediator that carries identification information through the entire ad lifecycle, enabling security vendors and ad tech companies to match threat detection with specific advertisement deliveries without direct integration between their disparate systems.
2Adaptability or versatility
If security vendors and ad tech companies operate independently, then each can maintain its own systems, but matching threat detection with advertisement delivery data is impossible
Solution Approach 1:
The advertisement identifier is designed as a universal element that serves multiple functions across different systems. The same ad ID is used by the gateway device, endpoint computing device, and ad tech platform, allowing it to fulfill identification, tracking, and matching roles across security vendors and ad tech companies without requiring system integration.
Solution Approach 2:
The system establishes a feedback loop where the advertisement identifier circulates through the ad delivery chain and returns to the ad tech platform with threat detection information. When an endpoint detects malicious activity, it reports back using the ad ID, creating a feedback mechanism that enables matching threat data with specific advertisements without direct system integration.
3Ease of operation
If traditional advertisement systems are used, then advertisements can be delivered, but identification by third-party security applications is not designed into the system
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by embedding the advertisement identifier into the advertisement delivery process before security detection occurs. The ad ID is assigned and transmitted in advance through the gateway and endpoint, preparing the infrastructure for easy security application integration without requiring complex retrofits to traditional ad systems.
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosed computer-implemented method for uniquely identifying malicious advertisements may include (1) associating, by a browser advertisement platform, a browser advertisement with a unique identifier for the browser advertisement, (2) transmitting, by the browser advertisement platform, the browser advertisement to be displayed on at least one endpoint computing device in conjunction with the unique identifier, (3) receiving, at the browser advertisement platform, a message from the endpoint computing device that includes the unique identifier and that indicates that the browser advertisement was associated with malicious activity on the endpoint computing device, and (4) performing, by the browser advertisement platform, a security action on the browser advertisement in response to the message indicating that the browser advertisement with the unique identifier was associated with the malicious activity. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.