click laundering

Click laundering is a sophisticated form of click fraud that Microsoft has actively targeted through legal action. In recent lawsuits, Microsoft accused web publishers of using automated scripts or hired individuals to generate fraudulent clicks on pay-per-click ads. The scheme conceals its true origin by routing clicks through parked domains and altering referrer headers to make it appear the clicks originated from the publishers' own websites. This practice undermines the integrity of online advertising systems and represents a growing threat to digital ad platforms. The tag covers Microsoft's legal efforts to combat click laundering and the technical methods used to perpetrate this fraud.