Invalid Clicks

Invalid Clicks
How does Google detect invalid clicks?Print
The security of Google AdWords advertisers is important to Google, and we have dedicated a number of resources to protect your account against invalid activity:
Detection and filtering techniques: Each click on an AdWords ad is examined by our system. Google looks at numerous data points for each click, including the IP address, the time of the click, any duplicate clicks, and various other click patterns. Our system then analyzes these factors to try to isolate and filter out potentially invalid clicks before they ever reach your account reports. This detection and filtering occurs over a number of levels including the following:- Real-time systems filter out activity fitting a profile of invalid behavior (such as excessively repetitive clicks) - Clicks and impressions from known sources of invalid activity are automatically discarded
Advanced monitoring techniques: Various unique and innovative methods are applied at each stage of the filtering process, thereby maximizing proactive detection of invalid activity. Our engineers are also constantly improving our monitoring technology, enhancing filters, and examining a growing set of signals.
The Google Team: In addition to our automated click protection techniques, we have a team that uses specialized tools and techniques to examine individual instances of invalid clicks. When our system detects potentially invalid clicks, a member of this team examines the affected account to glean important data about the source of the potentially invalid clicks.
One of the goals of our team is to make invalid activity very difficult and unrewarding for unethical users, thereby decreasing their chance of success. Additionally, if we find that invalid clicks have been charged in the past two months, we'll credit advertisers' accounts.
Dr. Alexander Tuzhilin, an independent expert who has examined our detection methods, policies, practices, and procedures, has documented these and other details of our monitoring system. You can find his report here: http://googleblog.blogspot.com/pdf/Tuzhilin_Report.pdf (pages 25-26, 47). (English only)
For more information on invalid clicks, watch our short video and visit our Ad Traffic Quality Resource Center.
How does Google respond to instances of invalid clicks?Print
Google actively implements several click protection techniques in order to combat invalid click activity. Clicks that Google determines invalid are automatically filtered from your reports. In addition, we apply the following policies for the protection of AdWords advertisers:
If we find that invalid clicks have escaped automatic detection, you'll receive a credit for those clicks. Learn how to view these credits.
Any advertiser or publisher participating in invalid click activity or any related offense is subject to legal prosecution. We will also take the appropriate action on the related account.
For more information on invalid clicks, watch our short video and visit our Ad Traffic Quality Resource Center.
What kinds of clicks does Google consider invalid?Print
Google defines invalid clicks as:
Manual clicks intended to increase your advertising costs or to increase profits for website owners hosting your ads
Clicks by automated tools, robots, or other deceptive software
Extraneous clicks which provide no value to the advertiser, such as the second click of a double-clickHow does Google handle invalid impressions?
Google's proprietary technology analyzes all impressions in an attempt to identify whether they fit a pattern designed to artificially lower an advertiser's click-through-rate (CTR). Our system aims to automatically distinguish between impressions generated through normal use by users and those generated by unethical users or via automated meansHow will Google credit my account for invalid clicks?Print
Google constantly monitors for and strictly prohibits invalid click activity. We work hard to maintain the integrity of our advertising program and to make sure you're being billed for legitimate clicks on your ads. If we discover that you've been charged for invalid clicks in the past two months, we'll apply credits to your account.
To view credits for invalid clicks:
Sign in to your AdWords account at https://adwords.google.com.
Select the Billing tab.
Click Billing Summary. Any invalid click credits you've received will be labeled Adjustment - Click Quality. Video: About Invalid ClicksPrint