Seminar: Bot Detection

Fri., Nov. 18, 2016 2:30 p.m.

Location: CL 418

Title: Bot Detection

Speaker: Richard Dosselmann
Date: Friday November 18, 2016
Time: 2:30-3:20pm
Room: CL 418

Abstract: Malicious bots pose a genuine threat to the online community. A malicious bot is any type of automated tool that illegitimately operates on a given site, forum, account, online game, etc. Such a bot may gather data in an attempt to duplicate an organization's information. In other instances, a bot might upload data, a move that can readily corrupt valid information. When it comes to online game play, a bot allows a user to obtain a decidedly unfair advantage over others, by acquiring additional points or extra resources, for instance. In all cases, a bot generally consumes bandwidth and interferes with normal network traffic. Perhaps the most identifying feature of a bot is its rigid and repetitive behavior. This differs from a proper human user that typically displays more random behavior. This research attempts to detect bots operating on various sites by identifying and measuring recurring sequences of actions.