--- title: "GIVT fraud detection: What are non-browser user-agent headers or other forms of unknown browsers?" description: Pixalate, an MRC-accredited company for SIVT detection & filtration for desktop & mobile web impressions, defines non-browser user-agent headers, a form of GIVT. image: https://www.pixalate.com/hubfs/Blog_Media/Blog%20photos/non-browser%20user%20agent%20headers.png --- [![pixalate-full-logo](https://www.pixalate.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Pixalate_Logos/pixalate-full-logo.jpg?width=150&height=60&name=pixalate-full-logo.jpg "pixalate-full-logo")](https://www.pixalate.com) Search **Menu** ** ** ![](https://www.pixalate.com/hubfs/Blog_Media/Blog%20photos/non-browser%20user%20agent%20headers.png) [Thought Leadership](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/topic/thought-leadership) | 1 min read # GIVT fraud detection: What are non-browser user-agent headers or other forms of unknown browsers? Written by [Tyler Loechner](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/author/tyler-loechner) Aug 2, 2017 11:47:58 AM *[Pixalate is an MRC-accredited company](https://blog.pixalate.com/mrc-accreditation-sivt-invalid-traffic-givt-detection-filtration-mobile) for the detection and filtration of Sophisticated Invalid Traffic ("SIVT") desktop and mobile web impressions.* According to the Media Rating Council’s (MRC) standards for [Invalid Traffic Detection and Filtration Guidelines](http://mediaratingcouncil.org/101515_IVT%20Addendum%20FINAL%20(Version%201.0).pdf), there are two types of invalid traffic: - [GIVT](https://blog.pixalate.com/mrc-definitions-givt-invalid-traffic-detection-filtration) (General Invalid Traffic) - [SIVT](https://blog.pixalate.com/mrc-definitions-sivt-invalid-traffic-detection-filtration) (Sophisticated Invalid Traffic) One example of GIVT is “non-browser user-agent headers or other forms of unknown browsers.” ### **What are “non-browser user-agent headers or other forms of unknown browsers” in the MRC definition of GIVT?** **![non-browser user agent headers.png](https://www.pixalate.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog_Media/Blog%20photos/non-browser%20user%20agent%20headers.png?width=640&name=non-browser%20user%20agent%20headers.png)** HTTP or HyperText Transfer Protocol is the underlying structure for most transactions involving internet content.  HTTP uses numerous fields containing data about the nature of the transaction called "headers" which are separate from the content of the transaction itself. One of these headers is the "User-Agent," which specifies the browser or application with which a user accessed their content. When the contents of the User-Agent field are are unknown or non-standard, they are filtered out. MRC-accredited ad fraud detection and prevention companies must be able to identify and filter user-agent headers or other forms of unknown browsers. ### **What are some other examples of GIVT?** Non-browser user-agent headers or other forms of unknown browsers are just one example of [General Invalid Traffic](https://blog.pixalate.com/mrc-definitions-givt-invalid-traffic-detection-filtration) (GIVT) as defined by the MRC. To learn about some of the other examples of GIVT, click on any of the examples below: -      [Known data-center traffic](https://blog.pixalate.com/mrc-definitions-givt-invalid-traffic-data-center-traffic) -      [Bots and spiders or other crawlers](https://blog.pixalate.com/mrc-definitions-givt-invalid-traffic-bots-spider-crawlers) -      [Activity-based filtration](https://blog.pixalate.com/mrc-definitions-givt-invalid-traffic-activity-based-filtration) -      [Pre-fetch or browser pre-rendered traffic](https://blog.pixalate.com/mrc-definitions-givt-invalid-traffic-pre-fetch-browser-render-traffic) [![demo-request-blog-cta](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/2364596/0412f307-49c4-44b7-8732-cdfad04ae1ad.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/2364596/0412f307-49c4-44b7-8732-cdfad04ae1ad) ### Search Blog Search ### Follow Pixalate ### Subscribe to our blog *By entering your email address and clicking Subscribe, you are agreeing to our [Terms of Use ](https://www.pixalate.com/terms)and [Privacy Policy.](https://www.pixalate.com/privacypolicy) Previous Story [← SIVT fraud detection: What are adware and malware?](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/mrc-definitions-sivt-adware-malware-examples) [** ](https://www.pixalate.com/blog) Next Story [SIVT fraud detection: What is cookie stuffing, recycling, or harvesting? →](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/mrc-definitions-sivt-cookie-stuffing-recycling-harvesting-fraud) ## You May Also Like These Stories on Thought Leadership [![](https://www.pixalate.com/hubfs/Q%26A%20with%20Krush%20Media%20-%20cover.png) ](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/krush-media-qa) [Case Studies](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/topic/case-studies) ### [Q&A with Steven Slaughter, Head of Ad Ops & Yield at Krush Media, on managing a clean CTV and Mobile Ad Supply Chain](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/krush-media-qa) Jun 27, 2023 12:00:00 PM | 4 min read [![](https://www.pixalate.com/hubfs/Q%26A%20with%20Screencore%20-%20cover.png) ](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/screencore-qa) [Case Studies](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/topic/case-studies) ### [Q&A with Jess Okan, Co-founder and CEO of Screencore, on strategies for minimizing ad fraud in the connected TV ecosystem](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/screencore-qa) May 30, 2023 7:00:00 AM | 6 min read [![](https://www.pixalate.com/hubfs/Oleksandra%20Kazantseva.png) ](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/bizzclick-qa) [Case Studies](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/topic/case-studies) ### [Q&A with Oleksandra Kazantseva, Head of Programmatic at BizzClick, on transparency, trust, and security](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/bizzclick-qa) Apr 17, 2023 2:00:00 PM | 4 min read ** ### Subscribe to our blog *By entering your email address and clicking Subscribe, you are agreeing to our [Terms of Use ](https://www.pixalate.com/terms)and [Privacy Policy.](https://www.pixalate.com/privacypolicy) ![pixalate-logo-red-small](https://www.pixalate.com/hs-fs/hubfs/2018NewTemplate/pixalate-logo-red-small.png?width=208&name=pixalate-logo-red-small.png "pixalate-logo-red-small") ** By entering your email address and clicking Subscribe, you are agreeing to our [Terms of Use](https://www.pixalate.com/terms) and [Privacy Policy](https://www.pixalate.com/privacypolicy) Products [Analytics](https://www.pixalate.com/products/analytics) [Blocking](https://www.pixalate.com/products/blocking) [Media Rating Terminal](https://www.pixalate.com/products/mrt) [Publisher Trust Indexes](https://www.pixalate.com/rankings/?group=app&reportId=publisherTrustIndex) [Seller Trust Indexes](https://www.pixalate.com/rankings/?group=app&reportId=publisherTrustIndex) [IoT Device Rankings](https://www.pixalate.com/rankings/?group=app&reportId=iotDeviceReach) Resources [Blog](https://blog.pixalate.com/) [Press](https://www.pixalate.com/press) [Careers](https://www.pixalate.com/jobs) [Team](https://info.pixalate.com/pixalate-leadership-team) Contact Email [** sales@pixalate.com ](mailto:sales@pixalate.com) [** privacy@pixalate.com ](mailto:privacy@pixalate.com) US: [** +1 888 749 2528 ](tel:+1%20888%20749%202528) EU: [** +44 (0)800 011 2050 ](tel:+44%20(0)800%20011%202050) Slack: [Join ATSAPI Slack Channel ](https://atsapi-pixalate.slack.com/join/shared_invite/zt-10dtow5cj-OEtlNr5yzJkrZMQUqcEEow#/shared-invite/email) Offices Global Offices US 1775 Greensboro Station Place, Suite 425, McLean, VA 22102 UK 20 North Audley Street London, W1K 6WE, United Kingdom EU 10 Earlsfort Terrace Dublin 2, D02 T380, Ireland Singapore 10 Anson Road, #22-02 International Plaza, Singapore 079903 [![facebook](https://www.pixalate.com/hubfs/footer/icons/facebook.png) ](https://www.facebook.com/pixalate) [![x](https://www.pixalate.com/hubfs/footer/icons/twitter-x.png) ](https://twitter.com/pixalateinc) [![linkedin](https://www.pixalate.com/hubfs/footer/icons/linkedin.png) ](https://www.linkedin.com/company/pixalate) ![wechat](https://www.pixalate.com/hubfs/footer/icons/wechat.png) [![slack](https://www.pixalate.com/hubfs/footer/icons/slack.png) ](https://atsapi-pixalate.slack.com/join/shared_invite/zt-10dtow5cj-OEtlNr5yzJkrZMQUqcEEow#/shared-invite/email) [Terms of Use](https://www.pixalate.com/terms) [Privacy Policy](https://www.pixalate.com/privacypolicy) [GDPR Compliance](https://www.pixalate.com/gdpr) Disclaimer Copyright © 2025 Pixalate [Back to top **](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/mrc-definitions-givt-invalid-traffic-non-browser-user-agent-headers#) # Disclaimer Disclaimer: The content of this page reflects Pixalate’s opinions with respect to the factors that Pixalate believes can be useful to the digital media industry. Any proprietary data shared is grounded in Pixalate’s proprietary technology and analytics, which Pixalate is continuously evaluating and updating. Any references to outside sources should not be construed as endorsements. Pixalate’s opinions are just that - opinion, not facts or guarantees. Per the MRC, “'Fraud' is not intended to represent fraud as defined in various laws, statutes and ordinances or as conventionally used in U.S. Court or other legal proceedings, but rather a custom definition strictly for advertising measurement purposes. Also per the MRC, “‘Invalid Traffic’ is defined generally as traffic that does not meet certain ad serving quality or completeness criteria, or otherwise does not represent legitimate ad traffic that should be included in measurement counts. Among the reasons why ad traffic may be deemed invalid is it is a result of non-human traffic (spiders, bots, etc.), or activity designed to produce fraudulent traffic.” ** ** *By clicking Download and entering your email address, you are agreeing to our [Terms of Use](https://www.pixalate.com/terms) and have read and acknowledge our [Privacy Policy](https://www.pixalate.com/hubfs/2024-08-20_Pixalate_Privacy_Policy.pdf). *Copyright © 2025 Pixalate** * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * × ## Subscribe to the Pixalate Blog The first step in ad fraud prevention. Loading... By entering your email address and clicking Submit, you are agreeing to our [Terms of Use](https://www.pixalate.com/terms) and [Privacy Policy](https://www.pixalate.com/privacypolicy). ![pixalate-logo-white](https://www.pixalate.com/hubfs/Blog_V2_08_26_2016/logo/Pixalate_Logo_WHITE.png) ##### Contact Us12 Loading... ![pixalate-logo-white](https://www.pixalate.com/hubfs/Blog_V2_08_26_2016/logo/Pixalate_Logo_WHITE.png) ##### Download GSTI Loading... Schedule your demo today Please complete all fields Loading... By entering your email address and clicking Submit, you are agreeing to our [Terms of Use](https://www.pixalate.com/terms) and [Privacy Policy](https://www.pixalate.com/privacypolicy). * * * * *