--- title: "Pixalate Week in Review: August 24 - 28, 2020" description: Pixalate reviews this week's news in the programmatic ad fraud space. Find the most critical ad tech and privacy news from 24-28 August 2020. image: https://www.pixalate.com/hubfs/Blog_Media/Blog%20photos/hacker-scammer-fraudster.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/hacker-scammer-fraudster.png) [Weekly Recaps](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/topic/weekly-recaps) | 2 min read # Pixalate Week in Review: August 24 - 28, 2020 Written by [Pixalate](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/author/pixalate) Aug 28, 2020 3:30:00 PM This week's review of ad fraud and quality in the digital advertising space. ### **1: **Over 800k Google & Apple apps delisted in H1 2020 ### ![h1-2020-delisted-apps-cover](https://www.pixalate.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog_Media/Blog%20photos/h1-2020-delisted-apps-cover.png?width=600&name=h1-2020-delisted-apps-cover.png) Pixalate's [latest research](https://info.pixalate.com/delisted-apps-report-h1-2020) reveals that over 800,000 apps were delisted across the Google Play and Apple App stores in H1 2020. The report shines a light on the previously undisclosed corner of the mobile app ecosystem:** Delisted apps**. [![See The Research](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/2364596/01fcff70-05b7-4fe3-8389-2a39227d4b9e.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/2364596/01fcff70-05b7-4fe3-8389-2a39227d4b9e) ### 2. Q&A with FreeWheel on OTT/CTV ad quality ### ![pixalate-freewheel-ott-ctv-interview-2](https://www.pixalate.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog_Media/Blog%20photos/pixalate-freewheel-ott-ctv-interview-2.png?width=600&name=pixalate-freewheel-ott-ctv-interview-2.png) Pixalate recently released its inaugural [Connected TV Seller Trust Index (CSTI)](https://blog.pixalate.com/connected-tv-ctv-seller-trust-index-launch-q1-2020) to benchmark the overall quality of programmatic sellers in the OTT/CTV landscape across Roku, Amazon, and Samsung platforms. In our [Q1 2020 CTV Seller Trust Index](https://blog.pixalate.com/connected-tv-ctv-seller-trust-index-launch-q1-2020), Comcast's FreeWheel ranked particularly well across the board. Pixalate spoke with FreeWheel COO Carl Kalapesi to discuss FreeWheel's efforts for maintaining a quality programmatic OTT/CTV marketplace. [Read the Q&A](https://www.pixalate.com/freewheel-interview-connected-tv-ctv-ott-ad-quality-seller-trust-index). ### 3. Ad fraudsters are thriving during COVID-19 ![hacker-scammer-fraudster](https://www.pixalate.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog_Media/Blog%20photos/hacker-scammer-fraudster.png?width=600&name=hacker-scammer-fraudster.png) "Despite unprecedented efforts from the ad industry and law enforcement, fraud continues to blight the sector," wrote [Adweek](https://www.adweek.com/programmatic/how-ad-fraudsters-are-thriving-during-the-covid-19-crisis/) in a piece examining how ad fraudsters have flourish during COVID-19. "Pixalate ... identified app stores as a point of vulnerability, claiming Google delisted 500,000 Android apps, which accounted for over 14 billion downloads, in the first half of 2020, while Apple delisted 300,000 apps during the same period," wrote Adweek. ### 4. Popular iOS SDK accused of stealing click revenue from ad networks ![apple-iphone](https://www.pixalate.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog_Media/Blog%20photos/apple-iphone.png?width=600&name=apple-iphone.png) "[D]eveloper security firm Snyk claims it found malicious code inside a popular iOS SDK used by more than 1,200 iOS applications, all collectively downloaded more than 300 million times per month," reported [ZDNet](https://www.zdnet.com/article/report-claims-a-popular-ios-sdk-is-stealing-click-revenue-from-other-ad-networks/). "According to Snyk, this malicious code was hidden inside the iOS SDK of Mintegral, a Chinese-based advertising platform." **5. US programmatic display will still grow this year** ### ![rising-arrows-up](https://www.pixalate.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog_Media/Blog%20photos/rising-arrows-up.jpg?width=600&name=rising-arrows-up.jpg) "Programmatic display spending in the US will continue to grow this year, despite the recession, but at a severely depressed rate before bouncing back in 2021," wrote [eMarketer](https://content-na1.emarketer.com/us-programmatic-display-spending-will-grow-spite-of-recession). "Programmatic advertising will be buoyed by mobile spending, which will rise by $3.93 billion; by video spending, which will increase by $2.83 billion; and by programmatic direct transactions, which will account for $4.07 billion in incremental spending." ### 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 [← Q&A With FreeWheel COO Carl Kalapesi on Connected TV/OTT Ad Quality](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/freewheel-interview-connected-tv-ctv-ott-ad-quality-seller-trust-index) [** ](https://www.pixalate.com/blog) Next Story [Delisted Android apps had over 14 billion combined downloads (H1 2020) →](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/delisted-andoird-google-play-store-apps-downloads-h1-2020) ## You May Also Like These Stories on Weekly Recaps [![](https://www.pixalate.com/hubfs/pixalate-week-review-june-13.png) ](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/june-20-2025) [Weekly Recaps](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/topic/weekly-recaps) ### [Pixalate Week in Review: June 16 - June 20, 2025](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/june-20-2025) Jun 20, 2025 11:09:13 AM | 3 min read [![](https://www.pixalate.com/hubfs/pixalate-week-review-june-13.png) ](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/june-13-2025) [Weekly Recaps](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/topic/weekly-recaps) ### [Pixalate Week in Review: June 9 - June 13, 2025](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/june-13-2025) Jun 13, 2025 11:39:50 AM | 3 min read [![](https://www.pixalate.com/hubfs/June-6-Pixalate-Recap.png) ](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/june-6-2025) [Weekly Recaps](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/topic/weekly-recaps) ### [Pixalate Week in Review: June 2 - June 6, 2025](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/june-6-2025) Jun 6, 2025 1:00:13 PM | 2 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/programmatic-ad-fraud-news-august-28-2020#) # 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). * * * * *