--- title: "Pixalate Week in Review: December 21 - 23, 2020" description: Pixalate reviews this week's news in the programmatic ad fraud space. Find the most critical ad tech and privacy news from 21-23 December 2020. image: https://www.pixalate.com/hubfs/Blog_Media/Blog%20photos/malware-phone-mobile-app.jpg --- [![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/malware-phone-mobile-app.jpg) [Weekly Recaps](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/topic/weekly-recaps) | 2 min read # Pixalate Week in Review: December 21 - 23, 2020 Written by [Pixalate](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/author/pixalate) Dec 23, 2020 2:00:00 PM This week's review of ad fraud and quality in the digital advertising space. ### **1: 2020 Year in Review: Top 5 Stories** ### ![2020-year-in-review-top-stories-pixalate](https://www.pixalate.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog_Media/Blog%20photos/2020-year-in-review-top-stories-pixalate.png?width=600&name=2020-year-in-review-top-stories-pixalate.png) [Pixalate's top five stories from 2020](https://www.pixalate.com/top-stories-2020) include multiple ad fraud discoveries spanning Connected TV/OTT and mobile in-app advertising as well as breakthroughs for the OTT/CTV ad ecosystem. ### 2. Security flaws in the mobile app advertising ecosystem ![malware-phone-mobile-app](https://www.pixalate.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog_Media/Blog%20photos/malware-phone-mobile-app.jpg?width=600&name=malware-phone-mobile-app.jpg) "The state of mobile app security is poor," wrote [Avast](https://blog.avast.com/mobile-disinformation-campaigns-avast) in a blog post examining how apps "represent a huge and growing attack vector" — using Pixalate's recent [Matryoshka](https://www.pixalate.com/matryoshka-mobile-app-ad-fraud-scheme) ad fraud discovery as an example. "Mobile apps are being pushed out of development more rapidly than ever, with best security practices often a fleeting afterthought," wrote Avast. ### 3. Over one-in-five apps for kids do not have a privacy policy ### ![no-privacy-policy-q3-2020-app-safety-report-pixalate](https://www.pixalate.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog_Media/Blog%20photos/no-privacy-policy-q3-2020-app-safety-report-pixalate.png?width=600&name=no-privacy-policy-q3-2020-app-safety-report-pixalate.png) Pixalate's [Mobile Ad Supply Chain: App Safety & Consumer Data Privacy Report (Q3 2020)](https://info.pixalate.com/mobile-app-safety-report-q3-2020) takes a specific look at apps for kids (aged 12 and under). This [blog](https://www.pixalate.com/google-apple-mobile-apps-for-kids-privacy-policy) examines the percentage of apps across the Google and Apple app stores that count kids aged 12 and under as part of their target audience — but do not appear to have a privacy policy. ### 4. Connected TV, digital measurement to be top of mind in 2021 ### ![connected-tv-ctv-ott-apps](https://www.pixalate.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog_Media/Blog%20photos/connected-tv-ctv-ott-apps.png?width=600&name=connected-tv-ctv-ott-apps.png) In this [eMarketer](https://www.emarketer.com/content/podcast-what-insider-intelligence-analysts-expect-2021-connected-tv-measuring-digital) podcast, Nicole Perrin, eMarketer principal analyst, and Eric Haggstrom, forecasting analyst at Insider Intelligence, "discuss what they're paying attention to in 2021" — including digital ad measurement and the Connected TV ecosystem. ### 5. Business Insider: CTV ad fraud schemes 'will become more common' ### ![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) Connected TV/OTT ad fraud schemes "could become more common as advertisers turn to cheaper, less trustworthy buying options amid skyrocketing demand for CTV inventory," wrote [Business Insider](https://www.businessinsider.com/ad-fraud-schemes-like-what-oracle-exposed-will-increase-2020-12). "Still, marketers likely won't shy away from the channel—in fact, it will be a bright spot in 2021," Business Insider added. ### 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 [← 2020 Year in Review: Pixalate's Top 5 Stories](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/top-stories-2020) [** ](https://www.pixalate.com/blog) Next Story [Pixalate & The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) →](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/pixalate-the-democratic-congressional-campaign-committee) ## 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-december-23-2020#) # 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. 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